Back from the all most dead...

[Cass Hansen]

Hi everyone. It’s been way, way to long since I’ve prowled these “threaded corridors”. I think the last posting of mine was last summer.

Unfortunately, I had one of those malevolent life-altering events which we’re all faced with eventually at some point in our lives.

I developed Crohn’s disease and ended up in the hospital a couple times, once for a whole month. I’ve been quite ill for 6 months but I’m happy to say that I’m finally turned the corner and have stabilized. They had me on so many drugs that I became quite “loopy” and couldn’t write a note if my life depended on it. The drugs also made me lose my short-term memory, so I forgot how to use any of the software programs, and even anything regarding composition techniques for that matter. I also had to sell my landscaping business, which took years to build up, because I could no longer perform the work. On top of all that, a common side-effect of Crohn’s is the onset of arthritis which hit me in a big way. My hands became completely paralyzed…..I couldn’t even play Chopsticks! Add severe depression, and that was my life for the last 8 months.

Now that the arthritis has abated quite a bit and I’m taking a lot less medication, I can once again start to focus on music. Hooray!! I’m learning to play the piano all over again. I’m starting with easier pieces such as the one’s here, some Chopin waltz’s and Scarlatti sonatas. Their not perfect by a long shot, mainly because of the unevenness due to my motor-neurons not firing quite in sync yet. But I’m so happy to just to be playing again, I don’t care and I thought I’d share it with you. (links below)


As you may remember, I spent most of last year, before my illness, writing piano pieces and was about to master a CD before this all happened. It’ll be awhile before I’m back to speed playing, so I’m currently working on orchestral compositions to get me back into composing again. Hopefully I’ll be able to post those in a month or so depending on how long it takes me to relearn the software!!! I find that I’m almost giddy when I sit down to compose. It’s such a delight to be able to compose again.


Anyway, I’m glad to be back!


Chopin Op 70 Nr. 1
Chopin Op 69 Nr. 1
Scarlatti sonata in C Major
Scarlatti sonata in E Major


Cass

PS ( before I get chastised for my omissions, upon listening to these I discovered I forgot to do the repeats on 2nd half of BOTH Scarlatti sonatas and left out a middle chunk of music in the Op. 70 Chopin. I played these from my "Swiss cheese" memory, and I guess it's is still somewhat on the fritz....can't remember if I repeated something or not. Did I just say this in the above paragraphs? hmmmm....Anyway, sorry for the omissions.

[Hippie]

Jeez Cass, glad you are back and still breathing.

I gave all four a quick listen and they sound good to me.

You take care of yourself because you don't want me coming over there with my synthesizers.

[Raymond62]

Great recovery and your playing with those almost paralyzed hands stands out.... go on. I enjoyed listening these pieces.

Nice to have you back,

Raymond

[DPDAN]

Cass, how awesome!!!!
I have Rheumatoid Arthritis and my hands are wrecked so I understand the depression from that let alone the pain.

I love this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
So blessed to have you back,

Gosh what I would give to play like that.

Dan

[Frank D]

Hey Cass,

It's so good to see you resurface here ... I know I have missed your music and the wonderful spirit you convey with your music. Sorry for all your troubles this past year, BUT OH MY GOD, you would never know it from the four pieces you just posted: Tremendous! The old saying couldn't be any more appropriate: "You've forgotten more than I'll ever know about playing and writing for the piano!"

Here's hoping life serves you up a much needed (and deserved) period of calm, good health, and musical creativity. Best of luck and I look forward to hearing more of your always heartfelt music.

Regards,

Frank

[rpearl]

Cass,

Glad to hear you are on the way back. Sorry to hear the curve that has been thrown your way, but your spirit sounds good!

The pieces sounds great - it was fun to hear the Scarlatti. I actually used to play the E major when I was working iin a guitar duo - we even recorded it
( seems like a long time ago...); what a treat to hear it again!

Hope the road to recovery goes well.

Nice to see you back.

All the best,

[sunbird]

Hi Cass,

You are back!!!
I was wondering where you were and seeing you haven't been here for so long
I wanted to email you, but no address given...

So sorry to hear what you had to go through, but you came out a winner!

Your playing is wonderful! You play from the heart and it shows especially in the Chopin pieces.
It is charming, brilliant, streaming and filled with your humor and vitality.

I’ve missed your presence here, and I shall look forward to any new composition from you
which I know will be a treat!


~Yudit~

[Larry G. Alexander]

Mr. Cass,

Very nice interpretations of the Chopin and Scarlatti pieces!

I am so sorry to hear of your health problems. I hope that you have a very fast healing process. Get well soon! I have spoken!

My best to you.

[John Hawksley]

Cass!

Firstly: very glad you are on the mend.

Secondly: oh my God - these are superlative. I'm going to buy a grand just so I can use the lid to break my fingers.

Very fine, precise, nuanced work - I hope you are very proud of these recordings.

-John

[Rhap2]

Cass:

How terrible................y wonderful.

I never knew you were such a fine pianist. I knew you were good
from all of your previous endeavors, but your expressiveness is something
to be deeply admired. I always thought your were a "diamond in the
rough" musical wizard that wasn't fully developed to your unique potential. Now, I am sure of it.

No one would ever know that your were recuperating from anything except
overpracticing........lol. But, seriously, your playing is loaded with "rare"
expressiveness that only comes from not only much practice, but from an
in-depth understanding of the music you are performing.

It's interesting that Chopin wrote so much of his music while recuperating
from tuberculosis (or trying to) and that some of your greatest performances
stem from your recuperation period. Anyway, so glad to have you back
and feeling like you are on the way to a full recovery.

Just marvelous playing Cass..........

BRAVO

Jack