Lonely Peaks Records is pleased to represent the Servais Society of Halle, Belgium for their release of a new edition of François Servais' 6 Études, edited by Peter C. Dzialo. Virtually unknown within contemporary cello pedagogy, with original scores out of print since the Paris edition released by August Quinzard in 1896, these études may be played with either a piano or second cello accompaniment. Worthwhile as exercises in Servais' cello technique, they are also enjoyable for concert performances and were recently presented in an 'inaugural' concert by Viviane Spanoghe and Didier Poskin of the Brussels Royal Conservatory, accompanied by pianists Anait Karpova and Pierre Brunello.
Preview the edition.
You can purchase the three part set (80 pages) below.
Price: $25.00 in U.S. / $32 international.
The Hartford Symphony Orchestra is holding Bachtoberfest: a festival of concerts celebrating Bach and music for organ. The concerts will be held throughout greater Hartford from October 4-12, 2013.
Cellist Peter Dzialo will perform on the Tuesday, October 8th program with organist Natasha Ulyanovsky. Works by Popper, Bach, Joplin, Dubois, Brubeck, and Hubert Léonard's arrangement of the famous 'La Folia' variations by Corelli. This concert will be held at Congregation Beth Israel on Farmington Avenue, West Hartford at 1pm.
The Catholic Artists Society, of which Peter Dzialo is a member, is sponsoring a six part lecture series on "The Art of the Beautiful" in conjunction with the Thomistic Institute in NYC. The series features talks by six renowned philosophers, theologians and artists at the Catholic Center at NYU. The topics are:
Admission is free and open to the public but space is limited. See here for more information.
Louis Abbiate is likely the most brilliant composer for cello that even cellists have never heard of. In the mid 20th century an effort was made by musicians (cellists Dimitry Markevitch and Eliane Magnan; pianists Marcelle Bousquet, Bernard Ringeissen and Annie d'Arco) to reinvigorate interest in his compositions by featuring his cello, piano and symphonic music in recordings.
However, no recording was made of his solo cello works. Feeling that these are his most fascinating and unique, especially with regard to cello technique, we dedicated two albums exclusively to them—Préludes et Fugues, 13 Prélude-Etudes—and included the Grand Symphonic Etude in another.
To give the listener some historical perspective, a short biography of Louis Abbiate has been added to the library.
Among G. K. Chesterton's many paradoxical and misunderstood quotes, there is one that goes, "A thing worth doing is worth doing badly." As was his custom, he was turning on its head the well known saying, "A thing worth doing is worth doing well." I have heard even wise men baulk at this remark, claiming that it was a call to mediocrity and undermined the pursuit of excellence. This, I believe, is a misunderstanding.
Anyone who has studied a musical instrument, and especially those who pursue it professionally, knows that it takes years, even decades, of bad playing before one does it well. This is true of almost all arts and abilities: we pass through a long formative and purgative learning stage where we do the thing less than well. Chesterton's point is exactly that: if you don't believe in doing a thing badly, at least at first, you could never hope to do it well.
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Music of the Jewish SoulThe 6 Études of François Servais, re-released after more than 100 yearsBachtoberfest with the Hartford Symphony OrchestraThe Art of the Beautiful: lecture series from the Catholic Artists SocietyBiography of Louis Abbiate: cellist, pianist, composerA thing worth doing is worth doing badlyOde to a NightingaleCharles De Koninck on Art and Morality, Against MaritainBiographical Sketch of Alfredo PiattiCello teacher in Connecticut "Like a good instrument, a good bridge can outlast centuries."
Bridge photos by Gerard KilBride and Mick Quinn, who are known for their passion for stringed instruments.