“I have had terrible experiences with piano solos.” – Jo.
Three years back, after it’d been two years of discovering St. Stephens’, I took Zubin there for the first time.
Another victim of assonant criticism for the college by all outsiders, he’d grouch on about how it’s a school, with a mess, an assembly, a study schedule, churlish students churning false airs around their head, and all that crap.
So, being somebody who’d lionized the place for its ability to depress and inspire at the same time, I brought Zubin along the next time.
I treated him like shit.
Like I’d brought him packed in a hot traveling bag and he’d hit the ground and rolled, once unpacked at the entrance gate. As if he’s a kid on my shoulders who’s pinky is being put into the mouth of every animal that’s hanging on the wall.
Zubin loved everything I did to him. So much, he gathered all his word-ly debris and dumped it on the pile of weathered leaves. They’re a subtle golden, there at Stephens’. When I was relieved, when I had a patient ear which would strife to hear anything I whisper in ecstasy about Stephens’, I took him to the Chapel.
This outstation student was playing the piano. She didn’t bother with us. She didn’t bother with me when I slipped a Holy Bible into my bag. And suddenly, she played in a language I couldn’t write in, couldn’t speak in, but, could read.
She played Moonlight Sonata.
She played Beethoven.
It wasn’t Mozart, I can always tell.
Her fingers swatting and the gentle notes of the master piece responding in a pleasurable moan. Zubin was awe-stuck. Some last minute silence and we made our exit from the crevices, crushing leaves underneath.
I feel like destroying the world for your bad piano solo experiences, Jo.
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That was a nicely written little vignet. Thank you. I play a blues harmonica solo over Maestro B's Moonlight Sonata; using the piano part as a continuo. it works quite well. I conceptualize 'modern music' as starting with Debussy, with Beethoven's 9th as the outstanding anomolous exception.Some other favorite 9th Symphonies: Mahler's, Vaughan Williams' , and Shubert's. My favorite composers: Debussy, Ravel, Rachmanivov, Hindemith, Stravinski, Vaughan Williams, John Adams, and Toru Takemitsu -- but not necessarily in that order.
-- GF
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