de Larrocha is a fearless pianist and I think fearless as a person, too.

I think this because it is my conviction that learning to play an instrument (whether towards avocation or profession) has a great psychological component to where we play, or should play, according to who were are as a person at that very moment...

...but always - always - welcoming of inevitable change towards being better than we were.

I write this as a direct result of understanding that with many musicians, we do hear the notes but that is only the half of it; we hear their souls too, because they share themselves with us as they play.

“El Pelele” is de Larrocha in full contentedness and laughter - clearly someone who loves to dance!

While, in “Danza lenta” she is the pensive one...the one who loves and is loved dearly.

These two short character pieces endear this pianist to me and bookend the her performance history of canonized piano literature, as well as the personal evolution she shared with us all.

Listen to El Pelele:

... on Spotify.

... on Apple Music.

... on Amazon Music.

... on Deezer.

... on YouTube Music.

... on Pandora.

Listen to Danza lenta:

... on Spotify.

... on Apple Music.

... on Amazon Music.

... on Deezer.

... on YouTube Music.

... on Pandora.