A City Hermit's Diary: Regarding Pianos

-
Profile picture of James Z. Carpio, a writer
James Z. Carpio, writer



My paternal grandparents' bungalow had an upright grand piano. My maternal grandparents' house had a regular piano.

That piano on the picture is still alive and playing beautiful music until now. It is our piano at our manor.

My late mother was a pianist and she taught my father how to play the piano. And, all 14 of us, she taught the basics of how to play piano music.

I covered two piano books. I should have a substantial repertoire but there are only two pieces I can play now. Most of them escaped my memory.

I like “La comparsa” and “Malagueña” by Ernesto Lecuona, pieces by Claude Debussy and Ira Gershwin. 

Thanks to YouTube, I do not have to wait for my siblings to arrive and play those pieces. 

 I have them as background music while I write.

My day is not complete without listening to piano music...





My brother, Pons Carpio, playing a classic on piano.






























Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Inspiring In-depth Interview with George Nasr

-
Image
( Mister George Nasr, farthest left ) Currently, parts of the nation are still suffering the destruction brought about by the Super Typhoon Gaemi, and that is just during storm season. Even on ordinary days, in June of this year 2024, the Head of the Maronites On Mission from Australia, Mister George Nasr, conducted a special charity endeavour. Tell me something more about this mission. How is it different from the regular charity work of the Maronites? Mr. Nasr, “The regular work I do with Maronites On Mission (MOM) usually targets and helps the masses. Larger groups of people whom benefit from large scale humanitarian aid. This mission was different, very specific, targeted to help individual needs of people.” When did you arrive in Naga and when was the mission accomplished? Mr. Nasr, “ I’ve been in the Philippines since June 17 through to June the 29th.” You mentioned that you and your three-member-team booked accommodations at a local hotel, this showed your dedication to help the...
Continue reading...»

We are The Carpios | How our legacy began and continues...

-
Image
The Holy Family Carpio assumes top NBI post Carpio was appointed the 10th director of the National Bureau of Investigation. Carpio, 54, was an active human rights lawyer under the Marcos regime, the reason why he was detained when martial law was declared in 1972, and again in 1981, while seeking justice for victims of the Daet Massacre of June 14, 1981. Born on October 25, 1931, in Naga City, he finished his high school at the Camarines Norte High School in 1949 and his pre-law degree, at the Ateneo de Naga in 1951. After completing his second year in law at the University of the Philippines in 1953 as a scholar, he was called to active service into the Armed Forces of the Philippines as a member of the 8th and 10th Battalion Combat Team (BCT). He was transferred to the Philippine Constabulary in 1959, during which he completed his last two years in law at the San Beda College in 1962 where he placed 14th in the 1962 bar examinations. Then, h...
Continue reading...»

Katekismo Corner: On Sponsors of Baptism: No. 33

-
Image
  On Sponsors of Baptism We are always delighted when our Ninong or Ninang gives us a gift during Christmas. And so often, parents would choose Sponsors who are well-to-do and are known to be generous. They, the Ninong and Ninang, usually volunteer to “sponsor” or take care of the fees, give gifts, and even shoulder the expenses for the celebration. Sometimes too, parents would choose Sponsors as a reward for friendship. But more than that, the spiritual bond created should be given a priority. This is why, the Code of Canon Law devotes a whole chapter on the Sponsors of Baptism that specifies the qualifications, duties and obligations of a Sponsor, to guide the Parents, with the help of the Pastor, in choosing a Sponsor. It is good to review them here. The primary function of a Sponsor is to stand witness to the conferral of the Sacrament of Baptism. This finds special importance since Baptism is conferred only once and if records are lost, the testimony under oath by the sponso...
Continue reading...»