My Week in New York—Day Three

From left to right, Olga Scheps performing ‘October: Autumn Song’ from Tchaikovsky’s “The Seasons”; ‘Feuilles mortes’ from Debussy’s Préludes, Livre 2 performed by Thierry Huillet; Shizue Sano playing Amy Beach’s “Autumn” from 4 Sketches, Op. 15; Anna Shelest performing Cécile Chaminade’s “Automne” from  Six Études de concert, Op. 35

Each time I am in New York I am filled with an immense happiness.  I truly love the energy of this city, and the fact that it is always so full of promise.  One feels that whatever your goals or ambitions, dreams can come true here in a way that is not possible in any other part of the world.

One able to see the leaves beginning to change now and I thought about the meaning fall takes on for different people in different parts of the world, but also different composers. In Thailand, for example, they think of autumn leaves as part of a cycle of death and rebirth, but more importantly, letting go of old attachments.  

There is quite a lot of music written for the piano about autumn, and it is a theme I would like to continue to explore, particularly since the season gives way to large numbers of concerts, and also cool weather that makes for people wanting to stay inside and listen to good music.

Among the works written for this time of year are Tchaikovsky’s “Autumn Song”, Debussy’s “Feuilles mortes” (Dead Leaves), and of course Cécile Chaminade’s “Automne.” These and so many other works too numerous to mention all put us in the mood for fall, and remind us how music gives life to our sorrows and our joys, while turning each season into its own special melody.

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