Sporting the Music Life

Classical music and sports intersect through composers who were athletes or were inspired by sports in their compositions. Piano music has also inspired athletics in training and performance. And think of all the band music...

Composers with Sporting Connections

• Charles Ives: An avid athlete who captained his baseball and football teams in college, Ives composed distinct sports music for the piano. His work "Some South-Paw Pitching" is a famous piano etude designed to strengthen the pianist's left hand, drawing on both baseball and boxing slang. 
• Frederick Septimus Kelly: A highly accomplished pianist and composer who was also an elite Olympic athlete. He won a gold medal in rowing at the 1908 London Summer Olympic Games.
• Maurice Ravel: Though not a sports enthusiast himself, Ravel’s famous impressionist piano piece "Jeux d'eau" (Water Games) evokes images of flowing and splashing water, and was featured during the opening ceremonies of the 2024 Paris Olympics. 
• Erik Satie: A French composer whose minimalist piano works like "Gymnopédies" are widely used for calm, focused sports warm-ups and golf training. 

Piano Music for Athletic Training

Classical piano works can enhance athletic performance by establishing a steady, motivating rhythm, as tempos between 120 and 140 beats per minute are perfect for high-energy workouts. Here are some good choices.

• Beethoven's Sonata No. 14 "Moonlight" (3rd Movement): Features a frantic, driving tempo that matches high-intensity training.
• Chopin's Etudes (e.g., Op. 10 No. 4): Lightning-fast, repetitive runs that provide an excellent pulse for sprints or rigorous cardio.
• Bach's Preludes (from The Well-Tempered Clavier): The steady, driving basslines in Bach's work are great for maintaining a consistent pace during long-distance running or cycling.

Information found at Spotify, WFMT, Classic FM, 

Step to the Music

 

Late May and early June are the traditional times for graduation ceremonies. When Tomoko taught at San Domenico School, the girls graduated to classical music – often Vivaldi. Classical piano music is perfect for graduation ceremonies. Here is the ultimate graduation piano repertoire.

 

1. Processional Music (Walking to Seats)

This music should be steady, dignified, and elegant.

• "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring" by J.S. Bach: A serene, uplifting chorale that brings a sense of grace and accomplishment.
• "Clair de Lune" by Claude Debussy: Smooth, dreamy, and atmospheric. Perfect if you want an ethereal, reflective background during the walk-in.
• "Gymnopédie No. 1" by Erik Satie: Minimalist and calm, ideal for a quiet, focused processional.

 

2. Interludes & Diploma Presentations

Music played softly while diplomas are handed out should be engaging without overwhelming the speakers.

• "Waltz in A-flat major, Op. 39, No. 15" by Johannes Brahms: A bright, buoyant, and joyful waltz.
• "Für Elise" by Ludwig van Beethoven: Highly recognizable and gentle, excellent for quieter moments.
• "Nocturne in E-flat Major, Op. 9, No. 2" by Frédéric Chopin: Luxurious and flowing, offering a warm, celebratory elegance.

 

3. Recessional Music (Exiting the Ceremony)

The final walk-out music should be triumphant, energetic, and grand.

• "Rondo alla Turca" by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Fast-paced, bright, and sparkling with victorious energy.
• "Triumphal March" from Aida by Giuseppe Verdi: While originally an orchestral piece, stellar piano arrangements capture the exact triumphant, crowning-achievement.
• "War March of the Priests" by Felix Mendelssohn: A robust and commanding piece from Athalia that projects an undeniable sense of triumph and accomplishment.

 

 

Setting Poetry to Music

 

April is Poetry Month. Many classical piano composers found inspiration in poetry, either by setting poems to vocal music with piano accompaniment (Lieder) or by creating programmatic piano works directly inspired by poetic themes. Leading piano composers include Franz Schubert, who wrote over 600 songs based on Goethe's poetry, and Claude Debussy, who set verses from Verlaine and Mallarmé. 

Here are other classical piano composers who integrated poetry into their work:

• Franz Liszt (1811–1886): Heavily influenced by literature, including Dante's Divine Comedy, creating works that treated music as a "poetic language".
• Ludwig van Beethoven (1770–1827): Composed songs based on poetry by Goethe and Friedrich Schiller (e.g., Ode to Joy).
• Robert Schumann (1810–1856): His piano cycles were frequently inspired by literature and poems, including setting scenes from Goethe's Faust.
• Frédéric Chopin (1810–1849): While known as a "musical poet" for his piano writing, he also composed songs set to Polish lyrics. 
• Maurice Ravel (1875-1937): : His virtuoso piano suite Gaspard de la nuit is based on three prose-poems by Aloysius Bertrand.

Iconic Piano Valentines

What’s a better way to celebrate Valentine’s Day than with a romantic piano piece? Sweeping melodies from the Romantic era, focusing on themes of love, longing, and intimacy, set a passionate, intimate mood. 

Frédéric Chopin is widely considered the ultimate romantic composer for the piano.

• Nocturne in E-flat Major, Op. 9, No. 2 is a soft, delicate piece often compared to a whispered love letter.
• Piano Concerto No. 2 (Larghetto) was composed while Chopin was deeply in love with soprano Konstancja Gładkowska, pouring his unspoken feelings into the music.
• Franz Liszt is known for transforming technical prowess into pure emotion.
• Liebestraum No. 3 (Dream of Love), Liszt’s most famous romantic work, was originally a song about unconditional love.
• Consolation No. 3 is a tender, peaceful piece that offers a more intimate, comforting mood.
• Robert and Clara Schumann’s real-life romance is legendary in music history.
• Widmung (Dedication) was originally a song Robert wrote for Clara as a wedding gift. It was later transcribed for solo piano by Liszt to capture its soaring passion.
• Liebesfrühling (Love Spring) is a collaborative set of works expressing their shared devotion. 
• Sergei Rachmaninoff is known for "sweeping" romanticism.
• Piano Concerto No. 2 (Adagio sostenuto)’s slow movement is world-renowned for its lush, heart-aching melody.
• Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Variation 18, one of the most passionate themes ever written, is often performed as a solo piano arrangement.
• Claude Debussy: Clair de Lune is a staple for Valentine’s Day, offering a dreamy, moonlit atmosphere full of tenderness.
• Ludwig van Beethoven: "Moonlight" Sonata (1st Movement) provides a hauntingly beautiful, intimate setting perfect for a quiet evening.
• Johannes Brahms: Romance in F Major, Op. 118, No. 5 is a mature, deeply felt expression of affection. 

No wonder that the Romanic era is one of Tomoko's favorite musical periods. 

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. 

Abilities of Piano Composers with Disabilities

 Many classical piano composers lived with disabilities. Their diverse challenges like sensory loss, physical impairments, and neurological conditions influenced their creative process and output, often leading to innovation and deeply personal musical expression

Classical Composers:

• Ludwig van Beethoven composed masterpieces like the Ninth Symphony even as profound deafness took hold, transforming his style.
• Maria Theresia von Paradis was a blind 18th-century pianist and composer for whom Mozart and others wrote concertos; she also founded a school for blind girls.
• Frederick Delius suffered from paralysis and blindness due to syphilis, but still managed to compose poignant works like A Song of Summer.
• Robert Schumann struggled with mental illness, including depressive episodes and hallucinations, which influenced his emotionally intense music.
• George Frideric Handel experienced paralysis, rheumatism, and depression, yet continued composing. 

 

20th Century Composers:

• Maurice Ravel’s later works were affected by a progressive neurological disease, potentially Alzheimer's or a similar condition.
• Darius Milhaud suffered from rheumatoid arthritis, which impacted his ability to play and compose.
• Leon Fleisher lost use of his left hand due to focal dystonia but later returned to two-handed playing and composed for it.
• Molly Joyce, an American composer who had an impaired left hand from an accident, but incorporated her experience into her work.

 

Music to Grandmother’s House

 

It’s Thanksgiving time, with the popular song about going over the river and through the woods to Grandmother's house. For centuries, composers have been inspired by the country life in their compositions. Here is a sampling.

Beethoven’s Symphony No. 6 "Pastoral" is a classic example, with movements like "Awakening of cheerful feelings on arrival in the country" and "Scene by the brook," and even includes a musical depiction of a thunderstorm.

Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons, in particular for now its autumn season, evokes a carefree feeling: of letting go and embracing change.

Sibelius’s Symphony No. 2, 1st movement is often described as having a countryside feel.

Strauss’s An Alpine Symphony depicts depicting a mountain landscape, reflecting  pastoral qualities with its nature-inspired themes. 

Singing as you go visit the family is a great start for Thanksgiving. 

Where did classical piano composers get their training?

 

Classical piano composers received training through private instruction from experienced musicians, formal education at music conservatories and universities, mentorship from senior composers, and extensive self-study and practice, including analyzing and copying the works of other composers. The specific method varied, but a strong foundation in music theory, harmony, and composition, often through pattern-based exercises, was a common element across different training paths. Many composers attended formal institutions, such as the Paris Conservatoire or the Mozarteum in Salzburg, which offered structured programs in music theory, composition, and performance. In contrast, some composers initially trained by private tutors, often family members or established musicians. In many cases, these composers were child prodigies who began their musical education at a very young age. Here is a sampling of individuals’ instruction and apprenticeship.

Mozart received intensive musical training from his father, Leopold, who was a composer and violinist. It should be noted, though, while guided by his father, Mozart was a musical genius from a very young age and largely developed his own unique style. Furthermore, starting a performance career as a child (under his father’s management), Mozart’s early education involved traveling throughout Europe, where he observed and absorbed the different musical styles of the time.

Beethoven began piano lessons with his father, who was his first teacher. He then studied with other musicians in his hometown of Bonn before moving to Vienna to study with Joseph Haydn, who famously invited Beethoven to become his student. Beethoven also took composition lessons from the court organist Christian Gottlob Neefe. 

Chopin started learning the piano from his mother before the age of six. He was then trained by private tutors, such as Wojciech Zywny, who recognized and nurtured his unique talent. Next, Chopin studied at the Warsaw Conservatory, which refined his compositional skills. 

Liszt was taught piano by his father from the age of five. After his family moved to Vienna, he studied with renowned teachers like Carl Czerny, a former student of Beethoven, and the court composer Antonio Salieri. While touring as a piano virtuoso, Liszt was influenced by other composers and musicians such as Niccolò Paganini and Hector Berlioz. 

Of course, these and other piano composers only achieved greatness and renown because they understood, practiced and honed the training they received. Teachers can only teach; students have to do the learning.  

 

 

Teaching What You Compose and Play

 Tomoko is known for both her piano performance and her piano teaching ability. Those same skills and careers apply to several outstanding classical piano composers. Here is a sampling.

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750) was a prolific teacher who instructed both his family members and university students. His famous collections of keyboard music, such as the Inventions and The Well-Tempered Clavier, were expressly written for instructional purposes. His pedagogy focused on attentive listening, finger independence, clear articulation, and a strong understanding of harmony. 

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756–1791) earned a significant income from teaching piano to members of the nobility to supplement his income from concerts and commissions. His lessons combined performance practice, compositional theory, and technique training, sometimes even during informal settings like billiards. However, Mozart thought he could teach more by simply playing a piece for a student than through verbal instruction alone.

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770–1827) taught piano lessons throughout his career to supplement his income, especially when he started out and before his hearing loss became severe. His most famous pupil was Carl Czerny, who documented and passed on Beethoven's methods for interpreting his piano works. Czerny's pedagogical approach is considered the foundation of modern piano technique. 

Frédéric Chopin (1810–1849) earned a significant portion of his income by teaching piano to aristocratic students in Paris. He was a meticulous and passionate teacher who focused on beautiful, expressive tone and fluidity, which he often demonstrated on a second piano. His method emphasized relaxation and natural hand movement, rather than the rigid, mechanical exercises common at the time. Students were taught using works by Bach, Mozart, Hummel, and Chopin himself.

Franz Liszt (1811–1886) was a legendary piano teacher who instructed hundreds of students in his masterclasses. He never charged for his lessons, which was a source of frustration for rival teachers. Rather than drilling technique, he focused on musical interpretation, and he used his lessons to discuss a piece's form, proportion, and emotional character.

Clara Schumann (1819–1896) was a highly regarded pianist and composer – and piano teacher – of the Romantic era.  Her disciplined and traditionalist style of playing, which emphasized a singing tone and clarity, influenced many students.

Hand It to Handel

 

George Frideric Handel was born on February, 23, 1685, in Halle, Germany. One of the most prolific composers, several later composers have created variations of Handel’s works:

• ·       Beethoven’s 12 Variations in G major is based on Handels’ Judas Maccabaeus.
• ·       Brahms’ Variations and Fugue on a Theme by Handel Opus 24 is based on Handels’ second harpsichord suite.
• ·       Philippe Gaubert’s Petite Marche for flute and piano is based on Handel’s Trio Sonata Opus 5, No. 2 fourth movement.
• ·       Luis Gianneo composed Variations on a Theme by Handel for piano.
• ·       Arnold Schoenberg’s Concerto for String Quarter and Orchestra in B-flat major is based on Handel’s Concerto Grosso Opus 6/7.
• ·       Percy Grainger composed Variations on Handel’s ‘The Harmonious Blacksmith’. Later, he reworded the first part of that piece to create Handel in the Strand, including a piano version.

If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, then Handel has been greatly flattered.

Noting the New Year

 Several musical pieces are associated with New Year’s Eve and the new year. Here is a brief history of probably the most famous song for New Year’s Day: Auld Lang Syne.

The song started as an 18^th century Scottish folk song with Robert Burns’ collection of older lyrics. Its first recorded use was heard as the end of the 1782 opera Rosina’s overture by English composer William Shield. Ten years later Haydn arranged Auld Lang Syne and more than 400 other Scottish folk songs, which helped popularize the song. Beethoven also wrote an arrangement of song in his 1814 collection 12 Scottish Folksongs. In the early 20^th century, songwriter George M. Cohan integrated the first part of Auld Lang Syne into the last part of the chorus of his song “You’re a Grand Old Flag.” During World War One, British soldiers sang “We’re Here Because We’re Here” to the tune of Auld Lang Syne . A decade later John Philip Sousa incorporated the melody of Auld Lang Syne in his march “Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company.” About 50 years ago English composer Ernest Tomlinson wrote a Fantasia on Auld Lang Syne, which wove in 152 snippets of other composers.

Since its beginning, Auld Lang Syne has been translated into many languages and sung around the world. Its pentatonic scale matches Eastern Asian scales, which has helped its adoption in those cultures. Tomoko may have sung it as a child growing up. Just as New Year’s Day is universal, so is its mascot song Auld Lang Syne.

Musical Pranks

It's April Fools' Day.: a day of (hopefully harmless) pranks. Musicians and composers have been known to play pranks on the piano. Probably the most famous playful piano perforrmer was the Danish-American pianist and comic Victor Borge.

One piece that Borge liked to perform was a version of Liszt's Second Hungarian Rhapsody (especially the friska section), which is considered a musical comedic classic and has been featured in animated cartoons.

Mozart once wrote an aria for a soprano who tended raise her head for high notes and tuck in her chin for low notes. Mozart hated her, so the nicknamed piece, “The Chicken Dance” in Cosi fan Tutte, featured dramatic fluctuating low and high notes; Mozart took delight in watching the soprano bob her head repeatedly.

More recently, Leroy Anderson is known for his lighthearted compositions, such as The Syncopated Clock. His pieces sometimes featured unlikely instruments such as a typewriter.

Debussy's Carnival of Animals is charming, but how many people realize that his “Tortoises” is actually a very slow version of Offenbach's “Can-Can”?

P. D. Q. Bach is a comedic alias for contemporary composer Peter Schickele. He creates parodies of baroque and classical music, which often employ unusual instruments such as kazoo and slide whistles and even fictional instruments such as the left-handed sewer flute and pastaphone. His humor often draws from odd key changes and inserts of popular music into classical sections.

Violinist Fritz Kreisler played “lost” classical pieces, which she later admitted writing himself. Another violinist, Henri Gustave Casadesus, also wrote faked compositions, supposedly created by Handel and Boccherini.

Some musicians also played practical jokes. For instance, Brahms sketched a fake Beethoven manuscript, and had a street vendor wrap it around a sausage to sell to one of Brahms' friend, who thought he had discovered a lost composition.

Who says composers don't have a sense of humor?

Political Musical Pieces

 

Music has often been associated with patriotism and politics. Certainly national anthems have inspired a sense of unity. Politicians have also used music to excite citizens: think of “The Marseillaise.” Here are some more examples.

Even in the 18^th century, music could affirm a country’s leader. Handle’s piece Zadok the Priest was written to confirm England’s George II’s confirmation as kind.

Sadly, but effectively, Beethoven’s and Wagner’s music were used to sway the German people to affirm their superiority and that of Hitler.

On the other hand, Chopin’s Polonaise was broadcast on the radio during World War II to rally the Polish people against Hitler’s invasion. That piece earlier stirred the Poles in 1848 to revolution.

While Messiaen was a World War II prisoner of war in Germany, he composed Quartet for the End of Time, which moved even the camp’s soldiers and resulted in his escape.

Likewise, Shostakovich’s Leningrad symphony referred to World War II invasion and war. The piece was first broadcast throughout the city while the Soviets and Germans fought – although the battle paused to hear the music.

Most recently, Catherine Likhuta’s 2017 composition Bad Neighbors was commissioned when Russia started invading Ukraine. The piece evokes fighting and dialogue, and calls for freedom and peace.

In short, composers and their music can stir people to action.

Spirited Classical Piano Pieces

 At Halloween time, classical piano music may be very spirited – as in eerie. Here is a sampling, which may have surprising popular culture connetoins.

Viewers of Disney's 1940 movie Fantasia witnessed an abstract visual interpretation of Bach's Toccata & Fugue in D minor. The opening chords followed by a rippling effect are hard to forget.

Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata Opus 27, was written at the start of the 19^th century. The nickname of the piece, bestowed after Beethoven's death, alluded to a musical suggestion of moonlight reflected off a German lake. Even without the moonlight, the tone of the piece is ghostly.

Schubert is known for his lieder. His 1815 piece The Elf King was based on a Goethe poem. The rushing sound evokes haunted galloping horses, and may be heard in some horror films.

Chopin's Funeral March (Piano Sonata no. 2) was played at Chopin's own funeral – as well as the funerals of John F. Kenny, Winston Churchill and Margaret Thatcher. It is often played in the media: from Beetlejuice to cartoons.

Rachmaninoff compared his Prelude in C# minor (Opus 3, no. 2) when he was only 19 years old. Also known as the “Bells of Moscow” because of its bell-like opening. The piece was indirectly inspied by Edgar Allan Poets gothic writing.

One could say that these piano compositions are scary good, which is why they have featured in film as well as concert halls. They can spirit one away...

Past into the Future: Video Games and Classical Music

 

Music has been associated with games for millennia with fighting songs and victory anthems. Music has also played a key role in video games. Particularly as technical advances have enabled video games to include whole symphonic music, classical pieces have been incorporated (and public domain status has also helped in terms of copyright and royalties). Especially as San Diego Comic-Con is happening, now is a good time to sample classical piano pieces that have been used in video games. Even Tomoko might be surprised at the ways that her favorite composers have been integrated into this recent game format.

Starting with the obvious, Eternal Sonata is an RPG (role-playing games) about a composer’s life, its premise being Chopin’s dying dream. Among the pieces featured in this game is a remixed version of Chopin’s “Revolutionary” etude, Opus 10, no. 12 in C minor, used in the game’s final battle scene.

Another natural use of classical music is experienced in the video game franchise Civilization. Ever since the first game in 1991, famous classical pieces have served as thematic ties for events and leaders. Pieces range from Gregorian chants to Romantic Age compositions by Brahms, Dvorak and Saint-Saens to underscore the historic period.

On the other hand, Debussy is probably not the first name that comes to mind, particularly for sinister games. Nevertheless, his Claire de Lune is featured in the game The Evil Within. The piece is used as a counter to horror, reassuring the player that safety is nearby.

Speaking of dark games, Schubert’s “Ave Maria” (aka “Ellen’s Third Song” from Seven Songs from Walter Scott’s The Lady of the Lake) starts the game Hitman: Blood Money. Its peaceful tone is almost an ironic counterpoint to this violent game.  

On a more positive note, Mozart and Bioshock? 2013’s Bioshock Infinite includes a visit to a Hall of Heroes memorial, which mood is accentuated with a section from Mozart’s Requiem in D minor.

Disney characters rule in the game Kingdom Hearts. It’s not surprising, then, that the game’s music would draw from Disney’s movie Fantasia, specifically Mussorgsky’s Night on Bald Mountain.

Speaking of kingdoms, in the game Earthworm Jim 2, the main character must save the princess from an archvillain.  Beethoven’s third movement rondo “Moonlight” from his Piano Sonata no. 14 in C# minor plays in the background. The sonata’s first movement underscores Jim’s floating through a creature’s intestine. This sonata may never feel the same after that experience.

The game Grand Theft Auto III uses a clever ploy: the car’s classical music radio state, complete with a parodied culture vulture DJ. The player drives around creating chaos, accompanied by background music from Le Nozze di Figaro, La Traviata, Lucia di Lammermoor, Rigoletto, and Don Giovanni.

You never know where classical music will pop up; it’s that popular.

Here Comes the Bridal Piano

 

In the US, June has been the traditional month for weddings. Music is also a traditional part of weddings, and piano piece figure largely. Here is a sampling, all written by composers whom Tomoko admires.

The traditional standard wedding piece is Mendelssohn’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Opus 61: IX. Wedding March.  It is often performed in the movies (perhaps because it is in the public domain). A less known wedding choice composed by Mendelssohn, but very endearing, is his “On Wings of Song.”

Tomoko’s favorite piano composer, Mozart, wrote “Serenade, Eine Kleine Nachtmusik, K 525: II. Romanza-Andante.“ Its stately, measured pace give the wedding ceremony sweet gravitas. To set a more lively yet majestic tone, the wedding couple might choose Mozart’s overture to The Marriage of Figaro. Or if the couple wants to exult, they can always choose Mozart’s “Alleluja” from Exsultate, Jubilate, K 165.

Planning an elegant and sophisticated wedding? Then Johann Sebastian Bach’s “Arioso” would set the tone. Tomoko appreciates his timeless structure and use of chords.

Beethoven’s love letter in music, “Fur Elise,” resonates even today, and couples can affirm their own requited love. Tomoko knows that this famous piano piece may serve as a rite of passage for aspiring piano players.

“Claire de lune” from Debussy’s Suite Bergamasque is another favorite (as is Debussy for Tomoko). Its dreamy soft theme creates a lovely background for weddings.

Another romantic choice is Saint-Saens’ “The Swan” from his Carnival of the Animals. Its almost melancholy tone that resolves into a major key reflects the transition from singlehood to couplehood.

Another favorite composer of Tomoko, Edvard Grieg, is known for his “Wedding Day at Troldhauen, Opus 65, No. 6.” It bears a surprising resemblance to The King and I’s “March of the Siamese Children.”

For the bride’s entrance, Strauss’s Radetzky March” Opus 228 makes a bold statement. Strauss’s “Blue Danube” evokes the spirit of Vienna. And while waltzes are not the usual fare at wedding receptions, imagine how lovely the bride and groom would look if this were their first dance.

Tomoko also enjoys the dance music of Brahms. His piece “Hungarian Dance No. 5 in G Minor” strikes a special chord for Tomoko as she married a Hungarian.

Musical Timing

 

Timing is critical in music. Piano performance certainly relies on it, as Tomoko well appreciates. Piano composers know how timing impacts the musical message such as a dirge versus a festive piece – as well as a performer’s interpretation.  Time itself as a thematic focus has inspired piano composers as the following examples illustrate.

Haydn’s Symphony No. 101 is nicknamed “The Clock” because of its ticking rhythm. Since its inception, the Andante  second movement has been arranged for piano. Haydn also wrote Music for a Musical Clock for a friend who wanted his clock to play music.

Beethoven’s Pieces for a Mechanical Clock were only discovered after his death. At least some of the pieces were score for piano. The music itself evokes a mechanical clock.

Chopin’s Minute Waltz is well known. What is less well known is that the piece lasts between one and two minutes; the term “minute” actually means small.

Harrison Birtwistle’s piano piece Harrison’s Clocks was inspired by an 18^th century clock maker. Each movement mimics a clock’s mechanisms.

Leroy Anderson’s composition “The Syncopated Clock” is another concert favorite with its lighthearted treatment. Anderson was in the U.S. Army when he was asked to guest conduct for the Boston Pops Orchestra. He wanted to provide a new composition for the concert so quickly wrote the piece and premiered it while he was on a three-day pass to do the conducting. This piece is also available as a piano arrangement.

Playing these piano pieces is a fun – and maybe ironic – way to spend time.

Compose a Museum

 In her travels, Tomoko has visited several museums: Tokyo museums, the Palais Museum in Paris, a Medici house museum in Florence, and Mozart's birthplace in Salzburg, to name a few. She has even performed in museums such as the De Young Museum in San Francisco. Of special note for her are museums about composers. In fact, when she travels she takes opportunities to play on historic pianos for herself, such as performing Chopin’s Raindrop Prelude on his piano within the Chopin Museum in Majorca, Spain. 

Here are some fascinating museums of piano composers whom Tomoko likes.

The Composers Quarter in Hamburg consists of six museums, each of which features one or more classical composers who lived in the areas. Each museum is housed in a restored historical building, and each museum contains a multimedia collection of the composer's works and life. See the list and details of each museum at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Composers_Quarter_Hamburg

The Museum of the Johann Strauss Dynasty in Vienna has collected artifacts of Strauss gnerations, from the “Biedermeier” era to the 1880s. The museum includes fourteen themed areas, which are accompanied by related audio music. See more at http://www.strauss-museum.at

Speaking of musical families, the Bach Museum in Leipzig honors this family of musicians. Bach's organ and a violin from his orchestra are seen here – as well as many other family artifacts. The museum is interactive and offers summer concerts. See details at https://www.bachmuseumleipzig.de/en/bach-museum

Also located ins Leipzig is Schumann-Haus: the restored home of Clara and Robert in their first years of marriage. Visitors can experience how the couple lived and entertained, and the museum's sound garden provides interactive fun. See more at https://schumannhaus.rahn.network/en/museum/

A third composer's museum in Leipzig is Felix Mendelssohn's home. Visitors can see illustrated letters and music sheets as well as Mendelssohn's own watercolor efforts. The museum also includes a salon where morning concerts are held. See details at https://www.mendelssohn-stiftung.de/de/

The Beethoven House in Bonn features his life and work, and is located in Beethoven's birthplace. It includes a research center and a chamber music hall, and its garden showcases several busts of Beethoven. The museum was opened for the first time in 1893 during the second chamber music festival in the area. Now it includes digital collections for visitors to examine. See details at https://www.beethoven.de/

Handel's childhood home in London now holds exhibits about him. It even contains a miniature baroque theater stage that shows a virtual Handel performing “live.” See information about the museum, which also houses Hendrix, at https://handelhendrix.org/

Preserving the works and artifacts of classical piano composers keeps them alive and enables generations to experience them almost first hand. 

Christmas in Japan

 

Tomoko grew up in Japan, and celebrated Christmas because her family was Christian. Now Christmas is Japan is more popular and more commercialized. Here are some of the ways that people in Japan currently celebrate this holiday.

In Japanese Happy/Merry Christmas is 'Meri Kurisumasu', written in the two Japanese scripts like this; Hiragana: めりーくりすます; Katakana: メリークリスマス. Santa is known as サンタさん、サンタクロース / Santa-san (Mr Santa) or サンタクロース / Santa-Kurosu (Santa Claus).

Even though Japan celebrates several holidays, Christmas is not a national holiday. Schools often take a New Year break so December 25 often is included in those closed days. During this time, many families in Japan like to visit Tokyo Disneyland to see the holiday decorations and parades. More generally, Japanese public areas create displays of lights and have seasonal lighting events.  Japan also hosts Christmas markers throughout the country. Children often have parties with games and dancing, and will eat decorated sponge cake, but they usually get only one gift at Christmas.  For adults, Christmas Eve is considered the most romantic day of the year; it is their Valentine’s Day equivalent. And what is the favorite Japanese Christmas meal? Kentucky Fried Chicken!

One Christmas activity that Tomoko would approve of is the performance of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, especially its “Ode to Joy” section, which is often sung in German.  

Overcoming Challenges

 

Tomoko knows the value of persistence, even when experiencing challenges and failure. She asserts: “Each piano piece has some kind of physical challenge. Tomoko also associates learning to play the piano to mountain climbing. “You need to go up lots of small mountains. If the road is right, you will reach up. So practice daily, and step nicely.” 

Tomoko also shares stories about pianists and composers of piano pieces with her students, and sometimes mentions the challenges these individuals faced and overcame.

For instance, Mozart was a court musician in Salzburg, but was very unhappy in his job. He quarreled frequently with the Archbishop, and was fired from that position. However, he felt liberated, and became a famous pianist after performing in competition before the emperor.

Rachmaninov’s composing career had a rocky start. His first symphony’s premier was a disaster, partly because the orchestra hadn’t rehearsed enough and the conductor was drunk. For three years, Rachmaninov composed very little because he was so depressed. Fortunately, he was able to get psychiatric help, and his later Piano Concerto No. 2 became internationally applauded.

Robert Schumann also started as a performing pianist, but his little finger on his right hand was weak. He tried to fix that problem, but his hand became permanently damaged instead. With that career out of the picture, he turned to composing, and is known for his romantic piano works.

Jean Sibelius started his musical career as a violinist but was turned down by orchestras. He thought he was too old to train further for performance but instead of foregoing music, he decided to switch to composing. He not only wrote great violin concertos but also impressive piano compositions.

Beethoven experienced several challenges. As a boy, he was dominated by his alcoholic father, and then had to be the breadwinner for his family when his father declined and died. Then as early as in his twenties, Beethoven’s hearing started to decline. However, he wrote his best musical compositions when he could hear the music only in his head.

Tomoko too has had her own challenges, but has succeeded as a piano performer and award-winning piano teacher. She and the musicians above are worthy models for piano learners.