Cara/Andrea here,
As we all know, a proper young Regency Miss was expected to be proficient in a number of ladylike skills. Art was one of them—watercolors and sketching with pencil and pastels were deemed desirable talents. As was music, especially playing the pianoforte. Well, I confess that aside from a short stint playing the clarinet in junior school, I have no musical training whatsoever. So I would have been persona non grata at the ton’s musicales.
However, aware of my woeful lack of knowledge, I have recently downloaded a Yale University lecture course on “Listening to Music,” which has been wonderfully interesting and educational. (You can get it for free here.) And I thought I would share a few of the things I’ve learned about the history of the piano in the Georgian/Regency era. (Just in case the patronesses of Almack’s hit us with a pop quiz.)
The piano was invented around 1700 by the Bartolomeo Cristofori , Keeper of Instruments for the Grand Prince of Florence. Its proper name was the pianoforte, meaning ‘soft-loud’ because it could produce a greater range of dynamic tones than the harpsichord, which had been the main keyboard instrument since the 15th century. (In the harpsichord, strings are plucked, while the piano’s sounds are made by hammers striking the strings.) The harpsichord is synonymous with Baroque music, which runs from 1600-1750. Bach, Handel, Vivaldi—all the great composers of the time wrote masterworks for the instrument.
It was Mozart who led the change to the piano. He liked the sound, shading and dynamic range of tones, and many of his sonatas and concertos were composed specifically for the piano. The early pianos were small, and encompassed only five octaves. They had only one string for the hammer to strike (in a modern grand piano there are three strings per key.) It’s interesting to note that keyboards over the centuries have always had a great deal of variation. There are 12 notes in the Western musical scale, but how they were arranged (the black and white keys) gets a little complicated, and was often dictated by musical “style. For example, the early keyboard were influenced by the notes used in Gregorian chants. But I digress, so let’s fast forward back to the Regency era.
Beethoven arrived in Vienna, the musical capitol of the world, in 1797, six years after Mozart’s death. His playing of the piano shocked the musical cognoscenti. It was a physical, aggressive, powerful style, made possible because the actual instrument was getting bigger and more powerful. Technical developments allowed bigger, stronger soundboards, reinforced with iron, and more keys. The English firm of Broadwood and Sons became a real player in instrument-making at the turn of the century, and in 1817 they sent Beethoven a free piano (the celebrity endorsement game was already in full swing), which had two strings per note. (It still exists and is on display in a museum in Pest, Hungary.)
Beethoven wrote 32 piano sonatas and 5 piano concertos, the most famous of which is the Emperor Concerto. Contemporary accounts say that “he has much fire, but he pounds a bit too much.” Which might, of course, be because the poor fellow was going deaf!
On that note, I shall lift my fingers from the keyboard and turn things over to you. Do you play the piano? Or any musical instrument? Do you enjoy listening to music—and lastly, do you have a favorite composer? I’ve been having such a wonderful time discovering the joys of classical music, and really love Mozart and Beethoven, especially his symphonies.
I don’t play the piano, but being a ballet dancer, I was familiar with classical music from a very young age. Most of my favourite composers are connected to ballet – Delibes, Mendelssohn, Tchaikovsky, Adolphe Adam etc. but I also love the opera composer Giacomo Puccini.
However they all came a little later than the Regency era.
I guess I like music I can attach a story or emotion to, something I associate with the story of a ballet or opera. 🙂
I don’t play the piano, but being a ballet dancer, I was familiar with classical music from a very young age. Most of my favourite composers are connected to ballet – Delibes, Mendelssohn, Tchaikovsky, Adolphe Adam etc. but I also love the opera composer Giacomo Puccini.
However they all came a little later than the Regency era.
I guess I like music I can attach a story or emotion to, something I associate with the story of a ballet or opera. 🙂
I don’t play the piano, but being a ballet dancer, I was familiar with classical music from a very young age. Most of my favourite composers are connected to ballet – Delibes, Mendelssohn, Tchaikovsky, Adolphe Adam etc. but I also love the opera composer Giacomo Puccini.
However they all came a little later than the Regency era.
I guess I like music I can attach a story or emotion to, something I associate with the story of a ballet or opera. 🙂
I don’t play the piano, but being a ballet dancer, I was familiar with classical music from a very young age. Most of my favourite composers are connected to ballet – Delibes, Mendelssohn, Tchaikovsky, Adolphe Adam etc. but I also love the opera composer Giacomo Puccini.
However they all came a little later than the Regency era.
I guess I like music I can attach a story or emotion to, something I associate with the story of a ballet or opera. 🙂
I don’t play the piano, but being a ballet dancer, I was familiar with classical music from a very young age. Most of my favourite composers are connected to ballet – Delibes, Mendelssohn, Tchaikovsky, Adolphe Adam etc. but I also love the opera composer Giacomo Puccini.
However they all came a little later than the Regency era.
I guess I like music I can attach a story or emotion to, something I associate with the story of a ballet or opera. 🙂
I had paino lessons as a girl, tried to learn the auto-harp, and later the clarinet. I gave it up since I’m just not musical. I just cannot imagine having to sit through musicale where young girls had to perform badly; of course, the converse might be true. There might have been some who were quite talented and able to enchant as only a good musican can.
I adore classical music and am fond of pop music. My favorite composer/music is Bruckner’s music for organ. He was born in the Regency era, but his work toook him to Viena. Technically, he wrote during the Victorian era. I also like choral music, and much of that is based on sacred litergy and texts. I used to have a season subscription to the National Cathedral for their four or five concerts. I don’t know what I loved more–the music or the setting. I have also become a fan the Met’s broadcasts of live opera. I don’t know if I would have been a fan if it were not for sur/subtitle.
I had paino lessons as a girl, tried to learn the auto-harp, and later the clarinet. I gave it up since I’m just not musical. I just cannot imagine having to sit through musicale where young girls had to perform badly; of course, the converse might be true. There might have been some who were quite talented and able to enchant as only a good musican can.
I adore classical music and am fond of pop music. My favorite composer/music is Bruckner’s music for organ. He was born in the Regency era, but his work toook him to Viena. Technically, he wrote during the Victorian era. I also like choral music, and much of that is based on sacred litergy and texts. I used to have a season subscription to the National Cathedral for their four or five concerts. I don’t know what I loved more–the music or the setting. I have also become a fan the Met’s broadcasts of live opera. I don’t know if I would have been a fan if it were not for sur/subtitle.
I had paino lessons as a girl, tried to learn the auto-harp, and later the clarinet. I gave it up since I’m just not musical. I just cannot imagine having to sit through musicale where young girls had to perform badly; of course, the converse might be true. There might have been some who were quite talented and able to enchant as only a good musican can.
I adore classical music and am fond of pop music. My favorite composer/music is Bruckner’s music for organ. He was born in the Regency era, but his work toook him to Viena. Technically, he wrote during the Victorian era. I also like choral music, and much of that is based on sacred litergy and texts. I used to have a season subscription to the National Cathedral for their four or five concerts. I don’t know what I loved more–the music or the setting. I have also become a fan the Met’s broadcasts of live opera. I don’t know if I would have been a fan if it were not for sur/subtitle.
I had paino lessons as a girl, tried to learn the auto-harp, and later the clarinet. I gave it up since I’m just not musical. I just cannot imagine having to sit through musicale where young girls had to perform badly; of course, the converse might be true. There might have been some who were quite talented and able to enchant as only a good musican can.
I adore classical music and am fond of pop music. My favorite composer/music is Bruckner’s music for organ. He was born in the Regency era, but his work toook him to Viena. Technically, he wrote during the Victorian era. I also like choral music, and much of that is based on sacred litergy and texts. I used to have a season subscription to the National Cathedral for their four or five concerts. I don’t know what I loved more–the music or the setting. I have also become a fan the Met’s broadcasts of live opera. I don’t know if I would have been a fan if it were not for sur/subtitle.
I had paino lessons as a girl, tried to learn the auto-harp, and later the clarinet. I gave it up since I’m just not musical. I just cannot imagine having to sit through musicale where young girls had to perform badly; of course, the converse might be true. There might have been some who were quite talented and able to enchant as only a good musican can.
I adore classical music and am fond of pop music. My favorite composer/music is Bruckner’s music for organ. He was born in the Regency era, but his work toook him to Viena. Technically, he wrote during the Victorian era. I also like choral music, and much of that is based on sacred litergy and texts. I used to have a season subscription to the National Cathedral for their four or five concerts. I don’t know what I loved more–the music or the setting. I have also become a fan the Met’s broadcasts of live opera. I don’t know if I would have been a fan if it were not for sur/subtitle.
Oh, Sonya, lucky you in having the talent for ballet. it is, alas, another discipline at which I am hopeless. (I am very tight-jointed and inflexible, so made a fool of myself in early dance classes.Off I slunk to the tennis courts, where I seemed to have more proficiency at hitting a bouncing little ball than floating gracefully across the dance floor.)
Music is definitely emotional, and I can see where knowing the story line, as in opera or ballet, adds to the enjoyment.
Oh, Sonya, lucky you in having the talent for ballet. it is, alas, another discipline at which I am hopeless. (I am very tight-jointed and inflexible, so made a fool of myself in early dance classes.Off I slunk to the tennis courts, where I seemed to have more proficiency at hitting a bouncing little ball than floating gracefully across the dance floor.)
Music is definitely emotional, and I can see where knowing the story line, as in opera or ballet, adds to the enjoyment.
Oh, Sonya, lucky you in having the talent for ballet. it is, alas, another discipline at which I am hopeless. (I am very tight-jointed and inflexible, so made a fool of myself in early dance classes.Off I slunk to the tennis courts, where I seemed to have more proficiency at hitting a bouncing little ball than floating gracefully across the dance floor.)
Music is definitely emotional, and I can see where knowing the story line, as in opera or ballet, adds to the enjoyment.
Oh, Sonya, lucky you in having the talent for ballet. it is, alas, another discipline at which I am hopeless. (I am very tight-jointed and inflexible, so made a fool of myself in early dance classes.Off I slunk to the tennis courts, where I seemed to have more proficiency at hitting a bouncing little ball than floating gracefully across the dance floor.)
Music is definitely emotional, and I can see where knowing the story line, as in opera or ballet, adds to the enjoyment.
Oh, Sonya, lucky you in having the talent for ballet. it is, alas, another discipline at which I am hopeless. (I am very tight-jointed and inflexible, so made a fool of myself in early dance classes.Off I slunk to the tennis courts, where I seemed to have more proficiency at hitting a bouncing little ball than floating gracefully across the dance floor.)
Music is definitely emotional, and I can see where knowing the story line, as in opera or ballet, adds to the enjoyment.
Shannon, I think it must have been hard for both the listeners and the poor girls who had no talent and yet were required by their mamas to perform at musicales. Imagine being self-conscious to begin with AND knowing you had no skills. Arrrgh.
The concerts at the cathedral sound amazing. Setting can add such a wonderful dimension to any performance. I’ve become a big fan of Mozart’s scared music—his requiem in D Minor is sublime!
A friend who studied at Oxford told me hearing the organ music in Merton College’s historic chapel was a wonderful experience. I’d love to hear that someday.
Shannon, I think it must have been hard for both the listeners and the poor girls who had no talent and yet were required by their mamas to perform at musicales. Imagine being self-conscious to begin with AND knowing you had no skills. Arrrgh.
The concerts at the cathedral sound amazing. Setting can add such a wonderful dimension to any performance. I’ve become a big fan of Mozart’s scared music—his requiem in D Minor is sublime!
A friend who studied at Oxford told me hearing the organ music in Merton College’s historic chapel was a wonderful experience. I’d love to hear that someday.
Shannon, I think it must have been hard for both the listeners and the poor girls who had no talent and yet were required by their mamas to perform at musicales. Imagine being self-conscious to begin with AND knowing you had no skills. Arrrgh.
The concerts at the cathedral sound amazing. Setting can add such a wonderful dimension to any performance. I’ve become a big fan of Mozart’s scared music—his requiem in D Minor is sublime!
A friend who studied at Oxford told me hearing the organ music in Merton College’s historic chapel was a wonderful experience. I’d love to hear that someday.
Shannon, I think it must have been hard for both the listeners and the poor girls who had no talent and yet were required by their mamas to perform at musicales. Imagine being self-conscious to begin with AND knowing you had no skills. Arrrgh.
The concerts at the cathedral sound amazing. Setting can add such a wonderful dimension to any performance. I’ve become a big fan of Mozart’s scared music—his requiem in D Minor is sublime!
A friend who studied at Oxford told me hearing the organ music in Merton College’s historic chapel was a wonderful experience. I’d love to hear that someday.
Shannon, I think it must have been hard for both the listeners and the poor girls who had no talent and yet were required by their mamas to perform at musicales. Imagine being self-conscious to begin with AND knowing you had no skills. Arrrgh.
The concerts at the cathedral sound amazing. Setting can add such a wonderful dimension to any performance. I’ve become a big fan of Mozart’s scared music—his requiem in D Minor is sublime!
A friend who studied at Oxford told me hearing the organ music in Merton College’s historic chapel was a wonderful experience. I’d love to hear that someday.
Swoon! I have no particular musical talent, but I do love listening, and in fact, have heard the New College organ at the New College chapel, Oxford. Magificent.
My book that’s coming out this September, Not Quite a Wife, features two very musical protagonists. They connect through music and are both fine pianists. With fulfillment on my part, I think!
Swoon! I have no particular musical talent, but I do love listening, and in fact, have heard the New College organ at the New College chapel, Oxford. Magificent.
My book that’s coming out this September, Not Quite a Wife, features two very musical protagonists. They connect through music and are both fine pianists. With fulfillment on my part, I think!
Swoon! I have no particular musical talent, but I do love listening, and in fact, have heard the New College organ at the New College chapel, Oxford. Magificent.
My book that’s coming out this September, Not Quite a Wife, features two very musical protagonists. They connect through music and are both fine pianists. With fulfillment on my part, I think!
Swoon! I have no particular musical talent, but I do love listening, and in fact, have heard the New College organ at the New College chapel, Oxford. Magificent.
My book that’s coming out this September, Not Quite a Wife, features two very musical protagonists. They connect through music and are both fine pianists. With fulfillment on my part, I think!
Swoon! I have no particular musical talent, but I do love listening, and in fact, have heard the New College organ at the New College chapel, Oxford. Magificent.
My book that’s coming out this September, Not Quite a Wife, features two very musical protagonists. They connect through music and are both fine pianists. With fulfillment on my part, I think!
I had paino lessons from the age of six until I left school. However I didn’t go on with the music because I have very small hands and just couldn’t play much of the ‘bread and butter’ music, i.e. Chopin, Listz etc. so not much chance of making a living out of it. I actually started at an earlier age with my grandmother teaching me to play the organ she had in her living room. My grandmother was blind and so I learnt to play by ear. Very handy later on.
My favourite composers include Beethoven and Mozart, but there are many other composers of the time that are never heard today. Music was really important in the Regency, much more so than today. But I always feel sorry for all those young girls made to play Mozart in the Regency romance stories. He is not easy.
I had paino lessons from the age of six until I left school. However I didn’t go on with the music because I have very small hands and just couldn’t play much of the ‘bread and butter’ music, i.e. Chopin, Listz etc. so not much chance of making a living out of it. I actually started at an earlier age with my grandmother teaching me to play the organ she had in her living room. My grandmother was blind and so I learnt to play by ear. Very handy later on.
My favourite composers include Beethoven and Mozart, but there are many other composers of the time that are never heard today. Music was really important in the Regency, much more so than today. But I always feel sorry for all those young girls made to play Mozart in the Regency romance stories. He is not easy.
I had paino lessons from the age of six until I left school. However I didn’t go on with the music because I have very small hands and just couldn’t play much of the ‘bread and butter’ music, i.e. Chopin, Listz etc. so not much chance of making a living out of it. I actually started at an earlier age with my grandmother teaching me to play the organ she had in her living room. My grandmother was blind and so I learnt to play by ear. Very handy later on.
My favourite composers include Beethoven and Mozart, but there are many other composers of the time that are never heard today. Music was really important in the Regency, much more so than today. But I always feel sorry for all those young girls made to play Mozart in the Regency romance stories. He is not easy.
I had paino lessons from the age of six until I left school. However I didn’t go on with the music because I have very small hands and just couldn’t play much of the ‘bread and butter’ music, i.e. Chopin, Listz etc. so not much chance of making a living out of it. I actually started at an earlier age with my grandmother teaching me to play the organ she had in her living room. My grandmother was blind and so I learnt to play by ear. Very handy later on.
My favourite composers include Beethoven and Mozart, but there are many other composers of the time that are never heard today. Music was really important in the Regency, much more so than today. But I always feel sorry for all those young girls made to play Mozart in the Regency romance stories. He is not easy.
I had paino lessons from the age of six until I left school. However I didn’t go on with the music because I have very small hands and just couldn’t play much of the ‘bread and butter’ music, i.e. Chopin, Listz etc. so not much chance of making a living out of it. I actually started at an earlier age with my grandmother teaching me to play the organ she had in her living room. My grandmother was blind and so I learnt to play by ear. Very handy later on.
My favourite composers include Beethoven and Mozart, but there are many other composers of the time that are never heard today. Music was really important in the Regency, much more so than today. But I always feel sorry for all those young girls made to play Mozart in the Regency romance stories. He is not easy.
What a magical experience that must have been, Mary Jo! Hearing such glorious music in that setting—oh, fluttery sigh.
Can’t wait to read your musical hero and heroine. What a wonderful way to create emotional chemistry. I bet you had some fun with that!
What a magical experience that must have been, Mary Jo! Hearing such glorious music in that setting—oh, fluttery sigh.
Can’t wait to read your musical hero and heroine. What a wonderful way to create emotional chemistry. I bet you had some fun with that!
What a magical experience that must have been, Mary Jo! Hearing such glorious music in that setting—oh, fluttery sigh.
Can’t wait to read your musical hero and heroine. What a wonderful way to create emotional chemistry. I bet you had some fun with that!
What a magical experience that must have been, Mary Jo! Hearing such glorious music in that setting—oh, fluttery sigh.
Can’t wait to read your musical hero and heroine. What a wonderful way to create emotional chemistry. I bet you had some fun with that!
What a magical experience that must have been, Mary Jo! Hearing such glorious music in that setting—oh, fluttery sigh.
Can’t wait to read your musical hero and heroine. What a wonderful way to create emotional chemistry. I bet you had some fun with that!
Jenny, it sounds like music was a very enriching part of your life despite not having the hands to ‘make a living” from it. Your grandmother must have been a very amazing woman—and how nice that you were able to share that bond of playing together.
You’re so right in that the girls of the Regency didn’t have it easy. The artistic skills they were expected to master weren’t easy. I often think of drawing and painting in that way too. No matter how hard you practice, if you don’t have an aptitude, you’ll never be more than mediocre.
Jenny, it sounds like music was a very enriching part of your life despite not having the hands to ‘make a living” from it. Your grandmother must have been a very amazing woman—and how nice that you were able to share that bond of playing together.
You’re so right in that the girls of the Regency didn’t have it easy. The artistic skills they were expected to master weren’t easy. I often think of drawing and painting in that way too. No matter how hard you practice, if you don’t have an aptitude, you’ll never be more than mediocre.
Jenny, it sounds like music was a very enriching part of your life despite not having the hands to ‘make a living” from it. Your grandmother must have been a very amazing woman—and how nice that you were able to share that bond of playing together.
You’re so right in that the girls of the Regency didn’t have it easy. The artistic skills they were expected to master weren’t easy. I often think of drawing and painting in that way too. No matter how hard you practice, if you don’t have an aptitude, you’ll never be more than mediocre.
Jenny, it sounds like music was a very enriching part of your life despite not having the hands to ‘make a living” from it. Your grandmother must have been a very amazing woman—and how nice that you were able to share that bond of playing together.
You’re so right in that the girls of the Regency didn’t have it easy. The artistic skills they were expected to master weren’t easy. I often think of drawing and painting in that way too. No matter how hard you practice, if you don’t have an aptitude, you’ll never be more than mediocre.
Jenny, it sounds like music was a very enriching part of your life despite not having the hands to ‘make a living” from it. Your grandmother must have been a very amazing woman—and how nice that you were able to share that bond of playing together.
You’re so right in that the girls of the Regency didn’t have it easy. The artistic skills they were expected to master weren’t easy. I often think of drawing and painting in that way too. No matter how hard you practice, if you don’t have an aptitude, you’ll never be more than mediocre.
A rousing Sousa March really gets my toes to tapping.
When I was 12 I had a stint in a marching band. I played an Eflat horn.
Then there is organ music. I can turn up the speakers and sit in front of them and enjoy. In my early years I used to do radio remotes, one of which was a Church that had an organ that on the low notes would shake the floors. I really enjoyed that.
A rousing Sousa March really gets my toes to tapping.
When I was 12 I had a stint in a marching band. I played an Eflat horn.
Then there is organ music. I can turn up the speakers and sit in front of them and enjoy. In my early years I used to do radio remotes, one of which was a Church that had an organ that on the low notes would shake the floors. I really enjoyed that.
A rousing Sousa March really gets my toes to tapping.
When I was 12 I had a stint in a marching band. I played an Eflat horn.
Then there is organ music. I can turn up the speakers and sit in front of them and enjoy. In my early years I used to do radio remotes, one of which was a Church that had an organ that on the low notes would shake the floors. I really enjoyed that.
A rousing Sousa March really gets my toes to tapping.
When I was 12 I had a stint in a marching band. I played an Eflat horn.
Then there is organ music. I can turn up the speakers and sit in front of them and enjoy. In my early years I used to do radio remotes, one of which was a Church that had an organ that on the low notes would shake the floors. I really enjoyed that.
A rousing Sousa March really gets my toes to tapping.
When I was 12 I had a stint in a marching band. I played an Eflat horn.
Then there is organ music. I can turn up the speakers and sit in front of them and enjoy. In my early years I used to do radio remotes, one of which was a Church that had an organ that on the low notes would shake the floors. I really enjoyed that.
We all learned to play the recorder in 4th grade but had started learning to read the notes of the treble part of music in the 3rd grade. I have little sense of rhythm and can neither touch type nor play the piano without looking at the keys . I took piano lessons for about 2 years before it was decided that I wasnever going to play adequately. When my brother died he keft me some money part of which I used to buy an electonic organ. My children told me they wanted to learn to play ( they lied) . However, I used simplified music books of hymns and classical music to play it. MY greatest accomplishment was playing Jesu Joy of Man’s Desiring by Bach so that it was recognizable. Alas the electronic key board needs replacing. One day I would love to be able to again stumble through playing music.
I usually have my radio set in the public radio station. Despite years of listening I can’t always identify composers. Still I like most classical music . MY husband loved all kinds of music and my children also had eclectic taste so I have been exposed to everything from Airplane to ZZtop with Bach,Beethoven , Brahms, Verdi and Puccini included.
We all learned to play the recorder in 4th grade but had started learning to read the notes of the treble part of music in the 3rd grade. I have little sense of rhythm and can neither touch type nor play the piano without looking at the keys . I took piano lessons for about 2 years before it was decided that I wasnever going to play adequately. When my brother died he keft me some money part of which I used to buy an electonic organ. My children told me they wanted to learn to play ( they lied) . However, I used simplified music books of hymns and classical music to play it. MY greatest accomplishment was playing Jesu Joy of Man’s Desiring by Bach so that it was recognizable. Alas the electronic key board needs replacing. One day I would love to be able to again stumble through playing music.
I usually have my radio set in the public radio station. Despite years of listening I can’t always identify composers. Still I like most classical music . MY husband loved all kinds of music and my children also had eclectic taste so I have been exposed to everything from Airplane to ZZtop with Bach,Beethoven , Brahms, Verdi and Puccini included.
We all learned to play the recorder in 4th grade but had started learning to read the notes of the treble part of music in the 3rd grade. I have little sense of rhythm and can neither touch type nor play the piano without looking at the keys . I took piano lessons for about 2 years before it was decided that I wasnever going to play adequately. When my brother died he keft me some money part of which I used to buy an electonic organ. My children told me they wanted to learn to play ( they lied) . However, I used simplified music books of hymns and classical music to play it. MY greatest accomplishment was playing Jesu Joy of Man’s Desiring by Bach so that it was recognizable. Alas the electronic key board needs replacing. One day I would love to be able to again stumble through playing music.
I usually have my radio set in the public radio station. Despite years of listening I can’t always identify composers. Still I like most classical music . MY husband loved all kinds of music and my children also had eclectic taste so I have been exposed to everything from Airplane to ZZtop with Bach,Beethoven , Brahms, Verdi and Puccini included.
We all learned to play the recorder in 4th grade but had started learning to read the notes of the treble part of music in the 3rd grade. I have little sense of rhythm and can neither touch type nor play the piano without looking at the keys . I took piano lessons for about 2 years before it was decided that I wasnever going to play adequately. When my brother died he keft me some money part of which I used to buy an electonic organ. My children told me they wanted to learn to play ( they lied) . However, I used simplified music books of hymns and classical music to play it. MY greatest accomplishment was playing Jesu Joy of Man’s Desiring by Bach so that it was recognizable. Alas the electronic key board needs replacing. One day I would love to be able to again stumble through playing music.
I usually have my radio set in the public radio station. Despite years of listening I can’t always identify composers. Still I like most classical music . MY husband loved all kinds of music and my children also had eclectic taste so I have been exposed to everything from Airplane to ZZtop with Bach,Beethoven , Brahms, Verdi and Puccini included.
We all learned to play the recorder in 4th grade but had started learning to read the notes of the treble part of music in the 3rd grade. I have little sense of rhythm and can neither touch type nor play the piano without looking at the keys . I took piano lessons for about 2 years before it was decided that I wasnever going to play adequately. When my brother died he keft me some money part of which I used to buy an electonic organ. My children told me they wanted to learn to play ( they lied) . However, I used simplified music books of hymns and classical music to play it. MY greatest accomplishment was playing Jesu Joy of Man’s Desiring by Bach so that it was recognizable. Alas the electronic key board needs replacing. One day I would love to be able to again stumble through playing music.
I usually have my radio set in the public radio station. Despite years of listening I can’t always identify composers. Still I like most classical music . MY husband loved all kinds of music and my children also had eclectic taste so I have been exposed to everything from Airplane to ZZtop with Bach,Beethoven , Brahms, Verdi and Puccini included.
Oh, Nancy, I haven’t thought about the recorder in years! Yes, we had the same classes in 4th grade. I think I could probably read music again if I practiced for awhile, but haven’t tried. (There would be no way I could play pa iano or organ without looking at the keys. I still look at a computer keyboard, so clearly my brain doesn’t function very well on that score. Note to self: why don’t you try to learn to memorize the keyboard!?!)
I hope you get your organ and get to play again.
Oh, Nancy, I haven’t thought about the recorder in years! Yes, we had the same classes in 4th grade. I think I could probably read music again if I practiced for awhile, but haven’t tried. (There would be no way I could play pa iano or organ without looking at the keys. I still look at a computer keyboard, so clearly my brain doesn’t function very well on that score. Note to self: why don’t you try to learn to memorize the keyboard!?!)
I hope you get your organ and get to play again.
Oh, Nancy, I haven’t thought about the recorder in years! Yes, we had the same classes in 4th grade. I think I could probably read music again if I practiced for awhile, but haven’t tried. (There would be no way I could play pa iano or organ without looking at the keys. I still look at a computer keyboard, so clearly my brain doesn’t function very well on that score. Note to self: why don’t you try to learn to memorize the keyboard!?!)
I hope you get your organ and get to play again.
Oh, Nancy, I haven’t thought about the recorder in years! Yes, we had the same classes in 4th grade. I think I could probably read music again if I practiced for awhile, but haven’t tried. (There would be no way I could play pa iano or organ without looking at the keys. I still look at a computer keyboard, so clearly my brain doesn’t function very well on that score. Note to self: why don’t you try to learn to memorize the keyboard!?!)
I hope you get your organ and get to play again.
Oh, Nancy, I haven’t thought about the recorder in years! Yes, we had the same classes in 4th grade. I think I could probably read music again if I practiced for awhile, but haven’t tried. (There would be no way I could play pa iano or organ without looking at the keys. I still look at a computer keyboard, so clearly my brain doesn’t function very well on that score. Note to self: why don’t you try to learn to memorize the keyboard!?!)
I hope you get your organ and get to play again.
I do, but not well any more. When I look at the sheet music I had as a child, I amaze myself. Ah well.
I do, but not well any more. When I look at the sheet music I had as a child, I amaze myself. Ah well.
I do, but not well any more. When I look at the sheet music I had as a child, I amaze myself. Ah well.
I do, but not well any more. When I look at the sheet music I had as a child, I amaze myself. Ah well.
I do, but not well any more. When I look at the sheet music I had as a child, I amaze myself. Ah well.
Ha, Ella! I feel the same way–I keep reminding myself of the quote from the movie “Yellow Submarine”: “So little time, so much to know!”
Ha, Ella! I feel the same way–I keep reminding myself of the quote from the movie “Yellow Submarine”: “So little time, so much to know!”
Ha, Ella! I feel the same way–I keep reminding myself of the quote from the movie “Yellow Submarine”: “So little time, so much to know!”
Ha, Ella! I feel the same way–I keep reminding myself of the quote from the movie “Yellow Submarine”: “So little time, so much to know!”
Ha, Ella! I feel the same way–I keep reminding myself of the quote from the movie “Yellow Submarine”: “So little time, so much to know!”
I took piano lessons and was in band starting in middle school and all through high school. I played trumpet, mellophone, and french horn. Sadly, I doubt I could reproduce much of what I was able to do back then. 🙂
No favorite composer. I like variety depending on my mood.
I took piano lessons and was in band starting in middle school and all through high school. I played trumpet, mellophone, and french horn. Sadly, I doubt I could reproduce much of what I was able to do back then. 🙂
No favorite composer. I like variety depending on my mood.
I took piano lessons and was in band starting in middle school and all through high school. I played trumpet, mellophone, and french horn. Sadly, I doubt I could reproduce much of what I was able to do back then. 🙂
No favorite composer. I like variety depending on my mood.
I took piano lessons and was in band starting in middle school and all through high school. I played trumpet, mellophone, and french horn. Sadly, I doubt I could reproduce much of what I was able to do back then. 🙂
No favorite composer. I like variety depending on my mood.
I took piano lessons and was in band starting in middle school and all through high school. I played trumpet, mellophone, and french horn. Sadly, I doubt I could reproduce much of what I was able to do back then. 🙂
No favorite composer. I like variety depending on my mood.
I happened to attend an organ-piano-harpsichord concert last Sunday and was amazed at the difference (at least in the church/concert hall setting) between the piano and the harpsichord, even though at one time I had both in my living room. Not just the dynamics (the harpsichord doesn’t really have any), but the style of music. I can see why Beethoven was a shock! Harpsichord music is mostly linear, depending on inventive running melodies for interest. The piano lent itself to chunkier sounds. Really, the nickname for pianoforte should have become forte, as it’s the harpsichord that has only the piano. 😉
For anyone who wishes to take up a musical instrument as an adult, I recommend the Native American flute. Most NAFs utilize a pentatonic (black key) scale that might be related to that Gregorian-chant keyboard layout. It’s impossible to play badly on a NAF, which also features an easy-blowing mouthpiece. Check it out, you music wistfuls.
I happened to attend an organ-piano-harpsichord concert last Sunday and was amazed at the difference (at least in the church/concert hall setting) between the piano and the harpsichord, even though at one time I had both in my living room. Not just the dynamics (the harpsichord doesn’t really have any), but the style of music. I can see why Beethoven was a shock! Harpsichord music is mostly linear, depending on inventive running melodies for interest. The piano lent itself to chunkier sounds. Really, the nickname for pianoforte should have become forte, as it’s the harpsichord that has only the piano. 😉
For anyone who wishes to take up a musical instrument as an adult, I recommend the Native American flute. Most NAFs utilize a pentatonic (black key) scale that might be related to that Gregorian-chant keyboard layout. It’s impossible to play badly on a NAF, which also features an easy-blowing mouthpiece. Check it out, you music wistfuls.
I happened to attend an organ-piano-harpsichord concert last Sunday and was amazed at the difference (at least in the church/concert hall setting) between the piano and the harpsichord, even though at one time I had both in my living room. Not just the dynamics (the harpsichord doesn’t really have any), but the style of music. I can see why Beethoven was a shock! Harpsichord music is mostly linear, depending on inventive running melodies for interest. The piano lent itself to chunkier sounds. Really, the nickname for pianoforte should have become forte, as it’s the harpsichord that has only the piano. 😉
For anyone who wishes to take up a musical instrument as an adult, I recommend the Native American flute. Most NAFs utilize a pentatonic (black key) scale that might be related to that Gregorian-chant keyboard layout. It’s impossible to play badly on a NAF, which also features an easy-blowing mouthpiece. Check it out, you music wistfuls.
I happened to attend an organ-piano-harpsichord concert last Sunday and was amazed at the difference (at least in the church/concert hall setting) between the piano and the harpsichord, even though at one time I had both in my living room. Not just the dynamics (the harpsichord doesn’t really have any), but the style of music. I can see why Beethoven was a shock! Harpsichord music is mostly linear, depending on inventive running melodies for interest. The piano lent itself to chunkier sounds. Really, the nickname for pianoforte should have become forte, as it’s the harpsichord that has only the piano. 😉
For anyone who wishes to take up a musical instrument as an adult, I recommend the Native American flute. Most NAFs utilize a pentatonic (black key) scale that might be related to that Gregorian-chant keyboard layout. It’s impossible to play badly on a NAF, which also features an easy-blowing mouthpiece. Check it out, you music wistfuls.
I happened to attend an organ-piano-harpsichord concert last Sunday and was amazed at the difference (at least in the church/concert hall setting) between the piano and the harpsichord, even though at one time I had both in my living room. Not just the dynamics (the harpsichord doesn’t really have any), but the style of music. I can see why Beethoven was a shock! Harpsichord music is mostly linear, depending on inventive running melodies for interest. The piano lent itself to chunkier sounds. Really, the nickname for pianoforte should have become forte, as it’s the harpsichord that has only the piano. 😉
For anyone who wishes to take up a musical instrument as an adult, I recommend the Native American flute. Most NAFs utilize a pentatonic (black key) scale that might be related to that Gregorian-chant keyboard layout. It’s impossible to play badly on a NAF, which also features an easy-blowing mouthpiece. Check it out, you music wistfuls.
Wow, you are VERY musical, Glenda, and I think that stays with you. No doubt you would pick up all your old skills very fast if you practiced a little.
I’m beginning to explore the more modern composers, but for now, am very taken with the old classical geniuses. (Still adore Handel and his Musik for Royal Fireworks!)
Wow, you are VERY musical, Glenda, and I think that stays with you. No doubt you would pick up all your old skills very fast if you practiced a little.
I’m beginning to explore the more modern composers, but for now, am very taken with the old classical geniuses. (Still adore Handel and his Musik for Royal Fireworks!)
Wow, you are VERY musical, Glenda, and I think that stays with you. No doubt you would pick up all your old skills very fast if you practiced a little.
I’m beginning to explore the more modern composers, but for now, am very taken with the old classical geniuses. (Still adore Handel and his Musik for Royal Fireworks!)
Wow, you are VERY musical, Glenda, and I think that stays with you. No doubt you would pick up all your old skills very fast if you practiced a little.
I’m beginning to explore the more modern composers, but for now, am very taken with the old classical geniuses. (Still adore Handel and his Musik for Royal Fireworks!)
Wow, you are VERY musical, Glenda, and I think that stays with you. No doubt you would pick up all your old skills very fast if you practiced a little.
I’m beginning to explore the more modern composers, but for now, am very taken with the old classical geniuses. (Still adore Handel and his Musik for Royal Fireworks!)
Thank you for this, Mary! So true that the harpsichord is a very soft sound, that doesn’t play well for large concert spaces.
And how fascinating to hear about the native American flute! Really interesting. I don’t know whether I will ever have time to pursue playing music, but if I do, I will definitely look at this instrument!
Thank you for this, Mary! So true that the harpsichord is a very soft sound, that doesn’t play well for large concert spaces.
And how fascinating to hear about the native American flute! Really interesting. I don’t know whether I will ever have time to pursue playing music, but if I do, I will definitely look at this instrument!
Thank you for this, Mary! So true that the harpsichord is a very soft sound, that doesn’t play well for large concert spaces.
And how fascinating to hear about the native American flute! Really interesting. I don’t know whether I will ever have time to pursue playing music, but if I do, I will definitely look at this instrument!
Thank you for this, Mary! So true that the harpsichord is a very soft sound, that doesn’t play well for large concert spaces.
And how fascinating to hear about the native American flute! Really interesting. I don’t know whether I will ever have time to pursue playing music, but if I do, I will definitely look at this instrument!
Thank you for this, Mary! So true that the harpsichord is a very soft sound, that doesn’t play well for large concert spaces.
And how fascinating to hear about the native American flute! Really interesting. I don’t know whether I will ever have time to pursue playing music, but if I do, I will definitely look at this instrument!