One of my all time favorites. I just posted this vs Atlanta Rhythm Section's version in the Cover Better Than The Original thread...although I'm not sure either is "better."
Interesting. I've never heard of her. There's scant info out there on her biography...even Wiki doesn't have much on her. Apparently she's written theme songs for TV shows.
An odd thing regarding classical music syntax ... a piano solo is one person playing with no accompaniment, but a violin solo can be the violinist accompanied by anything from another single instrument to a full orchestra. I don't know why the difference arose. .... some heavy duty virtuosity here: Tchaikovsky - Violin Concerto in D major, Opus 35
I'm not sure I agree with that, although I certainly could be wrong. As you know, all sorts of orchestral and big band music is full of solos with the rest of the band accompanying the soloist, including others playing the same instrument that the soloist is (which is what gave me pause to my thoughts on this, since there is usually only one piano, which might be the driver behind its unique definition of "solo.") Are you sure there are no instances in classical music of a pianist playing an extended length of the lead tune with accompaniment, and it being called a "solo"? It sounds as though you've found a formal source or definition.
I don't know that what I suggested is good for all instances. I don't really know much about classical music since I just started listening and learning about it in recent months. I thought I saw that pattern I described but I'm sure there are exceptions. I don't know a sonata from an etude or a nocturne.
One thing I wish I had taken was a music appreciation class or some other form of formal education. I played trumpet from 4th grade all through school and then into my early adult life, but I've had no formal education in any of it. Certainly I've picked up a lot playing marching, symphonic, orchestral, jazz, brass choir, etc., but that's just a smattering...nothing in depth. We never had a piano in any of the bands I was in.
We never had the opportunity to learn much about classical except for the few things we listened to in glee club ( I think it was glee club - might have been a music class. They made us sing anyway.) There are dozens of pieces I've heard over the years that I like but usually never found out the names of either the pieces or the composers. So far my favorite composers are Beethoven, Chopin and Rachmaninov.
I was lucky to have been in band for so long, and to get exposed to so much starting at an early age. My favorite composer is Rossini, although there are times I love the heavy brass of the Russians (Shostakovich, Mussorgsky) La Gazza Ladra (The Thieving Magpie) Guglielmo Tell Ouverture (William Tell Overture/Lone Ranger Theme)
I like the Rossini piece as far as I've listened. I love watching a symphony orchestra play. It's as if, if that many talented people can cooperate for that long, there might be hope that the rest of us can get along in a mutual endeavor - world peace, for instance.