The Inspiration for Re-Inventions, a New-Age recording available on CD, Vinyl, Hi-res streaming formats
I invite you to listen as you read…
Like so many of you, in early Spring 2020, I was confined to home due to the pandemic. Isolated, but also inspired by the gift of time, I reached into my treasure trove of sheet music, where I discovered long-lost friends—classical piano scores that have always offered me comfort, companionship and peace. For me, these pieces were comfort food, and playing them was therapeutic.
As a young music student, my piano teacher once chastised me for improvising on a well-known classic. One afternoon, while I joyfully devised a new melody to a Chopin waltz, my teacher slapped my hand.
He told me that while it was acceptable to improvise on a show tune, pop song, or American standard, it was inappropriate to touch the music of the great
Now, I do. History tells us that celebrated composers often held soirees where they concocted new ways to play one another’s pieces. Mozart himself said that he strove to never play his pieces the same way twice.
By improvising on piano works created centuries ago, I honor the spirit of great composers. Here, in my own piano room, on my newly refurbished 1896 Steinway—an instrument familiar with centuries of classics—I have given myself permission to reinvent them. In the process, I’ve reinvented myself. xo Robin
My daughter, Valerie, had 48 hours to pack up all of her things and move out of her dorm. Like college students everywhere, she was shocked, confused, frightened, emotional. A music major with a traumatic brain injury, Valerie worried about handling the new “virtual learning” environment. Once back at home, we began playing music together. It bonded us, brought us comfort. My husband, a guitarist, joined in. Our new found focus gave us a sense of purpose and filled our days with learning, experimenting, bonding…and dare I say…joy.
Click here to hear the first single, “Skater’s Waltz” (mother/daughter duet)
See Valerie’s TEDx Talk about overcoming “invisible disabilities.”
See my TEDx Talk about music and wellness
I am submitting Re-Inventions into the Grammy® ballot, and it will most likely be for your consideration in the Best New Age Album category
ALBUM CREDITS
Robin Spielberg, piano/additional composition/arrangements
Tina Guo, cello
Ricardo Ochoa, violin
Valerie Kosson, glockenspiel
Larry Kosson, guitar
Listen to cellist Tina Guo’s cello artistry on “Liebestraum”
Recorded at Cedarhouse Sound & Mastering, New London New Hampshire
Piano: 1898 Victorian Steinway
Producer: Larry Kosson
Track List: 1) Sonata No. 16 in C Major/Mozart, 2) Liebestraum (Love Dream)/Liszt, 3) Canon in D Major/Pachelbel, 4) Melody in F/Rubinstein, 5) Scenes from Childhood/Schumann, 6) The Skater’s Waltz/Waldteufel, 7) Prelude and Fugue No. 1 in C Major/J.S. Bach, 8) The Blue Danube Waltz/Strauss, 9) Piano Sonata No. 14 in C# Minor, first movement (Moonlight Sonata)/Beethoven, 10) Berceuse de Jocelyn/Godard, 11) The Merry Widow Waltz/Lehar, 12. Lullaby/Brahms, 13. Fantasie-Impromptu/Chopin, 14) Piano Sonata No. 8, 2nd movement (Sonata Pathétique)/Beethoven, 15) Serenade/Schubert
LISTEN NOW on the platform of your choosing or proceed to the Spotify player below
Fun Fact:
This is a photo of all of the original parts to my piano! It is an 1896 Steinway and needed restoration. I saved all the original parts….well, I guess because I am sentimental that way. I was thinking of making an art piece with them. What do you think?
Leave A Comment