Archive for the ‘Music’ Category
12
World Premiere Recording of Albumblatt by Brahms, now on iTunes
Posted in Music by Robert Henry
Friends, I’m pleased to announce my newest recording — in fact, another world premiere recording!
A new piece by Brahms was recently discovered, entitled “Albumblatt.” Lost in time, this work was tucked away in a hotel guestbook by Brahms himself in 1853. Conductor and musicologist Christopher Hogwood is credited with its discovery in late 2011.
In the past year, it has been performed live here and there, but I offer you the FIRST and ONLY commercially available recording of this short work. I recorded it on my personal Steinway D in Morgan Hall at Kennesaw University. It’s a single; only $.99 on iTunes.
I’m currently finalizing an entire album of Schubert and Brahms to be released in April, but I thought I would go ahead and release this single.
Please enjoy! And purchase! And leave me a great review!
26
CYBER MONDAY “LESSONS OVER SKYPE” SALE
Posted in Music by Robert Henry
Yes, even pianists can get in on the action. For this week only (November 26-Dec. 2), I will offer Skype lessons at half-price. ($80 per hour is my normal rate. Half-price is $40 per hour.)
Lessons would be purchased now and will be scheduled for a later date. Send me an email if you want to purchase one or more lessons.
All you need is Skype installed on your computer/smartphone/device and a webcam. And a piano.
You can take a lesson from anywhere in the world via Skype. So simple.
9
Sheet Music Release
Posted in Music by Robert Henry
Waltz for the Lonely is available now
I’m pleased to announce the release of my transcription of Chet Atkins’ “Waltz for the Lonely.”
The retail price of the sheet music is $11.95.
US Customers can send me a flat $17 via Paypal (which includes shipping), and I will mail it to you directly. International customers, I’ll sell to you on a case by case basis as shipping will vary. To guard against spam, use the contact page to initiate the sale.
Also, it is now on sale at AMAZON, or you can buy directly from me.
I worked very hard on this debut release. It’s neatly written, legible, with all relevant fingerings, a couple of extra pages for notes, a little historical info about me and Chet, even some photography. Son, you will not be disappoint.
The cover design for this sheet music release (and my CD) was designed by Dan Almasy.
Enjoy!
Picking up the music from the printer's...
My father and me, at the release.
Look for more exciting titles under the Muuz Label
27
“An impressive Wigmore Hall debut”
Posted in Music by Robert Henry
I’m just back from my Wigmore recital, which was a lot of fun.
Read the Review — “AN IMPRESSIVE WIGMORE HALL DEBUT”
This was Robert Henry’s first Wigmore Hall recital and it seems to have come on the back of his debut CD recording ‘Twelve Nocturnes and a Waltz’. Mr Henry has won various international piano competitions so I was interested to see how he would fare in this mixed programme of 18th, 19th and 20th century masterpieces.
He began well with Siloti’s famous transcription of Bach’s prelude in E minor (transposed by Siloti to B minor). The transcription allows the pianist to demonstrate the full tonal and expressive range of the piano and Henry used it to show he could produce a gorgeous tone, and his immense control of voicing, texture and dynamics.
Henry’s performance of the first 12 preludes and fugues from Book 1 of the ‘48’ was very romantic, using the full tonal and expressive… SEEN AND HEARD INTERNATIONAL
6
CD now on iTunes
Posted in Music by Robert Henry
Hi, y’all. My debut CD, Twelve Nocturnes and a Waltz, is now on iTunes.
$9.99 for the album, or $.99 per track
19
Wigmore Hall — London Debut — July 24, 2011
Posted in Concerts, Music by Robert Henry
My London debut recital at Wigmore Hall is coming soon.
Behold! My magical program:
- Bach/Siloti
Prelude in B minor BWV855a
- Bach
The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book I, Nos. 1–12 BWV846–857
- Debussy
Reflets dan l’eau from ‘Trois Images’
Hommages à Rameau from ‘Trois Images’
Mouvement from ‘Trois Images’
- Chopin
5 Études: in F minor Op. 10 No. 9; in F minor Op. 25 No. 2; in F Op. 25 No. 3; in F minor Op. posth; in F Op. 10 No. 8
Polonaise in Ab Op. 53 ‘Heroic’
Link to Robert Henry’s Wigmore Hall Concert Listing
11
Gramophone Review (Feb. 2011)
Posted in Music by Robert Henry
My debut recording, Twelve Nocturnes and a Waltz, has just received a wonderful, featured review from Gramophone Magazine (Feb. 2011):
Robert Henry’s lyricism hits the mark
Pianist Robert Henry appears to be an artist whose strong points are sensitivity and lyricism, and this mostly Nocturnes programme certainly reveals these traits to strong advantage. Inner voices decisively sing out and project in the two Chopin Op 62 Nocturnes, although, by contrast, Op 27 No 2, the Respighi Notturno and the ubiquitous Liszt A-flat Liebestraume have more than a few muffled, overpedalled moments. Henry’s cogent shaping of the Grieg Op 54 No 4 Nocturne’s bass lines reinforce this music’s often ignored backbone, while the two Faure Nocturnes boast welcome dynamism and power. Henry is right at home in the Liebermann and Stanchinsky Nocturnes, both of which feature turbulent middle sections that best reveal each composer’s individual voice. Given Henry’s excellence elsewhere, I was surprised by the Field A major Nocturne’s relatively wooden and prosaic interpretation. However, Henry saves his most rapturous and texturally refined playing for his own transcription of Chet Atkins’s Waltz for the Lonely. If you’ve always wanted to know what “Nashville Meets Godowsky” sounds like, savour this absolutely enchanting track, as I did about a dozen times before writing this review! — Jed Distler
To purchase the recording from Amazon, click below:
To purchase the recording from iTunes, click below:
10
Transcription Teaser
Posted in Music by Robert Henry
From the Feb 2011 Gramophone Magazine review: “Henry saves his most rapturous and texturally refined playing for his own transcription of Chet Atkins’ Waltz for the Lonely. If you ever wanted to know what “Nashville Meets Godowsky” sounds like, savour this absolutely enchanting track, as I did about a dozen times before writing this review!”
Many people have been asking when my transcription of Waltz for the Lonely, by Chet Atkins, will be published. The answer is: very soon!
To whet your appetite, here is a page from the transcription, along with some revisions I’ve sent to Philip.
This transcription, along with the world premiere recording of Alexei Stanchinsky’s forgotten Nocturne from 1907, can be found on my debut recording, “Twelve Nocturnes and a Waltz.”
15
Webcam Lessons Available – Worldwide
Posted in Music by Robert Henry
Have you ever talked to a friend or relative via Skype? Via webcam? Using the interwebs?
Well, that same techmology allows us to work together as musicians — as teacher and student — from literally anywhere in the world.
Many universities and conservatories make use of webcam instruction.
As an Atlanta-based pianist and teacher, I think it’s pretty amazing to be at home in the mountains of north Georgia and give a lesson to someone in Germany.
Yes, the internet is full of all kinds of craziness, but come, let us reason together. As the phoenix doth rise out of the ashes, so shall we — with piano lessons over a webcam!
All joking aside, this is a great way to have regular lessons or an occasional coaching. Maybe you’d like to brush up on a recital or competition program, or to have a freakin’ genius help you with a specific problem.
All you need is Skype (or equivalent, such as Windows Live), a webcam/computer, and a piano.
Of course, I’m available for in-person private lessons, both at home and at Kennesaw State University, where I am Artist-in-Residence.
Contact me if you’d like to work together. I’d love to hear from you.
2
Article on PianoStreet.com — Bonus: Free Track!
Posted in Music by Robert Henry
My friends over at Piano Street have posted a short interview/article about my debut recording, Twelve Nocturnes and a Waltz.
While you are there, be sure to listen to a free track from my recording: Franz Liszt’s Liebesträume.
Created in 2001, Piano Street is an amazing online resource, featuring forums, recordings, free scores, interviews and more. Special thanks to Johan at Piano Street for his support.
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