Chopin "Aeolin Harp" Etude

I'm listening to several recordings of Chopin Etude in Ab, Op. 25, No. 1 on Grooveshark.  The most notable have been by Roustem Saitkoulov, Maurizio Pollini, and Vladimir Horowitz.  I knew ahead of time I'd love the Pollini and Horowitz performances, but I hadn't yet heard of Saitkoulov.  There's something extra-special about his; not sure what it is I like so much, but I'm hooked! :)

Bach's French Suites

This morning I'm listening to Gould play Bach's French Suites.  I never tire of these!  I especially like to have them accompanying me while I concentrate on spiritual/intellectual things.  Today I was marking the "The Revised Grail Psalms" to match "The Revised Grail Psalms, Singing Edition."  What a rich experience: the Psalms, thinking about how they are to be canted (cantored?) in Mass, Bach, Gould, piano...

Thank You Lord for experiences of culture that embrace Your Truth, Light, Life.  Blessed be Your Holy Name forever! :)

Mozart

Listening to lots and lots of Mozart today: piano concertos, string quartets, and more.

One of my favorite Mozart interpreters is Murray Perahia.

Brubeck's Love Songs

Brubeck's Love Songs.  What I like about these is that the whole album is over-all calm in temperament, but each song is rich in texture, rhythm, and uniqueness of character.

Brubeck Playlist

Yesterday I put together a playlist of best Brubeck on Grooveshark.com.  I started w/ around 900 songs and whittled it down to around 200.  Many of the 900 were duplicates from one source to another, and some were duplicates of a song but different performances.  Of the 200 I kept only a few instances of this latter type of duplicate-yet-different-performances.

I'm not an expert on Brubeck, by any means; I simply like much of his music.  The world of Brubeck is quite large and I look forward to exploring it further!

Enjoy:
http://grooveshark.com/playlist/Brubeck/75301270

For other playlists I've made public on Grooveshark, check here.

Time Out!

Listening to and loving Dave Brubeck's Time Out album!  Always a classic!

Because it's Bach!

Listening to various performances of Goldberg Variations, all of them wonderful, because it's Bach!

French Polka?

I've been listening to "Musette de Paris" for the past 90 minutes, and it's finally getting on my nerves! Ha!  It's mostly accordion music in polka style and should sound German, but somehow is distinctly French.  'Can't figure out why that is.  At any rate, it's fun, jolly music, for a while, then it becomes a bit annoying! LOL! :)

Classical Gas

Listening to "Classical Gas" by Mason Williams on grooveshark.  I loved this piece when I first heard it as a 10-year-old in Aibonito, Puerto Rico in 1970 (or was it '71?), and I still love it!  Great energy and articulation, besides fun, modal melody.  Plus, I enjoy the mix of genres/styles/instruments.

Btw, the link I've given for Aibonito shows the street on which I lived, and I believe the very house, although most else has changed.  When I was there, we were the newest house on the block and there was a large bamboo forest behind our house and to the east (if I have my directions oriented correctly).

Spanish Guitar

I'm listening to Spanish Guitar music on Grooveshark.com.  The selections are from an album of the same name.  This collection includes a wide range of styles and genres, but they are all played on acoustic guitar, sometimes including other instruments, and are either composed or performed by Spaniards or in a Spanish style, I presume! :)

How To Breathe.

Today I'm listening in layers.  I have Yo-Yo Ma playing baroque cello in the studio while on my laptop via grooveshark.com I'm listening to Sara Groves' "All Right Here."  I'm all a-jitter.  I'm too easily made anxious.  Something's coming up that I'm looking forward to but I will either have to cut my time short w/ it or find a sub for a much-loved responsibility.  I'm favoring cutting the new thing short.  I'm also hoping on Monday to find out if there's an alternate date.  Meanwhile I feel anxious.  Part of me wants to say "so silly."  But I'm not silly!  This is my life!  God made me with an anxious nervous-system.  Who am I to say God's work is "silly?"  (Smiling.)  So I let my mind weave itself around two tracks: one calming and orderly, the other expressive of my restlessness.  It's good.  It helps me breathe.  Lord, can You use my restlessness?  Can You use my familiarity w/ anxiety?  Surely Lord, You create only that which can glorify You!  Use me, Lord.  You are my whole raison d'etre.  I love You Abba-Papa-Lord-Jesus-Christ-Holy-Spirit-Lover-of-my-soul-Eternal-One-Only-One-Beloved-Life-Life-LIFE-!!!!  Praise be Your Holy Name! :)

In time of grieving

'Listening to Sara Groves on Grooveshark.com  ... a little boy from our local community died this past weekend.  I don't know the family well, but I know many people who know them.  Some of my piano students are best friends with James and his siblings.  The whole community is grieving.  I'm listening to Sara Groves because I find her authentic expressions of faith (and questioning) very consoling in times of suffering.  Lord, please hold and console James' family and friends while they grieve.  May they eventually feel the peace and joy of knowing James' Joy in You, and meanwhile, may they feel the life-sustaining support of their friends.  Bless them, Lord.  Bless the whole community with Your Gracious Spirit.

Grooveshark is Great!

Today I don't know what music I need to hear so I'm browsing Grooveshark.  At the moment I'm listening to someone else's classical piano playlist.  They've started w/ Debussy's Claire de Lune.  Lovely.

I highly recommend this site for free streaming music.

More Haas

This morning I'm listening to "instruments at prayer, vol. 2, a celebration of the music of David Haas."  This music is very beautiful and peaceful: perfect for prayer accompaniment; much like vol. 1.  I purchased my copy at the NPM 2011, but you can purchase the MP3 download here.

Haas Collection

This morning I'm listening to "instruments at prayer, vol. 1, a celebration of the music of David Haas."  This music is very beautiful and peaceful: perfect for prayer accompaniment.  I purchased my copy at the NPM 2011, but you can also purchase it here.

All Right Here

I'm having a lovely quiet moment cradling my new kitty while we listen to Sara Grove's All Right Here.  This whole album is especially beautiful and nourishing!  

John's Pick

Listening this morning to Harry Connick Jr.'s Christmas album.  John picked this up at a HamFest.  He loves the old crooners (and those who emmulate them).  HCJr reminds me of Tony Bennett.

Verdi

I heard Verdi's "Va Pensiero" on Grooveshark when I was looking for musical settings of Psalm 137.   Now I want to see/hear all of Verdi's Nabucco.  This music is SO beautiful!

Songs of Taize

Listening to the Songs of Taize.  These sung prayers are so beautiful!  I want to visit Taize some day! :)

Blogalogue For Musicians

Listening to music is like re-energizing my battery!  I'm listening to music (recorded or live) nearly all the time!  At the moment I'm listening to Dean Martin's CD Amore.  I usually put on a CD in the morning that suits my husband's "mood" request!  Today he asked for "something upbeat!"  Later in the day I tend to put on whatever helps me think!  Other times I will seek out multiple renditions of a particular piece of piano repertoire  I've assigned a student, hoping to find examples I can share w/ them as good examples to emulate.  I almost never offer a student just one example:  I want them to be able to compare and contrast options, so that even if they are inordinately influenced by one in particular, they will have made some sort of choice, even if only that of preference.

When I was in college, my piano professor had all of his students keep a listening journal.  He actually read these journals and commented on them from time to time.  I've been encouraging a few of my students to do the same.  This blog is an experiment to see if I can foster more interest in writing about music if I invite my students to join me in a blogalogue (blog-dialogue)! :)