December [Tchaikovsky]

I know, I know, I am the worst person in the world. Right now my life is far too hectic - I just haven't got the time to sit at the piano.That kind of sounds like "I haven't got the time to breathe" to a part of me, but I really don't. There is too much going on at Casa Caela for such indulgences...So here's one I prepared earlier - yes, I am turning into Janet Ellis - a not very polished recording of Claude Debussy's Clair de Lune. I used to dislike this piece greatly, which begs the question, "why do I bother with it?" - but it has grown on me.Good music, shame about the pianist...(Ellie is working towards a school concert at the end of May and I hope to sneak a few recordings from her. She's doing two Bach and a Beethoven.)C.

I haven't been able to update here as many times as I would've liked; too busy, too few excuses, and so on.Two of my Christmas concerts have been; the big charity deal was a phenomenal success and we raised far more than we could have ever hoped for.Anyway, a Merry Christmas to you. I hope you have a wonderful one, and a happy new year.C.

It's now only fourteen sleeps til Christmas...This "White Christmas" isn't very me at all; I recorded it when I was up to my eyeballs with classical music, so it's gone in quite a different direction! Hope you like it all the same.C.

Silver bells, silver bells, it's Christmas time ...Ahem.As promised, another Christmas song. Next update: probably Wednesday.

Christmas is on its way, and I intend to upload new Christmassy pieces every few days over the next couple of weeks. For now, this is "Christmas" (December) from Tchaikovsky's Seasons.More at the weekend ...C.

It's now ... count them ... 41 sleeps until Christmas, and although I'm not going full pelt on the Christmassy music, I'm stepping in that direction.This is the Winter Fairy (Act1, No16) from Sergei Prokofiev's ballet Cinderella. The recording quality is not quite as good as it could be - Ellie changed a few settings and I have no idea how to put everything back to how it was (oops...) so until we've got that fixed it's not CD quality. It's not far off - but not 100%. And that is why five year olds aren't allowed to touch things!Have a lovely weekend.C.

Another weekend, another daughter's birthday; my little one will be one tomorrow. I have decided against posting the pieces I composed when she was giving me the worst pregnancy known to mankind, and instead give you one of Chopin's nocturnes. I love Chopin very much indeed, and like to think that Composition for Ginger Baby has a vague Chopinesque air to it.Anyways, this piece is genuine Frederic; the third nocturne (and most popular) of the set. Time will not allow me to perfect all of Chopin's work for solo piano (at least until the children are all away at university...) and for now I really must concentrate on my Christmas music, but it does seem vulgar playing carols before even Hallowe'en...

It is (my daughter) Ellie's birthday tomorrow, so I've decided to upload this short piece from her first concert. She's very young and this was the first time she'd played in front of anyone aside from family, and she did very well. (I would say that - I'm her mother!)Anyway, a little post for a little piece.More later...CPS - How awesome am I?! I've done this without help :P

Apologies; it has taken me two months to update my podcast, instead of the two weeks I had intended. I have probably forgotten how to do this - my list of instructions from Rory and Trevor is very dog-eared and some points which were clear as day back in August are now confusing. Who knows if I can get this to work?!Anyway, this is a piece of Tchaikovsky's Seasons: October (the Autumn song). It is my favourite of all of Tchaikovsky's work aside from his ballets, and I really enjoy playing it.I have renewed intentions to update twice a month, but have a few pressing musical engagements. I am leading the SAC end of term concert, which will be bursting with pianoness and numerous very talented students at the school, and am playing at two other Christmas concerts. One is a private affair, the other is on sale now :)Anyway, enjoy October!

Thanks to my dearest darlings Rory and Trevor (always happy to indulge a pianist), I am rewiring this blog as PIANO BLOG ONLY. Non-pianists are more than welcome, of course, but aside from the occasional Ellie piece, you may find it deathly boring. If you like the piano and / or classical music, well it's not deathly boring at all!Rory, my self-styled music man, is trying to persuade iTunes to stock my album. Until then, I will attempt to leave you with my podcast - yes, I have a podcast now - and cry to Trev if it doesn't work...If it does work, it's Bortkiewicz's consolation number 4 in D flat.Click here to download.