Since "Classical" music is more complex than Popular styles, it is often helpful to know a bit about what you are going to hear, and to actually get familiar with the piece beforehand. It is FAR more interesting that way [and thus it'll be easier to write the concert report!].
Below the graphic are some notes and links.
CONCERT ETIQUETTE
- If the concert has already started, DO NOT ENTER until you hear applause.
- TURN OFF THE ELECTRONIC GIZMOS before you enter the room!
- You generally applause only at the end of the ENTIRE piece [ie. NOT between movements] - thought somebody may go ahead and applaud anyway.
- This material is extraordinarily difficult, and requires a tremendous amount of concentration by the performer.....so out of respect for the several thousand hours of preparation [yes, that number is correct], do nothing to distract the performer!
The Beethoven Waldstein Sonata is a 3 movement piece - that means that there are 3 primary sections to it, and Dr. Altman will pause in between each one and "reset". Each movement is a difference mood and speed.
Wikipedia article - Youtube search [pick any of them towards the top of the list]
is renowned for its notorious technical and musical difficulties. All three movements include wild and rapid jumps which span over two octaves, complex polyrhythms, extremely fast scales, multiple glissandos, and tremolos. [Wikipedia]i.e. you are going to see and hear some incredibly difficult music. Watch Dr.Altman's hands - they will be flying! Youtube search
Chopin wrote many pieces for piano, most of them shorter in length than the other pieces on this program. These are all meant to capture the character of a moment, as opposed to the epic Beethoven sonata. Mazurkas and Polonaises are Polish folk dances - Chopin has written music that would remind you those dances [if you were Polish!] but that goes well beyond just the simple folk dance music.
