Category Archives: The Lunch that Never Happened

Debussy, the children, and Le Pain Quotidien

Posted on December 28, 2015 by Christine Stevenson

I wanted to find a Christmas-themed piece by Debussy for this, the final post of 2015. Something cosy, with a feel-good factor. Perhaps involving children. So I googled ‘Debussy, Noël‘ and immediately I found what I was looking for. Well, … Continue reading →

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Brahms and his ‘nebulous garb of rhapsodies’ … Op 79

Posted on November 17, 2015 by Christine Stevenson

If you’re looking for a Big Romantic Piece for a post-grade 8 level pianist, look no further. Brahms’  Rhapsody Op 79 No 2 has it all: a sweeping , dramatic opening, a beguiling, pleading second subject and a mysterious repeated … Continue reading →

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Schubert – edited by Brahms. Drei Klavierstucke D946, No 2

Posted on October 31, 2015 by Christine Stevenson

It was one of those moments. One of those moments when you hear music for which you would climb down a ladder; one of those moments when you are driving and you hear something on the radio which keeps you … Continue reading →

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Falling in Love with Beethoven. And Falling into the Pond … Beethoven Variations

Posted on August 5, 2015 by Christine Stevenson

I fell in love with Beethoven at the age of ten. I can remember saying to one of the inspirational academic music teachers at my school, ‘Who is your favourite composer? Mine’s Beethoven.’ Hers was Bach. It was all because … Continue reading →

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The French Connection – revisited. Favourite piano pieces by Debussy…

Posted on May 20, 2015 by Christine Stevenson

In 2012 I wrote a series of posts covering an A-Z of Debussy’s music on this blog, and, since he is one of this year’s featured composers in the current series – The Lunch That Never Happened – it seems … Continue reading →

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The Incomparable Schubert : Sonata in A Minor D 784

Posted on April 28, 2015 by Christine Stevenson

Schubert.  How can I write about Schubert? How can anyone even begin to approach the sublime mystery which is Schubert? And where to start? Let’s start with an image – Alfred Brendel at Schubert’s original grave – more about that … Continue reading →

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A Mere Bagatelle – or two …

Posted on March 28, 2015 by Christine Stevenson

bagatelle ˌbaɡəˈtɛl/ noun  -something of little value or importance; a trifle  -a thing regarded as too unimportant or easy to be worth much consideration  -a short and light musical composition, typically for the piano. This post is about two of Beethoven’s … Continue reading →

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Brahms, Edward, and the L-Shaped Room

Posted on February 26, 2015 by Christine Stevenson

I still remember the occasion when Brahms’ music entered my life. Well, actually, it knocked me sideways – it was while watching the film of Lynne Reid Banks’ novel, ‘The L-Shaped Room’ on television as a teenager. Posters for the … Continue reading →

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The Lunch That Never Happened

Posted on January 2, 2015 by Christine Stevenson

Browsing through a 1944 reprint of Edward Lockspeiser’s book Debussy in the Master Musician’s series, I was intrigued to read an account of a young Debussy going to visit Brahms in Vienna in 1887. The source was an article by … Continue reading →

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