Archive for the ‘Music’ Category

Oct

10

Director of Piano Studies at KSU

Posted in Life, Music by Robert Henry

I’m thrilled to announce that after an exhaustive national search, I have been chosen to become the new Director of the Piano Department at Kennesaw State University, with the rank of Assistant Professor!

Kennesaw State University is one of the 50 largest public universities in the United States.

We have an outstanding team of professors and performers at KSU. If you’d like to schedule an audition or trial lesson, please contact me at rhenry@kennesaw.edu.

 

Mar

12

Review – Alys Stephens Center

Posted in Music by Robert Henry

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ROBERT HENRY, Pianist

Sunday, March 9, 2014
UAB Piano Series
All-Chopin Recital

★★★★★

 

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama – Given the choice of a single instrument and a single 19th century composer on a Sunday afternoon, an all-Chopin recital would be hard to resist. That’s what Marietta, Ga.-based pianist Robert Henry offered to close the 2013-14 UAB Piano Series at the Alys Stephens Center‘s Reynolds-Kirschbaum Recital Hall.

Aside from bookending his program with a movement from Schumann’s “Carnaval,” Op. 9 (appropriately, the “Chopin” movement), and encores of a Schubert Impromptu and an arrangement of a lovely Chet Atkins tune, this was a singular Chopin experience. Henry played unpretentiously, preferring to let Chopin do all the talking, and his well-rounded menu of etudes, nocturnes, ballades, the “Heroic” Polonaise and the Barcarolle, was by turns joyful, dreamy and uplifting.

Henry, whose engagements have ranged from solo recitals at Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center and Wigmore Hall to collaborations with the Atlanta Symphony and the Pacifica Quartet, set the pace early. The Schumann “Chopin” movement and three etudes that followed are all in the key of A flat, and he played them without pause. The seamless segues brought cohesiveness to the varying moods, as though they were composed as a single piece.

Two nocturnes, the D flat, Op. 27, No. 2, and B major, Op. 62, No. 1, revealed Henry’s softer and more lyrical side, while foreshadowing the well-proportioned, multi-voiced layering that would come to full fruition in the Barcarolle, Op. 60.

Though composed in the ungainly key of F sharp major, the Barcarolle is one of Chopin’s most exquisite creations. Henry’s focus on its shapely arc, progressing from the rocking, undulating opening minutes through carefully calculated up-and-down dynamic shifts and a inspired crescendo, was the concert’s highlight.

The four ballades followed, each combining poetry and power. Henry, a meticulous technician, has a knack for bringing out exactly what Chopin wanted listeners to hear. Each emerging voice was given the right amount of emphasis on both macro and micro levels. The gentle repose of the Ballade in F major was startlingly interrupted by its middle section, the pianist’s strength and agility more in the spotlight in the Ballades in G minor and A flat Major.

The Polonaise in A flat major, always a crowd pleaser, brought the program to a rousing close, though two encores followed. Schubert’s Impromptu in E flat, Op 90, No. 2, was a good choice for the first, with its suggestion of a Chopin etude. The second, Chet Atkins’ “Waltz for the Lonely,” was wistful and melancholy, Henry’s arrangement mixing a bit of Broadway with jazzy harmonies and perhaps a touch of Chopin.

Link to review

Nov

15

Piano Lessons/Coaching now available through Google’s new ‘Helpouts’

Posted in Music by Robert Henry

That’s right. I’m now set up for the new video teaching/chat service from Google called HELPOUTS. Whether you have a quick question, would like an occasional coaching, or are interested in traditional, weekly piano lessons, I‘m here to help. Spread the word!
 
Google Helpouts logo

Google Helpouts has experts available on every subject/skill you can think of. It’s pretty cool. You can pay by the minute or in 15 minute increments.

 (If you’re an expert on something, you could probably teach on there, too.)

All you need is a piano and a webcam. Check it out.

ABOUT MY STUDIO
Topics can include anything piano-related, such as technique (scales, arpeggios, double-notes, chords, etudes), repertoire/interpretation, theory, history, memorization, performance skills/anxiety, competition/audition/performance preparation, practicing skills, concerti, chamber music, accompaniment, etc. I particularly enjoy helping pianists alleviate tension in their playing and avoid injury.

For Students:Piano-Brochure-GOOGLE-HELPOUTS
I provide a comprehensive education in a healthy, encouraging environment. All ages and all levels welcome. Classical music only, please.

For Teachers:
Are you a teacher yourself, and have a question about teaching a particular piece or technique? I can help with that, too.

 

Oct

28

Chopin Concert – Live Stream

Posted in Concerts, Music by Robert Henry

Friends, I’m performing tonight at Kennesaw State University at 8:00. A live stream of the concert is below.Church-Music-1-as-Kennesaw-Ad

http://ksutv.kennesaw.edu/musicKSU/

The stream will begin just before 8:00 pm, EST on October 28, 2013.

An All-Chopin Recital

“Chopin” from Carnaval, Op. 9 (composed by Robert Schumann)
Etude in A-flat Major, from Trois Nouvelles études
Etude in A-flat Major, Op. 25, No. 1 “Aeolian Harp”
Etude in A-flat Major, Op. 10, No. 10

Nocturne in D-flat Major, Op. 27, No. 2
Nocturne in B Major, Op. 62, No. 1

Barcarolle Op. 60

Intermission

THE FOUR BALLADES
Ballade No. 1 in G minor, Op. 23
Ballade No. 2 in F Major, Op. 38
Ballade No. 3 in A-flat Major, Op. 47
Ballade No. 4 in F minor, Op. 52

Polonaise in A-flat Major, Op. 53 “Heroic”

Aug

27

Atlanta Piano Lessons and Skype Lessons Worldwide

Posted in Music by Robert Henry

Robert Henry and Student

Dr. Robert Henry and Ethan Condon, student

I’ve been teaching in Atlanta for over 10 years, both privately at my home in Marietta, GA (East Cobb area), and at Kennesaw State University.

All ages and all levels are welcome in my private studio or via Skype lessons. Schedule a complimentary lesson today.

(For the University, please see the following requirements: Audition Requirements)

CONTACT ME DIRECTLY:
Cell: 770-735-PIANO (7426)
Web: http://www.RobertHenry.org
Email: http://www.RobertHenry.org/Contact

Jan

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!

20130112-161927.jpgA 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 later this year, but I thought I would go ahead and release this single.

Albumblatt in A Minor, Op. Posth. - Single - Robert Henry

Please enjoy! And purchase! And leave me a great review!

Nov

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.

Feb

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!

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Picking up the music from the printer's...

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My father and me, at the release.

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Look for more exciting titles under the Muuz Label

Jul

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

CLICK TO READ MORE  

Jul

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