Day 9

The metronome is about to be your BFF :)

 

Downloads:
One thing today:

bff practice tempo log

Today’s Recommended Listening:

Frederic Chopin (1810-1849)
Sonata for Cello and Piano: III. Andante
Gautier Capuçon & Yuja Wang
[Spotify] - 4 minutes

Frederic Chopin published 65 works of music during his lifetime - only 2 of them were not for the solo piano and both were for his friend, the great cellist Auguste Franchomme (op. 3 - Introduction & Polonaise Brillante and this final work, op. 65).

Franchomme, it must be said, was the Yo-Yo Ma of his time. When Jean-Louis Duport (the cellist in Napoleon’s court) died, Franchomme purchased the “Duport” cello in cash. [That cello eventually made its way to Mstislav Rostropovich.].

Unfortunately, upon completing this Cello Sonata, Chopin died, so Franchomme premiered it after his death with a different pianist.

Gautier Capuçon is one of the great cellists of today and literally a household name in France - I once had a lengthy conversation with an Air France flight attendant about all the times he had seen Capuçon play and which recordings were his favorites. His brother Renaud is a famous violinist and Capuçon is something of a hearthrob. Wow.

Also, it’s worth mentioning that Yuja Wang is one of the great pianists in the world right now. She’s unbelievable - if you haven’t listened to her stuff, dive on in!

What to explore next:

  1. Chopin | Introduction & Polonaise Brillante [Zuill Bailey & Simone Dinnerstein]

  2. Brahms | Double Concerto for Violin & Cello [Renaud & Gautier Capuçon]

  3. Chopin | Piano Sonata #2 [Yuja Wang]

See you tomorrow!
—Eric