be the food of love….
We had alot of music in the house this weekend, due to concerts and, well, maybe the sun, maybe Tilly’s death. Anyway, M on the violin, learning fourth finger position (don’t ask me, but it’s difficult) with impeccable (examiner’s word) tuning, and E returning to Chopin’s Raindrop Prelude, which he played in last autumn’s Kent Piano Festival. He’s brushing this piece up for a winner’s concert on 8 June at 3 pm, in St Peter’s Church in Canterbury, if anybody’s interested.
I simply love hearing my children play music. It has the same effect on me as reading poetry. More than that (of what I don’t know, but more of it) indeed. How often have I just stopped outside the closed sitting room doors, just to listen…
Here’s the Raindrop Prelude, played by someone else, but at a similar speed to E. I find it hugely powerful, always have.
7 comments
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May 12, 2008 at 2:19 pm
Sue Guiney
Thank you for this little gift. The piece is so beautiful, and I really need it today. I’m sitting here waiting for the arrival of my books, and with every passing minute I feel the panic rising higher and higher in my chest. This bit of Chopin really helped!
May 12, 2008 at 2:38 pm
pdom
Sue, I hope they come soon. And I’m glad you enjoyed…
xxoo
May 12, 2008 at 3:25 pm
Caroline
I know this piece - it is most beautiful.
Music stirs my past and forces reaction. A house filled with music is a gift. Cherish.
x
May 12, 2008 at 7:23 pm
pdom
Thank you Caroline. Exactly. The reaction is visceral.
xxoo
May 12, 2008 at 9:01 pm
tamsindonner
that was so beautiful, P. thank you. i love chopin, a dancer’s composer, among other things..i was also fascinated by his hands: now there’s a man who will never get carpel tunnel. perfect placement.
M. is on 4th finger placement, already? i used to play. that is very difficult. how is her vibrato? that was my downfall: quit and dedicated all my time to ballet, never looked back.
i am so glad for this little entry you gave us. i was there with you, standing outside that door. sun. music, peace.
with love,
mom
May 13, 2008 at 6:11 am
truthoughts
I am glad that I found your site and I am enjoying your posts. I have never heard that song before, but I felt lost in it. I think that my favorite part was toward the ending. It was like watching memories converge to the present (not sure if that made any sense)… or like ripples in a dark pond.
Anyway, thank you for sharing that… it was lovely.
Alison
May 13, 2008 at 9:00 am
pdom
Hello Mom and truthoughts…So glad you enjoyed this. Even today coming back from school drop-off, I was humming it! and yes truthoughts, it does converge in a spectacular way, everything seeming to come back to us…
Violin — yes, she’s got nimble fingers. She’s not nearly at vibrato yet (at least another year I think?), but her teacher is technically very sound and keen to get her fingerwork coming naturally. He’s been teaching for many, many years and has a vast store of pieces, some very old, so every once in a while she pitches up with these rather dusty, beautiful folk tunes that utilise her technique but aren’t boring like scales etc. And with R always ready on piano to accompany her, it’s just wonderful….