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Rachmaninoff via Pollack
Dr. Tobin discusses ideas Daniel Pollack imparted for the iconic Rachmaninoff Prelude in g# minor, Opus 32#12. Finger and hand technique based on the score and emotion are explored. The discussion ends with a performance on the piece from Davos, Switzerland.
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Ondine
Based on a story by Baron Friedrich de la Motte Foch, Ondine recalls the mythical half-mermaid creatures “Undine’s” and Debussy’s interest in the supernatural and fairy tales. Dr. Tobin refers to his thesis about Debussy Preludes where he mentions Ondine, it can be downloaded as a PDF. Dr. Tobin ends the discussion with a performance…
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Mozart Twinkle Variations
This episode of the Monday Pedagogy series features a look at how to approach variations. Dr. Tobin discusses how Mozart used texture to spin a rather magical set of pieces! To hear a full performance of these variations, performed in concert by Dr. Tobin on a Walter Fortepiano Replica, listen to this:
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The Fairies Are Exquisite Dancers
This week Dr. Tobin discusses this supernatural Prelude from Book II. He shows the illustration which inspired it, Arthur Rackham’s illustration of the Fairies from “Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens” by J.M Barrie, which we have in the collection of Adams Music House! Dr. Tobin avoids being too technical for too long, and concludes this…
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Beethoven’s Für Elise
This Monday Dr. Tobin is at Adam’s Music House and discusses how he teaches and plays this favorite piece of Ludwig van Beethoven!