spellbinding
Friedrich Gulda (1930-2000, piano), Claudio Abbado (1933-2014, conductor), Chamber Orchestra of Europe, live, Vienna (Austria), 1986: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791), Piano Concerto No. 23 in A major (K488)
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lagniappe
random sights
yesterday, Oak Park, Ill.
never enough
Two takes.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791), Rondo in D major, K. 485
Víkingur Ólafsson (1984-, piano), published yesterday
*****
Vladimir Horowitz (1903-1989, piano), live, Vienna, 1987
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lagniappe
random sights
other day, Chicago
alone
What better way to begin the week?
Hilary Hahn (violin), live (friend’s empty place), 11/8/20: W.A. Mozart (1756-1791), Violin Concerto No. 5 in A major (K. 219, “Turkish”) and New Cadenzas (H. Hahn)
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lagniappe
musical thoughts
Mozart was a kind of idol to me—this rapturous singing . . . that’s always on the edge of sadness and melancholy and disappointment and heartbreak, but always ready for an outburst of the most delicious music.
—Novelist Saul Bellow (1915-2005)
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random sights
other day, Oak Park, Ill.
never enough
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791), Piano Concerto No. 20 in D minor (K. 466), excerpt (Third Mvt.); Hélène Grimaud (1969-, piano) with Camerata Salzburg, University of Salzburg (Austria), published 8/21/20
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lagniappe
random sights
yesterday, Chicago (Columbus Park)
*****
reading table
A world of trials,
and if the cherry blossoms,
it simply blossoms—Kobayashi Issa (1763-1827), translated from Japanese by Sam Hamill
another take
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791), Piano Sonata No. 14 in C minor (K. 457); Friedrich Gulda (1930-2000, piano), live, Germany (Munich), 1991
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lagniappe
random sights
yesterday, Oak Park, Ill.
*****
reading table
My old village lies
far beyond what we can see,
but there the lark is singing—Kobayashi Issa (1763-1827), translated from Japanese by Sam Hamill
Why not begin the week with something beautiful?
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791), Piano Sonata No. 14 in C minor (K. 457); Micah McLaurin (1994-, piano), live, Philadelphia, 2015
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lagniappe
random sights
yesterday, Chicago (Columbus Park)
*****
reading table
In seasonal rain
along a nameless river
fear too has no name—Yosa Buson (1716-1784), translated from Japanese by Sam Hamill
never enough
Why not begin the week with something beautiful?
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791), Piano Sonata in B-flat major, K. 570; Peter Serkin (1947-2020, piano), live, New Jersey (Ridgewood), 2017
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lagniappe
random sights
yesterday, Oak Park, Ill.
*****
reading table
You ask why I live
alone in the mountain forest,and I smile and am silent
until even my soul grows quiet.The peach trees blossom.
The waters continue to flow.I live in the other world,
one that lies beyond the human.—Li Po (aka Li Bai, 701-762), “Questions Answered” (translated from Chinese by Sam Hamill)
never enough
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Piano sonata K.281, 0:00; Variations on “Salve tu, Domine” K.398, 21:14; Variations on “Unser dummer Pöbel meint” K.455, 29:51; Fantasy K.397, 44:27; Piano sonata K.310, 50:52), Robert Schumann (Arabeske op.18, 1:14:05; Toccata op.7, 1:21:05); Emil Gilels (1916-1985, piano), live, Moscow, 1970
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lagniappe
musical thoughts
Mozart was a kind of idol to me—this rapturous singing . . . that’s always on the edge of sadness and melancholy and disappointment and heartbreak, but always ready for an outburst of the most delicious music.
—Novelist Saul Bellow, 1915-2005
*****
random sights
yesterday, Oak Park, Ill.
passings
Peter Serkin, pianist, January 24, 1947-February 1, 2020
Live, Tokyo, 2003: Toru Takemitsu (1930-1996), Rain Tree Sketch (1982)
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Live, New Jersey (Ridgewood), 2017: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791), Adagio in B minor, K. 540
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lagniappe
random sights
yesterday, Chicago, Ill.
*****
lagniappe
reading table
Even in Kyoto—
hearing the cuckoo’s cry—
I long for Kyoto.—Matsuo Basho (1644-1694), translated from Japanese by Robert Hass
more
Does any pianist play Mozart with more verve?
Friedrich Gulda (1930-2000) playing Mozart (Sonata in D major [K 311], Sonata in F major [K 332]), Germany (Munich), 1991
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lagniappe
art beat: other day, Art Institute of Chicago
Pierre-Auguste Renoir (1841-1919), Fruits of the Midi1881
music clip of the day 