Back in the day, I played classical music almost exclusively. Beethoven’s 14th piano sonata, commonly known as the “Moonlight” sonata, was one of my favorite pieces. The first and second movements were well within my reach. To this day I cannot play the third movement. This recording was made April 4, 1981 at the 50th wedding anniversary celebration of my Grandfather and Grandmother Anthony, on a simple cassette recorder. The quality of the recording isn’t that good, but the quality of my playing isn’t any better. I was scared to death, and as a result there are several breaks in my playing, in spite of the dull and plodding pace I was using. I think I must have fallen asleep to actually have a break in this piece! I do wonder if the audience didn’t fall asleep.

My grandfather dearly loved this piece, and every time we were together, if there was a piano, he would ask me to play it. I would oblige, and he would sit there with his eyes closed and soak in every note as if Artur Rubinstein himself were playing in his presence. It’s a warm memory I have of my grandfather.

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