Chopin Pinao Concerto #1

We wake to Chopin Piano Concerto #1 the second movement Romanze (Larghetto). I don't know how it happened. We bought a radio alarm for S's parents for Christmas and somehow ended up giving it to ourselves. It has the capability of playing a CD and waking you up to your favorite song. We resisted You Got Me Babe by Sonny and Cher because of Groundhog Day implications. Chopin seemed somehow the right choice. We started with the first movement of Concerto #1, but the orchestra was far too raucous. We wanted to ease into the day, especially at 5:45. The second movement starts off with the orchestra just gently rousing you to a lovely simple piano solo, almost like a nursery song played on a music box. The song is then repeated with variations to get the blood moving. I imagine Chopin composing the little tune to rouse George Sand after a night of revelry or maybe as a way of making up for the fight they had the night before. Perfect for getting up on a coldish morning. The thing is to get up before the piano solo starts, otherwise it can lull you back to sleep. This morning was completely clear, all the stars out. It was a chilly 10 C which doesn't sound too bad, but yesterday it was 16 C. We entered the house sweating from our labors. Not this morning. A bracing but not rude welcome to the new day.