Blog of Kevin – Piano, pictures and pontification

Last Song by Alexis Ffrench

This is a lovely grade 6 piece, previously in the ABRSM curriculum. Took a bit of effort to get it like this, learning got disrupted due to problems with my digital piano, and then getting use to playing with my new keyboard.

Dyffryn Gardens in the Autumn

A visit to Dyffryn gardens today with Gwenfar to capture the autumn colours on a bright sunny day. Wandering along the paths and suddenly you get this blaze of colour and then notice the very non autumn looking palm trees.

A low growing acer, with its bright orange autumn colour lit up by the sun in the foreground against a hedge. Above are two tall palm trees and a partially cloudy sky. — A cousin it Acer with its bright orange autumn colours against incongruous palm trees behind

I just love the burnt orange colour of the leaves of what I think is an acer palmatum and how they capture the sunlight

A close up of the orange autumn leaves of what I believe is acer palmatum. The leaves glow from the sunlight. The ends of the leaves have dried out. — The fine leaves of an acer are glowing orange in the autumn sun

The red wine colour of these autumn leaves is stunning against the blue sky.

A couple of maple trees with their deep red autumn leaves are in the foreground centre. To the left in silhouette is a naked tree, whose summer foliage has already fallen. There are large trees and blue sky behind. — The autumn colour of the Japanese maples is just wonderful

The intensity of the colours repeatedly caught our attention, even though this was the reason we were visiting the gardens on this day.

Blue skies, large mature trees with autumnal yellow leaves are behind and in front is a japanese maple with deep red autumn leaves. — Brilliant autumn colours against a blue sky

A picture taken through the branches and leaves of an acer in its autumn foliage. The branches are dark and in silhouette and there are other acers visible through the leaves of the one we are in. — Brilliant autumn colours against a blue sky

Sunset in Penarth

My piano practice was disrupted by looking out the window and seeing the eerie red glow. I had to stop and look.

A deep red sky, where the sun is lighting up the underneath of the cloud layer, against a backdrop of suburban houses in silhouette. — Sunset in Penarth

Cardiff Barrage

I went for a short cycle to Cardiff Barrage today. Met a guy just a bit older than me who had also cycled there. He was telling me about cheap bike storage in Cardiff as part of The Bike Lock, a Cardiff cafe.

A picture over Cardiff bay with a small number of yachts sailing by, which look like the skippers are getting sailing lessons. The boats look about 26 feet long. There is one tall building on the other side of the shore. — Cardiff Bay

I enjoyed watching the boats catching the wind on the bay.

Looking out over the Bristol Channel towards England. The sky is grey, to the left on the horizon are Flat Holm and Steep Holm Islands. There is murky water in the foreground. To the right the start of a cliff edge and just beyond Penarth Pier is visible. — Bristol Channel on a grey day

Miracles by Alexis Ffrench

I have been finding working on this composition by Alexis Ffrench hard. It is at the limits of my abilities and playing it both with feeling and relatively cleanly is hard.

I have foolishly agreed to play it for a student recital organised by my piano teacher, luckily the majority of the students are young kids who won’t be taking this as seriously as I do, at least that is what I’m telling myself to help deal with my nerves. I am planning on a second piece as well by Vanhal, at least it is simpler than this one, but it still requires more work to get to the required level of confidence for playing live.

The recital is on the 6th of December and I’m away for 9 days between now and then, so time is tight. This is my recording from 8th of November.

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