Category: Music
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More Musings for Mother’s Day 2025: Of Mothers, Sons…and Music
Evening, Sunday, May 11, 2025 – Miami, Florida Mother’s Day always brings a mix of emotions. The ache of missing my mother is ever-present, but today, I choose to celebrate the memories—the quiet, joyful moments that defined our bond. Mom and I shared an unspoken connection through the things we loved: books, films, dogs, and…
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A Musicale for the Last Monday in April 2025
Late Morning, Monday, April 28, 2025, Miami, Florida Hi, there. Here in my corner of South Florida, it is a hot, sunny first day of the regular workweek. Currently, the temperature is 82°F (28°C) under sunny skies. With humidity at 58% and the wind blowing from the east at 9 MPH (15 Km/H), the heat…
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Late Night Reflections: Writing After Dark
Night, Sunday, April 27, 2025, Miami, Florida If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again. It’s almost 10 PM here as I write this, the second blog post on this last Sunday of April 2025. I rarely do this so late; I may have done it a few times when I lived in Tampa,…
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Behind the Music: “Boy of Harvard” and Its Dreamy Origins
Exploring the playful creativity of Reunion: Coda When it comes to weaving whimsy into storytelling, the dream sequence in Reunion: Coda is a standout moment. Set during Jim Garraty’s high school commencement, this scene offers readers a glimpse into the humorous and poignant workings of Jim’s imagination as he dozes off during an inspirational speech.…
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Sunday Serenade: Songs and Compositions I Enjoy
Midday/Early Afternoon, Sunday, January 5, 2025, Miami, Florida Hi, everyone. Well, while I am feeling a bit better today, I’m still under the weather. So, instead of the usual narrative blog post or occasional review, here’s a selection of music from YouTube for this first Sunday of 2025! Enjoy!
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Saturday Serenade: Some of My Favorite Piano Pieces*
Midday/Early Afternoon, Saturday, January 4, 2025, Miami, Florida * Including piano transcriptions of orchestral compositions. Hi, everyone. I’m feeling a bit better today, but still dealing with a persistent cold. I’m exhausted from the symptoms and medication. Instead of my usual long blog post, here are some of my favorite piano performances. Enjoy!
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Music Album Review: ‘Kiri Sings Gershwin’: A Swinging Tribute to Timeless Classics
Kiri Sings Gershwin (1990) Label: EMI Records Genre: Standards/Crossovers Artists: Kiri Te Kanawa (soprano), John McGlinn (conductor), New Princess Orchestra Release Date: October 25, 1990 Regular readers of this blog won’t be surprised. Still, I seem to follow the beat of a different drummer because I prefer older musical styles to contemporary ones, especially when…
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Music Album Review: Dame Kiri Te Kanawa Shines in Kiri Sings Kern
Kiri Sings Kern (1993) Label: Angel/EMI Records Genre: Crossover/Standards Artists: Kiri Te Kanawa (Soprano), London Sinfonietta (Orchestra), Jonathan Tunick (Conductor/Arranger) Release Date: March 16, 1993 Jerome Kern (1885-1945) remains one of the most influential composers in American popular music. Alongside legends like Irving Berlin, George Gershwin, Cole Porter, and Richard Rodgers, the New York-born Kern…
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Sunday Musicale: Sharing My Favorite Piano Pieces
Sharing My Favorite Piano Pieces Inspiration from Maddie in “Reunion: Coda” Hello everyone, As I’m still feeling a bit under the weather today, I thought I would take a moment to share something a little different. Instead of my usual updates, I’m excited to share some of my favorite YouTube videos featuring beautiful piano pieces…
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On Music and Melodies: I’m a Man Out of Step with the Times, Musically Speaking
Today I made a brief but candid observation on my Facebook page: “While many of my peers – born in the early to mid-1960s and who came of age in the early 1989s – prefer rock, salsa, or (ugh) disco, I tend to favor older genres. I’m not sure why, but that’s how I’m wired.”…
A Certain Point of View, Too 