http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FvhQ2JwsnWA
In the months preceding his death this was the piece that lulled Dad to sleep night after night. As I no longer stayed at home the only hint of it came from its perennial place in his bedside CD player which I would listen from whenever I came by for a visit. My mom now tells me it had been one of their favorites but strangely, up until then, I had not been introduced to Die Moldau unlike my parents’ other constants such as Brahms, Beethoven, and Paganini. Somehow though I became riveted from the very first note. It remains difficult to put into words, but whenever I listen to it I feel drawn to a world where though I am saddened in parts I am nonetheless inexplicably hopeful and even triumphant at the same time.
Perhaps like a swan song that must surely accompany a well-lived life as it draws to a close.
My regret is that I was never able to take Dad to an orchestra to listen to it in all its glory.