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📖 “To know an art really well, one must know everything about it, both its origins and its development.”
Gabriel Fauré
At the Piano with Gabriel Fauré (1963) by Marguerite Long

Feel free to browse through different articles and see if you find anything of interest in this collection. The navigation links on the right will direct you towards various entries.

Some of the films and documentaries are in the original languages without English subtitles and I apologise to those who would require a translation for the lack of translation.

One of the great music film makers of the 20th century is Bruno Monsaingeon. He has made phenomenal documentaries about various great musicians such as Glenn Gould, Sviatoslav Richter and David Oistrakh. I would like to recommend that you find his films Richter - The Enigma, Mademoiselle Nadia, The Red Baton, Glenn Gould - The Alchemist, Glenn Gould - The Retreat.

Enjoy!

PS: More is on the way and will be uploaded soon.

📖 "Art hath an enemy called ignorance." Ben Johnson

📖 POEM: MUSIC - I - PRELUDE

Daughter of Psyche, pledge of that last night
When, pierced with pain and bitter-sweet delight,
She knew her Love and saw her Lord depart,
Then breathed her wonder and her woe forlorn
Into a single cry, and thou wast born!
Thou flower of rapture and thou fruit of grief;
Invisible enchantress of the heart;
Mistress of charms that bring relief
To sorrow, and to joy impart
A heavenly tone that keeps it undefiled, -
Thou art the child
Of Amor, and by right divine
A throne of love is thine,
thou flower-folded, golden-girdled, star-crowned Queen,
Whose bridal beauty mortal eyes have never seen!

Henry van Dyke

📖 POEM: WHAT DOES MUSIC SAY?

The provocation of great music is;
some sweet music rebukes.
Because it is, says Why not?

You heard it says
Keep faith Cease
to acquiesce

Faith with Earth!
cries
music the reminder of
love
Praise!
Praise
Earth the sense and voice of the Universe -
rare
tuned held truth
water and breath!
Praise
and spare!

the fact of music - once known, how deny it?

and in the silences
still You heard it says

Jonathan Griffin The Fact of Music (1980)

Blog | Piano Lessons in London | "Art hath an enemy called ignorance." Ben Johnson

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