PIANO STYLINGS by Dorothy Motto
...from her home studio on the infamous Technics digital piano model PR903 (Panasonic)
Embraceable You.
Our Love is Here to Stay
Familiar but unnamed tune for now.
Love Story Theme
Moon River
I Left My Heart in San Francisco
When You Meet a Boy.
Smoke Gets in Your Eyes.
Chopin Nocturne in Eb (Tonight We Love)
Chopin Polonaise in Ab
Unknown title but could be another Chopin
Liebenstraum
[MP3 audio hotlink] [MPEG4 video download] [Other formats at archive.org]
Rick's comment
Dorothy admired Liberace, Carmen Cavallaro and Eddie Duchin among others so I asked ChatGPT to compare Cavallaro and Duchin. It turns out Dorothy's playing is sort of halfway between them. Liberace was more toward the Cavallero side but Dorothy Motto's "piano stylings" which I NOW understand as "interpretations" fall in the intersection of all of those. I'm nowhere near any of them, including Dorothy and that's why we worked for the audience when we took turns. I'm more like Roger Williams I think with a great deal more simplicity and precision with less flair. Here's ChatGPT's understanding of Cavallar and Duchin, very interesting. ...
My prompt:
What would say the playing style of eddie duchin was like compared to carmen cavallaro?
Answer:
Eddie Duchin and Carmen Cavallaro were both highly popular and successful pianists and bandleaders in the mid-20th century, known for their elegant and romantic styles. However, there were key differences that defined their playing:
**Eddie Duchin:**
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**Showmanship and Charisma:** Duchin was a master showman. His performance was as much about the visual spectacle as it was about the music. He was known for his dramatic flair, tossing his head, and playing with a flourish.
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**Simplified Melodies and Rhythmic Emphasis:** Duchin focused on relatively simple, memorable melodies played with a strong, rhythmic emphasis. He often used a repetitive, almost hypnotic, rhythm that was very danceable.
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**"Duchin Touch":** His signature sound was a bright, clear, and somewhat percussive touch. He emphasized clarity over complex ornamentation.
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**Less Improvisational:** While he could improvise, his arrangements were generally more structured and less improvisational than Cavallaro's.
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**Vocal Emphasis:** Often featured vocalists prominently in his band, using them to carry the melodies and enhance the romantic atmosphere.
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**Popular Appeal:** Duchin's style was geared towards a wider, more popular audience. His music was easily accessible and had a "feel-good" quality.
**Carmen Cavallaro:**
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**Technical Virtuosity:** Cavallaro was a far more technically gifted pianist than Duchin. He possessed exceptional finger dexterity and a wider range of harmonic and melodic vocabulary.
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**Elaborate Ornamentation:** He was known for his intricate embellishments, trills, and runs. He could take a simple melody and transform it into a dazzling display of pianistic skill.
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**Fluid and Lyrical:** Cavallaro's playing was characterized by a smooth, flowing, and lyrical quality. His tone was rich and expressive.
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**More Improvisational:** He was more inclined to improvise and vary his arrangements, showcasing his improvisational prowess.
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**Sophisticated Harmonies:** Used more complex and sophisticated harmonic structures, giving his music a more refined and sophisticated sound.
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**Pianistic Focus:** Cavallaro's bands centered more on his piano playing. Vocals and other instrumental elements were often used to complement his piano work, not to dominate it.
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**Sophisticated Audience:** Appealed to a more discerning audience who appreciated musical sophistication.
**In Summary:**
* **Duchin:** More about showmanship, clear melodies, strong rhythms, and popular appeal. Think of a romantic crooner playing piano.
* **Cavallaro:** More about technical virtuosity, elaborate ornamentation, improvisational skill, and sophisticated harmonies. Think of a concert pianist who also plays popular tunes.
You could say Duchin was more of an entertainer with a piano, while Cavallaro was a pianist who entertained.
**Rick's Comment on Dorothy Motto's Stylings**
Dorothy loved being an entertainer and wore the flashy vests and jackets on stage. She fudged a lot of things leaving accuracy behind in favor of flashy runs, so in this way, she was a Liberace or Duchin. Her memory of pop tunes and entire sets of songs without having to refer to notes or music, however, makes her more like a Cavallaro because she was indeed accurate to an astonishing degree. Even after listening to her in public for many years, she would suddenly erupt with a famous tune I had never heard her play before. I'd have to look it up as if she were some sort of early form of AI in human form or a human juke box. She used all 88 keys where I was more toward 77 or 61. I learned a lot by watching her. This review doesn't even touch her familiarity and confidence with audiences but that's for another post.
