the reader

music by kevin finseth

kevin finseth - piano, bass balalaika
Peggy Lee - cello

The Reader was brought to me one afternoon in the summer of 2010 after watching the film of the same name.  I was moved by the story’s portrayal of how the past lives on inside us and how certain events will remain with us until the end.  I spent the next couple of hours at the piano, playing the changes over and over – transfixed by the beautiful sorrow I found in this simple theme. Eventually my playing became too exuberant for the many items sitting on top of the piano and down came an African stringed instrument, a large unframed painting and a white orchid in full bloom.  Miraculously I was able to catch both the neck of the instrument and the painted canvas, but alas, the orchid was sacrificed to the gods of song.

the reader

Nourah AL Binali