Another wonderful post, Hal. It is amazing to consider how the eight notes in a scale can be combined in seeming less combinations in ways that touch us all so personally. As you know, I love choral music like you do. The perfect blending and balance of voices is celestial. Often, it is the music, sound, rhythm that gets my attention. Lyrics are secondary for me, but when the lyrics match the music, it’s perfection. A few of my favorite pieces are:
Ola Gjeilo’s Northern Lights,
Henry Purcell’s Abdelazer, Z.570,
Richard and Teddy Thompson’s Persuation,
Juan Luis Guerra’s La Travesia (fills me with joy and makes me want to dance).
Dear Rhonda, I loved your comments -- and indeed, it is quite amazing how those notes morph into something celestial! I appreciate learning of your favorites. Ola Gjello is one of mine, too -- I love both his choral music and his piano music. I've never had the opportunity to sing one of his pieces with a group, but would love to. I bought a few books of his piano solos from his recent recordings, and am working on them ... slowly... But they are fun. I'm not familiar with the other pieces by their names, but look forward to checking them out. Thanks for stopping by!
Persuasion was actually written by Tim Finn of Crowded House. I’ll assume you are familiar with Richard Thompson from Fairport Convention to his solo career. Teddy Thompson is his son with Linda Thompson, who was a folk artist in her own right. The melody is beautiful, lyrics compelling, and the combined vocals of father and son elevate it further.
Thanks for the nudge -- I really like it! ... and somehow I was not familiar with it. It's the kind of piece I'll enjoy hearing over & over again. Will look up more of his work. Thank you! Wishing you a good weekend ahead. We had the tail end of Hurricane Debby last night, but clear skies today.
Thanks - Such a great piece. Love the story it tells - and the imagery and the melancholy. Thanks for putting me on to him. Will definitely dive deeper. I was listening to some old Judy Collins yesterday (Wildflowers) and had the same feeling about some of the story-telling. Wishing you a good day ahead. I'm planning to sing the Brahms Requiem this afternoon with a "Summer Sing" for all singers in the Pioneer Valley -- everyone gathers and sings it through - great fun. I haven't sung much since I had COVID, so am eager to get going again.
Wow, just wow… wonderful piece on how music has been an anthem to your life. I read it twice and listened to all the musical pieces. I knew how much you love music in your life but, now I can see how each piece talks to and for you. It was a little more insight into the wonderful man you are!
Dear Deb, Thanks so much for this ... and for actually listening to the pieces to get those insights. It means a lot. Glad this helped you see a bit deeper inside. Love always to my favorite sister!!!
Thanks for these beautiful reflections and the many music recommendations, Hal! It is such a curious thing how a piece of music can feel so personal and intimate and, yet, affect multitudes of people to similar reactions. It kind of speaks to the universalism of music as a kind of language of emotional expression and empathy. Great stuff, Hal!
Another powerful piece, Hal, and timely. Music, both vocal and instrumental, has always been a part of my life's ups and downs and every-days. I was telling a friend about the enormous joy I've always gotten from being in the very middle of music--as the "bass" in New Song (a female vocal group at my church), as a flautist in an orchestra or concert band throught school. Being at the music's heart is my happy place.
I could, as you have started to do above, point to lyrics and tunes from throughout my life that have dominated my thoughts at various times because they play my heart's grief and joy, disappoint, fears and love.
Dear Pat, Thanks as always for your comments! After drafting this piece, I realized it was all about the music I had HEARD, and not even about the music I have played and sung!!! (I play the piano a bit, played the clarinet from 4th grade through college (but no longer), and have sung most of my adult life - all with great joy.) I guess that could be a whole other post. And it probably should be, because the experience of making music is so different from listening to music. I'm so glad that music has been so important to you as well, and I love hearing about how important it has been to you. I'm also really glad you're enjoying my posts. It's been a joy exploring this new, more personal, mode of expression.
Beautiful testimony to the power of music! I am listening to your suggested pieces now. One of my favorite pieces was my grandmother's... she died before I was born but my mother and aunt told me that she loved this piece. Beethoven Sonata "Pathetique" - Adagio Cantabile - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCL5sHzlDOI
I like that piece, too! For a few months I was binging his entire fifth symphony in c minor. The *whole* thing, because the first movement just isn't enough.
Music is so important to me!!! I’m not too surprised that it is so near and dear to your heart too. Thousands of songs have impacted me over the decades…I’ll share one artist who really captures the dualities I so often feel, Sleigh Bells. They can sound quite harsh at first (bit of an acquired taste) but I’ll share one of their easiest to listen to, and if you have time, you can let me know what you think. I particularly identify with the lyric “moving your feet but they’re wrapped in concrete.”
Well I’ll be damned, checking the title again and NO WONDER you made me think of this one!!
Another wonderful post, Hal. It is amazing to consider how the eight notes in a scale can be combined in seeming less combinations in ways that touch us all so personally. As you know, I love choral music like you do. The perfect blending and balance of voices is celestial. Often, it is the music, sound, rhythm that gets my attention. Lyrics are secondary for me, but when the lyrics match the music, it’s perfection. A few of my favorite pieces are:
Ola Gjeilo’s Northern Lights,
Henry Purcell’s Abdelazer, Z.570,
Richard and Teddy Thompson’s Persuation,
Juan Luis Guerra’s La Travesia (fills me with joy and makes me want to dance).
Dear Rhonda, I loved your comments -- and indeed, it is quite amazing how those notes morph into something celestial! I appreciate learning of your favorites. Ola Gjello is one of mine, too -- I love both his choral music and his piano music. I've never had the opportunity to sing one of his pieces with a group, but would love to. I bought a few books of his piano solos from his recent recordings, and am working on them ... slowly... But they are fun. I'm not familiar with the other pieces by their names, but look forward to checking them out. Thanks for stopping by!
I’ll nudge you toward this one:
https://www.google.com/search?q=persuation+richard+thompson&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en-us&client=safari#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:f2e58782,vid:U3DS6xglAfQ,st:0
Persuasion was actually written by Tim Finn of Crowded House. I’ll assume you are familiar with Richard Thompson from Fairport Convention to his solo career. Teddy Thompson is his son with Linda Thompson, who was a folk artist in her own right. The melody is beautiful, lyrics compelling, and the combined vocals of father and son elevate it further.
Thanks for the nudge -- I really like it! ... and somehow I was not familiar with it. It's the kind of piece I'll enjoy hearing over & over again. Will look up more of his work. Thank you! Wishing you a good weekend ahead. We had the tail end of Hurricane Debby last night, but clear skies today.
Just one more. Perhaps Richard Thompson’s finest song: Bee’s Wing
https://www.google.com/search?q=richard+tjompson+bees+wing&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en-us&client=safari
Thanks - Such a great piece. Love the story it tells - and the imagery and the melancholy. Thanks for putting me on to him. Will definitely dive deeper. I was listening to some old Judy Collins yesterday (Wildflowers) and had the same feeling about some of the story-telling. Wishing you a good day ahead. I'm planning to sing the Brahms Requiem this afternoon with a "Summer Sing" for all singers in the Pioneer Valley -- everyone gathers and sings it through - great fun. I haven't sung much since I had COVID, so am eager to get going again.
Enjoy the sing!
Seemingly endless, that is.
Yippee, Purcell!
Wow, just wow… wonderful piece on how music has been an anthem to your life. I read it twice and listened to all the musical pieces. I knew how much you love music in your life but, now I can see how each piece talks to and for you. It was a little more insight into the wonderful man you are!
Dear Deb, Thanks so much for this ... and for actually listening to the pieces to get those insights. It means a lot. Glad this helped you see a bit deeper inside. Love always to my favorite sister!!!
Thanks for these beautiful reflections and the many music recommendations, Hal! It is such a curious thing how a piece of music can feel so personal and intimate and, yet, affect multitudes of people to similar reactions. It kind of speaks to the universalism of music as a kind of language of emotional expression and empathy. Great stuff, Hal!
Thanks Mike -- yes, the universalism for sure! Thanks for being on the journey with me!
Another powerful piece, Hal, and timely. Music, both vocal and instrumental, has always been a part of my life's ups and downs and every-days. I was telling a friend about the enormous joy I've always gotten from being in the very middle of music--as the "bass" in New Song (a female vocal group at my church), as a flautist in an orchestra or concert band throught school. Being at the music's heart is my happy place.
I could, as you have started to do above, point to lyrics and tunes from throughout my life that have dominated my thoughts at various times because they play my heart's grief and joy, disappoint, fears and love.
More, please!
Dear Pat, Thanks as always for your comments! After drafting this piece, I realized it was all about the music I had HEARD, and not even about the music I have played and sung!!! (I play the piano a bit, played the clarinet from 4th grade through college (but no longer), and have sung most of my adult life - all with great joy.) I guess that could be a whole other post. And it probably should be, because the experience of making music is so different from listening to music. I'm so glad that music has been so important to you as well, and I love hearing about how important it has been to you. I'm also really glad you're enjoying my posts. It's been a joy exploring this new, more personal, mode of expression.
Beautiful testimony to the power of music! I am listening to your suggested pieces now. One of my favorite pieces was my grandmother's... she died before I was born but my mother and aunt told me that she loved this piece. Beethoven Sonata "Pathetique" - Adagio Cantabile - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCL5sHzlDOI
I like that piece, too! For a few months I was binging his entire fifth symphony in c minor. The *whole* thing, because the first movement just isn't enough.
Sounds amazing!
Music is so important to me!!! I’m not too surprised that it is so near and dear to your heart too. Thousands of songs have impacted me over the decades…I’ll share one artist who really captures the dualities I so often feel, Sleigh Bells. They can sound quite harsh at first (bit of an acquired taste) but I’ll share one of their easiest to listen to, and if you have time, you can let me know what you think. I particularly identify with the lyric “moving your feet but they’re wrapped in concrete.”
Well I’ll be damned, checking the title again and NO WONDER you made me think of this one!!
https://youtu.be/p0FY17aHt4E?si=cyrj3lyYgL_1o1br