Sunday, September 24, 2023 | Composer of the Week

Frederic Chopin  ("FRED-er-ick  SHOW-pan")

• Born in Poland, 1810
• Died 1849 at age 39
• Romantic Period

Compositions Include:

• Almost every composition was for solo piano:
• Preludes
• Polish dances such as Mazurkas and Polonaises
• Etudes
• Nocturnes
• Ballades
• Waltzes
• Piano Sonata No. 2, Movement III: Funeral March

Other Details:

• When he left Poland to tour as a concert pianist, he took a vial of Polish dirt that he carried the rest of his life. It was buried with him when he died.
• When he was 21, Russian army invaded Warsaw while he was traveling in another country.  Deciding it was too dangerous for him to return home, he moved to Paris, France.
• Master at improvising at the piano
• During home concerts (aka "salons"), if he were requested to play the Funeral March from the piano sonata, he never played another piece after that. It made him too sad for his beloved Poland homeland.

Sunday, September 10, 2023 | Composer of the Week

Ludwig van Beethoven ("LOOD-vig   vahn   BAY-toh-ven")

• Born in Germany, 1770
• Died 1827 at age 56
• Classical AND Romantic Periods

Compositions Include:

• 9 Symphonies
• 32 Piano Sonatas
• Opera Fidelio

Other Details:

• Enjoyed walking outside in nature
• Deaf by age 30
• After conducting the world premiere of his ninth symphony, which included a choir and vocal soloists with the orchestra, Beethoven thought the audience did not like the piece. A friend came onto the stage and turned Beethoven so he could see the audience wildly applauding his newest work

Wednesday, September 6, 2023 | Uncategorized

Just came across this video from 1960 with Mike Wallace interviewing Franz Liszt. Of course the quality is not what we're used to now in this digital age, but it is still funny. Franz Liszt is played by the inimitable Victor Borge.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5bWeSr04Wzs&ab_channel=Astrolux777