From my senior recital program:
Claude Debussy dedicated a book of piano pieces called "The Children's Corner" to his daughter, Chouchou. The title of this piece refers to the steps to the top of Mount Parnassus in Greece, which, in Greek mythology, was home to the Muses. Debussy pokes fun at a book of piano exercises by Muzio Clementi by the same title. This is Debussy's idea of what would happen if a child played the exercises and got bored.

Dr Gradus ad Parnassum

From my senior recital program:
Claude Debussy
One of his earliest known pieces, Reverie, was published from an old manuscript wihtout his knowledge. After the fact, Debussy said that he had written the piece in a hurry, and found it to be of no significance. His feelings about the piece did not stop it from becoming famous and still popular today. The word Revereie means dream, so as you listen to the piece, let yourself get lost in the dream.

Reverie

Beethoven's Sonata in G Major, Op. 49, No. 2 from my senior piano recital.

sonata_in_g_op.49_no.2_beethoven

Lee Dengler, text by Charles Dickens:
"The pure, the bright, the beautiful that stirred our hearts in youth, the impulses to wordless prayer, the streams of love and truth, the longing after something lost, the spirit's yearning cry, the striving after better hopes: These things can never die.
The timid hand stretched forth to aid a brother in his need, a kindly word in grief's dark hour that proves a friend indeed, the plea for mercy softly breathed when justice threatens high, the sorrow of a contrite heart: These things shall never die, shall never die.
Let nothing pass, for every hand must find some work to do. Lose not a chance to waken love. Be firm and just true, so shall a light that cannot fade beam on thee from on high, and angel voices say to thee: These things can never die."

NHMS Advanced Treble Chorus, May 2013

Jenna Thayer

Popular tracks