The First Time I Remember Hearing Music

the first time i remember noticing music was when i heard Van Cliburn play the first 8 bars of Rachmaninoff’s Second Piano Concerto.  i listened to those eight bars over and over.  the subtle changing of the chords.  the increasing intensity and power and emotion. i did eventually listen to the entire piece – which, i found out, was equally as brilliant. i felt like this was a language i understood and wanted more than anything to speak it well.

the tattered, torn two piano four hand score that you see in the photo above has been with me for so long that i don’t remember ever not having it. i do remember playing the second movement over and over throughout high school. that is, when i wasn’t playing synths in a rock band.

cheers,

timothy