The Botanical Gardens in Golden Gate Park are alive with the sounds of 12 pianos. For the second year in a row, anyone can wander among the extraordinary flora and listen to or PLAY any of the pianos. I played the baby grand overlooking Japanese iris in a pond. I listened to a piano and violin duo playing a lovely Hayden piece. After my offerings of Eric Satie's Gymnopedie # 1 and One morning in May by Hoagy Carmichael, I heard a striking Debussy reverie that floated right over the water. I wandered down the lush paths to a little upright nestled under a New Zealand Totora pine and encountered a singer with a bass doing a wonderful original. They left and I did Autumn in New York, some Jobim, and other standards under this amazing tree. A young girl came up and played a sweet Bach prelude - one that I play everyday. There is something truly magical about this event, and I urge you all to check it out. (It closes on the 18th).
And while we're celebrating music, let's wish Woody Guthrie a happy birthday. –Peter