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Dennis FH @dennisfh.bsky.social · 1d

"playing what is not written on the page is wrong" is such a certified Chopin moment, I'm not even surprised.

Dennis FH @dennisfh.bsky.social · 1d

I mean, that makes sense, given its nickname "Funeral March." The entire composition seems to focus on death, which each movements explore different aspects.

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Dennis FH @dennisfh.bsky.social · 1d

So I just learnt this recording was made on February 18th, 1930, coincidentally the same day Pluto was discovered.

Don't know if that means anything, Rachmaninoff and Chopin are peak I guess.

Chopin - Piano Sonata No. 2 in B-flat minor, op. 35 (Audio+Sheet) [Rachmaninoff]

YouTube video by PianoJFAudioSheet

youtu.be

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Threatening Music Notation @musicnotation.bsky.social · 1d

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Michael Lobel @mlobelart.bsky.social · 4d

This adorably lazy dog, painted by an unnamed 17th-century Genoese artist, seen today at Oxford's Ashmolean Museum

An adorable dog laying on its side, looking super chill, with its tongue hanging out

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Dennis FH @dennisfh.bsky.social · 4d

So I just realized no one's playing the Mazurkas Op. 24 set for the third round of Chopin Competition.

Damn. I had kinda hoped someone would play the C major Mazurka, I quite like it tho.

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Threatening Music Notation @musicnotation.bsky.social · 5d

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Michael Lobel @mlobelart.bsky.social · 5d

Wayne Thiebaud, Cup of Coffee, 1961, from a small, focused survey of Thiebaud's work now up at London's Courtauld Gallery. Also in that exhibition:

Painting of a single cup of coffee against an off-white background

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Composers Doing Normal Shit @normalcomposers.bsky.social · 5d

Béla Bartók chugging a beer with his family.

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Composers Doing Normal Shit @normalcomposers.bsky.social · 5d

Luciano Pavarotti calling someone.

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Composers Doing Normal Shit @normalcomposers.bsky.social · 5d

Don Cherry driving the van.

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Composers Doing Normal Shit @normalcomposers.bsky.social · 5d

Krzysztof Penderecki drinking alone.

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Composers Doing Normal Shit @normalcomposers.bsky.social · 5d

Franz Liszt having a miserable time with his students.

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Dennis FH @dennisfh.bsky.social · 6d

Such an unfortunate that she did not get to the third round, I like her Preludes tbh.

(Also I did not realize she was also in Elisabeth competition a few months ago??? Damn)

YUMEKA NAKAGAWA – second round (19th Chopin Competition, Warsaw)

YouTube video by Chopin Institute

youtu.be

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Threatening Music Notation @musicnotation.bsky.social · 6d

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Threatening Music Notation @musicnotation.bsky.social · 7d

For the pianists

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Letterboxd @letterboxd.social · 7d

Diane Keaton (1946–2025)

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Dennis FH @dennisfh.bsky.social · 7d

So I just listened to another Prelude No. 16 and, wow.

Just, wow.

This whole performance is peak.

SHIORI KUWAHARA – second round (19th Chopin Competition, Warsaw)

YouTube video by Chopin Institute

youtu.be

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Love Your Classical Music Geek @loveinner.bsky.social · 7d

#NowSpinning this awesome performance of Prokofiev’s Fifth form Järvi. I love this cycle. Absolutely no holds barred!

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Dennis FH @dennisfh.bsky.social · 8d

Playing an entire set of Op. 10 Etudes is crazy ngl

But damn this performance is so good, especially that insane speed of Etude Op. 10 No. 2.

I also like the Prelude No. 8 too, so beautiful.

KEVIN CHEN – second round (19th Chopin Competition, Warsaw)

YouTube video by Chopin Institute

youtu.be

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Dennis FH @dennisfh.bsky.social · 10d

Though, I have taken a quick look at the schedule of some early round 2 contestants and, wow.

There are Sonata 1, Waltz Op. 64 No. 3 and Op. 34 No. 2, some Ballades, and even the full set of Etudes Op. 10.

Promising? Definitely.

Dennis FH @dennisfh.bsky.social · 10d

Well the Sonatas are required in round 3, but technically you can play a Sonata as a free-choice work in round 2 then play another Sonata in round 3 so, yeah. I think Seong-Jin Cho played like this during the 2015 Competition iirc.

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Dennis FH @dennisfh.bsky.social · 10d

Just curious, what are your expectations from the free-choice selection of Round 2? Since it only requires 6 Preludes and 1 Polonaise, there will be plenty of time to perform whatever of Chopin works (provided that the contestants select something other than all 24 Preludes)

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Threatening Music Notation @musicnotation.bsky.social · 10d

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Dennis FH @dennisfh.bsky.social · 11d

Which one among 3 is your most favorite? Or, which one in the entire 1st round is your most favorite?

(I, btw, was not aware that all 3 contestants got to the 2nd round, well)

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