Now I am attracted only to music which I consider to be better than it can be performed. Therefore I feel (rightly or wrongly) that unless a piece of music presents a problem to me, a neverending problem, it doesn’t interest me too much. For instance, Chopin’s studies are lovely pieces, perfect pieces, but I simply can’t spend time on them. I believe I know these pieces; but playing a Mozart sonata, I am not so sure that I do know it, inside and out. Therefore I can spend endless time on it.
– Artur Schnabel, in a lecture at the University of Chicago, 1945
W. Grünzweig and L. Matheson (ed.) Music, Wit, and Wisdom: The Autobiography of Artur Schnabel, Hofheim, Wolke Verlag, 2009.
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I Will Walk in the Presence of the Lord – Psalm 115 (116b), Psalm 114 (116a)Title: I will walk in the presence of the Lord Text: – Psalm 115 (116b):10, 15-19 (R. Psalm 114 (116a):9) – Psalm 114 (116a):1-6, 8-9. R. v.9. Composer: Greg Smith Instrumentation: SATB and piano Product medium: PDF Score and part Sample:
The power of enthusiasm“Enthusiasm is the greatest asset in the world. It beats money, power and influence.” Henry Chester
To fool, or be fooled, by a nameOne of Tchaikovsky’s favorite anecdotes resulted from his nearly losing the sketches for the Little Russian on the way back to Moscow. To persuade a recalcitrant postmaster to hitch the horses to the coach in which he and his brother Modest had been travelling, Tchaikovsky presented himself as “Prince Volkonsky, gentleman of the Emperor’s bedchamber.” […]
Let My Tongue Be Silenced – Psalm 136 (137)Title: Let my tongue be silenced Text: Psalm 136 (137) Composer: Greg Smith Instrumentation: SATB and piano (unison verses) Product medium: PDF score and part Sample:
Elegie IITitle: Elegie II Composer: Greg Smith Instrumentation: Cello and piano Product medium: PDF score and part SAMPLE:
Puccini’s hangoutPuccini was a very sociable man, quote often putting this before his composing. Even when he was working hard, he maintained an active social life: With the opening of the 1894-1895 season not far way, Puccini began steady work on La Bohème in Torre. But he also needed a place to relax, so his “second […]
Big BusinessTitle: Big Business (silent film soundtrack) Composer: Greg Smith Instrumentation: Piano Product medium:PDF score (31 pages) BACKGROUND: Film: Directors: James W. Horne & Leo McCarey Starring: Stan Laurel & Oliver Hardy Year of release: 1929 Synopsis: Two salesmen are trying to sell Christmas trees in california. The customers, however, are not so keen. Who would […]
Arthur Schopenhauer on musicNow the nature of man consists in this, that his will strives, is satisfied and strives anew, and so on for ever. Indeed, his happiness and well-being consist simply in the quick transition from wish to satisfaction, and from satisfaction to a new wish. For the absence of satisfaction is suffering, the empty longing for […]
Skepticism“Great intellects are skeptical.” – Friedrich Nietzsche, Antichrist, 54. Digitally archived at https://www.gutenberg.org/files/19322/19322-h/19322-h.htm, accessed 12 September 2021