Music: Sun Feb 14

It wouldn’t be Valentine’s Day in the world of classical music without a nod to Robert and Clara Schumann, the passionate musical couple whose love inspired some of the greatest piano music of the 19^th century. Writing to Clara of his Kreisleriana, Op. 16, Robert had this to say: “Iʼm overflowing with music and beautiful melodies now – imagine, since my last letter I've finished another whole notebook of new pieces. I intend to call it Kreisleriana. You and one of your ideas play the main role in it, and I want to dedicate it to you – yes, to you and nobody else – and then you will smile so sweetly when you discover yourself in it.”

That he dedicated Kreisleriana to Frederic Chopin may have been a matter of professional expediency...

This morning’s Musical Meditation takes the form of a wedding gift from the Catalan composer Xavier Montsalvatge to the favorite pianist of my childhood, Alicia de Larrocha. The title Divagación was intended as a caution to Alicia not to stray too far from her path as a pianist as a married woman.

Elsewhere, the CUUC Choir Quartet brings us a virtual performance of “’Tis You That Are the Music.” Read on for programming details, and stay tuned for spoken introductions.

Gathering Music: Adam Kent, piano
Kreisleriana, Op. 16
           1. Ausserst bewegt
           2. Sehr innig und nicht zu rasch
                                                Robert Schumann

Anthem: CUUC Choir Quartet, directed by Lisa N. Meyer and accompanied by Georgianna Pappas
           “ʼTis You That Are The Music”
                                               Cynthia Gray

Musical Meditation:
           Divagación
                                               Xavier Montsalvatge