Introduction
My Substack will focus on music, art, and life
Today is the day of the solar eclipse. Living in Buffalo, N.Y., I am in its path. So this is an auspicious day to start my Substack!
My name is Mary Kunz Goldman. I play the piano, I sing in a couple of choirs, and I am the author of two books.
The first book is “Sketches of Buffalo,” a book of pen-and-ink drawings of my hometown. I am honored that the book has been picked up by the Totally Buffalo store and is for sale there and in my Etsy shop, Mary Kunz Goldman Art. “Sketches of Buffalo” includes drawings of such landmarks as our Victorian-era Botanical Gardens and our majestic grain elevators — however, it also includes sketches of car repair shops, dry cleaners, various alleys, and water towers. I am never happier than when I am drawing something with zero commercial appeal!
My second book is a chronicle of the life experience that unfolded when, in 2007, I went to California to take down the memoirs of the great American concert pianist Leonard Pennario. Pennario won a Grammy Award for his work with the legendary violinist Jascha Heifetz and the equally iconic cellist Gregor Piatigorsky. He was what was known as a supervirtuoso — the pianist Andre Watts told me there had been a rumor that Pennario had learned and memorized the Prokofiev Third in just a couple of days. By the time I met him, Pennario was in his 80s and had Parkinson’s disease. Still he had an incredible spirit. I met him when I was on staff as the classical music critic for The Buffalo News, and meeting him touched off an adventure I could not have imagined. I recently completed the book, aided by a number of piano scholars who will be thanked lavishly in the Acknowledgements. One way or another, I will be publishing it this year.
I am a pianist myself. I love playing Beethoven sonatas. One of a number of coincidences involving Pennario was that we had the same favorite Beethoven sonata, the one, the only, the great Opus 109. I also love the music of Johannes Brahms, in part because when I play it on my old Steinway, those rich octaves in the bass can be heard around the block. Recently I have also become a singer. I sing for the Latin Mass at St. Anthony of Padua Church here in Buffalo, and I also sing alto with the St. Louis Choir.
Let me explain the picture at the top of this post. My husband, Howard Goldman, is a wonderful cabaret jazz pianist and singer. He entertains at Happy Hour every Friday at the Hyatt in downtown Buffalo. He livestreams it and has regular viewers in such faraway places as Paris and Saudi Arabia. Howard and I are first-time cat owners. We have a cat named Jeoffry. Jeoffry likes to keep on top of my artwork!
I have blogged for years on my website, MaryKunzGoldman.com, and I had long experience with The Buffalo News writing constantly, my specialties being classical music and the paper’s gossip and humor column. I believe that Substack will inspire me to write consistently. The pattern will unfold as we go forward.
I need a few days to figure out what treats I will be offering paid subscribers — however I know I will come up with something good. Meanwhile, thank you for supporting my work in whatever way you choose. I promise to keep you entertained!