This is a fun piece for me.  As an amature pianist this is a piece that I have recently tried to conquer.  With a piece like this, you don't learn it, you try to conquer it!  It takes some real skill to play and it is one of those pieces that when it is played right I sigh and say, "perfection."

I don't plan on normally putting two versions of the same piece on the same post everytime but I think this really emphasizes how the same piece can be interpretted so differently. 

For a long time, my favorite was the one from Gilels.

It is slower than many of the others and he is a touch heavy footed on the sustain pedal but he maintains a real musicality that I can really hear. I appreciate the secondary melodies in the middle section.  Listen for it, you'll think there is another hand on the keyboard.

Personally, I prefer it a little slower so I don't miss all everything that is going on.

Gilels' playing in such a Soviet style, the Russian is just oozing out of him!  It's fantastic.  Very serious and passionate.

But then... I found this recording of Jozef Hofmann.  Please fight through this recording and listen to it.  It's from 1923, but if you can fight through the noise you will be rewarded by a true master.  It is playful and fast and I can't get enough of it.  He uses A LOT less pedal which helps the notes to have some space, but you don't miss the legato.  It's big when it needs to be big, but it has a subtle side which is genious. 

The end of the piece is very quiet but Hofmann sets it up beautifully by not being so serious in the begining.  When Gilels plays the last few measures I feel a little bit like it was just an add-on to finish the piece.  When Hofmann plays it I actually feel like it came from an earlier section.  Much more cohesive. 

I hope you enjoy both of the pieces.

I outlined in my last blog two general reasons why Republican's lose.  Why would they secretly want to lose?  Allow me to touch on a couple reasons why I think this is the case. 


A little background for you.  Dennis Prager, a commentator and radio host I respect says that there are two parties in America.  The "hurtful" party and the "stupid" party and he belonged to the "stupid" party.  Of course the stupid party is the Republicans.  While I am a registered Republican I am a Republican only because it is the party that is the closest to classical liberalism (what we now call modern conservatism).  But we can be rather stupid. 


Like the Union Generals in the Civil War, Republican Leaders ALWAYS hesitates and loses any kind of advantage or momentum.  Usually this is because a small number of them hold the party hostage by making back room deals with snakes to lose any advantage.  (Think John McCain, our last Presidential Candidate, on any number of occasions.)

I also think a lot of Republican Leaders actually believe in big government.  They know in their hearts that if Democrats win, even though the country loses, Republicans Leaders win.  More government means more power for them too.   They have two years to rile and complain about the "evils" of big government knowing that they will continue to get all the spending they want to keep power.  It's great!

My proof is that when Republicans got into power they did some really good things (that got Bill Clinton re-elected).  The party started falling away from their principles.  George Bush, other than some tax cuts and the War on Terror is the greatest Democrat President since FDR.

In my opinion, Republicans are also political cowards.  Deep down inside they don't want to be held responsible for anything.  As long as Republicans are in the minority they don't have to take any heat for the problems of this country.  Everything is the Democrats fault... blah blah blah at nausea.


 So I'm calling them out!  Stop thrusting the John McClains and the Mike Huckabee's of the world on us!!  These people will NEVER win the presidency.  But beyond that the party needs to act as if they are in charge.  Something my party handles horribly!   


One advantage Democrats have, of course is a main stream media as an arm of the Democrat Party -Is Chris Matthews leg still tingling? - but I don't care.  The advantage Republicans have is the truth, but they act like they don't.   


As an example, the Cap and Trade bill that just passed the House won BECAUSE EIGHT WEAK WILLED Republicans voted for it.  It passed by one vote.  This would never happen in the Democrat Party.  I don't care about party discipline necessarily, but this is a bill that is the potentially the highest tax increase in history.  Anyone who believes in classical liberalism would spit this legislation out of his mouth!  


 - Think men, think!

This is one of my very favorite choral pieces of all time.   It is brilliant in its emotion and power.   

There are two versions of this piece.  SATB and TTBB.  I really prefer the TTBB version and the Turtle Creek Chorale is absolutely  stunning!  Hearing the tenors sing "Alleluia" over the "Amen’s" at the end gives me  chills.  Listen to this; you will want to hear it again and again! 

The other version is also TTBB and is absolutely gorgeous! It is from Wayne State  University in 1965.  It is a little slower and deliberate and the piano is a little better  balanced in the recording. 

I would reccomend listening to a great SATB version.  Go to 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gBnLIzZuNNM  and listen to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir sing it.  The Mormon Tabernacle Choir is so  big and lush it was really built for a piece like this.  Sometimes I worry because the  choir is so big little things like consonants and dynamics can be difficult.  This is an  impressive performance.  Not only are the dynamics spot on but you can understand every word.  It is really good.  The organ really adds an element that is missing with  just the piano. 

Although I like the organ and MoTab really sang well, I have to say I prefer the two  male performances.  I'd love to hear what you think.