La Petite Rose, Poem, Song, and Painting Collaboration

Something beautiful was born when the synergy of several creatives converged: La Petite Rose.

This art song captures a young boy’s delight in God’s masterful creation of a perfect rose.

This enchanting song began as a poem created by Mary A. Hannon.

“My inspiration for La Petite Rose came from a walk in my garden. As I passed by the rose, its simple, utter beauty caught my attention and stopped me in my tracks. I was drawn into its essence, its delicate petals fitting together by precise design and its color mixed to perfection by an invisible hand. It was like viewing a masterpiece and I had to drink in its beauty and share its beauty in words.”

Mary A. Hannon served as writer, editor and publisher of Piano Forte, a newsletter for pianists and music lovers. She also edited and published Piano Talk, Conversations with Stewart Gordon and edited a collection titled Charles Fierro In His Own Words. Mary is a board member of Piano Spheres and consults with individuals and organizations on the publication of newsletters and printed programs.

Deborah Keily Hanson composed music to accompany the words, and Jeff Hanson, Deborah’s husband, sings the vocal.

Deborah Keily Hanson has a diverse musical background. An accomplished musician, teacher, and performer, she has performed solo recitals, accompanied soloists from the New York Philharmonic and the Metropolitan Opera, performed at the Ocho Rios International Jazz Festival in Jamaica, accompanied musical theater groups locally and with the Los Angeles Opera Musical Theater Company.

You can read more about Deborah on her website: http://www.hmspiano.com/bio.html.

Deborah invited me to paint La Petite Rose to grace the album cover: