Tupac, Liszt & Lang Lang on Tour…

Just Sayin….Reading Tupac Shakur while listening to Lang Lang play Frank Liszt ….three of my very favorite artists. Liszt somehow brings out the turmoil and utopia of Tupacs life. I, as a pianist who have played in home town concerts can only “wonder” whats its like to be so incredulously amazing to be able to capture stories, emotions, movement both in mind and body as does Lang Lang.

All three so juxtapose!!!

Lang Lang and myself….FULL of internal not necessarily emotions but stacked to the brim with “internal visionary”. We both play to what we see and hear in our heads.

Because Parkinson’s has effected the rhythm, pace, movement and expanse of my fingers. Lang Lang somehow allows me, with eyes shut, actually see and feel my hands and fingers move across the keyboard while he plays.

Once again I believe its that internal vision.

Lang Lang is a Chinese pianist who has performed with leading orchestras in China, North America, Europe, and elsewhere. Active since the 1990s, he was the first Chinese pianist to be engaged by the Berlin Philharmonic, the Vienna Philharmonic and some top American orchestras. Wikipedia

Born: June 14, 1982 (age 39 years), Shenyang, China

Height: 5′ 10″

Spouse: Gina Alice Redlinger (m. 2019)

Parents: Lang Guoren, Zhou Xiulan

https://open.spotify.com/album/7l9xCYULcMHp8J2KrqE2pL

Liszt, as far as I am concerned has such a diversity in his productions. I like that. He cocoons you into comfort then takes you on an uncomfortable journey..uncomfortable yet not wanting to leave. His music reminds me of Tupacs life journey.

Franz Liszt was a Hungarian composer, pianist and teacher of the Romantic era. Liszt gained renown in Europe during the early nineteenth century for his virtuoso skill as a pianist. Wikipedia

Born: October 22, 1811, Raiding, Austria

Died: July 31, 1886, Bayreuth, Germany

Height: 6′ 1″

Great grandchildren: Wolfgang Wagner, Wieland Wagner, Friedelind Wagner, Manfredi Gravina, Verena Wagner Lafferentz, Franz Wilhelm Beidler, Blandine Ollivier de Prévaux, Gilberto Gravina

Children: Cosima Wagner, Daniel Liszt, Blandine Liszt

https://www.udiscovermusic.com/classical-features/best-liszt-works-10-essential-pieces/

In the book Tupac Shakur written by Tayannah Lee McQuillar & Fred L. Johnson lll, PHD (a must read) you will, like I ,now truly understand and appreciate him as one of our greatest artists. His work not only describes the misery and misfortune of his childhood. The artistry in how his words so painfully describes a mother and the environment she and others raised him in. His early accomplishments as an actor all the while overcoming the embarrassment of being dirt poor. His tenacious words on diversity and equality….his loud yet whisper call of help in a world of privilege…his angry words of violence,, drugs, sex…of despair.

His lyrics profound yet not new…they have been there through the centuries by poets such as Homer, Virgil, Sappho, Poe, Hemingway, Burns and many more.

Its the “beat” that may have changed…ahh..but has it?

Tupac Amaru Shakur, better known by his stage name 2Pac and later by his alias Makaveli, was an American rapper and actor. He is widely considered one of the most influential rappers of all time. Shakur is among the best-selling music artists, having sold more than 75 million records worldwide. Wikipedia

Born: June 16, 1971, East Harlem, New York, NY

Full name: Tupac Amaru Shakur

Assassinated: September 13, 1996, University Medical Center, Las Vegas, NV

Siblings: Sekyiwa Shakur, Mopreme Shakur, Chinua Shakur, Nzingha Shakur, Takerra Allen, N’Neka Garland,

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Changes_(Tupac_Shakur_song)

JUST SAYIN…..A Tupac, Liszt, Lang Lang tour would be amazing!!!!

Note: I hope that my new found friend who’s name begins with an “H” will weigh in with this conversation…As I hope many of you will as well.