I love Idan Raichel

This past weekend we did a wedding at Central Synagogue. The bride & groom requested we do an Idan Raichel song Mi Ma'amakim, which means "from the depths." We arranged it for piano, string quartet, flute and we were honored to accompany Cantor Angela Buchdahl who has a voice like rich velvet. It's a gorgeous love song.

From the depths I called to you, come to me
With your return the light in my eyes will return
[It's] not finished, Your touch does not leave
May it come and give light what one hears in your laughter
From the depths I called to you, come to me
By a moon lighting your way back to me
Spread and melted with the touch of your hand
A questioner whispers in your ear

I love St. Bartholomew's Church

We were very fortunate to perform a gorgeous ceremony at St. Bartholmew's Church this past month. The music director there is William Trafka who is without a doubt one of the finest organist's in the world. It is an understatement to say we were thrilled to work with him.  http://www.stbarts.org/organ.asp

The organ itself is spectacular and for over ninety years St. Bartholomew’s Church has been an important factor in American church music with a large professional choir, active music program and one of the largest pipe organs to be found in an American church. Over several decades, the choir's repertoire grew to include many oratorios and other large works, and the organ was enlarged through successive rebuildings to become of an exceptional instrument for choral accompaniment, for the leading of congregational singing and for the performance of a broad spectrum of organ literature. The Organ comprises 168 stops, 225 ranks and 12,422 pipes throughout the church. You can easily take advantage of this amazing music each sunday for free.

In addition, we performed with Anthony Morgan's Inspirational Choir Of Harlem with a special guest appearance by Davell Crawford. http://davellcrawford.com/  Talk about raising the roof. They gave us goosebumps.

Pilley with William Trafka & The Rev. Lynn Sanders going over the processional

Pilley & Davell Crawford

It was a musical high for us on many levels merging all of these different elements for a truly personalized and emotional ceremony.

and more nigel hess!

Now 2 of my favorites, Nigel Hess with Joshua Bell. This is from Ladies in Lavender. We are performing this on Saturday and sooooo looking forward to playing it.

i love nigel hess

Continuing on my choral quest is this gorgeous composition by Nigel Hess. It's the Jubilate Deo for choir and organ. Since we don't always have a choir available, we have transcribed it for quartet and piano.

So amazing....

I love In Trutina

I haven't blogged in a while because our schedule has been so busy.  We've been performing at some amazing Cathedrales in NYC that I will feature in the next few weeks.  Since we've been on sacred ground, I've been exploring lesser known classical works that have been approved by the church.  One of my new favorites and now a staple in our repertoire is "In Trutina" by Carl Orff. 

"In Trutina" originates from the song cycle Carmina Burana.  Carmina Burana, latin for "Songs from Beuern" is the name given to a manuscript of 254 poems and dramatic texts written by medieval monks at a monastery in Benediktbeuern from the 11th or 12th centruy. Carl Orff (1895 - 1982) wrote a secular cantata, titled "Carmina Burana" based on the poems from the manuscript but did not use any of the original melodies.  It is gorgeous as an instrumental or with Soprano.  We have been performing it in both formats with our own arrangements.  Enjoy.

In trutina mentis dubia
Fluctuant contraria
Lascivus amor et pudicitia
Sed eligo quod video
Collum iugo prebeo
Ad iugum tamen suave transeo

[English translation:]

In my own wavering balance
Desire fluctuates with modesty
But I choose what I see
I bow my neck to the yoke
For the burden is sweeter after all
And so I take it upon me

i love angel orensanz

Last evening I did a gorgeous, intimate ceremony at Angel Orensanz.  Because only immediate family was in attendance, Jung Lee http://www.feteny.com/ filled the space with hundreds of votive candles so that the entire room glittered.  She also brought in a beautiful black baby grand for me to play Chopin & Debussy for this quirky & sublimely elegant European couple.  

It's a fantastic & magical space, but you will definately need a great designer/planner. 

http://www.orensanzevents.com/

i love south carolina

This month I was invited to perform in my childhood town of Spartanburg, South Carolina. I had not been back to perform since I was 16 when I played the Schumann Piano Concerto with the Spartanburg Philharmonic.  Keith Plumley orchestrated the entire event which was at the beautiful Unitarian Universalist Church where he is Music Director. We did a program with 2 pianos (supplied by Case Brothers Pianos, mmmmwwaahhhh) violin & cello. My husband Jay Bianchi accompanied me on piano as well as Bonnie Lee Mizzell on violin & Ted Luckenburg on cello. They did an incredible job!

Local writer, Janice Baynes wrote a wonderful article promoting me which you can find at http://www.goupstate.com/article/20100715/ARTICLES/7151006/1097/entertainment?Title=Renowned-pianist-Bianchi-returns-for-rare-performance  Thank you Janice!

The audience was generous & incredibly appreciative.  It was truly a magical musical experience for me.  I sang mostly covers with our own interpretation and chose the songs to reflect the southern rock/pop music that I grew up listening to.  The Marshall Tucker Band is from Spartanburg, so I did a swampy, ethereal version of Toy Caldwell's CAN'T YOU SEE.  This song is a beautiful & haunting composition that The MTB made famous with their jangly guitars, earthy vocals and jazzy flute.  I was a little nervous about presenting it in such a stripped down, exposed manner, but it was received with open arms & enthusaism from this gracious southern audience. 

I can't wait to come back again and play.  I heart Spartanburg.