I'm convinced that to pass the music diploma exam (yes, if I haven't told you yet, I'm preparing for the ABRSM version), one's got to be a little schizophrenic.

Circa my program. All balanced programs span the various major music periods: baroque, classical, romantic, contemporary. All balanced exam programs also show off your skill. Which means a spattering of various types of pieces. From the fast to the slow, the control-freak kind to the emotional kind, the loud to the soft.

Before you read any further, video links to all the songs can be found below. =)

My own program starts with Bach's Prelude & Fugue in G Minor (BWV 861) that's emotional within an almost control-freakish kind of environment. Just look at Joanna McGregor's hands in the video below - not moving THAT much. But when you see her face and just listen to all the tones and voices that come out... wow. It's like listening to soaring music in a tall tall cathedral. And yes, this set requires me to bring out four voices (like the sop, alto, tenor & bass) at the same time...

Then we move on to Haydn's Sonata 48 in C Major. The first section is slow, kinda like a slow afternoon soiree by the river, but yet the music happens in.strict.timing. There's this sense of strong control that plays off the relaxed mood. Right. The second section is a rondo (aka a round), a polite word for what is almost a tiresome scruffy child running non-stop, daring you to catch him and put him in the bath. Oh, how he runs...

Third, we fall into the thick of the Russian winter with Tchaikovsky's January: By the Fireside that was written to match the seasons. It's such a quiet piece, and has all these flowing passages that really feel like little flames dancing around, much like what Lucy saw at Mr. Tumnus' house in the Chronicles of Narnia. Delightful flickering flames that pierce through the cold and warms the body.

Finally, we end off with George Gershwin's I Got Rhythmn and The Man I Love. Again, two songs with very different characters. I Got Rhythmn is darn fast. And if I may add, jumps all around the piano. The Man I Love is slower, with a swing beat, and is kinda sultry. Yeah.

So to summarize... we start in a tall cathedral, get tumbled into an afternoon soiree by the river, suddenly start chasing a tiresome running child, fall into an armchair by the warm and comforting fireplace, get all jazzed up and jumpin' around, and end sultry.

Hmmmm... haha. It makes no sense I know... but that's really it! I swear, I've got to train myself to be a little schizo to do this! And did I mention that I have to launch into each new mood within seconds of the last one? Loads of fun I'm going to have...

Bach's Prelude & Fugue in G Minor BWV 861



Haydn's Sonata in C Major, HOB 48
Not my favourite recording, but my favourite's been removed due to copyright issues. This version's still ok, though a little hasty. Also, embedding disallowed for these links heh.
Movement 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5F23s7a8uw
Movement 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bqfHLqb47oE

Tchaikovsky's January By the Fireside


Gershwin's I Got Rhythmn & The Man I Love