• Registered: 2022-01-27
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Topic: The season...

I offer this song to my Christian friends here.  I offer peace and love to my Jewish friends celebrating Hanukkah.

Peace to you all.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hJw-ey1DPRA

  • Ali
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Re: The season...

https://i.postimg.cc/f36rb9PT/Christmas-Card-2024-web.jpg

Ali's Website

  • Registered: 2022-01-21
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Re: The season...

Wishing everyone all the Blessings of the Season.

https://i.postimg.cc/NLzBq4c3/Festive-Card-2.jpg

"I meant," said Ipslore bitterly, "what is there in this world that truly makes living worthwhile?"
Death thought about it.
"Cats," he said eventually. "Cats are nice."
Terry Pratchett, Sourcery

4 Reply by GB (edited by GB 2024-12-23 23:50:53)

  • GB
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Re: The season...

Thank you Karen, Ali and Robert.

Nice to see you back here, Ali. We'll have to mind or p's and q's now! (Or should that be Ps and Qs? However, I'm sure you're pleased that one particular P is absent!

I've mentioned young Leander, a true genius on piano, before. You all may like to check out his Christmas selection - all played from memory, including 19 minutes of Nutcracker Suite. Amazing!

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=P … oOerD9qtKD

  • Registered: 2022-01-27
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Re: The season...

When God gifted me with some talents, He left out the ability to create art in any form.  When I took guitar lessons many years ago with my daughter and my first wife, I was told by our teacher I had great hands for the guitar... but no talent.  He said he wished that HE had hands like mine.  Alas, there was no talent to drive them.  I also cannot draw, paint, sculpt, or do any of the other traditional forms of art.

God did give me the abiity to appreciate the talent of others, whether it be in the form of visual art or in music, and I will always thank Him for that.  My favorite art form lies in music.  Thank you for this contribution.

Peace to all here.

  • Alfred
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Re: The season...

GB wrote:

I've mentioned young Leander, a true genius on piano, before. You all may like to check out his Christmas selection - all played from memory, including 19 minutes of Nutcracker Suite. Amazing!

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=P … oOerD9qtKD

Thanks, Geoff. My post here includes a link to another YouTube video featuring Leander, as well as links to other pianists’ performances of the same piece.

"Has it ever struck you that life is all memory, except for the one present moment that goes by you so quick you hardly catch it going?"
― Tennessee Williams
  • From: Essex England
  • Registered: 2022-01-30
  • Posts: 173

Re: The season...

Sorry to say Geoff but I am not a great fan of Leander. I discovered his channel a few days ago and initially thought "WOW" how fantastic for somebody so young to be able to play that fluently, and being able to smile at the camera whilst playing. Having watched another half dozen of his videos, I find his playing to be a bit heavy, and dare I say it a little too fast, reminded me a bit of Bobby Crush, if you can remember that far back. To each their own I guess.

  • Alfred
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Re: The season...

As I indicated in the other thread, Albert, I find Leander’s playing of ragtime not just a little too fast but a lottle too fast! However, I liked his boogie-woogie.

"Has it ever struck you that life is all memory, except for the one present moment that goes by you so quick you hardly catch it going?"
― Tennessee Williams
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Re: The season...

https://i.postimg.cc/NKQ5gLNS/Wishing-you-a-Peaceful-Christmas.jpg

10 Reply by William (edited by William 2024-12-24 08:52:59)

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Re: The season...

[The Christmas card in my previous post was produced by using Bing Chat AI. The prompt was as follows.]

Please produce a Christmas card with the following wording. Wishing you a peaceful Christmas.

[I chose that one from the four provided by Bing Chat AI, then trimmed it from its surroundings using the Microsoft Paint program.
]

  • Alfred
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Re: The season...

Seasons Greetings to all who celebrate Christmas, Chanukah, or Kwanzaa, and belatedly to those who celebrate Diwali or the Winter Solstice. Happy Holidays to one and all!

"Has it ever struck you that life is all memory, except for the one present moment that goes by you so quick you hardly catch it going?"
― Tennessee Williams
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Re: The season...

Robert The Texan wrote:

... When I took guitar lessons many years ago with my daughter and my first wife, I was told by our teacher I had great hands for the guitar... but no talent.  He said he wished that HE had hands like mine.  Alas, there was no talent to drive them.

Teachers telling students stuff like that!

I am reminded of a by then former student who came to see me on his graduation day when he had been awarded an honours degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering.

He told me that a teacher had told him when he was at school that it was no point him applying to a degree course as he would be unable to do it.

William

  • Registered: 2022-01-21
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Re: The season...

Robert The Texan wrote:

... I also cannot draw, paint, sculpt, or do any of the other traditional forms of art.

Even within those constraints it is possible to produce art.

On a computer there are various possibilities.

For example, if one uses Affinity Designer one can produce a picture by adding preset shapes filled with colour.

https://punster.me/serif/viewtopic.php?pid=5977#p5977

John Kay's book about Composition is excellent. I have learned a lot from it.

https://punster.me/serif/viewtopic.php?pid=5555#p5555

William

14 Reply by GB (edited by GB 2024-12-24 20:19:27)

  • GB
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Re: The season...

Sorry to say Geoff but I am not a great fan of Leander. ..... I find his playing to be a bit heavy, and dare I say it a little too fast

Albert, I do not disagree with that, but he is very young, very enthusiastic, and I have no doubt that he will mature and improve as he progresses. He also admits that he tends to play rags too fast, but that his enthusiasm runs awry, as you will see from the link in Alfred's reply above https://punster.me/serif/viewtopic.php?pid=6320#p6320.

Sure, his current playing is far from perfect, but I have never seen another pianist showing so much enjoyment for playing. It's infectious. One cannot watch his videos without smiling!

  • From: Essex England
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Re: The season...

I am not saying that he is not a talented lad, of course he is, but he could do with some coaching, if that the right word. Given the right advice, I think he will go far, just not quite the finished product IMO.

"I have never seen another pianist showing so much enjoyment for playing."

Are you too young to remember Mrs Mills, she was great.

16 Reply by GB

  • GB
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Re: The season...

Are you too young to remember Mrs Mills, she was great

Ha ha! Yes she was a little overweight!

I also remember Winifred Atwell, a little earlier, and who also revelled in playing her piano. Also, like Leander, tended to play fast rags! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJagAMtp6AE