Sometimes a recording doesn’t go quite as planned and sometimes the result still deserves to be shared.
A few years ago, one of the singers in one of my choirs invited me to play on his baby grand. G. had bought this instrument for his own pleasure, having learned to play the piano when he was near retirement age. All his life, he had been working hard. He had dreamed of becoming a farmer, but worked in a stone pit instead. However, he kept bees and owned several apple trees. And he loved music. He sang bass and always tried to support his fellow singers.
So, one sunny summer day, I went to his place and first there was coffee and cake and both G. and his wife were delighted that I had accepted their invitation.
When I sat down at the piano, I also made a few recordings (videos), without much ado. The piano wasn’t perfectly in tune, but it was nice enough, and I really enjoyed playing.
In the middle of Hedwige Chrétien’s „Berceuse“ (lullaby), something happened that doesn’t happen in a studio (or at least shouldn’t!). The phone rang. I continued playing, and when I listened to the recording afterwards, I thought that the phone sound didn’t ruin the whole thing, but actually made it interesting.
So I decided to keep the video and I even published in on my Vimeo channel. I have since moved my video publishing activity to PeerTube so you can watch the video there, if you like.
I have found memories of G. He passed away one and a half years after I had played at his house. I had the honour to sing a solo for him at his funeral. He had once mentioned that he loved a certain piece by Mozart and wanted this piece to be sung at the memorial service and his wife was so glad that I remembered when the time came. It wasn’t an easy task – I had liked G. a lot and in the same year, my mother had died, but he had, perhaps unknowingly, given me so much that I wanted to give back at least a little.
Another reason to keep the video! Every time I’m playing the piece I’m thinking of G. and his wife continues to sing in the choir so we share this passion.