Author: william
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Music Soothes the Manic King
Sonata in Gm D. Scarlatti (1685-1757) When Domenico Scarlatti (1685-1757) arrived in Madrid at the end of 1733 (48 years old), he might have hoped for the sort of situation appropriate to a leading musician of his age back in Italy. But it didn’t work out that way. Everything was put awry by King…
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Vivaldi and the Inquisition
Concerto in Am A.Vivaldi (1678-1741) [ORGAN] Largo from Piccolo Concerto in C (RV 443) A. Vivaldi [ANTHEM] Susan Addington — Piccolo “Oh Jesus, I Have Promised” Improvisation Known by his vocation and the color of his hair as “The Red Priest”, Vivaldi spent most of his career as music master at a girl’s orphanage in Venice,…
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Beautiful Score
Intermezzo, Op. 118, No. 2 "Andante teneramente" J. Brahms (1833-1897) [PIANO] "The Church's One Foundation" Improvisation On one occasion Brahms, the composer Ignaz Brull, and other friends had dinner together and retired afterwards for a smoke. A few recently published compositions by Ignaz were lying on the piano. Brahms turned over the leaves and suddenly…
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A Wideness to God’s Mercy
Symphonic Meditation on “There’s a Wideness to God’s Mercy” W. Zeitler “Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing” Improvisation Frederick William Faber (1814-1863) was an English cleric, author and poet. Faber excelled in school, was awarded scholarships for his general scholarship as well as prizes for his poetry. Raised a Calvinist, as a young man he…
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Bach Chaconne
In 1720, when Bach was 35, his employer Prince Leopold of Köthen decided to spend a couple months at the spa in Carlsbad (about 200 miles away) and took his retinue of musicians with him, including Bach. On their return Bach learned that Maria Barbara, his wife of 13 years, had inexplicably died (leaving behind…
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Fathers Day
Sonata Christian Gottlob Neefe (1748-1798) [PIANO] Fughetta on "O Morning Star, How Fair and Bright" J. Christoph Bach (1671-1721) Of course it is best for a child to be raised by both mother and father, but sadly it doesn’t always work out that way.…
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Beethoven’s Family
Sonata Op.13 Mv.2 L.Beethoven (1770-1827) "If Thou But Suffer God To Guide Thee" Improvisation Ludwig had a younger brother Nikolaus whom Ludwig had tried to shield from their abusive alcoholic father. As adults there was little affection between them. Ludwig, as we well know, went into music. His younger brother, however, was something of a…
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Louis Vierne
"Communion" L. Vierne (1870-1937) Louis Vierne was born nearly blind due to congenital cataracts, but at an early age displayed an unusual gift for music. At age two he heard the piano for the first time: the pianist played him a Schubert lullaby and he promptly began to pick out the notes on the…
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Memorial Day
Batalla Imperial Juan Cabanilles (1644-1712) “Oh Beautiful for Spacious Skies” Improvisation When I was five years old a piano showed up at our house, and I was hooked. Probably as much to preserve my parents’ sanity as anything else, mom started me on piano lessons with a…
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Hildegard of Bingen
"O quam magnum miraculum" (How Great the Wonder Is!) Hildegaard of Bingen (1098-1179) "Like a Mother Who Has Born Us" Improvisation Hildegard was of lower noble birth. Perhaps due to her visions from a young age, or due to political considerations, she was offered as an oblate to Benedictine monastery at the Disibodenberg perhaps as…