Piano and I

Herself has some new sheet music.  It is rather difficult, and she does enjoy a musical challenge.  She has pulled out some of her older music as well, and has spent multiple hours in the past day at her piano.  It soothes her and makes her content. 

In her youth, Herself was required to participate in regular piano recitals.  They were always frightening, worrisome events, and the stress and anxiety generated by any public performance were hardly bearable.  It is a relief to have left those days behind. 

As an adult, she plays purely for her own pleasure.  In fact, she now considers playing for someone else to be a rather intimate act, and will decline to do so for anyone except for her loved ones.  If you, beloved reader, ask her gently, I know that she will play for you.

It is cruel, you know, that music should be so beautiful.  It has the beauty of loneliness of pain; of strength and freedom.  The beautify of disappointment and never-satisfied love.  The cruel beauty of nature and everlasting beauty of monotony.

- Benjamin Britten