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The Music Room => Great Recordings and Reviews => Classical YouTube Video Library => Topic started by: George on January 09, 2011, 01:27:46 PM

Title: Debussy in the Snow in NYC
Post by: George on January 09, 2011, 01:27:46 PM
(http://img825.imageshack.us/img825/8867/washsqpicture.jpg)

Was walking through Washington Square Park Today (it was about 30 degrees Fahrenheit) and a pianist was playing an upright Baldwin piano near the center of the park. Right there out in the sun, amongst the snowbanks - what a trooper! I took a few pictures and a video on my cheap phone and thought I'd share it with you guys. The sound isn't so great (downright historical sounding), nor is the picture, but it's the thought that counts, right?

Youtube Link (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-opIP0thCjs)
Title: Re: Debussy in the Snow in NYC
Post by: Bogey on January 09, 2011, 04:03:20 PM
Stinking cool, George!  Just pass it on to Mark Obert-Thorn and I believe we can start pressing cds. :)
Title: Re: Debussy in the Snow in NYC
Post by: (poco) Sforzando on January 09, 2011, 04:08:06 PM
Very nice. Only in NYC! But I was expecting "La neige dansant" from the Chidlren's Corner, or even better "Des pas sur la neige" from the Preludes.
Title: Re: Debussy in the Snow in NYC
Post by: AndyD. on January 09, 2011, 04:16:55 PM
Quote from: George on January 09, 2011, 01:27:46 PM
(http://img825.imageshack.us/img825/8867/washsqpicture.jpg)

Was walking through Washington Square Park Today (it was about 30 degrees Fahrenheit) and a pianist was playing an upright Baldwin piano near the center of the park. Right there out in the sun, amongst the snowbanks - what a trooper! I took a few pictures and a video on my cheap phone and thought I'd share it with you guys. The sound isn't so great (downright historical sounding), nor is the picture, but it's the thought that counts, right?

Youtube Link (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-opIP0thCjs)



Whoa, this is extremely cool.  It's alsokind of trippy, given the location. This guy might need money!
Title: Re: Debussy in the Snow in NYC
Post by: karlhenning on January 09, 2011, 04:57:22 PM
That cold dry air can't be good for the soundboard!
Title: Re: Debussy in the Snow in NYC
Post by: George on January 09, 2011, 05:01:48 PM
Quote from: k a rl h e nn i ng on January 09, 2011, 04:57:22 PM
That cold dry air can't be good for the soundboard!

What's the soundboard? The wood that the strings screw into?
Title: Re: Debussy in the Snow in NYC
Post by: karlhenning on January 10, 2011, 03:30:49 AM
Quote from: George on January 09, 2011, 05:01:48 PM
What's the soundboard? The wood that the strings screw into?

The wood whose vibration amplifies the sound of the string.

QuoteA sound board, or soundboard, is the surface of a string instrument that the strings vibrate against, usually via some sort of bridge. The resonant properties of the sound board and the interior of the instrument greatly increase loudness over the string alone.

The sound board operates by the principle of forced vibration; the board is gently vibrated by the string, and despite their differences in size and composition, the board will be "forced" to vibrate at exactly the same frequency, producing the same sound as the string alone, differing only in timbre. Although the same amount of energy is transmitted with or without the board present, the sound board, due to its greater surface area, is more readily able to transform this energy into sound. In other words, the sound board can move a much greater volume of air, therefore producing a louder sound.

Whole article here (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sound_board_(music)).

What I've found with the odd upright I've had long-term experience with in the past is, that degradation of the piano's 'voice' is sometimes an irremediable matter of the soundboard's having warped because of inconstant temperature and/or humidity.
Title: Re: Debussy in the Snow in NYC
Post by: Henk on January 10, 2011, 03:56:15 AM
Nice, George. How did he get that piano there?
Title: Re: Debussy in the Snow in NYC
Post by: George on January 10, 2011, 04:14:16 AM
Quote from: Henk on January 10, 2011, 03:56:15 AM
Nice, George. How did he get that piano there?

He rolled it out there on two dollies. Like these:

(http://www.smithstoreit.com/images/heavy-duty-moving-dollies1.jpg)

Title: Re: Debussy in the Snow in NYC
Post by: Opus106 on January 10, 2011, 04:23:27 AM
I want more of what he's playing. :) (Seriously, what's the name of the piece?)

Thanks for sharing that with us, George.
Title: Re: Debussy in the Snow in NYC
Post by: (poco) Sforzando on January 10, 2011, 05:11:15 AM
Quote from: Opus106 on January 10, 2011, 04:23:27 AM
I want more of what he's playing. :) (Seriously, what's the name of the piece?)

That is Claire de Lune (Moonlight) by Debussy.
Title: Re: Debussy in the Snow in NYC
Post by: Opus106 on January 10, 2011, 05:14:09 AM
Quote from: Sforzando on January 10, 2011, 05:11:15 AM
That is Claire de Lune (Moonlight) by Debussy.

Thanks.
Title: Re: Debussy in the Snow in NYC
Post by: Verena on January 12, 2011, 08:58:59 AM
Really cool stuff  8) Thanks George!