Ask Greg & Liz: Libertango

 

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Dear Greg and Liz,

I was just sent your wondrously passionate Libertango from someone I want to love but has a long-distance (American) lover. I'm assuming she (a Koren) and I (a Canadian) will become special friends. But as the 'other' man, I want to seek those remote possibilites. I've just spent an hour trying to decifer every important word by the 'narrator' but missing the complete. Would you kindly send me the proper wordage. I can, at least, give it (plus your CD)to her as a friend's Christmas present. Please hurry, if you can, 'cause time is running out on a move to win her over.

- Alun Josef Seguin

 

Dear Alun,

 

Thanks so much for your interesting question!

 

Here is the wording of the "Libertango" video. Contrary to what one might expect, the script is not from an actual textbook or lecture; this brainy yet fictitious jargon was written exclusively for this video by a friend who has a science degree! It is simply a pseudo-scientific soliloquy filled with double entendres:

 

"...the force between two oppositely charged masses depends on the magnitude and distribution of charge in each body and the distance between them. The force is inversely proportioned to the square of the distance between the two bodies, resulting in moderate attraction when removed from one another but exponentially greater attraction when in close proximity...."

*performance*

"....towards one another and collide in a cycle whose duration depends on the elasticity of the collision. The bodies ultimately will come to rest together with the initial potential energy of their electrostatic attraction having been dissipated through the kinetic energy of their collision."

 

Enjoy and good luck with all your endeavors! ;)

 

Cheers and Happy New Year,
Greg & Liz (Dec. 30, 2008)

 

Dear Greg and Liz,

I'm a pianist myself from Switzerland and stumbled upon your Libertango video on Youtube and thought the arrangement was really awesome! For a Conservatory end project we have to organize a concert to give and since my topic will be "love" I would so much like to play this piece and include it in my program; it is ideal with all the passion and looks like a lot of fun to play too. I read that the arrangement will be for sale after 2010. Would there be any possibility I could get/buy a score of your arrangement before? I was so excited to read on your site that you sold your arrangements, and then so dissapointed this one wasn't ready yet. I would like to play it so much (I love playing Piazzolla) and my concert will be already coming April. Thanks so much!

 

Hello,

 

Thanks so much for your message and your interest in our Piazzolla arrangement. Unfortunately, due to legal reasons, we are unable to provide the composition to the public at the current time. (We wish we could make exceptions, we really do!) We're sorry we cannot accommodate your request but we appreciate your enthusiasm for our arrangement.

 

Have you considered some of Barber's "Souviners" or Schoenberg's Waltzes (shockingly tonal!) for four hands/one-piano? They may fit your topic well. :-)

 

Best wishes for your upcoming concert and have fun!

 

- Greg & Liz (Dec. 30, 08)

 

Dear Greg and Liz,

I love watching you play! I don't know when these other questions were posted, but I was wondering if there was any progress on the Libertango arrangement yet? It looks like so much fun to play!

- Lydia

 

Hi Lydia,

 

You're right! We really ought to start dating these. November 1st, 2008.

 

...no progress on the "Libertango" arrangement yet... We've been really excited about some of our upcoming projects (new videos -- some live performances and some fancy, wild Anderson & Roe-style music videos! new compositions and arrangements! new repertoire! new ways of presenting old music!), and so we haven't gotten around to tending to the legalities and manuscripts. But fear not! It's still on our list of things to do! As we stated in a previous question and answer, we intend to release "A New Account of the Blue Danube Waltzes" somtime in 2010, and it's likely that "Libertango" will follow not too long after.

- Greg & Liz

 

Dear Greg and Liz!

I was just wondering if and when you are going to publish your amazing, unique compositions??

- John R.

 

Dear John,

 

We were just talking about that topic recently! Here's the good and bad news:

 

Good news #1: We plan to make our "New Account of the Blue Danube Waltzes" available for sale in 2010.

 

Good news #2: Many of our favorite compositions are already for sale. Please visit the Compositions page for more information.

 

Good news #3: More compositions and arrangements are on their way, including a series of encores for piano/four-hands. We'll let our mailing list know as these pieces become available.

 

Bad news #1: There are still copyright issues pertaining to the "Star Wars Fantasy" that we haven't tended to. We're too excited about our upcoming projects to worry about our past ones!

 

Bad news #2: There are still copyright issues pertaining to the "Libertango" that we have yet to tend to. We really do hope to get around to this someday, and we'll let our mailing list know as soon as that day arrives.

 

Thank you so much for your interest in our music!

 

- Greg & Liz

 

Dear Greg & Liz,

We were in the audience yesterday in Mahtomedi and were blown away by your artistry, virtuousity and passion. Rite of Spring was breathtaking. It was all breathtaking! Thank you so much for your sharing this wonderful music with us. Now, a question. How do you achieve the captivating sounds on Libertango? Do you pluck the strings, or mute them with your hands? Where did you get this idea? The result is utterly magical, almost intoxicating. Have you considered taking that compositional element and improvising further with it? Please consider it! Thanks again for a wonderful performance.

- Karlyn Eckman

 

Dear Karlyn,

 

Thanks! We had a fantastic time performing in Mahtomedi and we're thrilled that you enjoyed the concert!

 

We mute strings while playing our arrangement of Libertango. In creating the transcription, we wanted to find a way to bring the melody to the fore, like a violin singing out over a tango band. Unfortunately, the dense musical textures created by four hands at one piano make such an effect difficult, and the piano is not capable of creating a sultry and singing tone like that of a violin. We figured if we made the rest of the piano sound bad, perhaps the melody would sound better. Hence, the muting of specific strings.

 

...not to mention, we like to explore places that are typically unseen... ;-)

 

- Greg & Liz

 

Dear Greg & Liz,

I think that you are wonderfullll! I first saw u yesterday on Youtube and I'm AMAZED!!! I also play the piano, and I am playing with my twin sister also...we won some european competitons..but..doesn't matter, my question is: PLEASE, how can I reach the scores (sheet music, music notes) for your version of libertango??! looot of regards from Serbia

- Melita

 

Dear Melita,

 

Thanks for your interest (and everybody else's for that matter)! Unfortunately the music is not available to the public, due to a number of issues and complications. If we ever make the score available, we'll inform our mailing list. In the meantime, we suggest you view our "compositions" page to learn about our other arrangements and original compositions that are for sale!

 

- Greg & Liz

Dear Greg & Liz,

I read your answer about why the Libertango score is not for sale yet, but I am wondering how soon you think it might be - would it be a matter of months, or years possibly? Thanks!

- Annee

 

Dear Annee,

 

Thanks for your interest (and everybody else's for that matter)! We can't promise anything regarding the release of the Libertango score (lots of complications, lots of complications...). At the very earliest: a year from now; at the latest: five to ten years from now. We'll definitely send a message to the mailing list when the day finally arrives!

 

However, we have some other plans up our sleeves that may interest you. This summer we hope to create a new series of arrangements for one-piano/four-hands -- arrangements that don't come plagued with copyright issues, arrangements that are equally cool and virtuosic, and arrangements that are... just... better (we have a lot more experience at this point). We'll be sure to let the mailing list know when these virtuoso four-hand pieces are ready.

 

Thanks for your patience Annee!

 

- Greg & Liz

 

Dear Greg & Liz,

How can I get the score to your piano duo arrangement of Piazzolla's Libertango?
- multiple questioners

 

Dear Libertango aficionados,

 

Thank you for your interest in our music! Unfortunately the Libertango arrangement is not for sale. Not only have we decided to make a couple of our arrangements exclusive for a while (we know, how nasty of us!), but several of our scores are still completely illegible and face an onslaught of copyright issues. The day we get around to settling these copyright issues and notate the messy handwritten manuscripts into the computer, we will post the news on our website and email our mailing list. We hope that day won't be too far into the future, but we honestly cannot predict when this will be!

 

However, in the meantime, there are a number of other scores available for purchase. Visit the compositions page for more information. For those of you looking for wild four-hand/one-piano music, consider the Sabre Dance arrangement. Additionally, you will be able to hear several of our compositions on the upcoming Anderson & Roe Piano Duo CD, to be released later this fall, including "Erbarme Dich," "The Cat's Fugue," "The Cuckoo in Sussex," and "The Swan," all available for sale.

 

- Greg & Liz

 

Dear Greg & Liz,

Is it possible to get your trancription of Piazzolla Libertango. It is amazing, I cant stop watching your video!

Anna

 

Dear Anna,

 

The quick answer: no, not yet. Please see our response to this question later down on this page for more information!

 

Thanks for your interest!

- Greg & Liz

 

Dear Greg & Liz,

I am a young pianist and absolutely love your work. I was wondering if your transcriptions for piano were available anywhere on paper. Thanks.

Tamara

 

Dear Tamara,

 

Thank you for your interest! You are certainly not the first person to inquire about the availability of our music, and we say the same thing to everyone:

 

Unfortunately, we've decided to keep a couple of our scores "exclusive" for a while (how very nasty of us!), and we're limited by copyright restrictions on the Star Wars Fantasy.

 

That said, we sell the scores to two of our transcriptions, namely our four-hand/one-piano arrangement of Khachaturian's Sabre Dance and our two-piano arrangement of Bach's "Erbarme Dich" from the Saint Matthew Passion. You can watch a small excerpt from a live performance of the Sabre Dance on Greg's website here. It's typical Anderson & Roe flair and fury. You can listen to "Erbarme Dich" performed by the Anderson & Roe Piano Duo on Greg's CD, "On Wings of Song," available for purchase here.

 

Both of these score are $10. To purchase, send us an email (andersonroe@yahoo.com) and we'll send you a PayPal invoice. Also, check back later or join the mailing list. We will be sure to update the website as more compositions and arrangements become available.

 

- Greg & Liz