Photo Friday

Happy Black Friday everyone! I will not be partaking in the festivities, but if you are and you need a little break from all he fun, this post is for you.

Today we are going to take a look at one of my favorite composers of all time. I give you, Johannes Brahms.

Johannes Brahms, ca 1853, 20 years old.

Rarely do we come across early photographs with exceedingly beautiful people, but Johannes proves us wrong. Here he is at 20 years old, lookin' fine. *I found this picture on My Daguerreotype Boyfriend.... which has many tasty pictures of fine looking men of years past*

I've played a couple of pieces that he composed. One of them being Rhapsody in G minor, op79 no2, which I played 5 years ago for my audition into music school.



Happy Black Friday!!!!

Photo Friday

This week's photo is a two-fer for a couple of reasons.

1) I enjoy pretty photos
2) I enjoy pretty music

This post is about an Italian woman named Lina Cavalieri (1874-1944). She was a very famous
operatic soprano who died in 1944 during a bombing raid on her home in Italy. Apart from being a famous soprano, she also worked in early films, made a few recordings and was considered by some to be "The World's Most Beautiful Woman".

Her gown is stunning, too

Here is a recording of Cavalieri in 1910, singing "L'Altra Notte" along with a few other images of interest. Enjoy!

A portrait of Lina painted by
Giovanni Boldini in 1901

Guess what I'm playing?

I am ever so sorry that I have not been blogging regularly. My reason: piano. The Ohio University School of Music holds a concerto competition every year. Those who enter get out of their jury for winter quarter and the winner of the competition gets to play with the orchestra at a concert; which is a HUGE and cool opportunity for pianist... if they're good enough.

I'm hoping to enter the concerto competition with a piece that I've been playing for 5 weeks. 5 weeks? You ask. My gosh. That'll be easy peasy, right? You say. I say wrong. My track record with learning pieces has been ridiculous. I have been known to spend 6 months on a song that's only 8 pages long. If you didn't know, that's a long time! So this is a brand new breakthrough in Amber's music abilities; to be able to learn, memorize and perform a piece in less than 2 months...a 17 page piece to be exact. Needless to say I'm a little proud of myself at the moment, but hold on folks. We're not done yet!

I plan to enter none other than J.S. Bach's Piano concerto no1 in D minor. The competition is a little over a week away. I've been practicing the darned song every day so it can be sparkling clean by January 25th (the competition).

For those of you who are not familiar with the piece, or you just like to hear the genius that is Johann Sebastian Bach played by none other than the genius that is Glenn Gould. Please, if you are not accustomed to the awesome that is this video, do not press play.

Enjoy!!! (and wish me luck) ;D

Me Playing Piano!

I found time to record for my grandmother. She lives an hour away from us and doesn't have a piano, thus making it a very rare occasion when she does hear me. Because of the vast interweb resources at hand, I am going to utilize Youtube so she is able to listen whenever she wants and of course share the videos with you all!

I beg you, please ignore the stupid looks on my face, the seasick-inducing movements, the poor sound quality and slight lag in the video. I recorded these via Webcam on my laptop and plan to record again when I have better equipment.


 The Sailor Song was born my sophomore year of high school with a friend who was in my Music Theory class. It was first composed with drums and bass along with my piano. It was a bit more "funky" and  had some J.S. Bach interjected at points. I have since made my own version of the piece, adding some movie themes for substance. Very early on, my friends fondly declared it "The Sailor Song".

The first 3 melodies you hear in this song are from the following soundtracks:
The Secret Garden by Zbigniew Preisner
King Kong by James Newton Howard
Black Beauty by Danny Elfman


 Pirates of the Caribbean Composer, Hans Zimmer, is one my my all time favorite composers. I think I've fallen in love with each and every one of his soundtracks. This is my rendition of my favorite theme from POTC, Davey Jones. I made my own sequence of the piece through different moods from the latter two movies, Dead Man's Chest and At World's End. The first is the main melody played in a high register. Second is from the Musical-Heart of Davey's. Next is a more agitated Davey and the last bits being what I consider a call and response between the ill-fated lovers, Calypso and Davey. This has to be one of my favorites of my renditions. I hope you enjoy it as much as I like playing it :)


Nameless doesn't have a real name, so I call it thus. It is simply a song that I came up with while learning Chopin's Nocturne in F minor. I would play this when I got tired of practicing the Nocturne. That's really all I have to say about it.

The Alexander Tone Definites Tour Georgia, 2010

This is ATD

I don't know why I have never mentioned this before? Silly Amber... but I have been a part of a choir program for my highschool for 5 years. It is a year round, audition based, after school program that performs all genres of music, from Jr high level music to college music, we do it all. We call ourselves the Alexander Tone Definites. I started my sophomore as just an Alto, but when Ken (the director) found out I had been playing piano for 7 years, he put me to work accompanying the group. I have been accompanying for 5, was the student director my senior year, and for the past 2 years (now going on year number 3!) I have been the Assistant Director.

Every year we fund-raise the heck out of everything and go on a trip as our big finale, with little to no charge (b/c we fundraised it all!). Our "tours", as we call them, have taken us to Canada, NYC, Indianapolis, Charleston SC, and Wash. DC. Some cool things we've done is workshopped and sang with the Cast of RENT, had a Concert with Cantus, and Sang the National Anthem for different kinds of sports events (to name a few NBA Indiana Pacers game, Minor league soccer games, a Lake Erie Monsters game, etc).

This year was special though. Our tour took us to Atlanta, Georgia to sing the National Anthem at an Major League Baseball, Atlanta Braves game!!! It was a really awesome experience.

The students really enjoyed it. I was proud of them too. :)

Other than the Braves game, we went to Asheville, North Carolina to see the Biltmore Estate. It was the most magnificent piece of architecture I've ever seen. It was so much more impressive than any cathedral I've been in, and any mansion you see on TV. If you ever have a chance, GO SEE IT. And be sure to take a tour to the basement, cuz that was the coolest part. The kids really seemed to be interested in it too.

Side View of Biltmore, with my chaperone group, and Mom (in the red)

We also went to the MLK Jr Historical Site... and where, we took a jump shot:

We went to the Museum of Coca Cola

 We also went to the Oatland Wildlife Reserve, on a Savannah GA Ghost walk... AND.... a DOLPHIN CRUISE.

yep, that's a real dolphin.

Apart from just being tourists, we did sing a bit. We sang at 2 nursing homes while we were down there. At the first one, their piano bench was wayyyy too low for my 5'2'' self to be able to reach the keys effectively... So, in their Southern Hospitality, they kindly found me 8 phone books to sit on :)

8 phonebooks.

At the top, the first pic you see in this post, we're performing at a 3 story living community/nursing home. It was quite impressive. We also sang for the Captain and First Mate of the Dolphin Tour-boat.

performing, on a boat.

Singing to the Cap'n

We had a really great trip and we're looking forward to next year!

Alexander Tone Definites, 2009-2010

Star Wars in Concert

I just got back from attending one of the most AWESOME events I will probably ever attend... Star Wars in Concert. I had a really great time. Not only was the music completely enrapturing, but the lights, the accompanying video, and the fact that Anthony Daniels was actually there was great. Below are some of the pictures and a video of what it was like to be there. And HERE are the rest of them if you wish to look.


My Favoritist Character in the Whole Wide World


The Flash Happened to Censor out any unwanted materials


Me with Han... Ain't he cute?


Jeff and the Ewoks... He's just like them :D


Devin and Jeff, the Storm Troopers got'em


They have been frozen in Carbonite... Still alive... we think.

I have a video that I'll upload soon! but for now.... May the Force be with You

Pumpkin Post '09

Behold......... MY FIRST JACK-O-LANTERN EVER!!!!!



Ya, this past Friday was the first time I've ever carved a pumpkin. Crazy, I kno. I have wanted to carve pumpkins since I was little, but my parents just never got into it. I never voiced that I wanted to, so I'm sure they would have obliged had they known. To be honest, they didn't offer because of the stress and mess of the adventure. So how did I find my first pumpkin carving experience?

It was great. I was with two friends of mine, and we had a blast! I didn't mind scooping out the innards or anything. I thought it was all very cool. As for my theme, I didn't want to do the "normal" jack-o-lantern faces cuz quite frankly... I'm far from normal. I chose Princess Leia only because I couldn't draw a Darth Vader for the life of me. I think Leia turned out pretty alright. I had fun doing it, and look forward to pumpkin carving again next year!

Upcoming Event:

This next weekend is Halloween, as well as the Infamous Athens Block Party/Halloween 'celebration'. I have never been in my 19 years of living, and this year I'm going to change that fact.

We (My Boyfriend and I) have been commissioned, by his older brother, that we are to accompany him and his friends to Block Party. So, what are we going as?!?!?!? an 18th century couple!!!!!!! I'm very excited to see my Handsome Man in a redcoat and breeches ;) very excited indeed.

It shall be the debut of my 18th Century Outfit and his first experience to wear 18th century stuff. We know a guy who has an entire outfit for that era. So we're borrowing. (if he likes it... and even if he doesn't...I'm going to make him a gentleman's wardrobe ;)

Music Wise

I have found some very beautiful music on Youtube and I'm going to share it with you.


^^^These^^^ pieces are just wonderful! I can listen to them all day



The first piece above, I'm arranging for piano and violin so that My violinist and I can have it in our concert for the end of the year! GORGEOUS.

Piano Repertoire '09

It's funny how the title is "Music, Corsets, and Star Wars", and I've not yet post a single music post. Maybe I assumed it wasn't as important as the others? idk

For my major, I have 2 juries a year, one at the end of Winter Qtr. and the other at the end of Spring Qtr. Last year I was ill prepared (I was a poor, uninformed freshman) for my juries because I had no idea what the heck was going on. So this year I made a list of the songs I am to play for my juries. The one's I'm working on are these:

Haydn Piano Sonata in C major (HOB XVI: 48) written: 1789


Schumann Kinderscenen Op 15 (13 scenes) written: 1838



So these are going to be memorized and played for my winter jury. These pieces are much easier than ones I have played before. I was told that I play too "fingery" and that I am to change my technique or else I'll injure myself, and easier music gives you more freedom to do that. It's really hard to unlearn your 13 year old habits so it's kind of a frustrating process.

Eventually I'll record myself and post the videos on here. Eventually.