One of my obsessive habits. I post my video, Homage to Autumn, every year at the end of autumn. It exemplifies the deepest feelings buried in my soul.
When autumn wanes, I grasp at it fiercely - - never wanting to let go, nor wanting to say goodbye. I am transfixed, bewitched by its haunting beauty - - like the ghost of a long lost lover.
When I made this video, there was no doubt what music I would use.....
the andante from the Piano Concerto no.2 op.102, by the Russian composer Dmitri Shostakovich (1906 - 1975).
It is steeped in exquisitely haunting beauty which echoes the essence of my soul: a deep sense of melancholia enmeshed with sentimentality.
The irony is that I never liked the music of Shostakovich. It wasn't until I first heard this andante, and became convinced that it's one of the most beautiful compositions ever written.
The somber introduction is about a minute long. In my video, I portrayed it with images of misty dawn.
When the piano begins, I add moving visuals.
Towards the end of the andante, the music seems to convey a persistent sense of yearning - - the reluctance to let autumn go......
Note-
Dmitri Shostakovich composed this concerto in 1957 and dedicated it to his son Maxim for his nineteenth birthday.
The recording that I used for this video:
Maxim Shostakovich is the pianist and his father Dmitri is the conductor.
The Musici de Montreal orchestra.
Dmitri Shostakovich with his cat
Soul stirring and beautiful !
ReplyDeletePlease stay a little longer, Autumn my love.
Jo
That's a beautiful sentiment, Jo. 🤎
DeleteSuch a beautiful, hauntingly autumnal piece of music. Autumn is slipping away, sadly. Oh, but what a beauty it's been. Piano Concerto no.2 op.102 is the perfect send off. Goodbye autumn and thanks for the memories.... past, present and hopefully future.
ReplyDeleteParanormal John
I can almost cry, knowing that I missed it. We can keep the memories in our hearts.
DeleteThanks, John
😸
Hurray for obsessive habits! ❤️
ReplyDeleteYou made me smile with that. Thanks!
DeleteI can remember the scents and sounds of autumn in Orange County California when people would burn leaves in their backyards, the smell of orange blossoms and pepper trees and the cooing of pigeons and doves. :)
ReplyDeleteYou can’t go wrong with Shostakovich and that soul Russians of the arts have.
Had an aunt in law who was from a Russian American family, you should have seen the feasts they would prepare for Christmas and Easter. Her mom’s family were from St. Petersburg and they served a classic cuisine of Beef Stroganoff, Chicken Kiev, Shish-kabobs, borscht, potato salad, blini with strawberries and cream and a full caviar service with champagne and ice cold vodka.
Her dad’s family were from a town in the Urals near Ekaterinburg and they served hearty Russian homestyle food of roast beef and chicken, boiled potatoes and vegetables, pelmeni, cucumber and tomato salad, cabbage soup, savory and sweet paskas, kulich and kissel.
They shared their recipes with my paternal grandmother she in turn showed them how to make a traditional American Thanksgiving dinner !
My aunt’s grandmothers shared a duplex house in Arcadia California. Her maternal grandmother was very sophisticated and spoke four languages.
Her place was decorated in high style with a crystal chandelier, white and gold French provincial furniture and fine European and Russian antiques of porcelain and crystal. I had to be on my best behavior when visiting as a child.
My aunt’s paternal grandmother was a very down earth and loving babushka who spoke broken english. Her place was decorated in a more american style with a big couch, a recliner and a big Zenith color tv console. On the wall she kept a collection of large decorative copper plates and pewter-ware from Russia. When we would visit her you could see her sitting at her kitchen table at the back of her house from the front door and down the hallway, waving with a big smile. :)
How I wish I could bring them, and those times back from the 1960’s and 1970’s.
-Rj
Of course my reply vanished!
DeleteI love your colorful descriptions and memories. Those Russian feasts are heavenly and the food that you described is unsurpassed. I remember the pepper trees and orange blossoms - and the burning Santa Ana winds that would sweep the sky clean
DeleteSo beautiful!
ReplyDeleteFoggy autumn mornings are some of my favorite moments. Like Jo just said, "stay a little longer." Please.
I love foggy autumn mornings, too, and we get them very frequently where I live. I always read your blog, but don't always comment. I don't forget you .
DeleteBest with the full screen. Beautiful! :)
ReplyDeleteI suppose full screen isn't necessary, but it does make the video look better. 😺
DeleteHow can you get comments if you delete posts before people can even get to them? I also have many more views than comments all the time. Calm down, please.
DeleteI delete posts that I hate. I'm as calm as I chose to be.
DeleteBoth beautiful and haunting, I very much share your love and enchantment for Autumn! It is far too SHORT to fully enjoy, but we take it in as much as we can with every breath of crisp, cool air.
ReplyDeleteThank you for re-posting this video and music!!
Thank you, Kim. 🧡
DeleteThis was hauntingly beautiful and right in keeping with this tine of year. Also, like Rita commented, I did read a later post earlier today but it was gone now. I can understand your reasoning, but perhaps just not hit post first?
ReplyDeleteAnd we love when ypu post your piano pieces!!! We can all use more music.
ReplyDeleteMusic is nourishing for the soul. 🩵
DeleteHopefully some good news is coming!!
ReplyDeleteOops! Pat/Texas
ReplyDelete