Dave's Totally Boring Blog: 2011

Monday, October 10, 2011

Recipes To Try Sometime

Vegetarian Chile that supposedly doesn't suck

Sunday, October 9, 2011

Pulled Pork BBQ Recipe

This recipe from Cuisine at Home always gets rave reviews.

Thursday, August 25, 2011

Piano

Practice List

Moonlight Sonata (1st Movement)

Sheet Music On Pianostreet
Andras Schiff's lecture on Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata
Pianoworld Forum Study
Try these per Jenny's suggestion/comments:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6YCSeeMN4I (artur rubenstein): i always love him, but in this case there are notes in the lh ostinato that stick out too heavily for me and interrupt the flow

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6txOvK-mAk (wilhelm kempff). Nicely moves along but at the expense of the intensity at the beginning. And, the melody when it comes in is too much louder than the ostinato.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vr8j8O9uzx4 (glenn gould): he's a madman genius and this one is too far off for me. tempo way too fast just for one thing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1PqnruPitzc (vladimir ashkenazy): my favorite all of these. He does, in my opinion, the best job of balancing the voices while also rendering the appropriate intensity

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9TTIFtEJrhE (murray perahia): beautiful line of the melody but the lh ostinato opening is not as carefully rendered as ashkenazy

My comments:

Horowitz (First link): Liked this one a lot. It is pretty close to what I have been attempting with my interpretation currently. He and Kempff are my favorites probably. I would probably ideally play it like Horowitz with some of Kempff's finesse and understatement added in. Horowitz to me seemed more of the old stereotype I had in mind when I took on this challenge.

Gould: Thought the tempo was too fast. Not enought Rubato. Seemed emotionless and mechanical/detached. Seemed like he wanted to show how well he could run through all the notes in perfect tempo. Seemed like a good way to practice (to maximize use of time and work on memorization and fluidity so performance tempo would be easy), but not to perform.

Wilhelm Kempff: Love the facial expressions! Overall, I loved it. However, I felt the LH was too quiet at times and the RH lower notes were as well sometimes. He and Horowitz really are able to voice the high melody notes well. I need to get closer to what they are doing.

Found this Rubenstein:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1OtjdkanO6A
Very nice. Nothing really to complain about here, but maybe a lack of intensity. Very quiet and restrained. Would like to hear a little more dynamic range and maybe some more rubato here and there. I would be thrilled to play it anything like this however!

Vladimir Ashkenazy: Just to pianissimo for my taste. Otherwise, superb. Of course, he is probably more in line with Beethoven's intent according to Andras Schiff's lecture on Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata and other things I have read about the way it should be played by those who know much more than I do about it all. I just had to crank my computer volume to 11 to really hear it...if my volume knob went to 15 I think this would be my favorite.

Murray Perahia: They cut it short. How annoying. Again, too quiet for my taste, but otherwise nearly flawless I thought. Very even, good pulse. It seemed to ebb and flow more than say Gould, and was "going somewhere" all the time.

Prelude No. 1 in C major, from Bach's Well-tempered Clavier (BWV 846)

Chopin Prelude 4

Overview
IMSLP Sheet Music
Spotify Link
Martha Argerich With Score/Fingering
Good tips from Pianostreet
Best How To Play Turn Explanation
The Turn (Measure 16) Explained In General
How To Play The Turn In Measure 16
Pianoworld Forum Study
TED Talks Incorporating This Piece (13:08 is Benjamin Zander's interpretation)
Youtube Tutorial
Painful to listen to, but good way to see the stretto in action

Ludovico Einaudi – Primavera
Yiruma – River Flows In You
Ludovico Einaudi – Nuvole bianche
Roberto Cacciapaglia – Sillaba
Yann Tiersen – Le matin
Yann Tiersen – Comptine d'un autre été, l'après-midi
Wim Mertens – Close Cover
Wim Mertens – Tout Est Visible
Eluvium – Radio Ballet (Matthew Cooper)
Gymnopédie No. 1 by Erik Satie
Gnossienne No. 1 by Erik Satie
Cristofori's Dream
Fur Elise (Long Term)
Clair De Lune (Long Term)
Magdalena Minuet G 114
Pachabel Cannon in D
Rondo in A Minor, KV511 by Mozart
Prelude and Fugue No. 1 in C major, from Bach's Well-tempered Clavier (BWV 846)
Je te veux by Erik Satie
Jules MASSENET: Op. 10, No. 5, Mélodie (Élégie)
Yann Tiersen – La valse d'Amélie (Version piano)
Into the Dark by Sebastian Larsson
Seconda Navigazione
Outdoor
Giovanni Allevi – Back To Life
Moonlight Sonata
Le Onde
Hallelujah
What The World Needs Now Is Love
Scarborough Fair
Raisins and Almonds
Solace

Piano Pieces For Beginners To Try

Prelude 1 in C Major by Bach

Canon in D Major by Pachelbel

Sonata in C sharp minor, Op. 27 No. 2 (Moonlight Sonata) by Beethoven

Piano Sonata no. 11 in A Major, K331 ("Alla Turca") by Mozart (Hmmmm....this seems a bit of a stretch. Maybe there are better choices!)

Giovanni Allevi Watchlist
Giovanni Allevi – Back To Life
Giovanni Allevi – Aria (per respirare) - live
Giovanni Allevi – Panic - live
Giovanni Allevi – L'Orologio Degli Dei - live
Giovanni Allevi – Go With The Flow - live

Roberto Cacciapaglia Watchlist

Roberto Cacciapaglia – Sillaba

Roberto Cacciapaglia – Seconda navigazione
Roberto Cacciapaglia – Outdoor
Roberto Cacciapaglia – Oceano

Roberto Cacciapaglia – Sarabanda
Roberto Cacciapaglia – Canone degli spazi

Wim Mertens Watchlist

Wim Mertens – Tout Est Visible

Wim Mertens – Compass Strokes

Wim Mertens – Struggle For Pleasure

Wim Mertens – Humility

Wim Mertens – Time Passing

Wim Mertens – The Fosse

Wim Mertens – According To The Real

Wim Mertens – Hufhuf

Helen Jane Long Watchlist
Helen Jane Long – Helen Jane Long : Porcelain : Out Of It All
Helen Jane Long – Helen Jane Long : Porcelain : Release
Helen Jane Long – Helen Jane Long : Porcelain : Expression
Helen Jane Long – Embers

Yiruma
Yiruma – River Flows In You

On The Radar

Brahms: Waltz In A Flat, Op. 39/15
Bach Goldberg Aria
Beethoven Pathetique
Beethoven Ode to Joy
Bach Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring
Chopin: Prelude #7 In A, Op. 28/7
Bosques de Mi Mente - Familia (Need Sheet Music!)
"About Strange Lands and People" Scenes from Childhood (Op. 15, No. 1) by Schumann
La Plage (Yann Tiersen)
I Can't Make You Love Me
Jean-Baptiste DUVERNOY: Op. 176, No. 4, 12
Johann BURGMÜLLER: Op. 100, No. 7 (Le Courant limpide)
Johann BURGMÜLLER: Op. 100, No. 2 (L'Arabesque)
Mozart - Rondo Alla Turca
Ólafur Arnalds – Erla's Waltz (Need Sheet Music!)

Mike Paer – Waltz (Need Sheet Music!)

Sillaba

Sur le Fil

L'absente

Remembering

La redécouverte

Comptine d'été no. 2

Rue des cascades

Summer 78

DNA

3055

Struggle For Pleasure

MacDowells “To a Wild Rose”

Scarlatti’s sonata k32

Exercises/Etudes To Consider

Burgmuller Op. 100, 109 (sets)
Heller op 45, op 46 (sets)
Gillock Lyric Preludes in Romantic Style
Duvernoy Op. 176 (set)
Bertini Op. 166, Op. 29 (sets)
Gedike Op. 139 (set)
Concone Op. 24 (set)
Clementi Sonatas Op. 36
Mozart Viennese Sonatas
Bach invention 1 or 4
Chopin Preludes op 28 no. 4 and 6
Beethoven Sonatina in F (WoO Anh 5/2)
Heller etudes
Scarlatti sonatas
Beethoven sonatinas
Pleyel sonatinas
Kabalevsky (teaching works not later artistic works)
Bach 2 part inventions
Dohnanyi pieces

Dohnanyi pieces
Cortot excercises
Pischna

The early Bach (Petzold) minuets and musettes out of Anna
Magdalena's notebook are a good start, and then the "Ten Little Preludes
for Beginners."  The Little Prelude in C is a good one to begin with.  Note
that this is not the big prelude in C from "Well-Tempered Clavier," which
is much harder but still worth your while eventually.

Miscellany

Interesting Listening ("Modern Classical"):

Wojciech Kilar - Piano Concerto
Frederic Rzewski

Here in México, at the school I go to,
we start with this book - Mikrokosmos Volume I by Béla
Bártok, which gets us ready for J.S. Bach (my favorite
composer). First Anna Magdalena's Notebook Volume I
(six pieces), then the Short Preludes and Fugues (we
learn them all), the two-part Inventions (six), the
three-part Inventions (all 15 of them), and finally
the Well-Tempered Klavier.
http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/musicalfossils/message/63

Books
Playing the Piano For Pleasure by Charles Cooke

Music by Heart by Lilias Mackinnon

The piano handbook by Carl Humphries.

Super Sight-Reading Secrets by Howard Richman
http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/musicalfossils/message/76

Making Music at the Piano - Learning trategies for Adult Students by Barbara English
http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/musicalfossils/message/81

"The Practice Revolution" by Philip Johnston
http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/musicalfossils/message/82

Piano Lessons (Music, Love & True Adventures) by Noah Adams
http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/musicalfossils/message/102

"The Inner Game of Music" by Barry Green


Guitar zero : the new musician and the science of learning /
by Marcus, Gary F. (Gary Fred)

Seymour Bernstein's book about movement at the keyboard is "20 Lessons in Keyboard Choreography," published by Seymour Bernstein Music, and distributed by Hal Leonard.

Seymour Fink's book and video are both called "Mastering Piano Technique: A Guide for Students, Teachers, and Performers" and are published by Amadeus Press.

The Rest is Noise by Alex Ross

http://www.musicalfossils.com/

Pieces
Messiaen Preludes

Arthur Rubinstein plays "La campanella"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQULyGMhhWs

Jules MASSENET: Op. 10, No. 5, Mélodie (Élégie)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ezwvgug9neo

Johann PACHELBEL: Saraband in F# minor, T312
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MmYWoR-iLhQ

Jean-Baptiste DUVERNOY: Op. 176, No. 4 (25 Elementary Studies)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONpCXPB0iQU

Jean-Baptiste DUVERNOY: Op. 176, No. 12 (25 Elementary Studies)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dziW7nbPW9I

Shane Calhoun - "Away"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJY08rm5vS8

Minimalist Composers and/or Good Piano
Yann Tiersen (Comptine)
Michael Nyman (The Piano)
Helen Jane Long
Phillip Glass
Carly Comando (Everyday)
Erik Satie

Ludovico Einaudi

Two Top Twenty Lists With A Lot Of Good Stuff
Best Piano Songs I
Best Piano Songs II

Avishai Cohen - Remembering
Yiruma - River Flows in You
Seconda navigazione - Roberto Cacciapaglia
Ludovico Einaudi - Nuvole Bianche
Ludovico Einaudi - Primavera
Giovanni Allevi - Back To Life
Yann Tiersen - Sur Le Fil (piano cover)
Yann Tiersen - Sur le fil piano

Ludovico Einaudi Sheet Music

Jazz Piano
Avishai Cohen Trio ("Remembering" is awesome)
Esbjörn Svensson Trio

Piano Bucket List

Of the Top 10 Easy Piano Piano Pieces That Sound Great List, these are the pieces that interest me most.

Bagatelle in A Minor, Op. 59 – “Fur Elise”
Gymnopédie No. 1
Clair de Lune
The Heart Asks Pleasure First (Second favorite on the list)
Comptine D’un Autre été, L’Après-midi (This one is far and away my favorite on the list)
Piano Sonata No. 14 in C-Sharp Minor “Moonlight Sonata” – Beethoven

This is a good video with two hands for Gymnopédie No. 1

Erik Satie:
The musical vocabulary of the Gnossiennes is a continuation of that of the Gymnopédies (a development that had started with the 1886 Ogives → Sarabandes → Gymnopédies → Gnossiennes) later leading to more harmonic experimentation in compositions like the Danses Gothiques. These series of compositions are all at the core of Satie's characteristic 19th century style, and in this sense differ from his early salon compositions (like the 1885 "Waltz" compositions published in 1887), his turn-of-the-century cabaret compositions (like the Je te Veux Waltz), and his post-Schola Cantorum piano solo compositions, starting with the Préludes flasques in 1912.

Piano Study History:
Started on 02/03/2009 with Amouel Brackett in Alfred Adult All-In-One Course Book 1
Took a hiatus from about 09/29/09 to 11/16/10 and finished Book 1 on 02/15/11
Stopped in Book 2 around 2/14/12 (Calypso Carnival, page 53) in favor of more "independent study" of pieces by Yann Tiersen, Wim Mertens, and classical pieces.

The Amouel Queue

1. Ludovico Einaudi – Nuvole bianche
2. Roland Pontinen – Three Gymnopédies (1888): Gymnopédie No. 1
3. Yiruma – River Flows In You
4. Roberto Cacciapaglia – Seconda navigazione
5. Michael Nyman – The Heart Asks Pleasure First
6. Giovanni Allevi – Back To Life
7. David Lanz – Cristofori's Dream
8. Sebastian Larsson – Into The Dark
9. Ludovico Einaudi – Primavera
10. Ludovico Einaudi – Le Onde
11. Erik Satie – Je Te Veux: Je Te Veux
12. Rébecca Jablonski – Les Barricades Mystérieuses (6ème Ordre Des Pièces De Clavecin)

Pianists

10 Greatest Pianists From Limelight Magazine

1. Sergei Rachmaninov
2. Vladimir Horowitz
3. Sviatoslav Richter
4. Arthur Rubinstein
5. Emil Gilels
6. Alfred Cortot
7. Glenn Gould
8. Alfred Brendel
9. Wilhelm Kempff
10. Artur Schnabe

Heinrich Neuhaus
Alfred Cortot
Vladimir Sofronitsky
Tatyana Nikolayeva
Mariya Yudina
Edwin Fischer
Imogen Cooper
Mitsuko Uchida
Evgeny Kissin
Murray Perahia
Stephen Kovacevich
Grigory Sokolov

Also Rans?
Vladimir Ashkenazy
Godowsky

Improvisation:
LH C major scale chord progression, RH scales
LH from a piece you know, right hand improvised melody

Improvise over a jazz blues using major or minor scale modes (no pentatonics). Chord progression such as:

C7 ///| F7 ///| C7 ///| C7 ///|
F7 ///| F#dim7 ///| Em7 ///| A7b9 ///|
Dm7 ///| G7 ///| C7 / Eb7 /| Ab7 / Db7#9 :||

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Grilled Leaks

1) Boil the leeks until limp. Usually by the time the water boils or a minute or two more.

2) Saute some garlic in olive oil.

3) Drain leeks, put in pan. Coat with oil/garlic.

4) Grill them until they start to blacken up.

From Tim C. -- have not tried yet but plan to shortly.

Sunday, July 31, 2011

Cucumber Vodka

Peel, seed, and roughly chop 1 large garden or English (hothouse) cucumber.
Put chopped cucumber in a large glass container with a tight-fitting lid.
Pour 1 750-ml bottle of vodka over the cucumber. Seal and let sit at least three days and up to two weeks (any longer and the vodka will take on the slight bitter taste of even peeled cucumber).
Strain vodka back into its original bottle (I suggest clearly labeling the bottle to avoid cocktail confusion). Discard or eat the "pickled" cucumber.

From:

http://localfoods.about.com/od/drinks/qt/cucumbervodka.htm

Gardening

Spring 2013

3/17/2013: Planted Blackhawk Lettuce Mix in Row 1, Five Color Silverbeet Botanical Interests Swiss Chard from Blackhawk (one row), Yukon Gold, Red Norland and Adirondack Blue Potatoes (2 rows).

Beans Apr 15
Cucumbers Apr 20
Eggplant May 1
Lettuce Mar 1 - Apr 1
Okra May 1-31
Peppers May 1
Potatoes Feb 1 - Apr 1
Squash Apr 15 - May 15
Swiss Chard Mar 15 - May 1
Tomatoes Apr 20 - Jul 15

Fall 2012
Row 1 - Ferry-Morse Red Sails Leaf Lettuce (9/2 or so)
Row 2 - Blackhawk Hardware Bulk Seed: Mesclun (9/2 or so)
Rows 3 thru 5 - Ferry-Morse Detroit Dark Red (Morse's Strain) Beet (9/2 or so)
Rows 6 thru 7 - Ferry-Morse Tall Top Early Wonder Beet (9/2 or so)
Rows 8 thru 9 - Burpee Red Cord Chantenay Carrots (9/10)
Rows 10 thru 11 - Burpee Nantes Champion Hybrid Carrots (9/10)
Rows 12 thru 13 - Burpee Granex Hybrid Onion (9/10)
Rows 14 thru 15 - Ferry-Morse Evergreen Bunching Onion (behind tomato cage area running parallel to fence. These seeds are not fall certified.) (9/10)

Carrrots: Nantes and Carnival Blend are good.

Lettuce: Red Sail is great, Black Seeded Simpson is good.

Beet: Detroit Dark Red is good.

Eggplant: Dusky is great. Very prolific. Regular, boring variety.

Cucumber: Marketmore is good. Basic, salad style cucumber. Good for sandwiches.

Fall Crop

Asparagus (crowns)....................Nov. 15-Mar. 15
Garlic................................After First Frost, October/November
Beets.................................July 15-Aug. 1-15
Broccoli..............................July 15-Aug. 1-15
Cabbage (plants)......................Aug 1-15
Collards..............................July 15-Aug. 15
Cucumbers, pickling...................Aug. 1-15
Cucumbers, slicing....................Aug. 1-15
Kale..................................Aug. 15-Sept. 1
Lettuce (leaf)........................Aug. 1-Sept. 1
Lettuce (head)........................Aug. 15-31
Onions (seed).........................Sept. 1-30
Onions (sets or plants)...............Sept. 1-15
Radishes..............................Aug. 15-Sept. 15
Radish, Diakon........................Aug. 15-Sept. 15
Spinach...............................Aug. 1-15
Squash, summer........................Aug. 1-15
Squash, winter........................Aug. 1-15
http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/hil/pdf/hil-8103.pdf

http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/hil/ag-06.html

Shrub Problems
Our Camelias (and other shrubs) have aphids, scale, and sooty mold.
Ferti-lome Tree & Shrub Systemic Insect Drench used at base and Bonide System Insect Control spray.
Used 3oz/Gallon ratio for the Ferti-loam and a 2 TSP./Gallon ratio for the Bonide.
Used Ferti-lome on the Camelias only from left clockwise until next to last one, which we skipped.
Used the Bonide with all shrubs (except the very back area near the Rhododendrons which was hard to reach).

Sunday, July 17, 2011

Wine

Some good ones Wendy had on her iPhone:

Banshee GSM
St. M Reisling
Trapiche Malbec

Also the guegenenheim malice at brixx is good.

Trader joes cab pretty good for the price.

Jan 26 2012: Bodega Norton Reserva 2008 Malbec was quite smooth.

Jan. 6 2012: Brennan brought over a very nice Alterra Howell Mountain Cab 2006. About $17-20 and very smooth. Also we finished off the Montes Classic Series Cab 2009 that was almost it's equal. Not sure where that one came from.

Step Rd 2006 Shriraz - Awesome! (As good as Blue Eyed Boy but less than half the price, recommended by a manager at Total Wine over Blue Eyed Boy)

Saturday, June 25, 2011

Cheese

Harris Teeter Cheeses:
Saint Albray - Good soft cheese, but a bit pricey for the quality

Trader Joes Cheeses:
Delice De Bourgogne Triple Creme - Awesome

Earth Fare Cheeses:

Carr Calley 8 Year Cheddar - ok
Beemster - Pretty Good
Cambozola German Blue Brie - Awesome

Cambozola Black Label Blue Cheese - Awesome
Cypress Grove Chevre Purple Haze - Very Good
St. Croix Gruyere - ok

Music Theory

The Major Chords
C, F, G (all white keys)
D, E, A (middle black)
D flat, E flat, A flat (mirror image of D, E, A with white key center)
B (wbb), B flat (bww), G flat (bbb). These are the "oddballs".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XI4v4ttB2u8

First Scales To :Learn:
B, F# and E Major (less black keys = harder for proper technique!?)

http://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php?topic=44950.msg490413#msg490413

My favorite music theory link(s):

Ricci Adam's Musictheory.net

The chords are made with the ODD numbers in the scale! (Noah Adams, Piano Lessons)

More to come...

Grilled Zuchinni/Squash/Eggplant

4 ounces balsamic vinegar
8 ounces vegetable or canola oil
4 ounces olive oil
1 clove of garlic, minced
1 tsp. dried basil
1 tsp. dried oregano
1/2 tsp. dried thyme
salt and pepper to taste

This makes enough marinade for 4 or 5 squash. The marinade can be recycled once...
Whisk the mixture except for the oils in a large bowl.
Slowly whisk in the oils.
Adjust seasonings as desired.
Marinade sliced zuchinni/squash/eggplant in the refrigerator for 30-60 minutes.
Grill on high heat, making sure to let as much marinade as possible drain off to avoid flareups.
Cook on each side for 2 or 3 minutes, turning once or twice.
Remove from heat and serve, any leftovers can be refrigerated or frozen for later use on sandwiches.

Friday, June 24, 2011

Basic Hummus Recipe

1 lb bag dried chickpeas
4-6 cloves garlic
raw or pickled jalepenos
1 tsp cumin (or more to taste)
1 tsp corriander (or more to taste)
ground pepper (to taste)
1/2 cup lemon juice (about 3 medium lemons)
1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
1/2 can of tahini
1 Tbs. Olive Oil

Wash, rinse and drain the chickpeas, and repeat.
Soak at least 8 hours (overnight is best) in 10 cups water.
Wash, rinse and drain the chickpeas, and repeat.
Bring 10 cups of water and the chickpeas to a boil.
Turn to low and simmer for 90 minutes.
Rinse and drain the chickpeas.
Add the chickpeas, and all the ingredients except tahini and olive oil to a large food processor.
Puree the mixture 5 minutes or so.
Add the tahini and olive oil and continue to puree until to the desired consistency, about 5 minutes more.
Add 1 to 3 Tbs. olive oil or water to make it consistency of soft cream cheese.

* Based on Vegetarian Times September 2010 issue (page 40) combined with a recipe provided by a friendly cashier at Park Road Books.

Basic Granola Recipe

5 cups rolled oats
3 cups mixed nuts
1 cup shredded, unsweetened coconut
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 cup honey
1 tsp vanilla

1-2 cups dried fruit (optional)

Combine and toss the dry ingredients.
Add the honey and vanilla.
Mix well.
Bake at 350 for 30 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes.
If desired turn off oven and cook an additional 5-10 minutes to get more crunchy.
If desired, add 1 - 2 cups of whatever dried fruit(s) you like after cooking.
Let cool.
Store in the refrigerator in a sealed container.