Recital in Honor of Marjorie Haimbach

	Back in the Fall of 2006 I received a phone call from Steven Reed, a friend of Marjorie Haimbach, my first piano teacher. He informed me that Marjorie’s health was poor and if I wanted to see her again before she died I should come to the hospital. I immediately went there and saw her but unfortunately she was too sedated to communicate. I brought some of my recordings and played them for her and there was some slight movements indicating she was recognizing some of it (we think). She died the day after I saw her. All music students who continue to play throughout their life understand the debt we owe to our teachers. It is an unusual relationship of trust and admiration that is developed over the years. In the case of Marjorie Haimbach, I first started studying with her when I was 7 years old. Marjorie was probably one of the best piano teachers in the country for young children you will ever find. She had an unusual ability to motivate, make the process of learning to play enjoyable, make the student feel good about their accomplishments, and make performing a thrilling experience. The debt I owe Marjorie is immeasurable. The enrichment to my life that my musical activities have added is so great that there are really no words to express it. When I heard that she wanted me to have her Steinway Model A grand piano that I used to play during my lessons, I was both thrilled and touched emotionally. For this reason I have prepared this recital in her honor.
Above is a picture of Marjorie	Below is a picture of me when I studied with Marjorie at the age of 14
I still remember the first piece she ever taught me; “Mister Middle C”, which consisted of 14 notes, all of them middle C. There were words to it as well; “I am Mister Middle C. Take a good long look at me.”. From there she went on throughout the 9 years I studied with her to teach me how to perform from all genres of the classical literature including some quite ambitious pieces for my young age. The pieces on the first half of the program are all pieces Marjorie spent time teaching me. These are pieces which stay with you throughout your life which I’m sure Marjorie knew when she assigned them to me. Marjorie didn’t shy away from giving challenges to her students. The second half of the program is not related to Marjorie however the Mussorgsky is simply a wonderful piece which is the reason I added it to the program. Of course everything I play is influenced by the time I spent with Marjorie.
Location: Wesley Methodist Church, 2540 Center Street, Bethlehem, PA	When: March 15, 2008, 8 PM No Tickets needed, Free!

Program

(click on links to listen... - These recordings were made on Marjorie's Steinway piano)

French Suite V in G major Johann Sebastian Bach

Allemande – Allegretto

Courante – Allegro

Sarabande – Andante cantabile

Gavotte – Un poco vivace

Bourree – Allegro

Loure – Moderato

Gigue – Vivace

Sonata in D Op. 10 No. 3 Ludwig van Beethoven

Presto

Largo e mesto

Menuetto - Allegro

Rondo - Allegro

Waltz in A-flat Op. 64 No. 3 F. Chopin

Nocturne Op. 27, No. 1 F. Chopin

Scherzo in b-flat minor, Op. 31 F. Chopin

Intermission

Bilder Einer Ausstellung

Pictures at an Exhibition Modest Mussorgski

Promenade (I)

1. Gnomus

Promenade (II)

2. Il vecchio Castello

Promenade (III)

3. Les Tuileries (Dispute d’enfants après jeux)

4. Bydlo

Promenade (IV)

5. Ballett der unausgeschlüpften Kücken /

Ballet of the Unhatched Chickens

6. Samuel Goldenberg und Schmuyle

Promenade (V)

7. Limoges . Le marché (La grande nouvelle)

8. Catacombae (Sepulcrum romanum)

Cum mortuis in lingua mortua

9. Die Hütte auf Hühnerbeinen (Baba-Jaga) /

The Hut on Chicken’s Legs (Baba Yaga)

10. Das Heldentor (in der Thronstadt Kiew)

The Heroic Gate (in the Imperial City of Kiev )