Music of a Life…Continued

Gregory W. Tucker

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Timeless Melodies

These many years after having made my first recording - Music of A Life - while living in The Hague, I decided to attempt a second one - Music of A Life…Continued - as both a personal challenge and to share the works that continue to inspire me, and to celebrate composers who will always be relevant.  We all aspire for things that are enduring, “timeless.” Well, the works that I’ve selected (in my view) are exactly that - timeless - and just as capable of speaking to us and moving us as they did for those who heard them first, at a time very different from our own.  

I could not have attempted several of these works without the gift (which it quite literally was from Catherine and our children a few birthdays ago) of studying again, and under the superb guidance of Alexander “Sasha” Malikov, himself a noted concert pianist, composer, chamber musician, and teacher.  He not only enabled me to become a better pianist, but he revealed new insights into these works and helped me to make them my own, which is what any musician aims to accomplish.

Music of a Life…Continued

Recorded at St. Mary’s Seminary & University
Baltimore, MD, 2023

Music of a Life

Recorded at Anton Philipszaal, The Hague, Netherlands, 2012

Stream on YouTube, Spotify, and Amazon Music
At my first keyboard with my big brother Denny, during my first birthday party, 1963

At my first keyboard with my big brother Denny, during my first birthday party, 1963

With my great-grandmother Granny who first instilled a love of music, 1966.

With my great-grandmother Granny who first instilled a love of music, 1966.

Again, with my great-grandmother Granny at her Estey spinet - one of my favorite photos, 1968.

Again, with my great-grandmother Granny at her Estey spinet - one of my favorite photos, 1968.

All was right with the world, though my B key above middle C needed attention, 1967.

All was right with the world, though my B key above middle C needed attention, 1967.

My first piano recital - about 1974. Terrified but well-dressed for the times.

My first piano recital - about 1974. Terrified but well-dressed for the times.

A turn at the piano, Gershwin-style, The Grand Hotel, St. Petersburg, Russia, 2002.

A turn at the piano, Gershwin-style, The Grand Hotel, St. Petersburg, Russia, 2002.

Playing Gershwin for the great composer’s one-time friend and legendary harmonica (“mouth organ”) virtuoso Larry Adler, at home in Baltimore, 1998.

Playing Gershwin for the great composer’s one-time friend and legendary harmonica (“mouth organ”) virtuoso Larry Adler, at home in Baltimore, 1998.

Teaching Lang Lang Gershwin at my piano (Baltimore) 2003

Teaching Lang Lang Gershwin at my piano (Baltimore) 2003

Catherine and I celebrating Yuri Temirkanov’s inaugural gala as Music Director of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, with legendary cellist Mstislav Rostropovich.

Catherine and I celebrating Yuri Temirkanov’s inaugural gala as Music Director of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, with legendary cellist Mstislav Rostropovich.

Backstage at the Grand Hall of the St. Petersburg Academic Philharmonia at a special Steinway grand piano once played by Sergei Rachmaninoff.

Backstage at the Grand Hall of the St. Petersburg Academic Philharmonia at a special Steinway grand piano once played by Sergei Rachmaninoff.

With my fine son, William, a prodigious pianist himself, 2004

With my fine son, William, a prodigious pianist himself, 2004

Again at the keyboard of the Grand Hotel, St. Petersburg, Russia, 2003.

Again at the keyboard of the Grand Hotel, St. Petersburg, Russia, 2003.

Showing-off for Lang Lang during the shooting of a commercial in Prague for Aegon’s operations in China, when he agreed to be our “brand ambassador” during my corporate life.

Showing-off for Lang Lang during the shooting of a commercial in Prague for Aegon’s operations in China, when he agreed to be our “brand ambassador” during my corporate life.

At the keyboard with Dutch concert pianist Lucas Jussen of “The Jussen Brothers” fame - The Hague, 2013.

At the keyboard with Dutch concert pianist Lucas Jussen of “The Jussen Brothers” fame - The Hague, 2013.

Enjoying the privilege of playing Franz Liszt’s Chickering piano in his apartment in Budapest, 2013.

Enjoying the privilege of playing Franz Liszt’s Chickering piano in his apartment in Budapest, 2013.

Trying out the traveling keyboard of Franz Liszt in his former apartment, Budapest.

Trying out the traveling keyboard of Franz Liszt in his former apartment, Budapest.

At Marvin Hamlisch’s piano and with the 3 Oscars he was awarded in1975 for “The Way We Were” and “The Sting.”

At Marvin Hamlisch’s piano and with the 3 Oscars he was awarded in1975 for “The Way We Were” and “The Sting.”

Daring to play Rachmaninoff’s Prelude in C# minor for the noted concert pianist Denis Matsuev (far right) and Maestro Yuri Temirkanov (seated left) and friends at home in Baltimore, 2016.

Daring to play Rachmaninoff’s Prelude in C# minor for the noted concert pianist Denis Matsuev (far right) and Maestro Yuri Temirkanov (seated left) and friends at home in Baltimore, 2016.

Andre Watts was not only an extraordinary pianist, but a gentleman of uncommon grace, elegance and kindness.

Andre Watts was not only an extraordinary pianist, but a gentleman of uncommon grace, elegance and kindness.

In the former monastery accommodations of Chopin, admiring his left-behind Pleyel piano on which he is alleged to have written or completed his preludes, Valldemossa, Majorca, Spain.

In the former monastery accommodations of Chopin, admiring his left-behind Pleyel piano on which he is alleged to have written or completed his preludes, Valldemossa, Majorca, Spain.

With William & the legendary Leon Fleisher at home, 2019.

With William & the legendary Leon Fleisher at home, 2019.

The gift of Yuri Temirkanov’s friendship and musical influence is among my life’s prized possessions.

The gift of Yuri Temirkanov’s friendship and musical influence is among my life’s prized possessions.

With the “Piano Man” Billy Joel - during my time on Capitol Hill, 1990

With the “Piano Man” Billy Joel - during my time on Capitol Hill, 1990

The last time together with my great friend Marvin Hamlisch who inspired me with his incredible gift for creating music, his incomparable wit and cherished friendship. The Hague, 2011.

The last time together with my great friend Marvin Hamlisch who inspired me with his incredible gift for creating music, his incomparable wit and cherished friendship. The Hague, 2011.

Enjoying a dinner in Paris with the extraordinary Evgeny Kissin, whom I’ve had the privilege to know and count as a friend for 25 years.

Enjoying a dinner in Paris with the extraordinary Evgeny Kissin, whom I’ve had the privilege to know and count as a friend for 25 years.

Catherine and I congratulating Lang Lang following his Carnegie Hall debut with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, 2001.

Catherine and I congratulating Lang Lang following his Carnegie Hall debut with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, 2001.

With French pianist Hélène Grimaud, San Francisco, 2016

With French pianist Hélène Grimaud, San Francisco, 2016

Enjoying a reunion with the always remarkable and truly great human being, Yo-Yo Ma

Enjoying a reunion with the always remarkable and truly great human being, Yo-Yo Ma

With the Dutch jazz great, Peter Beets, my close friend with whom I share a love of Chopin and who interprets the piano’s greatest composer as no other.

With the Dutch jazz great, Peter Beets, my close friend with whom I share a love of Chopin and who interprets the piano’s greatest composer as no other.

Introducing French pianist and musician extraordinaire Jean-Yves Thibaudet to the hometown team of the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards, 2023.

Introducing French pianist and musician extraordinaire Jean-Yves Thibaudet to the hometown team of the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards, 2023.

Making my first recording at the Anton Philipszall, The Hague, The Netherlands, 2012.

Making my first recording at the Anton Philipszall, The Hague, The Netherlands, 2012.

F. Liszt Consolation No. 3

Recorded at St. Mary’s Seminary & University
Baltimore, MD

Special Thanks

My very special thanks to Jared Paolini, my sound engineer for his expertise and patience, and also to Mat Leffler-Schulman who expertly mastered this recording.

I’m deeply grateful to the Reverend Phillip J. Brown, P.S.S., president-rector of St. Mary’s Seminary & University in Baltimore, for his kind generosity in providing me the acoustically-superb Chapel to record and the very fine Steinway B, which made playing these works immensely pleasurable.

I’m also very grateful to my friend Marty Jenoff of Focal Point Productions for the videography of Liszt’s Consolation No. 3 and the excellent skill of his colleague, Matthew Adams.

And to my daughter, Olivia Grace Tucker, I couldn’t be more grateful to her for sharing her own gift for making music in our performance of Saint-Saëns’s sublime Le Cygne (The Swan), which she regularly encouraged me to learn, and for also applying her other artistic talents in the creation of this website.

Dedication

I remain indebted to all of the musical influences throughout my life and the privilege to know and be inspired by some of the world’s greatest musical artists.  But it all began in Toledo, at an Estey spinet, attempting to play along with my great-grandmother Grace Lowder Sharpe (“Granny”), who couldn't read a note of music but could play nearly anything you could whistle or hum.  And then, of course, my Mom, Gretchen Myers Tucker, who loved music intensely and always encouraged me to “keep at it.”  She made it all possible. I’ve dedicated to her the timeless standard, “For All We Know,” - one of her favorites.

For Catherine, Olivia, Emma & William, with love.

Recorded by Jared Paolini at St. Mary’s Seminary & University, Baltimore, MD - August, 2023.
Mat Leffler-Schulman, Mastering Engineer.