Tag Archives: composer
Allan Segall, composer, pianist, and playwright
Amsterdam-based American composer Allan Segall goes beyond music to write his first play in Estonia. Anne Ku recaps their friendship. Continue reading
First international Alkema composition competition
The first international Alkema composition contest calls for scores for piano and saxophone, deadline April 2012, in honor of the late Dutch composer Henk Alkema. Continue reading
Filed under composer, composition, concert, piano
Waltz by John Carollo
Anne Ku met composer John Carollo in Cortona, Italy in 2006 and in Honolulu in 2011. Carollo’s Waltz written in 1986 evokes Satie and Debussy. Listen to a recording from the Netherlands. Continue reading
Filed under composer, composition, concert, mp3, personality, photos, piano, recording, rehearsal, review, sheet music, sight reading, travel
Girl with the Hat Box for 3 hands, 1 piano by Freihofner
San Francisco-based composer Phil Freihofner’s arrangement of his wind quartet into a 3-hand piano work is delightful and fun. Anne Ku introduces this programmatic piece that has been tried by pianists in Maui, San Francisco, and Utrecht, Netherlands. Continue reading
Filed under arrangement, composer, composition, personality, piano, research, review, sheet music, sight reading, travel, trio
Easy to play, nice to listen to: piano music of Heleen Verleur
Music that is easy to play and nice to listen to characterises the solo piano works of Amsterdam-based composer Heleen Verleur. Daniel’s Song is an example, played and recorded by Anne Ku in Utrecht, Netherlands. Continue reading
Filed under composer, composition, concert, mp3, personality, photos, piano, recording, research, review, sheet music, sight reading, travel
Impromptu for solo piano by Kim Diehnelt
Musicians meet each other through music and collaboration. Anne Ku performed and recorded the Impromptu for solo piano before she met the composer Kim Diehnelt in Chicago. Continue reading
Filed under communication, composer, composition, mp3, personality, piano, recording, review, sheet music, sight reading, travel
Capriccio for piano, 4 hands by Blessinger
Piano duets often have origins elsewhere. Martin Blessinger’s Capriccio for piano, 4 hands came from the 3rd movement of a violin and viola piece. Listen to an extract recorded by Anne Ku (primo) and Carol Ruiz Gandia (secundo). Continue reading
Filed under composer, composition, mp3, piano, recording, research, review, sheet music, sight reading
Closure and peace
Attending the memorial service of Henk Alkema brought closure. Sharing the grief in a gathering of those who knew him — even those who didn’t — felt the power of the man who died too early. He died on 4th August was buried in Utrecht on 8th August 2011. He was 66. Continue reading
Filed under composer, composition, personality, photos, review, travel
Relationship of teacher and student in music
When you have individual lessons, you develop a close relationship. In music, the teacher becomes the mentor. Continue reading
Filed under communication, composer, composition, concert, personality, review, sight reading, venues, video
Music of Henk Alkema
Henk Alkema was a prolific composer. Not all his music are catalogued on his website though you can hear many mp3 recordings. Continue reading
Filed under arrangement, composer, composition, mp3, personality, recording, review, sheet music
