Wednesday, April 16, 2008

The Song to the Evening Star


Not an accomplished player by any means… I merely play for my own inner enjoyment… a solitary pleasure…

I prefer playing slowly... feeling every note and reverberation…

The last while I have been playing …
...............“The Song to the Evening Star” by Richard Wagner (1813-1883)




… somewhat melancholy… somewhat uplifting…. it gets inside …





….yellowed pages from a 1940’s music book… found at a flea market




......1917 Amherst Piano handed down from my grandmother.

12 comments:

Ruth said...

Oh, there are the crabs in the photo.

Old piano books are beautiful. My mom was a pianist, and I tried, but my daughter took it over. We still have her piano. Pianos themselves are so beautiful, even when not played. My mom also wrote music, so I remember watching her transcribe all those pretty notes onto scored paper.

I'm not going to say anything about the fact that you play the piano on top of everything else.

Ruth said...

I meant we still have my daughter's piano, she doesn't have room in her apt yet.

Gwen Buchanan said...

Oh I really want to write some music.. I need to take more time to dedicate myself to it.
what a coincidence, my piano has always been in our family too... It was my grandmothers (1917 stamped inside), then moms, then my sisters then almost my brothers but he didn't have room... I finally was asked if I would like to have it and I couldn't believe it.. I had always been afraid to wish for it in case it didn't happen..
I was so happy...
Finally it came home...

Your daughter is lucky!

sandy said...

I could never learn to read music, my brain isn't wired that way. I play by ear...somewhat..

nice photo.

sandy

Anet said...

My daughter is taking a piano class at college. She's pretty good. Your piano is beautiful! What a wonderful heirloom.

Gwen Buchanan said...

Sandy, you play by ear.. who needs notes when you can do that... what a talent!!

Gwen Buchanan said...

Oh.. to have professional instruction.. that is to die for, Anet!!! Your daughter must really be enjoying her studies...

laura said...

To me pages of written music have the beauty of pure design, since I have no idea what they mean! I have pictures of you (with soundtrack) playing as the tide rushes in (or out)!

Chris Ousley said...

I love Wagner. Tannhauser's Fest March and Prelude are my faves. Thanks for the visit to my blog. I play keys too, mainly synths and organ.

Back to Centre said...

Thanks so much for lovely comments posted on my blog. Really appreciate -- so nice to get affirmations from all the way from the Bay of Fundy! Love your blog, your house, your piano. I have a piano as well that I haven't played in ages. You're inspiring me to plonk later today.

I really liked that you said you hadn't seen anything like my work -- I do try for originality it's just that originality doesn't always equal good/powerful work but I am feeling good about my direction.

Thanks again!

Lea

Don said...

What a treat! I came expecting eye candy and received that and mental and aural candy too. I can imagine the sounds wafting out of a window and mixing with the sounds of your home. Very cool.

Gwen Buchanan said...

You're sweet Laura, In the beginning it looks like a foreign language but after a while they begin to make sense..

C. Ousley, I'm really glad you know his work... I'm sure you sound a million times better than me!

I'm glad BTC!... what type of music do you play?

Oh Don you have such a way with words... Thank you... I do make my share of mistakes but it gives me pleasure just the same...
But you'll have to ask John and Max if it makes them stick around or run screaming to the woods holding their hands over their ears....