Music

Of all musical genres, my real love is classical music. I grew up playing Beethoven and Chopin on the piano. Someday I'll include the story how I obtained my baby grand piano. Among keyboard works, I enjoy those of Bach (on harpsichord or piano), Beethoven, Chopin, Percy Grainger, Grieg (especially the Lyric Pieces), Mendelssohn, Ravel, and Scarlatti.

These are some of the pieces I like to (try to) play when I have a few minutes free:

• Grieg: Lyric Pieces
  • Sailor's Song
  • Grandmother's Minuet
  • Cradle Song
  • Once Upon A Time
  • Summer Evening
  • Remembrances
• MacDowell: Woodland Sketches
  • To A Wild Rose
  • At An Old Trysting Place
  • A Deserted Farm
• Beethoven: Piano Sonatas
  • Op. 13, "Pathetique"
  • Op. 14, No. 1
  • Op. 31, No. 2, "Tempest," 3rd movement (my second favorite)
  • Op. 49, No. 1
  • Op. 57, "Appassionata," 2nd movement
  • Op. 90 (my favorite)
• Percy Grainger: Country Gardens (very difficult but rewarding!)
• Schubert: Moments Musicaux nos. 2, 3
• Sibelius: Romance in D flat
• Handel: The Harmonious Blacksmith (one of the first pieces I ever learned, as a young tyke)

I also enjoy the symphonic music of Beethoven, Brahms, Dvorak, Haydn, Mendelssohn, Prokofiev, Schubert, Schumann, and Sibelius. I have a special fondness for Scandinavian composers: Grieg, Nielsen, Gade. I recently listened to wonderful works by Stenhammar and Halvorsen. So, is Sibelius Scandinavian or not? (He was from Finland.)

Of non-classical music, I listen mostly to 60's pop, 70's and 80's blues-rock, and folk (for which I thank Sally Greenberg). Someday I'll list them all, but for now I'd just like to point out that you can view the lyrics of some of my favorite songwriters here.

You can view my list of music links.

Last updated Wednesday 25 March 2009