need to play a piece for a friend with leukemia

[yohankwon]

hey guys! just last week I've heard sad news about my friend who was diagnosed with leukemia. I want to play something for her, but I don't know what to play. can you guys help please? I'm doing this for her.

thanks!

[le_poete_mourant]

Try to avoid something depressing.

Liszt/Schumann Widmung?

[wiggityp]

Check out the last movement of Beethoven's 30th sonata. It's obviously very idiomatic even for Beethoven and it may not be to the taste of you or your friend given the situation. But it's the sort of thing I'd want to listen to if I was extremely low. It's just shockingly beautiful. So much pain, but overall very warm and optimistic, it's pieces like these that give the Thove the rep that he so justly deserves. It's also variations so you wouldn't necessarily have to play the whole thing (the beginning is maybe the most compelling in fact).

Look around late Beethoven in general. Also late Schubert (such as the first movement of his Sonata D.894 which is gorgeous simple and forthright). Also late Brahms such as Op.118 no. 2.

Recently I've been listening to this Gluck: Melody from Orfeo and Eurydice as arrange for solo piano by Giovanni Sgambati, and it's also perhaps the right vibe. Certainly very beautiful and sad.

An excellent recording of the Gluck by Freire at the Proms:

There really is so much if you like any of these suggestions PM me and I can probably steer you on the track to lots more. Also some that may be a little more overly positive. Most of the above have at least a trace of melancholia in them, which I presume would be warranted in the situation.

Also what sort of stuff does this person like in general, and I can probably give better suggestions.

[vsrinivasa]

Theme Varie Op. 89 by Cecile Chaminade is really beautiful. Listen to Hamelin's recording of it, it's really good. Here's a link:

Chaminade's Scarf Dance (Air de Ballet No. 3 Op. 37) is a good one too, and it's a lot easier.
Here's my favourite recording of it.

Also try Sarabande from Pour le Piano by Debussy. It's quite beautiful, and is generally neutral but tinged with a slight sadness.

Schubert's Moment Musical No. 2 in A-flat Op. 94 No. 2 is also really nice, albeit a bit "too popular".

What kind of music does your friend like?