An Old Fashioned Piano Party

There are those moments where you hear a piece of music and your brain senses a familiarity that you can't seem to place.  You search your memory trying to remember if it was in a concert, a dance piece, on TV, in the dentist's office, the elevator, who knows?!  But when Lydia sits down at the piano, you may as well just immerse your brain in listening to the music without trying to place it, because it's going to sound better than you've ever heard it before anyway. 

Last night, my family was graced with the presence of the glorious Lydia and her wonderful husband Mark who joined us for burgers in the backyard.  These newlyweds recently moved to Montana for Mark to take a job at the University of Montana in the Media Arts Department, where my father works.  A few weeks ago, Mark, my father, Anya, and Jes (who also attended our soiree) started the first round of shooting for a dance film they are making in abandoned buildings in Butte, Montana.  Unfortunately, due to my illness, I wasn't able to partake as planned, but I'm eagerly awaiting seeing Mark's cinematography and the dancing of these two lovely ladies.  Even though I wasn't able to partake in the film, it was a welcome change to my IV  (League) days to visit with everyone. 

What was so great about last night was that everything was so unexpected and I felt fortunate to be in the company of so many wonderful people.  After grilling burgers, and eating some delicious salad, we spoke about movies (where my dad and Mark are especially and intimidatingly knowledgeable), dance, theater and our crappy pop culture guilty pleasures before the real treat of the evening arrived.  As my mom prepared some sundaes (in her perfect motherly fashion) Lydia took to the piano and let her fingers loose.  After getting her doctorate from Juilliard and her masters at Yale, she now spends her time being a concert pianist, rehearsal pianist for the Met Opera, coaching world class Opera singers and being a flat out great person married to another flat out great person.  Fortunately for me, they have ended up in Missoula and in my living room!

(A trio of stunned onlookers gawk at the rare species playing the piano.)

(One of my dad's drawings sits over the mantle in our living room.  I'm constantly amazed by how talented my mom, dad and sister are.  Carson and I were arguing over who would get the painting when it was time for us to inherit it.  She says she claimed it "4 or 5 years ago." I claim that I might have to fight her Mortal Kombat style accept it and move on.)

(Mama Murphy prepares the dessert.  She's practically Martha Stewart.)

Lydia teased us as she swore she didn't know anything by heart, before proceeding to play three glorious Schubert pieces that erupted from her fingertips without a piece of sheet music in front of her.  Everyone, even our dog Mazie, sat quietly and listened as she played our own personal mini-concert before she had to leave.  Sitting on our lounge chair, I was immediately wishing I could be in a studio dancing to her music, but all I could do was listen.  Carson and I decided that we want to do some sort of duet to one of her Schubert pieces but only if she agrees to play.  Hopefully the future with hold an exciting collaboration of something like that. 

(Movie stars, Jes and Anya, are worked into a frenzy the the music filling the room.  They go almost as crazy as Schubert.)

When I look back over the last four months, by far the most difficult time of my life ("so far," as Homer Simpson would point out), I'm surprised at how many good moments there have been.  People constantly feel sorry for me when I tell them how long I've been sick, and I can understand the sentiment, but it really has made me cherish nights like last night that much more.  Spending time in the backyard with these people made me proud to have such a loving family with friends that give me shit intrigue me and make me eager to get out and work again.  And then there is Mazie, my constant companion, and even though when she barks incessantly I want to throw my brain out the window, she's always there to keep us company.  Even Mazie was exhausted by the end of our old fashioned piano party; a true sign of success.

(She kind of looks like a creepy rat here...but I promise she's cute.)

Comments

[Larry]

What Schubert was on the program? Moments Musicaux, Impromptus, sonata movements?

And is that a dog in the last picture? (hee)

Hope you are getting better with all this blood work and tea . . .

- larry

[Philip]

Is that Lydia Brown? She's really good friends with my friend Lisette who is in the Met Young Artists Program. I had the pleasure of meeting Lydia a few months ago when she was in town. I remember Lisette telling me that Lydia had gotten married and moved out West; there could not be two Lydias with such similar biographical stats. Small world, isn't it?

[jennifer]

sounds like a perfect party...did you have root beer floats like will & grace at their old fashioned piano party?

[Larry]

For those who want to know more about Matthew's father:

http://www.sfa.umt.edu/mart/people_murphy.html

[M]

JENNIFER!!!! You win the "my favorite person of the day award!" I was hoping that someone would get the Will and Grace reference. Amazing!

Philip. It is the same Lydia Brown. SUCH a small world!

Larry. I believe it was Schubert opus 90 no 4. Does that make sense? Not sure if that is correct. And yes, I assure you, she's a dog ;-) Although that is questionable at times.

[Larry]

It makes perfect sense, with the qualification that op. 90/4 would be one piece out of the three she played:

http://imslp.org/wiki/4_Impromptus%2C_Op.90_%28Schubert%2C_Franz%29

I would guess she did two of the other Impromptus from op. 90. Maybe you can identify them from the score.

[jennifer]

m, i'm a closeted TV junkie....