2-4 July 2011:

Regrettably, Patrick Tabet has closed his “aimiklingsor93” channel on YouTube. This affects some of the earlier videos listed on these pages. The good news is that Christina has had his permission to repost them on her Aimi Kobayashi Fan’s channel, and reposting is under way. See her channel for the repostings or search on YouTube for the pieces you want; meanwhile I will update these pages as and when I get the time.

1999 — Age 3¼ to 4¼

Event/Date: PTNA? July/Aug 1999?

Piece(s) played: Two short pieces by Soe and Bartok.

Duration: 2:44

Posting details: cristeny 11 June 2010 (first posted by klingsor93, 5 November 2007).

YouTube

Comments: According to RainyTaro in a YouTube comment, “The M.C. introduces the former piece as ‘Robata no Furui otogi-banashi’, literally ‘An old fairly tale by the fireside’, composed by Soe? and the latter as Etude by Bartók. I can’t confirm who is Soe. it may be Shuzannu Soe — but I don't know the spelling.”

Unfortunately this clip is from behind the keyboard and does not show the hands. As PTNA competitions are held in July and August, Aimi would have been nearly four.

2000 — Age 4¼ to 5¼

Event/Date: PTNA? July/Aug 2000?

Piece(s) played: Two very short pieces — the first a minuet by Leopold Mozart. The second remains unidentified

Duration: 0:58

Posting details: cristeny, 11 June 2010 (first posted by klingsor93, 5 November 2007).

YouTube

Comments: Very stylish! Again, if this is a PTNA event, Aimi would have been approaching five years old.

Event/Date: PTNA? July/Aug 2000?

Piece(s) played: Beethoven Six Variations on “Nel cor più non mi sento” from Paisiello’s La molinara.

Duration: 5:16

Posting details: Aimiklingsor93, 9 November 2009.

YouTube (removed)

Comments: Without a doubt my favourite from this year. Drop dead gorgeous and convincing playing, with individual notes placed as if they were favourite dolls. Here Aimi knows exactly what she wants to achieve musically, and with her confident fluency she is already sounding almost like a professional. Note how well she keeps going through a brief moment of uncertainty (after 4:35) in the sixth variation.

2001 — Age 5¼ to 6¼

Event/Date: Unknown piano recital 2001

Piece(s) played: Clementi Sonatina in C major Op. 36 no. 3, first movement.

Duration: 3:30

Posting details: Aimiklingsor93, 8 November 2009; LVB1770, 6 March 2008.

YouTube link 1 (removed) YouTube link 2

Comments: For me, this is where Aimi first shows some of the qualities that make her so compelling. Here it is style, panache, relentlessly maintained tempo and drive through all technical difficulties, clarity, a range of sonority, and excellent phrasing. All reflecting the astonishingly early development of a musical sensibility that seems way beyond her years. Updated information on age (5) from Aimi’s EMI Japan pages.

Event/Date: Unknown

Piece(s) played: Two short unidentified pieces.

Duration: 1:19

Posting details: cristeny, 11 June 2010 (first posted by klingsor93, 5 November 2007).

YouTube

Comments: These pieces are perhaps too short and simple for Aimi to really show what she can do, but perfectly executed nonetheless. Age here is uncertain — Christina thinks she was four, not five. I’m leaving this in 2001 (age 5) until we know better.

2002 — Age 6¼ to 7¼

Event/Date: PTNA Competition no. 26, July/Aug 2002

Piece(s) played: Four pieces: 1. J. S. Bach, Two Part Invention no. 9, BWV 780;

2. Beethoven, Sonata no. 20 in G major Op. 49. no. 2 “Leichte Sonata”; 3. Johann Friedrich Burgmüller “La fileuse” (The Spinner), Etude no. 18 Op. 109; 4. unidentified.

Duration: See after each link.

Posting details: cristeny, 13 November 2009 (reposting in 4 parts)

Bach 2-Part Invention no. 9 1:45

Beethoven Leichte Sonata no. 2, 1st movement 2:59

Burgmüller La fileuse 1:07

Unidentified piece 1:51

Comments: Listed here in the order Aimi played them. The event, and therefore her age (6¾), are now established from information on Aimi’s EMI Japan pages (here, where the Burgmüller piece is shown). The two-part invention is the first Bach we hear from her. The videos are good for showing Aimi’s remarkable finger articulation and the smoothly flowing legato she achieves — best heard in the Burgmüller. Apart from one tiny mistake near the end, the Beethoven movement is finely and expressively performed.

2003 — Age 7¼ to 8¼

Event/Date: PTNA Competition no. 27, July/Aug 2003

Piece(s) played: Bach Three-Part Invention (Sinfonia) no. 2 in C minor BWV 788.

Duration: 2:00

Posting details: EMI Japan, December 2009; cristeny (YouTube) 11 June 2010.

EMI Japan link (direct play, needs Windows Media Player, can’t be played full screen); YouTube (lower quality but can be watched full screen)

Comments: A new posting (i.e. not seen before on YouTube) from Aimi’s Artist pages on the EMI Japan website (link), which also gives the event. All the other videos on that page are linked elsewhere in my catalogue here. “Studious” Bach — the inventions were exercises for his students — thoughtfully played by Aimi.

Event/Date: PTNA Competition no. 27, July/Aug 2003

Piece(s) played: Beethoven Piano Sonata no. 10 in G major, Op. 14, 1st movement, Allegro.

Duration: 4:39

Posting details: klingsor93, 5 November 2007; LVB1770 5 January 2008.

YouTube link 1 YouTube link 2

Comments: Aimi’s first real Beethoven sonata (if you except the Leichte sonata). Poor quality video, but sound is good. Assumed to be PTNA 2003 on basis of dress. Follow the development of this sonata in 2005 (see next page: the PTNA has posted audio of a complete performance). Aimi crafts this movement exquisitely well here.

Event/Date: PTNA Competition no. 27, July/Aug 2003

Piece(s) played: Schubert Impromptu Op. 90 no. 2 in E flat major.

Duration: 4:24

Posting details: Aimiklingsor93, 8 November 2009; cristeny 11 June 2010.

YouTube (Aimiklingsor) (removed, was 480p); YouTube (cristeny) 240p only.

Comments: See the comments on the YouTube pages — they say it all. An amazing and accomplished performance. Especially demanding for the right hand. Event info from Aimi's page on the EMI Japan website.

2004 — Age 8¼ to 9¼

Event/Date: PTNA Competition no. 28, July/Aug 2004

Piece(s) played: Beethoven Piano Sonata no. 5 in C minor (complete)

Duration: 14:46

Posting details: aimiklingsor93, 9 June 2011

YouTube link (Gone again!)

Comments: The second Beethoven sonata we hear from Aimi. This is just too beautiful, and it’s a must watch despite the poor colour. Her playing is now on a new, adult level, and she is making many of the movements one sees over the coming years. Listed as PTNA no. 28 on basis of info from EMI for the Nocturne below and the costume.

Compare with the next publishedf performance of this sonata in June 2005.

Event/Date: PTNA Competition no. 28, July/Aug 2004

Piece(s) played: Chopin Nocturne no. 20 in C sharp minor (Op. posth.)

Duration: 3:52

Posting details: cristeny, 11 June 2010 (first posting by klingsor93, 5 Nov 2007)

YouTube (cristeny)

EMI Japan link Needs WMP plugin..

Comments: Aimi begins her long and mysterious connection with this piece, which is now almost her signature tune. The video still on the right shows her in what appears to be a state of rapture as she plays the closing notes. Listen and you will be enraptured too! My goodness, she’s discovering how to play expressively. Event info from Aimi's EMI Japan page.

Event/Date: Unknown recital, 2004?

Piece(s) played: Chopin Etude Op. 25 no. 2.

Duration: 1:44

Posting details: siocanon, 1 December 2006; LVB1770, 5 January 2008.

YouTube link 1 YouTube link 2

Comments: A torrent of music from a nightingale. Ages given for the piece are uncertain and vary from 5 to 10! On the basis of the “edelweiss” skirt Aimi is wearing I’m placing this and the Beethoven sonata here, in her eighth year. Another demanding exercise for the right hand, flawlessly executed.

Event/Date: Unknown recital, 2004?

Piece(s) played: 1. J. S. Bach, Allemande from 6th French Suite; 2. Chopin, Mazurka no. 5 in B flat major, op. 7-1.

Duration: 3:41

Posting details: cristeny, 11 June 2010 (first posted by klingsor93, 5 November 2007).

YouTube (cristeny)

Comments: Brace your ears for the rather poor acoustic in this one: sounds like mics are too far back in an echoey hall. Aimi is wearing her “edelweiss” skirt, so clip is likely to be from around 2004.

Event/Date: Unknown recital, 2004?

Piece(s) played: Chopin Nocturne no 20 in C sharp minor (op. posth.)

Duration: 3:49

Posting details: tempuploader, 10 July 2007; LVB1770, 28 February 2008.

YouTube link 1 YouTube link 2

Comments: Immaculate. It is suggested that she is 8 or 9 here, but I have the feeling that this recording may be incorrectly placed and that it belongs in Aimi's tenth year — compare her costume and appearance to the Mozart Coronation performance below.

Notes for 2004

January 2004 Aimi competed in the final stage of the Fifth International Chopin Piano Competition in Asia, winning the Gold Prize at 1st and 2nd grade Elementary School level. (1) (Link: Past Winners' page 2004 on Chopin Competition site)

She made her concert debut with the Kyushu Symphony Orchestra. (3; no further info found)

She became the youngest winner ever of the PTNA piano competition at Junior G level (under 16s). (1,3) On page 2 of the PTNA News Letter 2004 we read, under the heading "8 year old girl amazed jury and audience":

"With her little body and small hands, an eight-year-old-girl exhibited outstanding maturity and infinite musical talent. She, Miss Aimi Kobayashi won at the grade under 15 years old (Jr. G grade), leaving other participants far behind. At the final round, she performed Beethoven Sonata No. 10-1, Chopin Etude op. 25-2 and Nocturne. Her music was really coming from inside, and was expressed thoroughly on the piano. . . ." [The Newsletter says under 15, but in fact it is under 16s]

Some time when she was eight (between September 2003 and August 2004), Aimi was taken on as a pupil by Japan’s foremost piano teacher, Yuko Ninomiya (although she and her family didn’t move to Tokyo until February 2007. To have her lessons with Mrs Ninomiya, Aimi had to shuttle regularly by plane between Ube and the capital). To mark this development in her career, my chronological listing continues on the next page.

Next page: Video Catalog page 2 (8-12 years)

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Page created 25 April 2009; updated 15 July 2011

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