The father of Danish composer Friedrich Kuhlau (1786-1832) was an oboist in the military. And, although the family was poor, he made sure his son received piano lessons from an early age.
Friedrich began his musical journey as a concert pianist, and was also an extremely prolific composer. In his youth, to make money, he composed for the flute—an instrument he didn't even know how to play!
Unfortunately, Kuhlau endured many tragedies in his life. At the age of seven, he lost sight in his right eye after slipping on the ice. Later, he lost both of his parents—and his house burned down, destroying many of his works.
But, he was still able to compose hundreds of pieces, and he was well-known for his beautiful operas. At one point in his life, he met Beethoven and was greatly influenced by his works, particularly his Sonatas.
This past year I chose to study Kuhlau's Sonatina Opus 55 No. 3 for piano. The music is light and joyful with an almost dancelike quality. And, the piece is full of staccato notes and chord progressions called "runs".
My piano teacher decided it would be great fun for us to play the piece together and record it. While I played the first movement, she provided the accompaniment. What a joy it was to be in the same room, making music!
It took a lot of practice, but we both had a great time, and we're planning to do more classical pieces together in the future. Now, that's music to my ears!
Friedrich Kuhlau: Sonatina Opus 55 No. 3