Romance Thru Time

Details

Alexander Bui full profile / Solo Piano / 1 musician

Full program notes

Frederic Chopin:
Op. 10 No. 5 “Black Key”
Op. 10 No. 12 “Revolutionary”
Op. 10 No. 3 “Tristesse”
Op. 25 No. 8 “Double-Sixths”
Op. 25 No. 1 “Harp”
Op. 25 No. 12 “Ocean”

Edward R. Nelson (b. 1947): Prelude No. 4, Prelude No. 6, Prelude No. 9

Franz Liszt: Rigoletto Concert Paraphrase, Paganini Etude No. 3 “La Campanella"

George Gershwin: Swanee & I Got Rhythm

Chopin and Liszt : These are two of my top favorite romantic composers. Not only are they technically difficult to play but they are individually filled with different emotions. Most of the Chopin/Liszt pieces are "etudes", a genre in which I included in my dissertation during my DMA studies at Mason Gross School of the Arts. Isn't it fascinating that etudes are not only studies to build technique and musicality but also can be concert pieces for audiences to enjoy? Rigoletto was a piece I've always wanted to learn since high school' listening to Yundi Li's rendition and watching him smile and enjoying his performance.. it is definitely full of passion and tricky technical passage work!

American Composers: Edward R. Nelson & George Gershwin

Edward R. Nelson is my mentor and former teacher, and my inspiration to a concert pianist career. Without him, I believe that my profession would not be in the music industry today. Performing his music had led me to become an America's Got Talent Semi-finalist and to attend one of the greatest music conservatories in the world, Manhattan School of Music. He has a total of 12 preludes, in which I will play selected favorites. I am the only person who plays his preludes and recently, there is a dissertation available, written by my good friend and colleague at Texas Tech University.

George Gershwin: An American Icon of classical music. Listening and playing to Gershwin's music is a joy and a crowd pleaser. You just want to dance to it, especially Swanee and I Got Rhythm.

All of these pieces I picked are considered "Romantic" in their respective time period, but to this day, they all provide meaning to me and my audiences.

Historical context

I mostly covered aspects of historical context in my program notes, however "romantic" music started way earlier in the baroque period with Bach. Romanticism was never invented.. as it is natural to have emotions and to feel differently. Humans build many relationships with others whether it is friendship, co-workers, or even love. Edward R. Nelson is a contemporary composer and even his music expresses "romanticism" in a new, modern way that will bring delight to audiences' ears!

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Toccata (2003) by Edward Robert Nelson