A notable quote by Leonard Bernstein about classical music defines “classical” by its lasting emotional impact, stating, “A great composer’s music will always last and last, perhaps forever, because people keep on feeling emotion whenever they hear it. And that lasting quality is perhaps the most important meaning of the word ‘classical.’ A classic is something that lasts forever.”
This is what I have rediscovered over the past year – the ability of beautiful music to arouse the senses and bring joy. It started with classical music. A couple of visits to the San Francisco Symphony, to which I am now a season subscriber. Gorgeous piano melodies, classical plus popular tunes, while on board a cruise earlier this year. Subscribing to and exploring different genres of music through Apple music.
Classical music first came to my senses as a child, through LPs of Beethoven and Tchaikovsky. Sunday breakfast, the one time each week that my family enjoyed breakfast together, always included listening to classical music, as did the holidays.
My paternal grandmother created space in her home in Ft. Collins, CO for a baby grand piano. She was a graduate of the Denver Conservatory of Music, though family lore would have placed her at Juilliard. Perhaps she did go there briefly. For whatever reason, I never heard her play that lovely instrument. It made me sad when it was sold.
As a young adult, popular and rock music became my genre. My favorite, perhaps, was The Doors. And The Rolling Stones. The Beatles, of course. Aretha Franklin. Roberta Flack. The Beach Boys. There was so much fun music. I also became a fan of balladiers and folk music, such as Peter, Paul and Mary, The Mamas and the Papas, the Everly Brothers, Simon and Garfunkel. The list could go on and on. Going against the grain, Elvis never made it on my list.
Today, I rejoice in seeing my grandchildren experience the joy of music. One of my daughters is learning to play the piano, a long-held desire on her part. Her husband, my son-in-law, plays the drums beautifully. Their two children have violin lessons every week, one private and one group lesson each. I never miss their Suzuki violin performances each year at the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music. Next year, the older grandchild, will be part of a giant group performance at Carnegie Hall, another not to be missed performance. My youngest grandson, three years old, is quite the head bobber when listening to catchy tunes.
Three years ago, my Brooklyn family had the privilege of attending a performance of Beethoven’s Ninth, conducted by Michael Tilson Thomas, at Tanglewood. My grandson, then six years old, came away singing a nearly pitch perfect version of Ode to Joy. We all scratched our heads in confusion, until my daughter remembered that a baby’s bedside music box was most likely the source of that remembered tune.
San Francisco has many joyful ways to enjoy music. Most recently, I was able to spend a couple of hours at Flower Piano in the San Francisco Botanical Gardens in Golden Gate Park. This special event featured twelve pianos spread across the 55 acres of the gardens. The schedule included professional piano players over ten days, as well as community partners and open play time for the public.
Now celebrating its 10th year, Flower Piano once again was hosted by Sunset Piano, Gardens of Golden Gate Park, and the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department. Sunset Piano collects discarded and unsold pianos and refurbishes them for outdoor venues.
A new musical season lies ahead. Last week, the San Francisco Symphony had its opening night gala. Perhaps one year I will have the opportunity to get dressed to the nines and attend the opening. In the meantime, I look forward to my first Symphony event of the season, a piano recital by Marc-André Hamelin,
