Honens @ Home: Yoon-Jee Kim performs Haydn

07/01/21 • 7 min

This week, we head back to the 2015 Honens International Piano Competition to a performance from Semifinalist Yoon-Jee Kim. In her Semifinals Solo Round, Yoon-Jee played Charles-Valentin Alkan's arrangement of Haydn's Symphony No. 94 in G Major.

There has been lots of speculation about how this piece got its nickname, "Surprise Symphony." According to one colourful account, it was during a performance when Haydn, serving as conductor, impulsively altered the dynamics in the second movement. "Haydn had already given the downbeat to begin the movement when the gentle snores of a front-row patron piqued his sense of humour. He and his musicians forged ahead with the little theme until reaching its final chord, for which Haydn cued an immense fortissimo (loud tone) bringing the drowsy patron to his feet."

Enjoy, but beware of listening while drowsy!

Watch the video edition of this excerpt at honens.com/home.

Enjoy, but beware of listening while drowsy!

Watch the video edition of this excerpt at honens.com/home.

Previous Episode

Honens @ Home: Samson Tsoy performs J.S.E. Bach

Today, we are pleased to feature 2015 Honens Semifinalist Samson Tsoy's performance of C.P.E. Bach's Sonata in G minor Wq. 65/17.

Carl Philipp Emmanuel (C.P.E.) Bach and three of this brothers all became professional musicians, each trained almost entirely by their famous father, Johann Sebastian. Like many fathers, J.S. wanted his sons to have careers to fall back on, especially since, at the time, uneducated musicians were often treated as servants.

Before taking on music full-time, C.P.E. obtained a degree in law. As it turned out, he never needed his law degree as he went on to become a very famous musician in his own right. A well-respected keyboardist and composer, C.P.E. Bach is known for bridging the gap between the Baroque and Classical eras.
-
Watch the video edition of this excerpt at honens.com/home.

Next Episode

Honens @ Home: Stefano Andreatta performs Rachmaninov

In this episode, you'll hear a masterwork—Sergei Rachmaninov's Piano Sonata No. 2 in B-flat minor Op. 36, performed by 2018 Honens Semifinalist Stefano Andreatta.

Rachmaninov composed his piano music for himself. He was an amazing virtuoso with a secret weapon ... enormous hands! With his fingers spread, his reach was 12 notes wide, or an octave and a half. Those big intervals are an extra challenge for other pianists learning his work.

Watch the video edition of this excerpt at honens.com/home.