In this video, I take an in-depth look at a remarkable French pianist from the early 20th century, Alfred Cortot. Cortot was a major influence on inspiring me to become a pianist, and I highly recommend exploring his bold and highly imaginative playing.
Cole Anderson
Hello, my name is Cole. I've been playing the piano for most of my life, and I love sharing my passion for music and the piano with all music lovers.
Schubert F# minor Sonata (mvt 4)
This video completes my series on Schubert’s F# minor Sonata D.571. In this movement we have the final, again, with a completion by Malcom Bilson. You can also go here, to find a video with a performance of the entire sonata, with no spoken introduction.
Schubert F# minor Sonata (Mvts 2 and 3)
Today is part two of my series on Schubert’s unfinished F# minor sonata, covering movements 2 and 3. The 2nd movement I play here is the standard choice that is usually associated with this piece, but for the 3rd movement, I prefer to use a minuet and trio that was Continue Reading
Albéniz: Sevilla
Today we have a bright, lively bit of music from Spanish composer Isaac Albéniz. Composed in the 1880’s, it was pieces like this that first really made Albéniz’s name, although it was his masterwork, the Iberia suite for solo piano, composed from 1905-1909, that gave him the reputation he continues Continue Reading
Schubert F# minor Sonata D.571 mvt 1
In today’s post we are looking at what I consider to be the greatest among Schubert’s unfinished piano Sonatas. He wrote this piece in 1817, at the tender age of 20, and it is one of the first pieces that he wrote in this genre that seems to be looking Continue Reading
Schubert Impromptu Op. 90 No. 2
Today’s post is one of my favorite Schubert pieces. Schubert’s Impromptus are short to moderately long character pieces that were an inspiration to the next generation of Romantic composers like Schumann, Liszt, Mendelssohn, Brahms and others. This one starts out having almost the character of a Ländler (a popular Austrian Continue Reading
Chopin, Étude in C major, Op.10 no.1
In today’s post, we are dipping into the world of the piano etude. An etude ostensibly exists for the sole purpose of developing the pianist’s technical skill while at the same time providing interesting musical material, and Chopin was preceded in the genre by composers like Clementi, Cramer and Czerny. Continue Reading
Gershwin/Grainger, “The Man I Love”
My very first (of many) posts featuring the music of George Gershwin. This is the composer’s own arrangement (from 1932) of this unforgettable tune. Percy Grainger made his own slightly altered version of this arrangement in 1944, which is what I am playing today. In the video I also touch Continue Reading
Rachmaninoff Concerto 1: 2nd and 3rd movements
Happy New Year! Today’s post completes my recording of Rachmaninoff’s 1st concerto, with the 2nd and 3rd movements. Be sure to also check out my first post covering movement 1 here. The 2nd movement of this concerto is a sentimental favorite of mine, and is probably my favorite single work Continue Reading
Percy Grainger: Blithe Bells
Today’s video is a rarely played arrangement of one of the most famous J.S. Bach pieces of all time, the aria “Sheep may safely graze,” from his cantata BWV 208. It’s a highly imaginative arrangement, that in no way tries to be precise in transcribing the original. In effect Continue Reading