This is Reformation Sunday; the 500th anniversary of the reformation! And this week’s signature series is F minor – The Fighter. Martin Luther was determined and persistent, a fighter in the best sense of the word. Luther did not see the long-term implications of his...
This week’s playlist features a sweet soupcon of early 20th century Viennese violin music, surrounded by bold, yet familiar, piano works. Movies and modern concert halls have made almost all of these works hummable. Beethoven’s chromatic motif from Für Elise appears...
E major is grand and elegant. It has broad, sweeping vistas and delightful, graceful play. It calls us to be our best selves: to stand up tall, to take in a deep breath, and to gather our courage for the difficult things that cross our paths. We are surrounded by...
C minor gives me the chills. Real, hair-standing-on-end, spine-tingling chills. The glorious music written in this key plumbs the depths of emotion; the highs and the lows. Beethoven is well-known for his extensive output in this key, including 2 symphonies, 3 piano...
Is there anyone who does not love The Sound of Music? The story of Maria’s challenges, adventures, and new-found family includes some of the most memorable music in Broadway history. Maria is A major’s heroine: a will-o-the-wisp. This description is part of...
Although I took exception to last week’s characterization of D major, this week’s short-hand hits the mark: B minor is The Dark Romantic. Moody, heart-wrenching, technically intense, the selections highlighted this week demonstrate the beauty and complexity that...
