On August 19, loved ones, friends, and piano students of Jean-Pierre Lemarié (August 17, 1960-February 23, 2018) gathered at the house where he lived for most of his time in Cherry Grove to remember him with a celebration of his life, which included a live concert, video clips, sharing of memories, and refreshments.
After a clip of Jean-Pierre playing Chopin at the Community House, there were remarks by our host Fidel Patino and by Ada Lucy, followed by selections played by Jean-Pierre’s students.
José Mendez played Frédéric Chopin’s Prelude Number 15 in D-flat Major, Opus 28 (“Raindrops”), beautifully and intensely Romantic, and Shiro Sagisu’s “Will of the Heart,” spare, firm, and no less intense. Petr Vancura played Johann Sebastian Bach’s lyrical Prelude in C Major and Scott Joplin’s “Solace,” quiet, but replete with the movement of ragtime. And Hilen Shyu played Chopin’s somber Prelude Number Four in E minor, Opus 28, and Charles Gounod’s uplifting “Ave Maria,” based on the Bach Prelude that Petr had played.
Other musical performances were Édith Piaf’s “La vie en rose,” played and sung, in English and French, by Michael “Blanche” Goldfried, and César Franck’s “Panis Angelicus,” sung a cappella by this writer.
A clip of Jean-Pierre, playing his own “Tears,” a most moving Chaconne in G minor, written for and dedicated to Fidel, followed.