never enough
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827), Piano Sonata No. 17 in D minor (Op. 31, No. 2; 1801-02; “The Tempest”); Maria João Pires (1944-, piano), live, published 2018
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lagniappe
reading table
In this world
we walk on the roof of hell,
gazing at flowers.—Kobayashi Issa, 1763-1827 (translated from Japanese by Robert Hass)
never enough
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827), Piano Sonata No. 31 in A flat major, excerpt (third movt.); Friedrich Gulda (1930-2000), live, Japan, 1993
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lagniappe
musical thoughts
[M]usic is a higher revelation than all wisdom and philosophy.
—Ludwig van Beethoven (J. W. N. Sullivan, Beethoven: His Spiritual Development, p. 3 [1927])
never enough
András Schiff (1953-, piano), playing Bach and Beethoven, London, yesterday*
*Program:
Bach: Well-Tempered Clavier (“WTC”), Book I, Prelude and Fugue No. 17 in A flat major
Bach: WTC, Book II, Prelude and Fugue No. 17 in A flat major
Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 12 in A flat (Op. 26)
Bach: WTC, Book I, Prelude and Fugue No. 6 in D minor
Bach: WTC, Book II, Prelude and Fugue No. 6 in D minor
Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 17 in D minor (Op. 31)
Bach: WTC, Book I, Prelude and Fugue No. 14 in F sharp minor
Bach: WTC, Book II, Prelude and Fugue No. 14 in F sharp minor
Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 24 in F sharp (Op. 78)
Encore: Bach, Invention No. 8 in F
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lagniappe
random sights
yesterday, Oak Park, Ill.
never enough
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827), Piano Sonata No. 31; Sviatoslav Richter (1915-1997, piano), live, Moscow, 1991
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lagniappe
random sights
this morning, Chicago (Columbus Park)
never enough
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827), Piano Sonata No. 32 in C minor; Sviatoslav Richter (1915-1997, piano), live, Moscow, 1975
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lagniappe
random sights
yesterday, Oak Park, Ill.
never enough
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827), from Piano Sonata No. 31 in A flat major; Igor Levit (1987-, piano), live, Amsterdam, 2013
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lagniappe
random sights
a while ago, Ireland (Dingle Peninsula)
If you learned you had a month to live, what would you want to listen to? This would be on my list. (Whatever you do, don’t miss the third movement.)
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827), Piano Sonata No. 31 in A flat (Op. 110); Solomon (AKA Solomon Cutner, 1902-1988), piano, 1950s
1st mvt.
***
2nd mvt.
***
3rd mvt.
*****
Another take.
Artur Schnabel (1882-1951), piano, 1930s
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lagniappe
random sights
yesterday, Oak Park, Ill.
never enough
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827), String Quartet No. 13, excerpt (Mvt. V, Cavatina), 1826; Guarneri Quartet
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lagniappe
musical thoughts
During a fraught 17-day stay in the hospital because of post-surgical infections 10 years ago, Beethoven’s Cavatina furnished the only moments during which I was released from suffering.
—Susan Gubar, “When Music Is the Best Medicine,” New York Times, 9/26/19
*****
random sights
yesterday, Chicago
never enough
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827), Piano Sonata No. 32 in C minor
Daniil Trifonov, live, New York, 2014
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lagniappe
art beat
Robert Frank (1924-), View from Hotel Window—Butte, Montana, 1955/56
never enough
This took my breath away—more than once.
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827), Violin Concerto; Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra (Philippe Herreweghe, cond.) with Patricia Kopatchinskaja (violin), live, 2014
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