Classical Music Top 40 [antikvár]

PREFACE BY BILLY JOEL I am one of the lucky ones. Not only because 1 have had a wonderful, extended career in popular music, but also because when 1 was a child 1 had parents who introduced me to classical music. The treasure that is the classics has stayed with me, influenced my writing, and has continued to be an inspiration throughout my life. To this day, 1 sit down at the piano and play through classical works by ear, perhaps some Debussy or an ersatz rendition of a Rachmaninoff piece. It serves to remind me what a shame it is that our schools have been forced to cut back on music education; too many kids today grow up without being introduced to Beethoven, Mozart, Chopin, Bach, or other great composers. When 1 started taking piano lessons at age four, 1 often found the music I had to practice to be somewhat tedious, but 1 had a good ear and could imitate the styles of the great composers. So instead of doing my scales, 1 would make up pieces that sounded like easy Mozart sonatas, each day improvising another movement. By the end of the week, I had created an entire piece, but 1 couldn't play my assigned lesson. When 1 got to high school 1 made another interesting discovery, thanks to my classical training: At parties 1 would find a piano and sit alone, improvising lonely melodies. Soon 1 would notice one girl standing there and listening, and then another, and another. It dawned on me that music was like an aphrodisiac, but this was a motivation that Beethoven, Mozart, Liszt, and countless other composers had understood long ago. As a composer, 1 have learned many lessons from the classical masters. In fact, solutions to all songwriting problems can be found in the classics. Beethoven said it all and conquered all. The key to all good music, whether it be classical, popular, jazz.