This is my favorite classical music ever. Many years ago, I walked into a Tower music shop near NYU, one of those megastores with every kind of music, hundreds of thousands of recordings of pop, rock, blues, soul, folk, etc. From the very back of the store I heard this magnificent choral music, overpowering every other section and sound. I went back to the source and was transfixed. It was Brahms’ German Requiem. Here is a beautiful recording. Take an hour today. Treat yourself. You deserve it. Begin the year with serenity, beauty, psssion, and the joy of sublime music.
This is my way of sending you joy and thanking you for sharing your time with me.
This is my last post of the day. Just listen and share this beautiful experience.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Perfect.
My mother was a trained musician. I cannot hear beautiful music without thinking of her. One of the last pieces she worked on was a Brahms. Trained at Meridith College, Juliard, and Peabody, she taught music in our community for 43 years. I cannot hear a beautiful piece of music without being filled with the raw emotion of what music was to her and what she was to me. Thanks so much.
Awesome tribute!
It is 8 degrees outside, and the snow covered landscape is glowing, as these beautiful voices emanating from my Boze, warm our home.
Great gift. Thank you. Take care in Asia. Enjoy and come back safe!
Magnificent!
thank you–exquisite, and blessedly familiar since I learned it with my church choir in highschool in Memphis, Tennessee
On Mon, Jan 1, 2018 at 10:31 AM, Diane Ravitch’s blog wrote:
> dianeravitch posted: “This is my favorite classical music ever. Many years > ago, I walked into a Tower music shop near NYU, one of those megastores > with every kind of music, hundreds of thousands of recordings of pop, rock, > blues, soul, folk, etc. From the very back of the stor” >
Brick and mortar record stores, another casualty of the Internet.
A few still out there. Popular among hipsters. Shops that sell used manga and vinyl.
Thank you for this. Love Brahms and choral music but it will have to wait for later when I have time to listen.
This is something that may interest you that I saw on Twitter just now:
15 days left to submit public comments to @USCCRgov re school discipline of students of color with disabilities: http://www.usccr.gov/press/2017/12-13-PR.pdf …. Civil rights policy recommendations, examples of progress or harm, research re best practices welcome.
And something amusing from my favorite investigative reporter who has done such good work this year, David Sirota:
https://twitter.com/davidsirota/status/947679740344725505
Thank you, Diane! I really do enjoy music!
Kas Winters
Saved for later. I love this piece,too. I sang this with my college choir many years ago, in German. I still remember the first time we sang through the 2nd movement, I think. Lots of ne4vous laughter when we realized how much work it would be. In the end, we had a good performance. That was long before YouTube and the internet, so it lives in my memory, not online. Thanks for sharing. I’ll enjoy the memories.
This music lives in your heart.
A perfect gift to bring in the New Year! Thank you Diane!
Beautiful! Thank you, Diane, and Happy New Year!
Wonderful piece. Thanks, Diane. Beautiful performance and recording, too.
I used to roam that Tower Records store all the time. The salespeople were usually very knowledgeable and helpful. Especially in the Classical and Jazz sections. I was looking for a good recording of Scarlatti’s Sonatas. This guy turned me on to Marcelle Meyer, telling me she had a very unique approach to the period. Softer:
Happy New Year, Diane and everyone reading this .
Thanks. Keep the music playing
Thanks Diane. This is a particular favorite of mine.
Happy New Year to all!
One of the beautiful things about Ms Scharzkopf is her use of vibrato as an enhancing effect…not an automatic beginning to end of every sustained note. Her coloration is beyond excellent. She’s brilliant.