It Was Heavenly

Last night's string quartet was heavenly. . . so enjoyable, as we tried to work our way through the complex, yet passionate and beautiful 1st movement of Brahms' String Quartet, Opus 51, in c minor.

At times, we sounded almost as good as this recording, as played by a professional quartet, but we still have a lot of work to do on this one!

Listen here:
http://www.musicinventions.org/tunes/brahms.mp3

Bruckner's Symphony No. 8 Finale

This is great music. My orchestra is playing this piece. (All 4 movements, of course) Rehearsals are so wonderful. It's really a highlight of my life to play this music.

Just listen to the finale (last of 4 movements) and see what pictures come into your mind! This movement is about 24 minutes long, so sit back and relax. Close your eyes! Listen to your feelings ...

I love this song!

Vianne Sets Up Shop from the movie Chocolat!

St. Patrick's Day in My Neighborhood

Patricia Barber Quartet

On Monday, I went with friends to the historic Green Mill in Chicago to hear the Patricia Barber Quartet:

Swirls of sound, expanding into the universe, burrowing into the darkness with rays of light, a tender, sweet vocal riding on a muscled, well-oiled, leathery machine of music.

The Moonlight Experience and Bruckner's 8th Symphony

A number of years ago (who knows when?) I somehow got a free ticket to an open rehearsal of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. I found out that they would be rehearsing Bruckner's 8th Symphony, a work I didn't know well. So, I decided to listen to it so I could get to know it a little.

It was evening. The sky was dark, but moonlight streamed through the window as I sat on the floor, listening to an LP record with high-powered earphones. The music sounded like "shimmering moonlight". Farther into the piece , the music spoke of passions and feelings which resonated within my very being.

I went to the rehearsal. I was able to sit in a box seat, the very best seat in the house because it is very close the orchestra - - the balcony perches over the stage and you feel you are in the orchestra. I watched Sir Georg Solti conduct the players and again I felt that I was in the moonlight - - - it was streaming on my face as I listened to the magic notes.

Imagine my joy when I discovered that my own orchestra would be playing this symphony during our current season . . .in April!!

Being Oneself, Fully

Playing with my string quartet the other day, I suddenly realized (again) that when I play my violin or the piano or sing, I am more fully myself than at any other time. Listening to music can often provided that same experience, but to a lesser degree.