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January 1st, 2008
Here’s another piece of music for your listening pleasure. This one’s entitled My Prayer and was written and performed by Margaret Taylor, a nonagenarian in our church who as I understand it is quite an accomplished pianist. This piece, which she performed last October 7th at our World Communion Sunday service, has a melancholy yet beautiful quality reminiscent of Chopin.
my-prayer.mp3February 19th, 2007
There is something about music that can communicate on a level deeper than any words. A couple of Sundays ago, there was a Violin/Piano duet at church that created for me an experience that moved me on a level beyond words. The emotion in the piece went straight to my heart, and it’s beauty and sadness brought me to tears just listening.
The piece is called Romance, by Amy Beach (1867-1944) who was the first successful female American composer. I learned that she, like women in other fields, despite her obvious talent, fought a tough uphill battle to be recognized in an arena dominated by men.
Anyway, I thought I would bless you by posting the mp3 recording here. Have a listen. The musicians are David Southorn on violin and John Walko on piano. David is studying music at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, and John is our church’s organist and choir accompanist for our church, First Presbyterian of Berkeley. Both are exceptional musicians, David being one of the few people that I’ve heard who can take the violin through the upper registers and stay spot on pitch. As you listen, the melodies seem to drip from the strings like honey.
romance.mp3