8 Plus Hands

This past Sunday, I was fortunate to be part of an eight hand piano gathering at the home Juli Innman in Napa to read through arrangements of Symphonies by John Poole. Seven pianists gathered to play symphonies by Schubert, Mendelssohn, Mozart, Beethoven and Dvorak as well a transcription of Gounod's Faust. John has promised to provide a link to the session with a list of the works we played. Coming soon.....

The Guests

Of course the 100th anniversary party for our 1908 Steinway would not have been a success without the guests...




enjoying the libations...


...guests in shadow...


...relaxing before the music begins again...

...waiting for a turn at the piano


...Patti after her splendid performance of the Berg Sonata

...And some comments from the guests...

Thanks for the well tempered party. Everything is in key! - Liang & John
We're happy to help you celebrate your piano's 100th birthday - Verity & Ed
What a perfect 100th Birthday celebration for your "baby" (grand) - Toni D.
This is what music should be - enjoyed! - Tamara L.
Loved your food - Gary D.
What a great idea to celebrate the 100th B-day of the Piano! - Nancy D.
To Steinway, Melissa and David - Happy Birthday! Looking forward to the
150th Birthday party! - Miwa & Ron
All the best to you, 1908 Steinway A! To the next 100 years! - Janet C.

...and many, many more lovely salutations and felicitations.

Thanks to everyone who made our party for our Steinway so special and memorable.

Beautiful Day

We had a beautiful day for our party celebrating the 100th anniversary of our Steinway Piano...no fog!

balloons and just a hint of Halloween provide a festive atmosphere


on our deck and...

in the house...the bar...

David in the kitchen with camera...

Eat / Drink

There was quite a bit of eating and drinking at our party to celebrate the 100th year of our Steinway Model A Piano....

The Menu
Black and White Libations

Truffle Oil Infused Popcorn
Tapenade-Stuffed Eggs with Caviar
Tea Sandwiches
Chicken with Dill Butter
Roast Beef with Horseradish Cream Cheese
Cream Cheese with Cucumber and Watercress
Sausage Rolls
Assorted salami
Vegetarian Sushi
Black Olives with Feta Cheese
Black Grapes with Brie Cheese
Figs Stuffed with Gorgonzola
Mini Gougeres (little cheese puffs)
Plums

White and Dark Chocolate Squares
Oreos
Black and White Shortbread Cookies
Black and White M&Ms

French Opera Cake with Raspberry Cream and Chocolate Ganache

White and Red Wine
White and Dark Beer
Sparkling Water


the sushi platter, feta cheese and olives peeking out from the side - truffle oil infused popcorn missing from the bowl...


our sausage shrine to Spanish composer Albeniz. The sign reads:
Isaac Manuel Francisco Albéniz i Pascual a Spanish pianist and composer best known for his piano works based on folk music. In 1908 he composed his most famous work, Iberia, a suite of twelve piano "impressions".
Albéniz died on 18th May 1909 at age 48 in Cambo-les-Bains and is buried in the Cementiri del Sudoest, Barcelona.
Albeniz loved sausages and was reputed to wash them down with copious amounts of gin, which may have hastened his demise.


...the tea sandwiches on black and white bread along with the figs...


Oreos (very popular at the party) and the shortbread cookies


lovely grapes from the farmer's market with brie

Steinway Birthday Cake

Ian Farrell --- pastry chef god at Oracle bakes again!


The cake arrives (Friday, September 26)...


snug it its bakery box ...


now out of the box for the party.

The cake was made for us by Ian the pastry chef at Oracle's 300 Cafe. It is a chocolate raspberry opera cake with milk chocolate, white chocolate and gold leaf.


Ian makes the most amazing pastries...one year he made me a pink and white purse cake for my birthday

Email Ian if you'd like him to make you a cake. Read about him here (2005 article).

Happy Birthday to our Steinway

On Saturday, September 27, David Saslav and I held a birthday party for our 100 year old Steinway. 50 guests attended and 13 pianists played piano works from 1908. Composers represented were: Bartok, Berg, Botsford, Debussy, Joplin, Ravel and Satie in addition to a variety of popular tunes from 1908 improvised by one of our guests. We all sang "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" the 1908 version --- the year it was written. I started the musical festivities with Debussy's "Golliwogg's Cakewalk" from the "Children's Corner" written in 1908.

Listen to my recording of "Golliwogg's Cakewalk":
http://renditionsmusic.com/golliwog.mp3