Guten Morgen mit Musik

My friend Natalie, with whom I visited Auschwitz some years ago, works as a harpsichordist at the University of the Arts in Berlin, Europe’s largest art school and one of the largest in the world.  She speaks fluent German, English, and French, though, out of horror and shame, she refused to speak German for a week after our visit to the Lager.

Occasionally she will send me a video of her playing a song on the keyboard, sometimes an original song and sometimes an older one. Today we have two specimens of the latter. The first was sent yesterday, and she describes it as Allemande in F major by Louis Couperin, a French Baroque composer who died at only 35.

Natalie often explains to me what inspired the sending of a song, and here’s the background of this one:

Here is a dance movement I like a lot, it is an Allemande Dance by Louis Couperin in F Major. I recorded it for you as I arrived at school, and was going to send it to you quickly in the morning, and then, well you know what happened…

The music is a bit like a moment in life where one is mildly amused, in general in a good mood. But somewhat without a set plan – should I go for a walk? Or do some painting? Or maybe call a friend and say I miss them? In any case, this day is sunny and pleasant.

That kind of mood..

Be sure to listen until the end, where there’s a surprise:

And a second one, recorded some years ago but never posted here:

This is a Gigue by J. S. Bach from the 1st Partita in B flat major. It sounds to me like two kittens jumping up and down on the keyboard with glee, and I am the mother trying to hold them but failing to do so. Read More