The Pianist

Favorite Song Analysis: Bill Withers, “Lovely Day” My favorite song is “Lovely Day”, performed by R&B artist Bill Withers. The date of the composition was December 16, 1977 and it was released as a single. "Lovely Day" peaked at #6 on the Billboard R&B chart and at #30 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the US in early 1978.[1] Rhythm “Lovely Day” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYi7uEvEEmk) is a song that I impart into my life on a daily basis, mainly because of its positive message and…

every composition was instrumental. Through this method of expression they were capable of transmitting the mood and feelings of that particular time in history. An example of these master composers was Frederic Chopin, a Polish composer and virtuoso pianist who wrote primarily for the solo piano, one of the most important figures on instrumental music. His work is so important that it has gone through thousands of years, and yet, it is recognized as one of most valuable art work. The…

In Anzia Yezierska’s novel entitled Bread Givers, there is much conflict between the father Reb Smolinsky and his daughters. During the course of this paper conflict with the culture and a father who chose to not work studying the holy book called the Torah as well as other holy books ended up devastating his family into poverty. The move to America from the old country Reb Smolinsky took all of his holy books and anything he felt he needed causing his daughters and wife to leave behind items…

Louis Armstrong was a man of many things. Though he was mainly known for his music as a singer and trumpeter, he also was a film star and comedian. Before I get into all the achievements that he had accomplished in his life time let’s start at the beginning. Louis Armstrong was born in New Orleans, Louisiana on August 4th, 1901. He was the son of Willie Armstrong and Mary Ann Armstrong and a sibling to Beatrice Armstrong Collins (sister). He lived with his family in an area nicknamed “The…

Holden recognizes that he looks strange; Holden is purposefully ostracizing himself to avoid any conversation. This unfortunate cycle ends up further secluding Holden from others. Before this, at a jazz club, Holden asks a waiter to see if Ernie the pianist will join him, even though Holden acknowledges that waiters “never give your message to anybody” (Salinger 86). Although Holden wishes to have a conversation, he does not speak directly to Ernie. Holden wants to escape any possibility of…

piano concerto (Piano Concerto No. 1 in B-flat Minor) between November 1874 and February 1875. The first version was criticized by a fellow composer Nikolai Rubinstein, calling it worthless and unplayable. Tchaikovsky then revised it and asked German pianist Hans von Bulow to perform the music. On October 25, 1875, Bulow performed the piano concert in Boston and became a success. Piano Concerto No. 1 begins with a catchy and memorable melody. It has four emphatic B-flat minor chords that lead…

The patient’s health was spiraling out of control. Countless years of suffering from acid reflux and obesity deteriorated her quality of life and predisposed her towards more serious complications. Consumed with fear and anxiety, she worried heavily how she would provide for her children. She felt hopeless and defeated. That was then. Now three months after laparoscopic gastric bypass surgery, she is recovering well and looks like an entirely different person. Joy and excitement returned, and…

Tin Pan Alley Tin Pan Alley is the name that is given to the group of musical artists and producers of New York during the 19th and 20th century. The name was, at first, given to a specific location in New York. Tin Pan Alley was located between West 28th Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenue in Manhattan. Tin Pan Alley is said to have gotten its name from the collective sound of the pianos all playing different tunes at the same time. This was said to sound like tin pans being banged…

On April 18, I braved the blizzard-like conditions and attended Viterbo University’s Visiting Artists Chamber Music Concert held in the Nola Starling Recital Hall. This concert included celloist Stepan Filipek and pianist Katelyn Bouska. There was a wide range of contemporary music played by the duo including “Cello Sonata, op. 6)by Samuel Barber, “Pohadka” by Leos Janacek, “Klid Lesa, op. 68” and “Rondo for Cello and Piano, op. 94” by Antonin Dvorak, “On an Overgrown Path” by Leos Janacek, “Dos…

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart is perhaps the most popular composer of the classical period. He has composed over 600 works which includes some of the most famous and loved pieces of multiple styles of music. Mozart was considered a prodigy and certainly set the standard higher for generations of musicians that come after him. Although Mozart proved to be a musical genius, his life was not an easy one. He encountered many obstacles in his later years. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart…