Day 118: Andy Griffith, Larry, Coffee, and Home

HaydnCD118Another change of venue this morning: my home.

As an episode of The Andy Griffith Show plays in the background (because there’s always background noise when I’m at Panera), Larry (our cat) reposes on the floor near me, and a cup of fresh-brewed Morning Blend coffee sits strategically positioned less than an arm’s length away on the table beside me, I listen to today’s selection of Haydn’s Baryton Trios, to wit:

Haydn Baryton Trio No. 46 in A

Haydn Baryton Trio No. 47 in G

Haydn Baryton Trio No. 48 in D (my #2 favorite today)

Haydn Baryton Trio No. 49 in G (my #1 favorite today)

Haydn Baryton Trio No. 50 in D

Haydn Baryton Trio No. 51 in A

Haydn Baryton Trio No. 52 in D

LarryFloorIt’s still dark outside. And chilly inside. (Maybe that’s why Larry is curled into a tight ball.)

But the coffee is good.

The smell from the Bob Evans sausages grilling on the stove (I’m making breakfast for my still-sleep better half) is enticing.

The music is surprisingly compelling.

And I am motivated today (for various reasons) to write my ass off.

Life is good.

Maybe I’m onto something.

These baryton trios aren’t dramatically different from the ones to which I’ve been listening all along. Yet, somehow, today, they sound better. Why?

Maybe home really is where the heart is. Maybe my surroundings are contributing to my ability to appreciate these trios.

And maybe that’s a key ingredient in enjoying any music – one’s state of mind.

Or maybe it’s just the smell of Bob Evans on the stove.

EsterhazyEnsembleHere are the members of the Esterhazy Ensemble playing today’s Baryton Trios:

Michael Brussing baryton
Andras Bolyki viola
Maria Andrasfalvy-Brussing cello

Below is what I listened to this morning. NOTE: I don’t know if people didn’t keep track of such things back then, or if these are just too old. But the date of composition on these seems to be nebulous, anywhere from 1766 to 1776, give or take. Haydn was in his early thirties for most of these. Give or take.

Haydn Baryton Trio No. 46 in A

Haydn Baryton Trio No. 47 in G

Haydn Baryton Trio No. 48 in D

Haydn Baryton Trio No. 49 in G

Haydn Baryton Trio No. 50 in D


Haydn Baryton Trio No. 51 in A

Haydn Baryton Trio No. 52 in D

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *