Andy makes his own toy.
After Andy was played out, Dougy took over.
Call it “Kitty Waltz”.
So much for now. Sometimes it’s fun to look at old videos. Other times, it just makes me sad. Andy and I miss our Dougy.
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Is today Ludwig van Beethoven’s 250th birthday? Maybe. Apparently his exact birth date isn’t known, though tomorrow is the 250th anniversary of his baptism. In his honor, I include a movement from my favorite Beethoven piano concerto
Beethoven’s Piano Concerto Nr. 5. The 2nd Movement, I think, is especially beautiful, though poignant, for its slow, spare, quiet progression to the 3rd Movement, which soars. I never tire of this masterpiece, the entire concerto, or hear it that I feel anything less than elevated, fortunate to always hear something else in it that I missed before. I love it so much I have 17 recordings of it by different artists.
Those videos with Dougy put tears in our eyes, too, ’cause we miss him so, but they also put smiles on our faces as we remember how adorable and floofy he was and how much he loved being with you, Mr. Doug.
Yes, I’m starting to smile before I tear up, though. He was a sweet if naughty kitty boy.
It is nice to see Dougy. I know what you mean about enjoying old photos and videos, yet them making you sad.
It helps me adjust to his loss, but just writing this makes me feel emotional.
I played the first movement of it, while another student played the second and third at our third year of college final recital. I had the same incredible feeling you are describing, Doug.
It’s always bittersweet to see dear little Dougy, especially together with his brother.
There’s 1967 recording by Rudolf Serkin that is my favorite for the way he handled the cadenzas in the third movement were exceptionally brilliant and in the spirit of the composer’s vision, I feel. The other versions don’t give me feeling of an outreach to some higher meaning that Serkin’s performance gives me. I often listen to it when I need to feel humanity sometimes fails to match my highly idealistic sense of what it should be, based on the best of us, like Abraham Lincoln for example.
I share your preference and add my own: Eugene Ormandy conducting, rather than Zubin Mehta, who is brilliant in his own way, of course.
As to being elevated to higher meaning, my “musical fix” is Richter playing Rachmaninov 2nd. I heard Evgeny Kissin here years ago, when he was still a prodigy, and he came pretty close to Rachmaninov’s own interpretation, but Richter soars to different heights, I feel.
I like the videos that I will watch again on You Tube where I post from time to time .
The Adagio of the concerto n°5 by Beethoven is one of my prefered classic music ( and this when I was 20 years old ) . In France this concerto is named “Concerto de l’Empereur, because Beethoven started to write it to honor the French emperor Napoleon the 1st”. But I think this name has not been kept by Beethoven, deceived by Napoleon’s politic.
In friendship
Michel
Yes, I like to listen to classical music on YouTube when I am doing this blog or on Facebook! Today, I listened to a compilation of operatic arias, most relaxing! You are correct about Beethoven and the Emperor Concerto.
What precious videos! The kitties are real stars, and the music fits the action so well.
Thank you! I used free music – credit at the end of the videos. I had hundreds of tunes to select from, and made an effort to match the music to the videos. I’m pleased you felt the music matched the action since I did try to do that!
Such sweet kitty memories, Doug. 😊
I am glad to have those videos, especially those that the “talk” on or do things unique to them that I don’t want to forget.
Tofino said it best. I can’t add to that! Now I will picture Dougy cat playing his own celestial piano.
I am listening to your Beethoven selection now and enjoying it very much.
I’m glad you are enjoying it, Lavinia. Many times when I post serious matter, I wonder if I’m not being a bit self-indulgent. I’ve posted Bach’s Christmas Oratorio, for example, a joyous Baroque celebration of the Christ Child for me, but a really difficult piece to listen to if you don’t feel comfortable with Baroque music of that length.
Don’t worry about the self-indulgence. It is not viewed that way.
It does open new conversations with fellow bloggers.
I can see Dougy walking along the keys on a Grand Piano playing his own tune,with Ludwig looking on impressed!
Yes!
we have the same feelings about walking the memory lane … and yes it is his birthday … at least the day wikipedia guessed ;O)
I remember Schroeder in the “Peanuts” cartoon strip always celebrated the 16th.
Time flies. I was in then-West Germany as a US Army motion picture photographer when Beethoven had his 200th birthday! Fortunately for him, he was around only in spirit because blowing out 200 candles in one breath probably exceeds human capabilities.