NICK’S BLOG

Chopin’s Prelude No. 1 in C Major, Opus 28 for piano is a piece that begs to be transcribed for the guitar.

This is such a beautiful and brief piece that is very hard to describe in terms of words. What you have a is a short 33 measure progressive movement of a 2/8 agitato beat (a very rare tempo indeed) that flows through almost every key in the book. When you listen to this piece you realize that Chopin kind of “mashes-up” (to use a modern term) several genres (or styles) of music. What we’re hearing is a cross between Romantic era classical music and Impressionistic era classical music—kind of like Francisco Goya meets Monet. Though Chopin is primarily regarded as a Romanic music era composer some of his pieces do touch upon latter 19th century to early 20th century tonal themes and qualities.

The Prelude No. 1 is just such a piece. At bar 19 on the “stretto” is where it takes off into new musical territory with a progressive key change and a rise in volume. Then then it begins to slowly descend to end on an arpeggio and pianissimo C major chord.

The use of “con pedale” throughout only adds to the ethereal nature of the prelude. Short, but oh so sweet, this is a masterwork concert hall piece.

Listen here to Alexander Kobrin performing the prelude with just the right tempo to make it truly sonorous.

So this then leads me to my original thought as to why it would make a great piece for the guitar. Reminiscent of the Fernando Sor Estudios, the Chopin Prelude No. 1 places the demands of the music squarely upon the shoulders of the performer. With Sor, the technical facility required to play the studies are great, this certainly would be true if Chopin’s work were transcribed to the guitar.

But it is not enough just to be able to play the piece both fast and well. You have to make music out of it. Ever since I heard this prelude when I was a kid back in high school, I dreamed of being able to play it one day. I never learned enough of the piano to even attempt it on that instrument; however, I did learn quite a bit of classical guitar to make an attempt at transcribing the piece. What I found was that a drastic re-tuning of the guitar was required in order to play even the first few bars. The E-string had to be tuned down two whole steps to C, and the A-string down to G, and D down to C. Essentially, the guitar needs to be a C instrument from the bottom up. And that was only the beginning. The voices required to emulate on the guitar (without a piano) meant that a lot of chordal holding was also necessary. And finally the technical demands on both the left and right hands are extreme.

All in all, a very difficult piece to play on any instrument—maybe even more so on the guitar.

I really hope that someone more adept on the instrument (i.e. the classical guitar) can tackle this challenge and then post their attempt on something like YouTube. In the meantime, we’ll just have to wait until that happens and enjoy the piano rendition of this wondrous piece of musical heaven.

Here’s what it looks like on the piano:

 

I absolutely love and adore this piece of music. This 38 to 52 second song (depending on the performance) represents some of the most angelic qualities of humankind in the smallest of packages. If you really want to touch a piece of our God-like nature, then listen to Chopin and then listen to all the other great classical composers—including my personal favorites for the chitarra (guitar) like Tarrega, Giuliani, Rodrigo, Villa-Lobos, and Albeniz (a piano composer, but his works are easily transcribed for guitar as if he wrote them for it). There is something so perfect and magical in this type of music that simply can not be quantified.

Like an apparition, Chopin’s Prelude No.1 can not be touched, but only longingly appreciated like the memory of love more than the present realities that we so often disregard in this life.

Listen again, and remember love.

Last night’s conclusion to the “mutiny” story-line on BSG was simply frakkin’ awesome!

If you haven’t seen it yet, then don’t read any further.

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Kudos to Ron D. Moore!

The entire buildup was key. The webisodes that really explored certain aspects of Gaeta’s character were well done and lent itself greatly to his motivation for doing what he did. Zarek’s character arc was well established since season one so we knew that he was capable of attempting a coup, and with the recent developments to Gaeta’s character it made sense for him as well to be involved in this reckless action.

Simply launching the coup was brilliant. How Gaeta kept everybody off-guard until he was ready to move was well played. But of course there’s always gotta be a counter-offensive which was also well executed on the part of our “good guys.” When Kara shot those guys down who were about to plug Lee and later she kisses him saying, “how does it feel to be alive Lee!” That was priceless and totally within her character.

But the best thing was Adama, hardcore and unyielding to the last.

In last night’s episode, after refusing to leave HIS ship, he continues to fight and be defiant even though he most certainly will be shot—I love his character. And Rosalin as well, she won’t go down without a fight, no how, no way. And she loves Adama to the last and will never abandon him even when the rebel Cylons wanted to. No rest for the weary even if she is dying of cancer.

But when Zarek executed the entire Quorum of The Twelve Colonies of Kobol, that was perfect and shocking and totally realistic when coups happen. I was expecting the same thing under George Bush! Finding out just before the plug would be pulled on the free Internet that all of Congress were gunned down while in session.

Anyway, perfect ending to retaking the ship and doling out the appropriate justice to Gaeta and Zarek: firing squad. I love it when Gaeta said just before he was shot that his amputated leg finally stopped hurting at that moment. Wow!

And one other thing, when Tyrol noticed in the engine room that the Galactica is starting to crack (something also seen in at the SciFi Channel’s You Will Know The Truth website), that is just another foreboding sign that the worst is yet to come!

Brilliant Ron! Brilliant!

Back in September of ’08 I attended the 8th Annual Samuel Adams Octoberfest at The Castle in Boston. It was a fine event. One and a half days of nothing but Sam Adams beer, music, food, and fun. This was a killer time, and I should know because I went to the 7th Annual Samuel Adams Octoberfest the year before.

Now I’ve been a big Sam Adams fan for many years. So much so, that I’ve written 5 Sam Adams beer advertorials about traveling around the country and enjoying the fine varieties of this great American beer. The first of these being a story about enjoying my favorite style: the Octoberfest. Named obviously for the fabulous 16-day annual festival in Munich Germany held since 1818 featuring the great Oktoberfestbiers from 6 of the largest breweries in Germany.

The Samuel Adams Octoberfest style of beer was a featured component at my incredible wedding to my truly amazing wife on 10/16/2004, and so it was the topic of the first story that I wrote celebrating the beer and that wonderful event in my life. I titled it, SAMUEL ADAMS OCTOBERFEST®: THE NECTAR OF THE GODS.

And “nectar of the gods” it is! A medium-bodied beer, more on the malty side, slightly fruity with a tinge of toffee and caramel flavorings. It is a wonderful seasonal beer that is a great transition from lighter Summer lagers to heavier Winter ales.

But getting back to my original story, at the 7th Sam Adams Octoberfest, I wanted to try to hand off my story to someone at the event who indeed worked for the Boston Beer Company. I’ve been trying for years to get into that great company in any capacity—especially as a writer. My hope was that it would get into the hands of the man helming their monthly news letter, Brian Lane. However, I had no idea that he would soon be leaving the company, nor did I stop to think of a bigger and bolder plan.

You see, Jim Koch, the founder and current chairman and clerk of the company was at that event during the VIP session. When he showed up, he was treated like a folk hero—and rightly so. I thought to myself, “oh my God, why don’t I try to get a copy of my story over to Mr. Koch?” Well, unfortunately he was totally inundated with fans, some of whom were passing business cards to him which kind of took the “wind out of my sails.” I didn’t think that a man such as that would want to be bothered by solicitors on such a festive occasion—so I ended up leaving him alone.

I proceeded to head over to the concession stand where I started looking over the bill of fare. As it turned out, I turned to my right and saw Mr. Koch coincidentally standing next to me pondering himself what to purchase. I was speechless. But fortune had smiled upon me and so I decided to strike up a conversation with him.

I told him that I had seen his stint on The History Channel’s program on brewing. I remarked that he had mentioned that when the founding fathers were planning The American Revolution they would throw a “kegger” as an incentive to get these patriots together to do the work that had to be done. He was totally amused by that. I was a hair’s breath away from tossing him a copy of my story, but fear and doubt got the better of me and I choked. I failed to promote myself and my love for his beer and an eager desire to work for his company.

I was very happy to have met him, but from that point forward I felt a pang of regret that I did not go the extra mile to make a real connection with this man and his organization. Regardless, the rest of the event for the evening and next day was absolutely incredibly awesome!

So I vowed to attend it again the following year.

As time went on throughout the year though the regret for not doing what I should have done loomed ever larger in my psyche. So I knew what I had to do.

By hook or by crook I had to get my story in the hands of Mr. Koch at the 8th Annual Samuel Adams Octoberfest!

Now I was on a mission. A whole year went by during which my wife and I went on a Californian odyssey, she got pregnant with our now wonderful daughter, and we bought a house. A very full year indeed. But still one thing remained unfinished.

September 5th, 2008 came rolling around and I was ready to attend to my task. I dined al fresco at P.F. Chang’s near Boston Common, and then showed up early at The Castle (across from the famed Park Plaza Hotel). I got in, got my complimentary stein and draught of Octoberfest (which that year’s batch was especially good by the way), and patiently waited hours for Jim to arrive.

And so he did. He gave a short speech about how great it was to be there, and then began to hang out with the crowd afterwards.

 

I tell you I simply could not relax all evening until I had completed my mission. I made my way through the crowd and finally after an entire year’s worth of recrimination and regret I got my chance for redemption.

I pulled out a folded up copy of my story and proceeded to hand it to this iconic figure.

“Mr. Koch, I meant to give this to you last year but didn’t get the chance; it is a story I wrote for this occasion.” I said.

Reading the title he replied with a smile, “The nectar of the gods. I love the title!”

Excitedly I added, “I really enjoyed your stint on The History Channel…”

“Oh yeah, you’re one of the few people who has actually seen that!” [I'm sure he was just being modest.]

I shook his hand and thanked him for giving the world a very fine beverage. And then I went on my merry way.

I was vindicated!

Mission Accomplished!

From that point forward I proceeded to have a most excellent time enjoying more Sam Adams varieties from the plucky Imperial Pilsner to the enigmatic Utopias. I spoke with many fellow beer aficionados about our favorite topic of the moment, and listened to the rompus oompah band, The Jolly Kopperschmidts, reminding me of my incredible 24 hours in Munich. But that is another story.

Whether or not Mr. Koch read the story is not as important as the fact that I had managed to summon up the guts to go back and give it to him. This was a lesson in life that everyone should learn from. Never be intimidated by your own fears and doubts, do what you set out to do and you will succeed in one way or another.

And then I proceeded to buy my yearly three cases of Octoberfest (to last me all Winter long), of which I’m drinking one right now as I write this…

See you at the 9th Annual Samuel Adams Octoberfest!