Art & Music

Music

Introduction to “From Roger, with Love”*

I recorded these 16 pieces at Dumbarton United Methodist Church in 1986 as a Christmas present for my parents. The church had a wonderful Steinway baby grand which I loved, and the final cassette tape included a number of classical pieces, some of which I had used for the Prelude or Offertory (I was one of several volunteers for Sunday worship). For the second half, I chose Gershwin and other song classics written or arranged for piano.

I had borrowed a professional microphone, and used my own little cassette recorder and an ordinary cassette tape. I spent the entire day recording. Without the benefit of editing equipment, I played each piece a number of times, rewinding and recording on top of the old one, hoping to make fewer mistakes each time. Sometimes the last piece played was the best quality, but there were other frustrating times—especially as I tired after hours of attempts, when the piece I kept was inferior to an earlier attempt. The skill to edit and then string together the best attempts would have been so helpful!

While painfully aware of the imperfections, I really feel pretty good about the project. The Steinway piano sound within the warm acoustic space of Dumbarton, plus my sincere love for this music and for my terrific parents, all had something to do with it, I think.

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* A nod to “From Russia, With Love,” a 1964 film classic.