Melodies about Mermaids

Tomoko was born in Tokyo long before that city’s Disneyland Sea, which features the mermaid Ariel. Mermaids have inspired piano composers for centuries because of their mythical and ethereal nature. These compositions often feature Impressionistic, flowing piano, or orchestral techniques to evoke the sea's mystery. Here are a few examples.

• Franz Joseph Haydn composed "The Mermaid's Song" (1794) as part of his 12 English Canzonettas. It features a shimmering piano prelude meant to evoke the movement of water.
• Enrique Granados wrote a piano piece titled "La Sirena" during his early career (c. 1884–1895) as he developed his distinct Spanish romantic style.
• William Gillock included a piece titled "Song of the Mermaid" in his 24 Preludes in Romantic Style, a popular educational collection for solo piano.
• Claude Debussy’s movement "Sirènes" from Nocturnes is a cornerstone of mermaid-inspired music. His piano prelude "La Cathédrale Engloutie" (The Sunken Cathedral) also evokes a similar mystical underwater atmosphere. 

The mermaid motif continues today in piano compositions.

• Alan Menken, known for his music for Disney’s The Little Mermaid, has been extensively arranged for classical piano solo and duet, notably by Phillip Keveren.
• Alla Pavlova composed "The Mermaid" as part of her Six Piano Impressions After Fairy Tales by H.C. Andersen (2015).
• Vladimir Titov wrote "Mermaid" Op. 8 No. 2, which features a mirrored hand technique on the piano. 

Tomoko is no mermaid, but over the years she has certainly made a splash with her piano performances and teaching.

Music to Ice Skate By

 The winter Olympic Games are upon us. Tomoko's daughter Beata was an Olympics dance skater, and she continues in that profession. Beata had the advantage of knowing about music, starting with her mother, so she understood the importance of music -- and choosing the most effective pieces -- for choreographing a skating routine.

Classical music is a mainstay of ice skating, ranging from lighthearted winter waltzes to intense dramatic scores used by Olympic champions. 

Iconic Classical Pieces for Skating

These works are specifically associated with the atmosphere of ice skating or are frequently performed in competitive routines: 

• The Skaters' Waltz (Les Patineurs) by Émile Waldteufel: Composed in 1882, this is the most iconic piece of "skating music," featuring flowing melodies and the sound of bells to mimic a wintry rink.
• Boléro by Maurice Ravel: Famous for its steady, building rhythm, most notably used in the perfect 6.0-scoring routine by Torvill and Dean in 1984.
• Swan Lake by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky: A competitive staple, used by gold medalists like Oksana Baiul (1994) to evoke elegance and drama.
• The Four Seasons: "Winter" by Antonio Vivaldi: Features sharp, rapid string work that matches the precision of high-level footwork.
• Carmen (Habanera/Prelude) by Georges Bizet: Frequently used for its intense energy; famous for the 1988 "Battle of the Carmens" between Katerina Witt and Debi Thomas.
• Moonlight Sonata by Ludwig van Beethoven: A popular choice for romantic or emotional programs, used by pairs such as Gordeeva and Grinkov. 

 

Popular Orchestral Selections

Many skaters select movements from larger classical works that provide a mix of slow, lyrical sections and powerful finales: 

• Rachmaninoff: Piano Concerto No. 2 and No. 3.
• Rimsky-Korsakov: Scheherazade.
• Saint-Saëns: "The Swan" from The Carnival of the Animals and Danse Macabre.
• Stravinsky: The Firebird and The Rite of Spring.
• Mahler: Adagietto from Symphony No. 5. 

 

Curated Playlists & Collections 

You can find these and other classical skating tracks on the following platforms:

• 55 Ice Skating Classics (Spotify): A comprehensive collection including Strauss waltzes and Puccini arias.
• Figure Skating's Greatest Hits (Europadisc): A curated CD featuring Tchaikovsky, Ravel, and Vivaldi.
• Best Figure Skating Classics (Apple Music): Includes competitive favorites like the "Sabre Dance" and "Méditation" from Thaïs.