1baswood
In my french conversation class we were talking about alternative health care and one of the therapy's used is musical therapy. Here is a definition of it aims and usage:
Music therapy draws on the power of music in a therapeutic relationship to manage a range of conditions and improve your quality of life. A music therapist tailors sessions to your needs. You may sing or play instruments, listen to music or discuss the meaning of lyrics. You don’t need musical skills, and people of all ages can benefit.
Music has always been important in my life probably as important as reading. I have certainly listened to more Lps and Cds than I have read books, well of course generally they take less time. I have never really thought seriously about benefits to my health and in fact some of the rock music I have listened to and festivals I have attended has probably done me no good at all. I still have a vast collection of music and as is my wont have set myself a target of sitting down and actively listening to at least one CD/LP per day. So maybe this can be a thread for all lovers of music on Club Read 2024
Music therapy draws on the power of music in a therapeutic relationship to manage a range of conditions and improve your quality of life. A music therapist tailors sessions to your needs. You may sing or play instruments, listen to music or discuss the meaning of lyrics. You don’t need musical skills, and people of all ages can benefit.
Music has always been important in my life probably as important as reading. I have certainly listened to more Lps and Cds than I have read books, well of course generally they take less time. I have never really thought seriously about benefits to my health and in fact some of the rock music I have listened to and festivals I have attended has probably done me no good at all. I still have a vast collection of music and as is my wont have set myself a target of sitting down and actively listening to at least one CD/LP per day. So maybe this can be a thread for all lovers of music on Club Read 2024
2baswood
Got off to a good start yesterday 3 Cds and a concert
Matyas Pribojszki - Flavour
I was talking to three American ladies who were visiting Marciac recently, they hailed from Vermont and we were sitting outside a restaurant during the evening in the central square. Temperatures of 20 degrees may be a reflection of climate change, but it made for comfortable eating out. Conversation turned to music and we agreed that America was the home of Blues, jazz and rock music, the first two of these genres were originally played by black musicians. Matyas Pribojszki and his band play the blues. He is a white man from Hungary and so one could say four steps removed from the original source of the music. The album was released in 2006.
So what about the eleven songs on this CD? Do they have much relation to the blues? Well that is debatable. Matyas plays the harmonica and his band write their own songs based on blues tunes and blues chord progressions. They sound like the early Paul Butterfield blues band: a mixed race group from the 1960's. In fact the first two songs are very good indeed, Matyas is a talented harmonica player, he has a a slightly smoother more tuneful voice than the aforementioned Paul Butterfield and his guitarist has based his style on Mike Bloomfield. "Matyas Walks" is a feature for Matyas and the second song "She's 19" is an improvement on Chuck Berry's take of a girl barely 16. After this things start to fall apart, the second vocalist has trouble with sounding American and the structure of the music moves a bit too far away from the blues and songs get weaker.
Lyambiko - Inner Sense
Lyambiko is a German jazz singer who was born in Tanzania. I first heard her when I was searching for covers of songs from "The American Songbook" and her tuneful renditions fit the bill. On this CD the songs are mostly self penned with only a couple of standard tunes. It starts off well enough with a play on words: Inner Sense and Innocence. The piano trio backing her are very good, particularly the American pianist Marque Lowenthal and the group prove they can swing when they play "Stompin at the Savoy" However there are only three tracks that I would want to listen to again.
Phil Thornton Hossam Ramzy - Immortal Egypt
One of those Cds that I picked out of a bargain bin, which shrieked of being some kind of bland new age music. However this was a very pleasant surprise featuring a group of mostly Egyptian musicians who play: bamboo flutes, classical flute, violin and two stringed violin, oud, mizmar (Egyptian oboe). Phil Thornton plays keyboards and does the programming while Hossan Ramzy is the percussionist. Despite the names of the tracks which bear all the hallmarks of Phil Thorntons new age background the music never descends to the level of ambient music. Always interesting and I would be happy to hear the whole CD again.
The concert was at Marciac's L'Astrada and featured Belgian musician Melanie Biasio and her group. The genre was sort of Trans-jazz. Di Biasio has a good voice and plays flute while the group play a sort of drone like backing. The cellist sounded good when I could hear her, but the keyboard player struggled to get heard. Perhaps I was not in the mood for the music played, but I struggled to keep my attention on it. Much of the self penned songs of the first half sounded very similar and by the time they got round to playing Afro Blue I really couldn't be bothered, I'd droned out. Most of the audience seemed to enjoy it.
Matyas Pribojszki - Flavour
I was talking to three American ladies who were visiting Marciac recently, they hailed from Vermont and we were sitting outside a restaurant during the evening in the central square. Temperatures of 20 degrees may be a reflection of climate change, but it made for comfortable eating out. Conversation turned to music and we agreed that America was the home of Blues, jazz and rock music, the first two of these genres were originally played by black musicians. Matyas Pribojszki and his band play the blues. He is a white man from Hungary and so one could say four steps removed from the original source of the music. The album was released in 2006.
So what about the eleven songs on this CD? Do they have much relation to the blues? Well that is debatable. Matyas plays the harmonica and his band write their own songs based on blues tunes and blues chord progressions. They sound like the early Paul Butterfield blues band: a mixed race group from the 1960's. In fact the first two songs are very good indeed, Matyas is a talented harmonica player, he has a a slightly smoother more tuneful voice than the aforementioned Paul Butterfield and his guitarist has based his style on Mike Bloomfield. "Matyas Walks" is a feature for Matyas and the second song "She's 19" is an improvement on Chuck Berry's take of a girl barely 16. After this things start to fall apart, the second vocalist has trouble with sounding American and the structure of the music moves a bit too far away from the blues and songs get weaker.
Lyambiko - Inner Sense
Lyambiko is a German jazz singer who was born in Tanzania. I first heard her when I was searching for covers of songs from "The American Songbook" and her tuneful renditions fit the bill. On this CD the songs are mostly self penned with only a couple of standard tunes. It starts off well enough with a play on words: Inner Sense and Innocence. The piano trio backing her are very good, particularly the American pianist Marque Lowenthal and the group prove they can swing when they play "Stompin at the Savoy" However there are only three tracks that I would want to listen to again.
Phil Thornton Hossam Ramzy - Immortal Egypt
One of those Cds that I picked out of a bargain bin, which shrieked of being some kind of bland new age music. However this was a very pleasant surprise featuring a group of mostly Egyptian musicians who play: bamboo flutes, classical flute, violin and two stringed violin, oud, mizmar (Egyptian oboe). Phil Thornton plays keyboards and does the programming while Hossan Ramzy is the percussionist. Despite the names of the tracks which bear all the hallmarks of Phil Thorntons new age background the music never descends to the level of ambient music. Always interesting and I would be happy to hear the whole CD again.
The concert was at Marciac's L'Astrada and featured Belgian musician Melanie Biasio and her group. The genre was sort of Trans-jazz. Di Biasio has a good voice and plays flute while the group play a sort of drone like backing. The cellist sounded good when I could hear her, but the keyboard player struggled to get heard. Perhaps I was not in the mood for the music played, but I struggled to keep my attention on it. Much of the self penned songs of the first half sounded very similar and by the time they got round to playing Afro Blue I really couldn't be bothered, I'd droned out. Most of the audience seemed to enjoy it.
3LolaWalser
Do you still have places you can go to and browse music? I think there's nothing here except a couple second hand stores.
Last night after I turned off all the screens I listened to Artur Rubinstein playing Chopin's nocturnes.
Last night after I turned off all the screens I listened to Artur Rubinstein playing Chopin's nocturnes.
4baswood
>3 LolaWalser: A nice way to finish the day
Yes there are places to browse music especially if you are into vinyl which seems to be what sells these days.
Yes there are places to browse music especially if you are into vinyl which seems to be what sells these days.
5icepatton
>1 baswood: I like this idea. Thank you for posting.
Same for me. Not my scene.
One could argue that I'm not really committed to the music I like since I don't have any records and I listen to music on Spotify (if so, guilty as charged). I do have fond memories of listening to music from a variety of genres with, yes, streaming services, but also with CDs from my parents' collection.
I'm still quite fond of this compilation of African guitar music put together by Australian guitarist John Williams (who for the longest time I had confused with a certain John Williams of Star Wars fame). The opener, "O Bia," is such a sweet track. This would be a good album to put on during weekends and holidays.
In fact some of the rock music I have listened to and festivals I have attended has probably done me no good at all.
Same for me. Not my scene.
One could argue that I'm not really committed to the music I like since I don't have any records and I listen to music on Spotify (if so, guilty as charged). I do have fond memories of listening to music from a variety of genres with, yes, streaming services, but also with CDs from my parents' collection.
I'm still quite fond of this compilation of African guitar music put together by Australian guitarist John Williams (who for the longest time I had confused with a certain John Williams of Star Wars fame). The opener, "O Bia," is such a sweet track. This would be a good album to put on during weekends and holidays.
6rv1988
I have a little side project running this year: I'm listening to all the top albums from 1988. I didn't realize when I began this project that there was so much heavy metal in that year, or I might have reconsidered. It's the one genre I haven't been able to get in to. But I am getting the chance to diversify my music habits, which tend to be focused on Indian classical and some Western classical.
7baswood
>6 rv1988: I sympathise with the heavy metal and I will take extra note when I listen to something released in 1988
8LolaWalser
Sticking to the solo piano, I listened to Marc-André Hamelin playing Karol Szymanowski's deconstructed mazurkas
And even more virtuoso piano, Stephen Hough playing the transcriptions of virtuosi by the virtuosi, Liszt/Chopin, Godowsky/anyone, Moritz Rosenthal, Paderewsky, Moszkowski, Levitzki, Ignaz Friedman (The Piano Album on Virgin Classics)
And even more virtuoso piano, Stephen Hough playing the transcriptions of virtuosi by the virtuosi, Liszt/Chopin, Godowsky/anyone, Moritz Rosenthal, Paderewsky, Moszkowski, Levitzki, Ignaz Friedman (The Piano Album on Virgin Classics)
9rocketjk
>1 baswood: "Music therapy draws on the power of music in a therapeutic relationship to manage a range of conditions and improve your quality of life."
When I had my freelance writing business in San Francisco, I used to do work on a volunteer basis for an organization called Music in Schools Today. (a.k.a. MUST) They were trying to find ways around the fact that public schools all over the place cut their arts and music programs at the first sign of budget issues. They brought music teachers into schools on a non-profit basis. The documentation of the benefits of music classes for kids, and especially for at risk youth, is extremely impressive. Even just regular drumming circles can be extremely helpful.
When I had my freelance writing business in San Francisco, I used to do work on a volunteer basis for an organization called Music in Schools Today. (a.k.a. MUST) They were trying to find ways around the fact that public schools all over the place cut their arts and music programs at the first sign of budget issues. They brought music teachers into schools on a non-profit basis. The documentation of the benefits of music classes for kids, and especially for at risk youth, is extremely impressive. Even just regular drumming circles can be extremely helpful.
10baswood
>9 rocketjk: Interesting. Here in France it seems to be a well established alternative therapy, but still firmly in the alternative camp. I don't think my doctor would proscribe it
11baswood
Espers - The Weed Tree - 2005
Espers - Espers II - 2006
Espers were an American group and when I listened to their The Weed Tree CD I thought I might have been listening to Fairport Convention or Steeleye Span (British folk/rock) from the late 1960's. They have the same mix of folk music leading into electric guitar rock. Espers songs though have a darker edge which I liked and the guitar and other effects certainly give their song some atmosphere. The female vocalists sing well in the folk tradition.
Esper II takes the music a stage further and to my mind wrecks the project. The folk aspect of the songs gives way to electronic sounds and guitar workouts that mean there is a lack of structure. I think structure is essential in folk music and on this disc it is all lost in trying to build something different. I would happily play The Weed Tree again, but will not return to play Espers II
My favourite track from The Weed Tree https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5EOPD785aoI
13LolaWalser
Nice! I heard Isserlis live once.
Haven't been to a concert since the pandemic.
Haven't been to a concert since the pandemic.
14baswood
Stanley Clarke - I Wanna play for you 1979
Virtuoso bass player who is famous for his slap style on the electric bass. An instrumental CD which mixes jazz-funk with some film music. The problem with this release is that half of it is live and one wonders why the record company wanted to mix up the tacks with some of his studio work. It makes for an inconsistent listen
I have seen Stanley Clarke a few times at the Marciac jazz festival, sometimes he is more jazz than rock and sometimes it is the other way round, but he never fails to impress. He had a hit single with "School days" and there is an impressive live version on this disc. The last time I saw him he played it as an encore, when he was still going after 25 minutes I had had enough and so I didn't really need to hear yet another version on this CD. Just three of the studio tracks for my library.
Chevelle - Vena Sera 2007
An American band that play on the borderline metal/rock. Vocals are clean and the lead singer is impressive. Plenty of riffs, some good hooks and a great listen if you are in the mood. All in the library.
15AnnieMod
Great idea of a thread!
I am using the Apple Music Classical and Piano stations (And occasionally others when I am in the mood) as a randomizer to find me something to listen to - start one of them and when something catches my ear (which rarely takes long), just follow it to the album it came from and listen to the whole thing (sometimes more than once and sometimes I decide to follow up with other works by the same artist and/or composer and go down a rabbit hole for awhile) :) Today's album:
Marina Baranova's "Cosmic Calendar" - a classical crossover, heavy on the piano (it came from the Piano station so no surprise there), with some classical elements but also with more modernistic sound in some of the pieces. And they work together as a whole - the changing rhythms and styles are oddly appealing.
Depends on where you can listen, https://neue-meister-music.com/en/releases/cosmic-calendar-2/ has most places where you can find the album.
I've never heard of her before (either as a composer or as a pianist). More info here if someone is interested: http://www.marinabaranova.com/
I am using the Apple Music Classical and Piano stations (And occasionally others when I am in the mood) as a randomizer to find me something to listen to - start one of them and when something catches my ear (which rarely takes long), just follow it to the album it came from and listen to the whole thing (sometimes more than once and sometimes I decide to follow up with other works by the same artist and/or composer and go down a rabbit hole for awhile) :) Today's album:
Marina Baranova's "Cosmic Calendar" - a classical crossover, heavy on the piano (it came from the Piano station so no surprise there), with some classical elements but also with more modernistic sound in some of the pieces. And they work together as a whole - the changing rhythms and styles are oddly appealing.
Depends on where you can listen, https://neue-meister-music.com/en/releases/cosmic-calendar-2/ has most places where you can find the album.
I've never heard of her before (either as a composer or as a pianist). More info here if someone is interested: http://www.marinabaranova.com/
16baswood
>15 AnnieMod: It is amazing the amount and variety of music that you can listen to on the internet. There is a a lovely snatch of music on your link to her web sight.
17AnnieMod
>16 baswood: Yep, both under Videos and under Recordings :) I often find the modern composers to have sites with at least a few pieces of their music.
>8 LolaWalser: Talking about Hamelin, today's album is his "New Piano Works".
74 minutes of original works composed by him (and then performed by him). Some of them are influenced by familiar works ("Variations on a theme of Paganini" is self-explanatory but there are other influences even in the ones that are named after a composer).
The complete list of the included pieces:
Variations on a theme of Paganini
My feelings about chocolate
Suite à l'ancienne
Barcarolle
Variation diabellique sur des thèmes de Beethoven
Pavane variée
Chaconne
Meditation on Laura
Toccata on L'homme armé
>8 LolaWalser: Talking about Hamelin, today's album is his "New Piano Works".
74 minutes of original works composed by him (and then performed by him). Some of them are influenced by familiar works ("Variations on a theme of Paganini" is self-explanatory but there are other influences even in the ones that are named after a composer).
The complete list of the included pieces:
Variations on a theme of Paganini
My feelings about chocolate
Suite à l'ancienne
Barcarolle
Variation diabellique sur des thèmes de Beethoven
Pavane variée
Chaconne
Meditation on Laura
Toccata on L'homme armé
18pessibowl
>1 baswood: ken carson
19baswood
Two rather curious collections listened to yesterday:
Icelandic Folk Music - Magnús Pór Sigmundsson - 1996
Magnus Por Sigmundsson is an Icelandic songwriter vocalist and producer. These are instrumental versions of Islandsklukkur, featuring flutes, oboes and strings. Some of the melodies are quite beautiful and the classical flute sounds resonate well throughout. There are 22 tracks and I added nine of then to my library. The instrumentalist have Icelandic sounding names and it was recorded in Iceland. I have no other information
Mongolian Folk Music
I have no idea where these tracks come from, but seem to feature folk singers in duets with instrumentalists. Many of the tracks are not an easy listen for Western ears, but I added four tracks to my library.
Icelandic Folk Music - Magnús Pór Sigmundsson - 1996
Magnus Por Sigmundsson is an Icelandic songwriter vocalist and producer. These are instrumental versions of Islandsklukkur, featuring flutes, oboes and strings. Some of the melodies are quite beautiful and the classical flute sounds resonate well throughout. There are 22 tracks and I added nine of then to my library. The instrumentalist have Icelandic sounding names and it was recorded in Iceland. I have no other information
Mongolian Folk Music
I have no idea where these tracks come from, but seem to feature folk singers in duets with instrumentalists. Many of the tracks are not an easy listen for Western ears, but I added four tracks to my library.
20baswood
Miles Davis Quintet - Steamin' Workin' Relaxin' Cookin'
Material for these four albums was recorded in two sessions 11 May 1956 and 26 October 1956. It was a good thing at the time that Davis only needed one take as he went with the idea: that was all that was needed. The original albums were released in 1957, 58, 59, 61. This is a 4CD collection.
It is the quintet that featured John Coltrane on tenor, Red Garland piano, Paul Chambers bass and Philly Joe Jones drums. These early Miles Davis recordings will need no introduction to most jazz fans. They were made some three years earlier than the Famous Kind of Blue sessions.
Listening again to these recordings, the first thing that struck me was that the group were still basically a bebop band. The tracks that are not standard tunes are played at a fast tempo they really do not take any prisoners: the famous bebop tune Salt Peanuts is one of the tracks. Miles plays open and muted trumpet. The second thing I noted was the way the bass and drums changed behind each soloist. When Coltrane steps up to the mike for his solo there is an added intensity, the rhythm seems to quicken there is much more going on behind him. Behind Miles the drums sound more compact giving him more space for his solos. Red Garland's solo are usually backed by a more walking rhythm; it all adds up to a wonderful empathic quality that these musicians found together. Wonderful music
21rocketjk
>20 baswood: Great description of the variations of the rhythm section behind the soloists in these sessions. I probably never would have noted that on my own. Classic music, of course. As enjoyable as these albums are, though, my Miles go-to is the later band with Wayne Shorter, et. al. It's just degrees of excellence, though.
22FlorenceArt
>19 baswood: Speaking of Mongolian voices, have you heard Sainkho Namtchylak? I found her almost by accident, as I was searching for Mongolian music to go with photos I took on a trip there. She has an amazing voice, but probably her style is not for everyone.
23LolaWalser
>17 AnnieMod:
Wonderful! He records a lot, which is great, those lightning-fast fingers aren't forever. I've been going to his concerts for thirty years now.
Thank you for introducing Marina Baranova.
I'm reluctantly trying to cull my CDs. At this point I have hundreds in boxes and that's pointless... Currently listening to B. B. King Deuces Wild (touchstone!) and wondering if I could let it go.
Wonderful! He records a lot, which is great, those lightning-fast fingers aren't forever. I've been going to his concerts for thirty years now.
Thank you for introducing Marina Baranova.
I'm reluctantly trying to cull my CDs. At this point I have hundreds in boxes and that's pointless... Currently listening to B. B. King Deuces Wild (touchstone!) and wondering if I could let it go.
24SassyLassy
>23 LolaWalser: You can never let BB go! Deuces Wild is a good one. Love the duet with Tracey Chapman.
I saw B B King live once - one of the best concerts ever, and in a high school auditorium at that.
I saw B B King live once - one of the best concerts ever, and in a high school auditorium at that.
26baswood
>22 FlorenceArt: Unfortunately I have not been able to find any information on the artists on the Mongolian Folk music CD, but there are a couple of female singers on the tracks and indeed their style is not for everyone.
27FlorenceArt
>26 baswood: Sainkho’s is not traditional music, though the sounds are recognizable. She’s more experimental, close to free improvisation in some tracks.
28baswood
Shoegazing - a description of a music genre where musicians spend most of their performing time gazing down at their foot pedals. The effects pedals distort the sound of the instrument played and is usually associated with electric guitars although I have seen keyboard players use them and even a saxophonist. The tenor saxophonist was Guillaume Perret. A row of foot pedals does restrict the movement of the musicians.
The Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - B. R. M. C. - 2001
The Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - Take Them On, On Your Own - 2003
The Black Rebel Motorcycle Club could be considered as a shoegazing group - The music is loud electric and has a drone like quality. It refers back to the Jimi Hendrix psychedelic music on Electric Ladyland but without the guitar histrionics. The lead singers vocals remind me a little of Roger McGuin of the Byrds. I enjoyed both these albums very much and put all the songs into my library.
29Jim53
>20 baswood: I remember reading that Miles and his band recorded these four albums quickly to fulfill an obligation before they could move to a different label. They're astonishingly good given the single takes. You're right that they're not really breaking new ground here, but it's still a great occasional listen.
Lately I've been listening to a lot of the Toshiko Akiyoshi/Lew Tabackin Big Band. She is an amazing composer, creating pieces that take advantage of the skills and tendencies of various members of her orchestra. The section playing is tremendous. Akiyoshi brings a good bit of her Asian heritage into her compositions, as in Long Yellow Road and Children in the Temple Ground, as well as my favorite track (today, anyway), Interlude:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rdY63DimNKA
Lately I've been listening to a lot of the Toshiko Akiyoshi/Lew Tabackin Big Band. She is an amazing composer, creating pieces that take advantage of the skills and tendencies of various members of her orchestra. The section playing is tremendous. Akiyoshi brings a good bit of her Asian heritage into her compositions, as in Long Yellow Road and Children in the Temple Ground, as well as my favorite track (today, anyway), Interlude:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rdY63DimNKA
30rv1988
>28 baswood: Thanks for this, I had nearly forgotten about this band. There was a period where one BRMC song (Aint No Easy Way Out) was everywhere - on radio, tv, and whatever else we were using in 2001. They do have a slightly country rock feel as well.
31AnnieMod
Today's musical entertainment:
A live concert from Wigmore Hall, London from March 25, 2024: the Argentinian pianist Nelson Goerner playing:
Handel: Chaconne in G Major, HWV 435
Robert Schumann: Davidsbundlertanze - 18 Character-Pieces Op.6
Balakirev: Islamey - Oriental Fantasy
Official concert page: https://www.wigmore-hall.org.uk/whats-on/202403251300
Available from BBC Sounds for 28 more days here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m001xdtb (it aired as part of their Radio 3 Lunchtime Concert series). If you want to just hear some of the pieces, Schumann starts at 12:20 and Balakirev starts at 52:07. The concert closes with a short encore (Rachmaninoff's Daisies, starting a bit after the top of the hour in the recording).
I had not even thought of Balakirev in ages... the slower parts of Islamey fit just fine with the Handel and Schumann so it actually made sense as part of the same program.
If you like piano music and had not listened to Islamey before, you may want to give it a try.
A live concert from Wigmore Hall, London from March 25, 2024: the Argentinian pianist Nelson Goerner playing:
Handel: Chaconne in G Major, HWV 435
Robert Schumann: Davidsbundlertanze - 18 Character-Pieces Op.6
Balakirev: Islamey - Oriental Fantasy
Official concert page: https://www.wigmore-hall.org.uk/whats-on/202403251300
Available from BBC Sounds for 28 more days here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m001xdtb (it aired as part of their Radio 3 Lunchtime Concert series). If you want to just hear some of the pieces, Schumann starts at 12:20 and Balakirev starts at 52:07. The concert closes with a short encore (Rachmaninoff's Daisies, starting a bit after the top of the hour in the recording).
I had not even thought of Balakirev in ages... the slower parts of Islamey fit just fine with the Handel and Schumann so it actually made sense as part of the same program.
If you like piano music and had not listened to Islamey before, you may want to give it a try.
32AnnieMod
Today's music:
BBC Radio 3 in Concert: 1 April 2024 ( https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m001xnm6 / https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001xnm6 )
BBC Philharmonic - "Rise and Shine", Leslie Suganandarajah (conductor)
Recorded at the Bridgewater Hall, Manchester on 23 March 2024 ( https://www.bridgewater-hall.co.uk/whats-on/bbcphil-230324/ )
Presented by Elizabeth Alker (including short interviews with Eldbjørg Hemsing and Leslie Suganandarajah just before Bruch and Zarathustra respectively)
As usual, in addition to the concert itself (which was very good), BBC added a recording during the interval (to lead in the second part of the concert) and another recording at the end connected to both the concert today and to the concert they are airing the next day.
Program:
Mozart: Symphony No. 25 (K 183)
Bruch: Violin Concerto No. 1 (Violin: Eldbjørg Hemsing)
Encore: Johann Sebastian Bach: Partita No 2 in D minor - Sarabande (Violin: Eldbjørg Hemsing)
Interval: 5 songs by Richard Strauss (Piano: Roger Vignoles. Singer: Elizabeth Watts):
Richard Strauss: Der Stern Op 69
Richard Strauss: Einerlei Op 69
Richard Strauss: Waldesfahrt Op 69
Richard Strauss: Schlechtes Wetter Op 69
Richard Strauss: Malvern
Richard Strauss: Also sprach Zarathustra
Extra piece (the Violin connects it to today's concert; the piano and Schubert to tomorrow's)
Franz Schubert: Sonata No.2 in A minor for violin and piano, D.385 (Violin: Szymon Goldberg. Piano: Radu Lupu)
And that led me to "Arctic", performed by Eldbjørg Hemsing and Arctic Philharmonic ( https://arktiskfilharmoni.no/en/ ):
The only name I recognized in the list of composers was Edvard Grieg (the other name from the region I would have known is Sibelius - and he was not included here - although his influence was heard). Jacob Shea and Frode Fjellheim had done a lot of film music so they may also sound familiar but I suspect that unless you are well versed in the music of the region, the rest of the list will be as unfamiliar as they were to me.
The track list:
The 6 sections of the "Arctic Suite" by Jacob Shea open the album.
"Vårsøg" by Henning Sommerro (arranged for Violin and orchestra by Ben Palmer)
"The Return of the Sun" by Frode Fjellheim (inspired by joiks, the traditional songs of the Sámi; the composer is Sámi and he even sings in this piece)
"Dawn" by Ola Gjeillo
"Under the Arctic Moon" by Frode Fjellheim
"Whispering" by Einojuhani Rautavaara
"Snowflakes" by Selim Palmgren (arranged for Violin and orchestra from Morceaux, Op. 57 by Ben Palmer)
"La Melancholie" by Ole Bull (arranged for Violin and orchestra from Moments of Solutide by Ben Palmer)
"A Hidden Life" by James Newton Howard
"Last Spring" by Edvard Grieg (arranged for Violin and orchestra from Op.33 No. 2 by Ben Palmer)
That was unexpectedly enjoyable. Lyrical, mostly slow and very moody. Fjellheim's first piece ("The Return of the Sun" ) was interesting, especially in the middle of the album, among the much more classically sounding pieces. His second fits a lot better in the company even if you can hear its differences and influences. Which does not mean I disliked either of them or their presence here - there is nothing worse than an album that sounds all the same from start to finish.
I am not very good at seeing the pictures that music paints (probably for the same reason I am not good with abstract art...) but even I could "see" some of what the music was showing. And that's something.
I had not listened to a lot of Norwegian or Nordic music in general (not everyone on the list is Norwegian) and in the classical world, it had been mostly Grieg and Sibelius. I am not sure how familiar this will be to someone who had. Or what motives may be familiar if you know the music of the region.
Links to pages about the album (all contain different details about the album and some of them have previews and links to where you can listen to it):
Eldbjørg Hemsing Site: https://www.eldbjorgmusic.com/album/arctic
The publisher site (Sony Music): https://www.sonyclassical.com/releases/releases-details/arctic-1
The Arctic Philharmonic site: https://arktiskfilharmoni.no/en/arctic/
BBC Radio 3 in Concert: 1 April 2024 ( https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m001xnm6 / https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001xnm6 )
BBC Philharmonic - "Rise and Shine", Leslie Suganandarajah (conductor)
Recorded at the Bridgewater Hall, Manchester on 23 March 2024 ( https://www.bridgewater-hall.co.uk/whats-on/bbcphil-230324/ )
Presented by Elizabeth Alker (including short interviews with Eldbjørg Hemsing and Leslie Suganandarajah just before Bruch and Zarathustra respectively)
As usual, in addition to the concert itself (which was very good), BBC added a recording during the interval (to lead in the second part of the concert) and another recording at the end connected to both the concert today and to the concert they are airing the next day.
Program:
Mozart: Symphony No. 25 (K 183)
Bruch: Violin Concerto No. 1 (Violin: Eldbjørg Hemsing)
Encore: Johann Sebastian Bach: Partita No 2 in D minor - Sarabande (Violin: Eldbjørg Hemsing)
Interval: 5 songs by Richard Strauss (Piano: Roger Vignoles. Singer: Elizabeth Watts):
Richard Strauss: Der Stern Op 69
Richard Strauss: Einerlei Op 69
Richard Strauss: Waldesfahrt Op 69
Richard Strauss: Schlechtes Wetter Op 69
Richard Strauss: Malvern
Richard Strauss: Also sprach Zarathustra
Extra piece (the Violin connects it to today's concert; the piano and Schubert to tomorrow's)
Franz Schubert: Sonata No.2 in A minor for violin and piano, D.385 (Violin: Szymon Goldberg. Piano: Radu Lupu)
And that led me to "Arctic", performed by Eldbjørg Hemsing and Arctic Philharmonic ( https://arktiskfilharmoni.no/en/ ):
The only name I recognized in the list of composers was Edvard Grieg (the other name from the region I would have known is Sibelius - and he was not included here - although his influence was heard). Jacob Shea and Frode Fjellheim had done a lot of film music so they may also sound familiar but I suspect that unless you are well versed in the music of the region, the rest of the list will be as unfamiliar as they were to me.
The track list:
The 6 sections of the "Arctic Suite" by Jacob Shea open the album.
"Vårsøg" by Henning Sommerro (arranged for Violin and orchestra by Ben Palmer)
"The Return of the Sun" by Frode Fjellheim (inspired by joiks, the traditional songs of the Sámi; the composer is Sámi and he even sings in this piece)
"Dawn" by Ola Gjeillo
"Under the Arctic Moon" by Frode Fjellheim
"Whispering" by Einojuhani Rautavaara
"Snowflakes" by Selim Palmgren (arranged for Violin and orchestra from Morceaux, Op. 57 by Ben Palmer)
"La Melancholie" by Ole Bull (arranged for Violin and orchestra from Moments of Solutide by Ben Palmer)
"A Hidden Life" by James Newton Howard
"Last Spring" by Edvard Grieg (arranged for Violin and orchestra from Op.33 No. 2 by Ben Palmer)
That was unexpectedly enjoyable. Lyrical, mostly slow and very moody. Fjellheim's first piece ("The Return of the Sun" ) was interesting, especially in the middle of the album, among the much more classically sounding pieces. His second fits a lot better in the company even if you can hear its differences and influences. Which does not mean I disliked either of them or their presence here - there is nothing worse than an album that sounds all the same from start to finish.
I am not very good at seeing the pictures that music paints (probably for the same reason I am not good with abstract art...) but even I could "see" some of what the music was showing. And that's something.
I had not listened to a lot of Norwegian or Nordic music in general (not everyone on the list is Norwegian) and in the classical world, it had been mostly Grieg and Sibelius. I am not sure how familiar this will be to someone who had. Or what motives may be familiar if you know the music of the region.
Links to pages about the album (all contain different details about the album and some of them have previews and links to where you can listen to it):
Eldbjørg Hemsing Site: https://www.eldbjorgmusic.com/album/arctic
The publisher site (Sony Music): https://www.sonyclassical.com/releases/releases-details/arctic-1
The Arctic Philharmonic site: https://arktiskfilharmoni.no/en/arctic/
33baswood
>32 AnnieMod: Thank you for the link. The concert from Manchester is keeping me company this afternoon.
34LolaWalser
Improving on a rainy day with Harry Belafonte
35baswood
Two Blues albums - one instantly forgettable and one opened my ears to a bluesman who was not ashamed to get political.
Albert King - Live Wire/Blues Power
A live recording where King seems to be going through the motions. His distinctive crystal clear guitar playing is in evidence; there are a couple of instrumental tracks. I am sure he can be heard better elsewhere.
J B Lenoir - Vietnam Blues (The complete L + R Recordings) 1995
This is a compilation of his last two LP releases. He died following a car crash in 1967. He plays acoustic guitar throughout, assimilating many of the earlier blues styles, but freshening them up with some good original compositions and tunes. There are two songs about the Vietnam war and "Shot on James Meredith" which asks what the President of America is gonna do about the assignation attempt of the civil rights leader. There are 24 tracks on this CD and I have included them all in my library. Essential listening for fans of the blues.
Albert King - Live Wire/Blues Power
A live recording where King seems to be going through the motions. His distinctive crystal clear guitar playing is in evidence; there are a couple of instrumental tracks. I am sure he can be heard better elsewhere.
J B Lenoir - Vietnam Blues (The complete L + R Recordings) 1995
This is a compilation of his last two LP releases. He died following a car crash in 1967. He plays acoustic guitar throughout, assimilating many of the earlier blues styles, but freshening them up with some good original compositions and tunes. There are two songs about the Vietnam war and "Shot on James Meredith" which asks what the President of America is gonna do about the assignation attempt of the civil rights leader. There are 24 tracks on this CD and I have included them all in my library. Essential listening for fans of the blues.
36AnnieMod
>33 baswood: Yep, these are good for keeping one company. I don't mind running a record instead but there is something different in a live/recorded live concert...
>34 LolaWalser: I am not sure I had ever listened to Belafonte (I've heard some of his through the years). And Apple Music has this one and I am done with what I was listening today so may as well try it.
I spent most of the day with BBC Radio - non-vocal music as a background works for me when I am working and not on the phone... So today's entertainment:
Radio 3 in Concert, April 2, 2024
Paul Lewis: The last 3 Schubert Piano Sonatas
Wigmore Hall, 22 March 2024 ( https://www.wigmore-hall.org.uk/whats-on/202403221930 )
Martin Handley presents (and have two short interviews with the pianist plus the usual introductionary material)
BBC link: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m001xnlk / https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001xnlk
Program (all Franz Schubert):
Piano Sonata in C minor, D. 958
Piano Sonata in A, D.959
Interval: Nachtgesang im Walde, D. 913: Choir: RIAS Chamber Choir. Ensemble: Scharoun Ensemble. Conductor: Marcus Creed.
Piano Sonata in B flat, D.960
===
And then I realized that I had not seen either the Lunchtime concert or the Afternoon concert showing up on the BBC Sounds app feed this week - so went looking to see what happened. Apparently both series are on hiatus (temporary? permanently?) and BBC had combined them into a single programme "Classical Live" which runs at the same time and appears to cover the same music ("exclusive live and specially recorded performances from across the UK and abroad"), including the Monday Lunchtime live concert from Wigmore Hall). I liked having the 1 hour short concert for when I need an hour of music (and we shall see if the now combined program will have varying lengths as the Afternoon Concert used to). We shall see how this goes.
The April 1, 2024 programme: (introduced by Tom McKinney; Timestamps may be a bit off): https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m001xnjr: 2:47 start (the news are recorded at the start of the program)
(2:47) Quatuor Arod live, introduced by Andrew McGregor: https://www.wigmore-hall.org.uk/whats-on/202404011300 - String quarter: Jordan Victoria and Alexandre Vu (violins), Tanguy Parisot (viola), Jérémy Garbarg (cello)
Bach: Herzlich tut mich verlangen BWV727
Benjamin Attahir: Al Asr (inspired by/based on the Muslim afternoon prayer)
(32:30) Haydn: String Quartet in C Op. 76 No. 3 'The Emperor'
(1:03:00-1:06:39) Encore: Jacob Collier: World Oh World
===
(1:08) Bach: Easter Oratorio, BWV 249: XI. Chorus "Preis und Dank" (Performers: Collegium Vocale Gent from "Bach - Easter Oratorio" (harmonia mundi))
(1:12) Mozart: Piano Sonata No 15 in F major, K 533/494 (3rd mvt) (Piano: Mitsuko Uchida from "Mozart: Complete Piano Sonatas" (Philips))
(1:18:40) Richard Wagner: Lohengrin (Prelude to Act III) (Orchestra: BBC Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Jiří Bělohlávek. Concert from 2010)
(1:23) Joseph Haydn: Symphony No. 49 in F minor, ('La Passione') (Orchestra: Danish National Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Barbara Hannigan. October 2023 concert in Copenhagen)
(1:49:40) Imogen Holst: The Fall of the Leaf (Solo Cello: Leo Popplewell, recorded January 2024)
(1:59:50) Emmanuel Chabrier: Habanera (Orchestra: BBC Philharmonic. Conductor: Yan Pascal Tortelier)
(2:05) Franz Schubert: 4 Impromptus, D. 899 (Piano: Mitsuko Uchida, 2021 Wigmore Hall concert)
(2:38) Antonín Dvořák: The Noon (day) Witch, op. 108, symphonic poem (Orchestra: Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Robert Jindra; 2023 concert in Prague)
(2:53) Hector Berlioz: Villanelle (Les nuits d'été Op.7) (Singer: Karen Cargill. Orchestra: Scottish Chamber Orchestra. Conductor: Robin Ticciati)
(2:56:30) Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker (Overture) (Orchestra: Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Sir Simon Rattle)
A few things were new for me in the program:
- Al Asr (definitely not my thing - I did finish listening to it so it was not bad per se but I would not seek to listen to it again)
- The Fall of the Leaf (cello solos are not my thing either but this one worked)
- Habanera (really enjoyed that one - may need to look up more from Chabrier - I am not sure I had heard anything by him before)
- The Noon Witch (I've listened to a lot of Dvořák but this one somehow never crossed my ears. I like his style and this one was not an exception). As it turned out, it is based on a Slavic legend ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lady_Midday ). Which surprised me - I had never heard of that specific legend despite it apprently also existing in some areas of Bulgaria. Apparently not the one I am coming from.
The symphonic poem uses the character as a base to a tragic story (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Noon_Witch has a good synopsis).
>34 LolaWalser: I am not sure I had ever listened to Belafonte (I've heard some of his through the years). And Apple Music has this one and I am done with what I was listening today so may as well try it.
I spent most of the day with BBC Radio - non-vocal music as a background works for me when I am working and not on the phone... So today's entertainment:
Radio 3 in Concert, April 2, 2024
Paul Lewis: The last 3 Schubert Piano Sonatas
Wigmore Hall, 22 March 2024 ( https://www.wigmore-hall.org.uk/whats-on/202403221930 )
Martin Handley presents (and have two short interviews with the pianist plus the usual introductionary material)
BBC link: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m001xnlk / https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001xnlk
Program (all Franz Schubert):
Piano Sonata in C minor, D. 958
Piano Sonata in A, D.959
Interval: Nachtgesang im Walde, D. 913: Choir: RIAS Chamber Choir. Ensemble: Scharoun Ensemble. Conductor: Marcus Creed.
Piano Sonata in B flat, D.960
===
And then I realized that I had not seen either the Lunchtime concert or the Afternoon concert showing up on the BBC Sounds app feed this week - so went looking to see what happened. Apparently both series are on hiatus (temporary? permanently?) and BBC had combined them into a single programme "Classical Live" which runs at the same time and appears to cover the same music ("exclusive live and specially recorded performances from across the UK and abroad"), including the Monday Lunchtime live concert from Wigmore Hall). I liked having the 1 hour short concert for when I need an hour of music (and we shall see if the now combined program will have varying lengths as the Afternoon Concert used to). We shall see how this goes.
The April 1, 2024 programme: (introduced by Tom McKinney; Timestamps may be a bit off): https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m001xnjr: 2:47 start (the news are recorded at the start of the program)
(2:47) Quatuor Arod live, introduced by Andrew McGregor: https://www.wigmore-hall.org.uk/whats-on/202404011300 - String quarter: Jordan Victoria and Alexandre Vu (violins), Tanguy Parisot (viola), Jérémy Garbarg (cello)
Bach: Herzlich tut mich verlangen BWV727
Benjamin Attahir: Al Asr (inspired by/based on the Muslim afternoon prayer)
(32:30) Haydn: String Quartet in C Op. 76 No. 3 'The Emperor'
(1:03:00-1:06:39) Encore: Jacob Collier: World Oh World
===
(1:08) Bach: Easter Oratorio, BWV 249: XI. Chorus "Preis und Dank" (Performers: Collegium Vocale Gent from "Bach - Easter Oratorio" (harmonia mundi))
(1:12) Mozart: Piano Sonata No 15 in F major, K 533/494 (3rd mvt) (Piano: Mitsuko Uchida from "Mozart: Complete Piano Sonatas" (Philips))
(1:18:40) Richard Wagner: Lohengrin (Prelude to Act III) (Orchestra: BBC Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Jiří Bělohlávek. Concert from 2010)
(1:23) Joseph Haydn: Symphony No. 49 in F minor, ('La Passione') (Orchestra: Danish National Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Barbara Hannigan. October 2023 concert in Copenhagen)
(1:49:40) Imogen Holst: The Fall of the Leaf (Solo Cello: Leo Popplewell, recorded January 2024)
(1:59:50) Emmanuel Chabrier: Habanera (Orchestra: BBC Philharmonic. Conductor: Yan Pascal Tortelier)
(2:05) Franz Schubert: 4 Impromptus, D. 899 (Piano: Mitsuko Uchida, 2021 Wigmore Hall concert)
(2:38) Antonín Dvořák: The Noon (day) Witch, op. 108, symphonic poem (Orchestra: Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Robert Jindra; 2023 concert in Prague)
(2:53) Hector Berlioz: Villanelle (Les nuits d'été Op.7) (Singer: Karen Cargill. Orchestra: Scottish Chamber Orchestra. Conductor: Robin Ticciati)
(2:56:30) Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker (Overture) (Orchestra: Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Sir Simon Rattle)
A few things were new for me in the program:
- Al Asr (definitely not my thing - I did finish listening to it so it was not bad per se but I would not seek to listen to it again)
- The Fall of the Leaf (cello solos are not my thing either but this one worked)
- Habanera (really enjoyed that one - may need to look up more from Chabrier - I am not sure I had heard anything by him before)
- The Noon Witch (I've listened to a lot of Dvořák but this one somehow never crossed my ears. I like his style and this one was not an exception). As it turned out, it is based on a Slavic legend ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lady_Midday ). Which surprised me - I had never heard of that specific legend despite it apprently also existing in some areas of Bulgaria. Apparently not the one I am coming from.
The symphonic poem uses the character as a base to a tragic story (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Noon_Witch has a good synopsis).
37rocketjk
>34 LolaWalser: This is a great one, too. Very hard to find for a long time, but I think there's been a bunch of rereleases by this point.
I even do my book borrowing at the Harry Belafonte Branch of the NY Public Library.
I even do my book borrowing at the Harry Belafonte Branch of the NY Public Library.
38AnnieMod
>37 rocketjk: And it is even on Apple Music ( https://music.apple.com/us/album/belafonte-sings-the-blues/1087736455 ) so probably on other streaming platforms as well :)
39AnnieMod
Another day, another concert:
Radio 3 in Concert, 3 April 2024: Dvořák, Liszt, Kanai, and Takemitsu, presented by Verity Sharp ( https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001xmpn / https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m001xmpn )
BBC National Orchestra of Wales in "Folk Fusions – Japan meets Eastern Europe". Conductor: Nodoka Okisawa
Concert details: 24 February 2024, BBC Hoddinott Hall, Cardiff ( https://www.wmc.org.uk/en/whats-on/2024/folk-fusions-japan-meets-eastern-europe )
Program:
Tōru Takemitsu: Three Film Scores Suite (Strings section of the orchestra only)
Kikuko Kanai: Capriccio Okinawa
Interval:
Shih-Hui Chen: Fantasia on the Theme of Plum Blossom (3rd mvt, 'Plum Blossoms') (Ensemble: Formosa Quartet)
Cyril Scott: A Song of Wine (Singer: Robbert Muuse (baritone))
Claude Debussy: Images Set 2 (No 3, 'Poissons D'Or') (Piano: Sir Stephen Hough)
Franz Liszt: Piano Concerto No 2 in A major (Piano: Iyad Sughayer)
Antonín Dvořák: The Wild Dove, Op 110
Extra piece in the BBC recording:
Giuseppe Verdi: String Quartet in E Minor (Performers: Britten Quartet)
I've never even heard of first 2 composers before and I enjoyed both pieces. Kikuko Kanai's music in particular is something I plan to explore - according to Wikipedia, she was one of the first Japanese women to compose classical music in the Western style. A quick look around found "Kanai: The Complete Works for Piano" (recorded by Takara Hitomi) and not much else (maybe some individual records in different Japanese compilations).
I was a little surprised to see the list for the second part of the concert as I could not see the connection between the two pieces initially. But Liszt is the father of the symphonic poem form so it actually makes sense. Sometimes it is fun to seek the reason for certain pieces being played together - or is that just me? The music on the interval was very well introduced and fit with both sides of the program.
The Verdi piece at the end is just a filler - it is not connected to this concert or the next one - they just had to fill the time. It is a nice piece of music (despite being strings again...) but it just does not fit.
PS: And it seems like the Radio 3 schedule is now permanently (well... for the time being) changed: https://blog.thoroughlygood.me/2024/02/26/bbc-radio-3s-new-schedule-plus-new-cla...
PS2: And talking about their new schedule, they also now have a Jazz programme now: 'Round Midnight ("Saxophonist Soweto Kinch picks jazz from all eras and around the world") ( https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001xmqv ) - I know we have a few people here who listen to jazz.
Radio 3 in Concert, 3 April 2024: Dvořák, Liszt, Kanai, and Takemitsu, presented by Verity Sharp ( https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001xmpn / https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m001xmpn )
BBC National Orchestra of Wales in "Folk Fusions – Japan meets Eastern Europe". Conductor: Nodoka Okisawa
Concert details: 24 February 2024, BBC Hoddinott Hall, Cardiff ( https://www.wmc.org.uk/en/whats-on/2024/folk-fusions-japan-meets-eastern-europe )
Program:
Tōru Takemitsu: Three Film Scores Suite (Strings section of the orchestra only)
Kikuko Kanai: Capriccio Okinawa
Interval:
Shih-Hui Chen: Fantasia on the Theme of Plum Blossom (3rd mvt, 'Plum Blossoms') (Ensemble: Formosa Quartet)
Cyril Scott: A Song of Wine (Singer: Robbert Muuse (baritone))
Claude Debussy: Images Set 2 (No 3, 'Poissons D'Or') (Piano: Sir Stephen Hough)
Franz Liszt: Piano Concerto No 2 in A major (Piano: Iyad Sughayer)
Antonín Dvořák: The Wild Dove, Op 110
Extra piece in the BBC recording:
Giuseppe Verdi: String Quartet in E Minor (Performers: Britten Quartet)
I've never even heard of first 2 composers before and I enjoyed both pieces. Kikuko Kanai's music in particular is something I plan to explore - according to Wikipedia, she was one of the first Japanese women to compose classical music in the Western style. A quick look around found "Kanai: The Complete Works for Piano" (recorded by Takara Hitomi) and not much else (maybe some individual records in different Japanese compilations).
I was a little surprised to see the list for the second part of the concert as I could not see the connection between the two pieces initially. But Liszt is the father of the symphonic poem form so it actually makes sense. Sometimes it is fun to seek the reason for certain pieces being played together - or is that just me? The music on the interval was very well introduced and fit with both sides of the program.
The Verdi piece at the end is just a filler - it is not connected to this concert or the next one - they just had to fill the time. It is a nice piece of music (despite being strings again...) but it just does not fit.
PS: And it seems like the Radio 3 schedule is now permanently (well... for the time being) changed: https://blog.thoroughlygood.me/2024/02/26/bbc-radio-3s-new-schedule-plus-new-cla...
PS2: And talking about their new schedule, they also now have a Jazz programme now: 'Round Midnight ("Saxophonist Soweto Kinch picks jazz from all eras and around the world") ( https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001xmqv ) - I know we have a few people here who listen to jazz.
40LolaWalser
>35 baswood:
J B Lenoir
👍
>36 AnnieMod:
For sure you've heard some, like Day-O and Jamaica Farewell!
>37 rocketjk:
That looks interesting, I don't have him pegged as the bluesman type.
Currently listening to the Bach Collegium's recording of Ich hatte viel Bekümmernis (BWV 21).
J B Lenoir
👍
>36 AnnieMod:
For sure you've heard some, like Day-O and Jamaica Farewell!
>37 rocketjk:
That looks interesting, I don't have him pegged as the bluesman type.
Currently listening to the Bach Collegium's recording of Ich hatte viel Bekümmernis (BWV 21).
41SassyLassy
>37 rocketjk: You beat me to it with Belafonte Sings the Blues. I used to have it and then one night after a party it magically disappeared along with several others of my albums.
42AnnieMod
>40 LolaWalser: Well, yes - except my brain kind of never connected these songs to Belafonte. :)
>41 SassyLassy: Well, hopefully whoever decided to take it home at least enjoyed it... (alternatively let's hope whoever nicked it never finds a single song they like ever again in their lives) :)
>41 SassyLassy: Well, hopefully whoever decided to take it home at least enjoyed it... (alternatively let's hope whoever nicked it never finds a single song they like ever again in their lives) :)
43icepatton
I was surprised to hear this when watching Waititi's comedy-drama film, Hunt for the Wilderpeople. The haunting melody and vocals by Leonard Cohen relate the story of anti-Nazi fighters of the French Resistance. Parts of the original French version are also sung with a backing choir. "The Partisan" is a strange choice for a movie about a delinquent boy evading police with his foster parent in the New Zealand bush. I can't say I've heard much of Cohen's music but I quite like this song.
44baswood
Loudon Wainwright III - Therapy !989
Loudon Wainwright III - I'm Alright 1985
Leonard Cohen - Various Positions 1984
Leonard Cohen - I'm Your Man 1988
Two singer songwriters who achieved success in the late sixties and early seventies were still writing enough songs to fill albums in the late eighties. The well had not run dry for both artists. It was a pleasure to rediscover these albums, perhaps not the finest work by either artist, but still high quality music.
The Lyrics of "Career Moves" from Loudon Wainwright's I'm alright album sum up succinctly his unique talent for song writing :
For twenty odd years I have strummed on guitars
Five thousand lost flat picks, four fingertip scars
I must have broken a million g strings
Picking and strumming, and playing these things
Banging and tunin', and playing these things.
And it's been sixteen years now that I've written songs
Over a hundred and still growing strong
About drinking and hockey and flying above
Again and again about unhappy love
Over and over, unhappy love.
The songs do not have the poetic depths of Leonard Cohen, but the tunes are great and Loudon has a powerful voice and an excellent finger picking guitar style.
Leonard Cohen's Various Positions has some great songs "Dance to the end of Love", "The Night Comes On" and Hallelujah, he was at this time leaning to more complex arrangements, but hardly ever put a foot wrong in enhancing the quality of his songs. I'm Your Man has more good songs, but to my ears they don't rank as highly as on the earlier album. All four albums added to my library.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDVt6rvID04
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MhTdJaQcKDE
45baswood
>43 icepatton: The Partisan was from Cohen's second album of songs - "Songs from a Room" released way back in 1969. This and his first LP "Songs of Leonard Cohen" have simple stark arrangements and some people claim they are his best collections. Perhaps he has never been as morose/haunting on later releases.
46SassyLassy
Listening to Cohen over the years, it's interesting how his voice changed, so that his earlier self sometimes sounds like someone doing a cover, if you're not listening closely.
>43 icepatton: >45 baswood: While I like Cohen's version of "The Partisan" better, Joan Baez also does an excellent version of it, partially in Spanish where Cohen sings in French, on her 1972 Come from the Shadows.
>42 AnnieMod: Good thoughts!
>43 icepatton: >45 baswood: While I like Cohen's version of "The Partisan" better, Joan Baez also does an excellent version of it, partially in Spanish where Cohen sings in French, on her 1972 Come from the Shadows.
>42 AnnieMod: Good thoughts!
47rocketjk
>44 baswood: I know this makes me an extreme outlier, but I never cared much for Leonard Cohen's music. C'est la vie.
I got to see Wainwright perform at the Kate Wolf Festival in Mendocino County, CA, USA, somewhere around 2012. He was quite good. His album, "Older Than My Old Man Now" had just come out. Wainwright's father, Loudon Wainwright, Jr., was a very well-known journalist who died at age 63. Wainwright, in mentioning all this, said, "Hey, Dad! I kicked your ass!" I just found this great quote on the subject of that album:
"When you’re sixty-five, everything seems to be somewhat in the rear-view, or at least in the side-view. Well, not everything, and hopefully your windshield wipers are still working."
According to the Wikipedia article I found that quote in, Wainwright began working passages from his father's writing into his live shows, and there are two tracks on the album that include such passages. I don't recall him doing that when I saw him, but he may well have.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Older_Than_My_Old_Man_Now
Of course, the song of his we all loved when I was in college in the 70s was "Dead Skunk in the Middle of the Road."
I got to see Wainwright perform at the Kate Wolf Festival in Mendocino County, CA, USA, somewhere around 2012. He was quite good. His album, "Older Than My Old Man Now" had just come out. Wainwright's father, Loudon Wainwright, Jr., was a very well-known journalist who died at age 63. Wainwright, in mentioning all this, said, "Hey, Dad! I kicked your ass!" I just found this great quote on the subject of that album:
"When you’re sixty-five, everything seems to be somewhat in the rear-view, or at least in the side-view. Well, not everything, and hopefully your windshield wipers are still working."
According to the Wikipedia article I found that quote in, Wainwright began working passages from his father's writing into his live shows, and there are two tracks on the album that include such passages. I don't recall him doing that when I saw him, but he may well have.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Older_Than_My_Old_Man_Now
Of course, the song of his we all loved when I was in college in the 70s was "Dead Skunk in the Middle of the Road."
48kidzdoc
This is a great idea for a thread, Barry; thanks for the idea! Music has always been an important element of my life, as my parents played jazz from LPs and radio stations in NYC (we lived in Jersey City, New Jersey, just across the Hudson River from Manhattan), and after several years of listening to R&B, pop and rock music I returned to my original love, although I'm expanding my musical horizons.
I visited Portugal for the first time in 2018, and met with deebee1, who was one of the first people I met in LibraryThing. Thanks to her I started listening to fado, the 200+ year old genre that traditionally consisted of mournful tales about women longing for the return of their lovers and husbands from sea journeys. My favorite contemporary fadista is Ana Moura (1979-), who has Portuguese and Angolan heritage, and she is probably the most internationally recognized and honored singer in Portugal.
Of the four albums of Ana Moura I own, Desfado, which was released in 2012, is my favorite. Nearly all of the songs are in Portuguese, but that doesn't take away from their power and the deep soul with which Ana sings them.
Some of my favorites from this album:
Amor Afoito: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dfzYRTV5aUA
Fado Alado: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pmPBOiWee0g
Quando O Sol Espreitar De Novo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Ye43xLPdKE
I visited Portugal for the first time in 2018, and met with deebee1, who was one of the first people I met in LibraryThing. Thanks to her I started listening to fado, the 200+ year old genre that traditionally consisted of mournful tales about women longing for the return of their lovers and husbands from sea journeys. My favorite contemporary fadista is Ana Moura (1979-), who has Portuguese and Angolan heritage, and she is probably the most internationally recognized and honored singer in Portugal.
Of the four albums of Ana Moura I own, Desfado, which was released in 2012, is my favorite. Nearly all of the songs are in Portuguese, but that doesn't take away from their power and the deep soul with which Ana sings them.
Some of my favorites from this album:
Amor Afoito: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dfzYRTV5aUA
Fado Alado: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pmPBOiWee0g
Quando O Sol Espreitar De Novo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Ye43xLPdKE
49rocketjk
>48 kidzdoc: Great post, Darryl. We, too, love Fado. We've seen the great superstar Maritza perform a couple of times in California and Steph and I saw two or three fun Fado performances during our time in Portugal a year ago October. Most of the easily found performances spaces there are designed for tourists, but we did happen upon one tiny little restaurant that was clearly for locals and enjoyed a brilliant hour of music in that spot. That was the highlight.
50SassyLassy
Big fado fan here too, although I haven't heard any for a long time.
Once playing Scrabble, I had to prove to some people that it was a real word.
Once playing Scrabble, I had to prove to some people that it was a real word.
51LolaWalser
>43 icepatton:, >44 baswood:
Huge fan of Cohen's. I'm your man was the first album of his I bought when it came out, heard it on the radio in the car and begged my dad to take us to a music shop that instant (and miraculously, for once he didn't swat down an ask as a silly caprice). Still have that cassette somewhere (which I upgraded with a CD by and by).
Fado: for me a little goes a long way, all too soon it starts to sounds very samey. That said, I will always make an exception for someone like Argentina Santos, whose every wrinkle, every breath sings with earned significance--this woman lived and suffered:
Argentina Santos - Vida vivida
The clip is from Fados by Carlos Saura, who made several fantastic movies about Iberian musics.
Huge fan of Cohen's. I'm your man was the first album of his I bought when it came out, heard it on the radio in the car and begged my dad to take us to a music shop that instant (and miraculously, for once he didn't swat down an ask as a silly caprice). Still have that cassette somewhere (which I upgraded with a CD by and by).
Fado: for me a little goes a long way, all too soon it starts to sounds very samey. That said, I will always make an exception for someone like Argentina Santos, whose every wrinkle, every breath sings with earned significance--this woman lived and suffered:
Argentina Santos - Vida vivida
The clip is from Fados by Carlos Saura, who made several fantastic movies about Iberian musics.
52baswood
Yes Fado I have also seen Maritza. I get confused between Maritza and Marisa but I like them both so no problem
53dchaikin
I’ve been listening to Lana Del Ray. Her album Norman Fucking Rockwell! from 2019 is on the Rolling Stone Magazine top 500 (#321) and I found it fantastic. Curious, i went back to her 1st album Born to Die (2012) and found, instead of this lovely mature voice, something along the lines of Taylor Swift. I thought it was terrible. So now I’m curious how she got from one place to the other in 7 years.
54ursula
>53 dchaikin: I am a huge fan of Norman Fucking Rockwell, but Born to Die is full of great stuff for me too. I don't really see the similarity to Taylor, they write about totally different worlds.
55dchaikin
>54 ursula: nice to see your take. I really didn’t expect to like NFR so much.
56ursula
>55 dchaikin: I came late to Lana, she appeared during the years I wasn't listening to music so I had only heard her name and also didn't expect to like her. Your post made me wonder though, I'm going to ask Morgan what he thinks since he tends to listen to things with a more musical slant than I do. (He is a big fan of Lana, and thinks Taylor is okay - I don't think he would put on Taylor for his own listening.)
57icepatton
Regan Farquhar, a.k.a. Busdriver
Not sure if there are any jazz or rap listeners here. How about the wacky subgenre of jazz rap? I'm no expert by any means, but I guess everyone knows about the jazz standard by the Dave Brubeck Quartet, "Take Five," for its unusual time signature. In a solo project, saxophonist Paul Desmond later composed "Take Ten," also using quintuple meter, which the hip hop artist Busdriver raps over in the track "Nagging Nimbus" on his 2004 album Cosmic Cleavage, telling a story about his struggle being a single parent.
It's nigh impossible to understand certain sections of the track because of the way Busdriver speeds up his rapping to a saxophone-like frenzy, though it is fun to listen to because all the while he makes his voice sound like another instrument in the recording he is rapping over. The words that do come through concern the fun times he is able to spend with his biracial daughter despite breaking up with his ex. Even the track title refers to the "cloud" of cotton candy that his daughter wields as she nags at him for something (more cotton candy, perhaps?) presumably when they're at some kind of fair. It's just a light-hearted, playful track that highlights Busdriver's skills as a rapper and interested me in the genre.
58baswood
>57 icepatton: Well there are certainly some jazz listeners here, but I have to admit that rap has largely passed me by. I enjoy it when I see and hear it in concert, but would not know where to start in listening to studio albums. It is not surprising then that I have not heard of Busdriver.
59baswood
The Doors - Absolutely Live
I am not a fan of live recordings by rock bands and so I approached this with some intrepidation. To my ears many live recordings feature muddy sound and some below par playing, much is sacrificed in an attempt to give an impression of a live concert. Studio recordings of similar material usually sound a lot better and can be more dynamic. The Doors were famed for their live recordings and for many Europeans a live album was the only chance to hear what they sounded like. (I think they made only one brief European tour).
Although this is a compilation of live performances, from the late 1960's, the album is an unqualified success: the sound is excellent throughout, the band work well together, Jim Morrison's vocals are powerful and expressive and the edginess of the live shows comes through in spades. An added bonus is that the band play material that does not appear on their studio albums. An expanded rendition of When The Music's Over is a highlight: Morrisson chastises the audience in his own inimitable fashion and the band are together when they raise the tension of their music, bringing it to a fitting climax. It is a performance full of controlled energy for a band that did without a bass player. The album contains an extended version of 'The Celebration of the Lizard', but whatever you think of Jim Morrison's poetry, you can't help but be impressed by the power of the delivery.
