My parents divorced when I was 22; my father gave my mother the baby grand when he left. He gave her a lot of other things too, but I was really surprised about the piano. After all, he was the one who played it. I had an indifferent 2 years worth of lessons and gave up; my sisters both tried it and gave up. My mother, as far as I know, never played. When I visit my dad and stepmom in Tulsa these days, he has a small upright. At least he didn’t give up playing too.
When I was a kid, I had trouble getting to sleep (I still do). I used to lay awake at night for what seemed like loooong hours, staring out at the crack of light coming through the hallway door, listening to my father play piano. He was particularly fond of Joplin rags, and I would listen to the music coming in under the door until I finally fell asleep.
What music came in under your door when you were young and impressionable?
[ed note - tracks removed. contact me for a copy.]
01. Scott Joplin – Weeping Willow Rag
02. Scott Joplin – Elite Syncopations
03. Scott Joplin – Pleasant Moments
04. Scott Joplin – The Easy Winners
05. Scott Joplin – Bethena
(Obviously these are played neither by my father, or by Joplin himself, but Tom Pascale or John Robson. You can find more at The Piano Society.)
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