Month: December 2018
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Brahms “Lo How a Rose E’er Blooming”
Johannes Brahms (1833-1897) was born into a poor family. He showed musical aptitude, and his father provided music lessons. Brahms himself later told stories about himself as a teenager earning money for his family by playing piano in bars and houses of ill-repute (there being no recorded music at the time, so if music was…
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Mikael Franzen “Prepare the Way, O Zion”
(Red book #106) “Prepare the Way” Frans Mikael Franzen (1772-1847) was a Swedish poet born in Finland. At thirteen he entered the university of Abo, where he attended the lectures of H. G. Porthan (1739-1804), a pioneer in the study of Finnish history and legend. Franzen graduated age 17, and three years later he embarked on a tour of…
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Comfort Ye My People
Variations on "Comfort, Comfort Ye My People" P. Kedezichlem (1715-1780) [HARPSICHORD] "Comfort, Comfort Ye My People" Improvisation The harpsichord is a keyboard instrument that goes back to at least the 14th century. It works by plucking the strings — unlike the piano which strikes the strings with hammers. That simple difference in the physics of…
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Come Thou Long Expected Jesus
Variations on “Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus” J. Barmherzig (1710-1763) [HARPSICHORD] “Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus” Improvisation After their marriage, Charles Wesley (1707-1788) and his wife Sally set up housekeeping in Bristol, England, heading up the Methodist activities there. Later they moved to London so Charles could work more closely with his brother…