Hands on the keys
On the Los Angeles trip, Steve sat down at the hotel lobby's piano.
Angie joined him at the keys, and we gathered around to hear them.
NPR… rocking the future but still bringing you good classical music.
With Salzburg starting again, keys-as-content has been on my mind.
Even when music isn't impressionism, ancestor of modern media, the metaphor still works. We build sound from its minute, available parts.
Beyond media, the piano and listening, stopping to watch people play music or even just thinking about acts of playing music can be helpful.
In a movie I watched yesterday afternoon, a chamber orchestra played Ravel's Introduction et Allegro. The scene was short and shot from way off — unimpressive. I obviously didn't recognize it and had to Google.
I learned the facts in doing so. Had Ravel composed the piece for God or new love? No. A harp company had paid him to write something that showed off a new harp. Rival harp makers had already contracted with Debussy to make them sound good. It was Coke vs. Pepsi. Introduction et Allegro was Ray Charles singing You Got the Right One, Baby, Uh Huh.
This is all to say it's Sunday morning. Classical can serve as an escape, but it can also be a relaxed preparation. Listen to Ravel and put your fingers on the notes, even if you've never come within yards of a harp. Inevitable today, envision the week ahead, even if your week is work. See the music. Whatever cola war you're fighting, come to play. Relax.
