Now gone.

http://www.artsjournal.com/slippeddisc/2012/12/death-of-a-great-musical-mind.html

he was a bright light,
illuminating the dark,
unveiling the greats.

he will be missed.

"...Death of a great musical mind
December 10, 2012 By Norman Lebrecht

"Charles Rosen – pianist, philosopher, polymath – has died in New York. He was 85. The cause was connected to prostate cancer, his publicist said.

"A pupil of Moritz Rosenthal and, spiritually at least, of Josef Hofmann, Charles held an unassailable authority on the music of Schoenberg and Elliott Carter and spoke with equal authority on the rest of the canon – and, indeed, on French literature, in which he had a doctorate, and French cuisine, in which he did not.

"We once crossed swords on a BBC radio programme, discussing declining attendances at classical recitals. Charles said: "I remember a concert where I played for an audience of 15." He paused for moment, then added: "Of course, 12 of them held Nobel Prizes..."

"May he rest in bliss."

http://www.artsjournal.com/slippeddisc/2012/12/death-of-a-great-musical-mind.html

I am greatly grieved. I knew Charles Rosen only through his writings--- his recordings are, unfortunately, largely out of release--- but loved him dearly, and prized his words. Not that it was so easy to grasp what he was getting at, even with his great mastery of language, for his was a very advanced awareness. I will say, I found--- and find--- it worth the work it takes to learn from him... and there are plenty of precious gems yet in that mine. As the poet, Thomas Gray wrote in 1750: "...Full many a gem of purest ray serene/ The dark, unfathomed caves of ocean bear..."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elegy_Written_in_a_Country_Churchyard

I feel greatly thankful for his life, and greatly motivated to rededicate myself to learning from him.

Oh my, this is terribly sad news. RIP, you will be missed.

On so many levels...

Syllables are five
In this line there are seven
finally five more