I fell for it again

My great-grandfather went to study in Paris.

It was around the turn of the 19th century. He was the first individual from his town, a small place in Northern Perú, to do something as crazy as that.

It was so extraordinary, that he appeared in the newspapers.

And it was nowhere else than in the Sorbonne, one of the most historically prestigious universities in the world, where he would spend the next few years studying.

After graduating, he returned back home. He was greeted like a hero. People raised him in arms and marched through the streets.

Fast forward to a century later and I’m one of the many thousands of Peruvians who has gone to study in Paris.

I might not be as special as my great-grandfather. But Paris was special to me.

It was so special that every time I walked its streets I couldn’t believe my own eyes. No city could hold such a vast amount of beauty. It was impossible.

And something I particularly loved to do was cross the Seine River through some of its 37 bridges. I figured out their names and they stayed in my memory forever.

I wonder which of those bridges he crossed. Probably the Pont St. Michel, or the beautiful Petit Pont, since they’re so close to the Sorbonne, and both overlook one of the Western Worlds´most iconic wonders: Notre Dame Cathedral.

It so happens that once, after a lesson (my conservatory was very very near to the Sorbonne… coincidences), I was staring at the Pont St. Michel from the Petit Pont, and it started to rain lightly. There was hustle and bustle behind me, but I was calm and the rhythm of tiny raindrops piercing the surface of the river filled my soul with peace.

I´ve written a piano piece called Raindrops. As you can probably guess, it’s inspired by that same moment.

It’s a very simple piece.

But honest.

And to my ears it is beautiful. Mainly because it takes me back to that moment.

Here is the link to the piece, an invitation to an intimate part of me (it almost seems strangely inappropriate for me to share it…). Click here to listen to it.

I´m thinking of preparing a virtual concert with a selection of my short piano pieces (I have hundreds…). And when I say I’m thinking… it usually means I’ll do it. We´ll see…

Have a great day.

Claudio.

P.D. The link is here once again, let me know if it painted the picture in your mind or not.