Favorite pieces? Now THERE'S a fun topic to share among friends here.
Hmmm. In terms of favorite pieces to perform? Max just finished studying the third movement from Beethoven's "Tempest" Sonata. He loves this piece passionately, though I suspect he feels he doesn't do it justice. Probably a piece he will re-visit as he matures and will enjoy for a lifetime. Somewhere along the way he'll learn the other two movements too, I hope.
Bach is his ultimate favorite composer, and I know playing anything by this great master gives him an all-time high. His teacher is perfecting the entire Well-Tempered Clavier for an upcoming recital, and he's promised to give us a preview performance before Max packs off for college this fall.
Perhaps I'll play more after Max leaves. I used to play rags quite a bit. Joplin's Magnetic Rag is a personal favorite of mine. I play it slowly. It was his last piece before he died. His hands were arthritic at this point, so he wrote for melodic line, not gynmnastics (ie Maple Leaf Rag) at this phase of his life. The last movement (in minor key) before the final refrain is particularly poignant to my ears. It alludes to the upcoming jazz movement from a historical standpoint -- one can imagine Joplin moving on to the blues from this piece had he lived on. Other favorites: Schubert's Impromptus, and Schumann's Scenes from Childhood.
I love all kinds of music, actually. Recently I've been trying to play Thelonius Monk's "Misterioso" by ear. Can only get as far as the introduction.
Joy
PS: I hope others will jump in and mention the pieces they love to play on a moment's notice.
[ July 12, 2001: Message edited by: Joy ]