I was thinking about my new place tonight, and how I’m finally going to have a piano again. Dad’s giving me the family’s Heinzman upright grand, which is the piano I learned to play on when I was 4 years-old. I can’t wait to get it tuned and fixed up. Which got me thinking about my favorite songs to play.
“Moonlight” Sonata, Opus 27, No. 2
by Ludwig van Beethoven
This piece is so soothing it’s ridiculous. I love playing it, especially the first movement, which is haunting and dark. The second movement is fun, but more lighthearted. The third movement is downright impossible, so let’s not talk about it here.
Raindrop Prelude, Opus 28, No. 15, in D-flat,
by Frederic Chopin
This is the first “descriptive” piece that I really learned to appreciate. It sounds like a rainstorm, complete with a shower, building to a full-out thunderstorm, then fading away again. Fun to play, especially the “thunder” parts. 😛
Rhapsody in Blue
by George Gershwin
It wouldn’t be fair to say I can play this whole thing, because it is insanely difficult, and most parts of it are well beyond my ability. But, I have learned certain passages by heart, and can really move a room when I lay into them. 🙂 It’s an impressive piece. I just need to learn more of it. :nod: If you want a good version of this, look for the one used in the Disney movie Fantasia 2000.
If I think of more I’ll post them. 😀
All of those songs are so beautiful to listen to.
I haven’t ever had a chance to learn the piano formally, but I find it lovely to watch others play. Fur Elise fascinated me in middle school – one of the boys who bullied me most could play it fantastically.
I’ve always wanted to learn the violin. Learned the flute and clarinet slightly in early high school and loved them both, but stopped after two years due to lack of time for classes that I thought I needed to take. But violin. *dreamy sigh*
Violin is indeed beautiful. Both Tchaikovsky and Mendelssohn have written incredible violin concertos. :nod: My uncle (a concert pianist) married my aunt (a violin soloist and teacher). They play together sometimes, and it’s spellbinding. 😀
*is jealous*
I want a piano!! *pout* My mum once mentioned maybe giving me her piano..and I would have room for it downstairs… but now she’s started playing it again so she’s not likely to give it up 🙁
My violin is lying around somewhere…I think it’s on top of her piano actually! But I only took lessons for one year – my poor sense of depth perception made finger placements really hard 🙁 There was a girl in a choir I was in that played the cello who was absolutely gorgeous (looks wise, and talents wise – i could listen to her play for horus..) and it made me want to play the cello 🙂 But I ended up on the French Horn in high school…and I loved it! :bounce: if i had a ridiculous amount of money I’d buy one…such lovelieness…
anyhow…. 🙂
.maggie
😀 the french horn is fun, but makes a little circle on your lips for hours that tells everyone you’ve been playing the french horn. :nod: i used to play the trumpet, and i tried the french horn for fun. i couldn’t get it to make that nice mellow french horn sound. it sounded like a trumpet when i played it. hehe.
Moonlight …. oh baby … I think my alltime favorite piece of music, bar NONE! That’s why I had Andy learn how to play it … by ear! For only being 8 at the time, he certainly could put some emotion into that piece … I was astounded. Although, it DOES sound much better on a grand than the little keyboard he has, it’s still a wicked piece!
yah…the year I was able to practice for an hour every day i was able to play for some time without getting the numb lips… but there was no preventing that circle 😉
I tried the trumpet one summer, but I got to confused on the fingerings…. was very easyto make a nice loud sound though after years on the french horn 🙂
.maggie