Rain seems to be a recurring theme for our musicales.  It rained again as we traveled to the home of Julie Harbin, where she welcomed us into her wonderful studio with two pianos from which to choose.  Once many had arrived, we forgot about the rain for a while as we chatted away.  We had 13 GMG members and a guest who wants to join us.  We welcome Deborah Weiner.  Thank you, Julie for hosting us for this musicale and your warm hospitality.

The beauty of the Harp filled the room as Julie played, Let There Be Peace on Earth.  The harp was a delightful variation to our musicales.  Sabine, we loved your Sonata in E major by Scarlatti.  It was a perfect piece to follow the harp.  Utako breezed through the Chopin Nocturne Op. 62 No. 1, which was a very technical piece.  Arlene was right in tune with the weather performing, Debussy’s Jardins sous la pluie.  It’s great to have you back with GMG. 

Leanne continues to perfect Franck’s Sonata in A, 2nd movement.  We really appreciate your focus and endurance as you polish the details of this piece from memory for Carnegie Hall.  Ed performed the Tocatta from Le Tombeau de Couperin.  We are so impressed as you play this from memory.  Annette sang Goodnight My Someone/ Till There Was You where the characters find love and in O Mio Babbino Caro love tragically slips away.  

Kimber beautifully performed a piece from Des Abends, as she will be performing all the pieces with her piano students.  Lugubre Gondala was just as morbid as Tom described before playing.  Liszt definitely got his feelings and mood across in this piece.  Well done, Tom.  Rob brought a light hearted interlude for the morning.  We all sang, The Lady Is a Tramp.  That was a great change to the routine.  

Sabine played the Mozart Fantasia in D minor beautifully portraying the somber and reflective, but flowing introduction. Then the piece moves into the lighter portions where the mood is a little brighter.  Then Julie W. and Utako played the Mozart Sonata K 521 1st movement with four hands which was a great contrast to the Mozart Fantasia.  You could imagine everyone getting up and dancing.  Well done ladies.  Finally, Paul performed Beethoven’s “Tempest”.  We could just imagine it as you played, Paul.   

The diversity of music and performers is so inspiring and encouraging to all of us.  We can imagine ourselves trying something new or taking on challenge.  Thank you to all who have performed today and for your support and encouragement..  

We truly do “sing and play for our supper”.  We enjoyed delicious sandwiches, fruit, veggies, cheese and crackers.  For sweets, we ate ginger cake, cookies, and brownies.  Julie had hot coffee, tea and hot chocolate to warm up this rainy day.

Thank you again, Julie for hosting this wonderful musicale.   We were glad to meet Deborah and look forward to hearing her play next time.  Out next musicale will be on March 17, 2020 at Piano Works in Duluth.  Join us.

Please take time to read the details of the program below.

1. Julie Harbin (Harp) / Sy Miller and Jill Jackson   Let There be Peace on Earth

2. Sabine Walsh / Scarlatti   Sonata in E Major, K531

3. Utako Tanigawa / Frederic Chopin   Nocturne Op. 62 No.1

4. Arlene Martinides / Claude Debussy   Jardins sous la pluie (Garden in the rain

5. Leanne Manning / Franck   Sonata in A

6. Ed Ewing / Ravel   Toccata

7. Annette Russo W/Kimber / Wilson   Goodnight My Someone/Till There Was You

                                                    Puccini   O Mio Babbino Caro

8. Kimber Kwiatkowski / Schumann   Des Abends

9. Tom Slavicek / Liszt   Lugubre Gondola
10. Rob Busey / Sinatra Sing-a-long time permiting 

11. Sabine Walsh / Mozart   Fantasia in D minor

12. Julie and Utako / Mozart   Sonata K 521 1st movement 

13. Paul Cossman / Beethoven   Sonata 17, D minor, Op 31, No 2, "Tempest" 3rd movement

14. Deborah Weiner / Listener

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(Respectfully submitted by Annette Russo)

The first GMG concert of 2020 at Steinway Piano Galleries was a great success. Utako Tanigawa welcomed a full house of attendees, including several who had never before attended our concerts and who heard about us on social media. The program, which featured Chopin and Beethoven, was warmly received.

Asa Williams bookended the concert with Chopin’s “Aeolian” Etude as the first selection and 2 movements of the Beethoven Sonata Op. 2 No. 3 as the last selection – what a great way to start and finish! Olga Pikus gave us a beautiful interpretation of Chopin’s famous Waltz Op. 64 No.2, and she joined Leanne Manning late in the program for a splendid duo performance of Cesar Franck’s Sonata in A, arranged for clarinet and piano. Leanne also treated us to the Allemande and Corrente from Bach’s Violin Partita No. 2, sounding luscious on her clarinet.

We were treated to Paul Cossman’s first-ever GMG concert performances, including Chopin’s posthumous Nocturne in C# minor and Beethoven’s challenging Tempest Sonata. Well done, Paul – we look forward to many more performances!

Utako Tanigawa continued to delight us with her Chopin Nocturne Op. 62 No. 1 and Beethoven Sonata Op. 31 No. 3. Listening to Utako is always a pleasure.

Shoko Tanaka was heroic in joining us late in the first half of the concert with her toddler, Sean; Shoko handed Sean off to another performer and proceeded to play Chopin’s Ballade #3 with grace and feeling before retrieving Sean and leaving us to return him to his nap. We appreciate Shoko’s artistry and willingness to remain an important part of GMG despite the demands of career and young motherhood.

After a short intermission, with refreshments and conversation, the concert continued with light music in the Spanish style, as Judy Manganiello played Eugenie Rocherolle’s Cantico Iberico, which was quite the crowd pleaser. Anna Armstrong played the final of three Chopin Nocturnes for the day, his Nocturne #1 in B-flat minor, an ethereal and lovely piece of composition. Continuing with Chopin, Kimber Kwiatkowski played the Impromptu No. 3 Op. 51 with the skill and musicality that we have come to expect from Kimber.

All in all, it was a wonderful way to spend a Sunday afternoon, and we appreciate the hospitality of the Steinway Piano Galleries in allowing us to enjoy their lovely facilities.

(Respectfully submitted by: Anna Armstrong)

Another wonderful morning of music was enjoyed by all who attended.  There were 14 performers and listeners at this musicale.  We appreciate Piano Works for hosting this musicale. 

Judy and Arlene began the morning with Cantico Iberico and Soiree dans Grenade.  These pieces are enjoyable to listen to and are sounding better each time we hear them.  Beethoven’s, very moving, Sonata Op. 2, No. 3: 1st and 3rd movements were performed by Asa this morning, from memory.  We were glad to have Nancy with us also playing a Beethoven Sonata Op. 28, 1st movement.  Leanne is continuing to fine tune her performance of Franck’s Sonata in A, the 2nd movement this time, which is the most substantial movement in the Sonata.  Another Beethoven was performed by Utako.  It was the lyrical and playful Sonata Op. 31, No. 3, the 1st and 2nd movement.  

Chopin’s Nocturne Op. 9, No. 1 is one we never tire of hearing.  Thank you, Anna for your beautiful performance.  On a lighter note, Annette sang two selections from The Music Man, Goodnight My Someone and Till There Was You.  Kimber is still wowing us with Franck’s Chorale from Prelude, Chorale and Fugue.  Finally, I think the Flamingo Strut is ready to go on the road, ladies. The Strut is fun to listen to and must be fun to play.  Thank you all for such amazing performances!

After all that performing, we gathered around the refreshment table enjoying the goodies and good conversation.  There were muffins, cookies, pumpkin bread, fruit, cheese and crackers, coffee, and tea.  Thanks again to Piano Works and all who attended this musicale.  Our next event is at the home of Julie Harbin on March 5, 2020.  We hope you will be able to join us there.

Please read the program below for all the details.

1. Judy Manganiello / Rocherolle   Cantico Iberico

2. Arlene Martinides / Debussy   Soiree dans Grenade

3. Asa Williams / Beethoven   Sonata, Op. 2, No. 3: 1st and 3rd mvmts

4. Nancy Dunn / Beethoven   Sonata Op.28, 1st movement

5. Utako Tanigawa / Beethoven   Sonata Op.31, No. 3, 1st and 2nd movements

6. Leanne Manning / Franck   Sonata in A, 2nd mvt

7. Anna Armstrong  / Chopin   Nocturne Op. 9, No.1

8. Annette Russo w/Kimber / Meredith Wilson   Goodnight My Someone/Till There Was You

9. Kimber Kwiatkowski / Franck   Chorale from Prelude, Chorale and Fugue

10. Abbie and Judy / Asberry   Flamingo Strut

11. Abbie Hattauer / Asberry   Still, Still, Still

12. Julie Woodall / Listener

13. Marjorie Williams / Listener

14. Steven Bennett / Listener

15. Jimmy Baskerville / Listener

(Respectfully submitted Annette Russo)

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