Ballade No. 1, Op. 23 ~ Chopin (1810-1849)

This is so beautiful...I don't know what year this is...my cd says that the Ballade No. 1. Op. 23 that I have could have been performed at various dates throughout 1979 until 1982. My cd only has sound and I've had it since around 1990. I'm assuming this video has to be within that time frame but there is no elaboration. I can't be sure. I have so very often stared at Mr. Horowitz with an amazed awe. He never seems to even break a sweat. A serene Buddha smile seems to reach his lips and his fingers are never weak...as if the countless hours of practice have been joyfully and gleefully spent...he leans forward, his arms look strong not exhausted...on the outside (in other words "1989") he'd have been performing this at the age of 86. Whew! Astounding. On the inside he'd have been 69 years of age and he's simply profound. I shall always treasure him...

Landscape And Soul

Though we should not speak about the soul,

that is, about things we don't know,

I'm sure mine sleeps the day long,

waiting to be jolted, even jilted awake,

preferably by joy, but sadness also comes

by surprise, and the soul sings its songs.



And because no one landscape compels me,

except the one that's always out of reach

(toward which, nightly, I go), I find myself

conjuring Breugel-like peasants cavorting

under a Magritte-like sky - a landscape

the soul, if fully awake, could love as its own.



But the soul is rumored to desire a room,

a chamber, really, in some far away outpost

of the heart. Landscape can be lonely and cold.

Be sweet to me, world.

- Stephen Dunn

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