Music

Of all musical genres, my real love is classical music. I grew up playing Beethoven and Chopin on the piano. Someday I'll include the story how I obtained my baby grand piano. Among keyboard works, I enjoy those of Bach (on harpsichord or piano), Beethoven, Chopin, Percy Grainger, Grieg (especially the Lyric Pieces), Mendelssohn, Ravel, and Scarlatti.

These are some of the pieces I like to (try to) play when I have a few minutes free:

Grieg: Lyric Pieces
- Sailor's Song
- Grandmother's Minuet
- Cradle Song
- Once Upon A Time
- Summer Evening
- Remembrances
MacDowell: Woodland Sketches
- To A Wild Rose
- At An Old Trysting Place
- A Deserted Farm
Beethoven: Piano Sonatas
- Op. 13, "Pathetique"
- Op. 14, No. 1
- Op. 31, No. 2, "Tempest," 3rd movement (my second favorite)
- Op. 49, No. 1
- Op. 57, "Appassionata," 2nd movement
- Op. 90 (my favorite)
Percy Grainger: Country Gardens (very difficult but rewarding!)
Schubert: Moments Musicaux nos. 2, 3
Sibelius: Romance in D flat
Handel: The Harmonious Blacksmith (one of the first pieces I ever learned, as a young tyke)

I also enjoy the symphonic music of Beethoven, Brahms, Dvorak, Haydn, Mendelssohn, Prokofiev, Schubert, Schumann, and Sibelius. I have a special fondness for Scandinavian composers: Grieg, Nielsen, Gade. I recently listened to wonderful works by Stenhammar and Halvorsen. So, is Sibelius Scandinavian or not? (He was from Finland.)

Of non-classical music, I listen mostly to 60's pop, 70's and 80's blues-rock, and folk.

You can view my list of music links.

Last updated Tuesday 15 January 2013