Clara, How happy your last letters have made me — those since Christmas Eve! I should like to call you by all the endearing epithets, and yet I can find no lovelier word than the simple word ‘dear,’ but there is a particular way of saying it. My dear one, then, I have wept […]
Träumerei by Schumann Read More »
This piece will always remind me of the moment when I was incredibly inspired by my violin student. Highly likely to be in his late 70s, an elderly gentleman entered my studio asking for a lesson to learn Fryderyk Chopin’s Nocturne Op. 27 No. 2 on the violin. He heard this piano piece transcribed for
Nocturne in D-flat Major by Chopin Read More »
My, has time changed. Today we have One Direction that captures the hearts of young zealous female fans (okay, I admit I found their first single to be cute); however, musicians from centuries ago have paved the way for international stardom, and rightly so. The clip above is an excerpt from the movie, The Devil’s Violinist, depicting
Caprice No. 24 by Paganini Read More »
At the beginning of each year, I choose a word that describes my hopeful outlook for that year. For instance, 2013 was recovery and 2014 was fearless. My words come easily because there is normally a pressing matter that compels me to address it. However, choosing a word for 2015 was rather challenging because there are
Largo from New World Symphony by Dvořák Read More »
Combining my favorite holiday, Christmas, and my adoration for choral music, I present you with the world’s most heavenly Austrian carol, “Still, Still, Still.” It is a beautiful picture of a mother gently singing a lullaby to her newborn baby, Jesus, who would bring Peace and Love into a broken world. Despite what others have
Still Still Still – Austrian carol Read More »
I love choral music. The first time music shook my soul was when I was just under ten years old listening to Sound of Music’s choral finale of “Climb Every Mountain.” I was never the same girl since then, for I have been entranced under a spell that makes me fall in love with music time and time again. I
Tannhäuser – Pilgrim’s Chorus by Wagner Read More »
Peer Gynt was a coward, liar, narcissist, man of no moral compass. Wandering aimlessly from place to place while faking multiple identities to cheat people just about sums up his wasted life. Yet, even for a man like Peer there awaited a woman with a faithful heart ready to shower him with love, should he decide to return. Abandoned
Solveig’s Song by Grieg Read More »
Napoleon’s French armies had invaded Austria in 1809 and all that surrounded Ludwig van Beethoven were “nothing but drums, cannons, and human suffering in every form!” Beethoven’s reality was a war of bloodshed and a life of anxiety. He would crawl into the cellar of a friend’s house and cover his ears with pillows to save the remaining of
Piano Concerto No. 5, ii. Adagio un poco mosso by Beethoven Read More »
Autumn is my favorite season of the year. I love that streets are festooned with beautiful amber foliage and that life slowly winds down as we reflect and give thanks for another blessed and fruitful year. I am truly grateful for farmers who have been sweating the pains of labor toiling under the hot summer sun so that we may benefit
Autumn by Glazunov Read More »
If you have taken notice of the moon tonight, you will have seen its unusually bright and beaming smile. I feel blessed to be able to look outside the window and enjoy this peaceful night with its radiant glow that permeates the sky. Surely peace does not exist in all parts of the world, but it does tonight in
Clair de Lune by Debussy Read More »