JULIANA HALL - Piano Lessons

Setting of the collection of six poems by American poet Billy Collins (1941–)

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* first recording *
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Andrew Fuchs, tenor
Laura Ward, piano

Juliana Hall, composer
Billy Collins, author

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About this piece:
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Piano Lessons is the title given by American poet Billy Collins (1941–) to the set of six poems published in 1995 in his book "The Art of Drowning," which, with color, grace, and wit speaks of the common experience of studying the piano.

Composer Juliana Hall composed Piano Lessons for a dearly-admired tenor, Andrew Fuchs, whom she had heard sing a few years back. Along with pianist Laura Ward, Fuchs gives a wonderfully committed performance full of humor and good cheer, on a program presented by the Philadelphia-based art song organization Lyric Fest called "The Funny Bone" designed to bring together songs to make the audience laugh and smile.