Piano Stories released...

Nikolas · Thu 24/01/2013 08:12:44

After bugging you about the videos, about the recordings, about the CD Cover, etc... I guess it's high time I also present the finished product (<-ugly word for music, but...).

Piano Stories For Piano, 4 hands

CLICK HERE TO GO TO THE CDBABY PAGE

You probably have seen the CDCover, but in any case here it is once again (for good measure of aesthetics):

So a few words about this project.

Quote from: The magnificent me!This is a project that's been released very recently, but some of the works in here date from the late 90s actually! Especially A rather innocent Incubus and How to live in an underground home are the oldest and both have been used in other forms in computer games, or theatrical plays... Other tunes are brand new completed in 2012. However, all the works in this album have been reworked, enhanced and orchestrated in order to work best for 2 pianist in a single piano! And the result is quite lovely, if I am to be honest... Me and Myrto Akrivou (the other pianist) agreed to also video tape ourselves while recording and this was a good thing, since I'm now able to offer a few youtube videos from the recording session, along with the art of Piero Pierini who is the artist who made the CD Cover, but also all the illustrations in the score

As promised now, here are the three youtube videos (and currently working on the 4th):

[embed=425,349]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2vQ72XYVmQ[/embed]

[embed=425,349]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cG1_I5QXNkE[/embed]

[embed=425,349]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PsdvCIwmJLQ[/embed]

Thanks for reading and enjoy...

CaptainD · Thu 24/01/2013 12:15:03

Congrats on the release Nick! I hope it proves popular.

Nikolas · Sun 03/02/2013 16:17:54

Sorry to bump this...

First of all, Captain D thanks...

I'd like to notify you that:

a. I think that this is an EP, of total length of about 16 minutes.
b. I've dropped the price from 6.99$ to 4.99$ instead, figuring that it's too pricey for a short length album.
c. I've also created a playlist with 5 out of 7 movements already in youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PsdvCIwmJLQ&list=PLEBuE5OWhpWK6VdF9hNqiIGxZBi78_7ar Once the rest are in youtube, I'll make sure to update the playlist, and notify you.

Thanks! ^_^

NickyNyce · Sun 03/02/2013 19:43:02

Congrats on the release Nick!

You guys are very talented. I enjoyed not only the music, but watching you guys perform the songs too.

Nikolas · Mon 04/02/2013 18:11:14

Thanks Nicky...

We had a lot of fun rehearsing these pieces, and I think that it shows... I'm head banging on No. 5!

cat · Mon 04/02/2013 19:26:58

Nice music! Too bad, there is no CD version.

Nikolas · Mon 04/02/2013 19:30:11

cat: It's 16 minutes in total, so it's not worth a CD I'm afraid. I'm trying to get more things recorded in order to get everything in a CD, but it's a bit complicated...

Other than that, if it's a quality issue, just let me know and I can send you the uncompressed files!

No probs here...

Thanks! ^_^

cat · Mon 04/02/2013 19:49:49

It's not a quality issue, it's just that we like to have CDs with nice covers that we can put on a shelf.

16 min is indeed a bit short for a CD, but once you manage to record more and make a CD, let me know!

Nikolas · Mon 04/02/2013 20:01:44

Quote from: cat on Mon 04/02/2013 19:49:49
It's not a quality issue, it's just that we like to have CDs with nice covers that we can put on a shelf.

16 min is indeed a bit short for a CD, but once you manage to record more and make a CD, let me know!

I see...

Thanks... I will let you know once a whole CD comes to fruition...

Nikolas · Tue 19/03/2013 07:31:25

Ok.

I'm bumping this, because I've got some great (personal *ahem*) news...

Piano Stories won the first prize in the 2nd International Composition Competition 'Artistes en Herbe'!

Following is the press release:

QuoteGreek Composer Nikolaos Sideris has won first prize in the 2nd International Composition Competition: "Artistes en Hebre". Supported by the Luxembourg Ministry of Culture, this prestigious competition attracted more than 220 entries from 17 countries.

The prolific composer won the Competition with "Piano Stories" - a piano work for four hands already published by Musica Ferrum, a publishing house which focuses on contemporary concert hall repertoire. The score is available worldwide in select music stores, as well as on Musica Ferrum's online platform.

Piano Stories will be performed in a Gala Concert, following the award ceremony, organized in collaboration with the Conservatory of Luxembourg City.

Nikolaos Sideris has also been invited to join the judging committee for the 2015 Artistes en Hebre Competition.

And here's a single video with the whole work (instead of individual movements in videos, which take up more time to load and play):

[embed=425,349]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UvrqRpZ63w4[/embed][/center[

CaptainD · Tue 19/03/2013 09:25:41

Congrast on the award Nick!

Ilyich · Tue 19/03/2013 11:33:19

Congratulations!

I've also finally listened to the piece itself - and it's pretty great! I love piano music of Bartok, Shostakovich, Prokofiev, Milhaud and the like, so this is right up my alley! It's lovely - diverse, inventive, encompassing a wide range of influences, yet having it's own tone, not at all extreme avant-gard, but not reactionary either, which is often the best route for contemporary music to take, in my opinion. Excellent work, sir!

Andail · Tue 19/03/2013 15:52:33

Congrats Nikolas!

kaput · Tue 19/03/2013 17:27:54

Very well done! After having a listen it's easy to see why you won. That's a pretty nice victory.

Nikolas · Tue 19/03/2013 18:19:33

Thanks guys! ^_^

Very happy right now! And it's not just the monetary award (which is very very nice of course), but also the fact that MY work is the best amongst some 220 other!

Tabata · Tue 19/03/2013 19:20:20

You really can be proud of your work and yourself!

Kasander · Wed 20/03/2013 01:12:56

Just purchased your Stories. I only wish this was LP, it ends so abruptly! :/ Hopefully you'll record a full-lenght album next time

Also, congratulations on the well-deserved award!

Nikolas · Wed 20/03/2013 04:30:03

Thanks people!

Kasander: when you say abruptly you mean that it ends like there's an error or something, or that it's short? If it's "just short" then this is how it is: around 16 minutes of music, as in an EP. f it's abruptly like in sudden then something is wrong... do let me know, please...

Kasander · Wed 20/03/2013 09:31:26

Sorry, it's just my poor English! Bad choice of words. What I meant was it ends so quickly. There are absolutely no errors and the music quality is excellent for mp3. But you know, these are short pieces and there's only seven of them. That's why I'm wishing for a full-lenght release next time

I know it's a completely different kettle of fish but it's a bit like with a good AGS short that lasts 30 minutes or so, it just leaves you craving for more adventure

Nikolas · Wed 20/03/2013 10:24:36

haha!

Cool...

Well.. I actually have more works around and I'm trying to get them recorded for a proper CD. If everything goes according to plan there might be a CD (around 50 minutes of music, with Piano Stories included) available around XMas 2013... We'll see...

But I'm very glad you enjoyed it!