What are you listening to? Part III

[Scepticalscribe]

Zarzuela is great fun… I could say it is Spanish Operetta, but that would do Zarzuela an injustice (as I detest Operetta!)

You've got some great friends!

Yes, this is a rather good friend.

My latest parcel to him hasn't yet arrived in the corner of Scandinavia where he dwells - despite having been sent by registered post last Friday - but, yes, we have had a lot of fun preparing CDs - that old school way of not simply 'ripping' and 'burning' but actually preparing and planning playlists.

Last week, I sent him a CD I had put together of Sixties Psychedelia from several CDs, (Simon Dupree, Locomotives, The Gods, The Aerovons, Parking Lot, etc), two CDs by Alfredo Rolando Ortiz, and one - recommended to me by @mobilehaathi which I think superb - called "Rome".

Os Mutantes and some Renaissance stuff will comprise the next parcel.

Most of his zarzuelas are in the form of vinyl, - he is looking into some way to convert them to CD - but he mentioned that he has two in CD form. (An aside: We both loathe the Cloud, and the horrid rentier model of musical acquisition).

 

[AustinIllini]

 

[arkitect]

Yes, this is a rather good friend.

My latest parcel to him hasn't yet arrived in the corner of Scandinavia where he dwells - despite having been sent by registered post last Friday - but, yes, we have had a lot of fun preparing CDs - that old school way of not simply 'ripping' and 'burning' but actually preparing and planning playlists.

Now that takes me back… when I would make tapes for friends… the agonising over the right mix of tracks.
By the time I met my husband we had moved on to MiniDiscs. Those mixes were part of the "getting to know one another" ritual.
Good old days.

(An aside: We both loathe the Cloud, and the horrid rentier model of musical acquisition).

Oh my goodness, no. I do not loathe the Cloud. It has saved my bacon on a couple occasions… But as far as the rentier model goes. I agree.
Though I admit I "try before I buy" on Spotify.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Now that takes me back… when I would make tapes for friends… the agonising over the right mix of tracks.
By the time I met my husband we had moved on to MiniDiscs. Those mixes were part of the "getting to know one another" ritual.
Good old days.


Oh my goodness, no. I do not loathe the Cloud. It has saved my bacon on a couple occasions… But as far as the rentier model goes. I agree.
Though I admit I "try before I buy" on Spotify.

Ah, yes, those tapes for friends - only close friends, friends who would appreciate such things - comprised and put together with care and thought - yes, that was a ritual of my university days, and giving thought to the planning of what tracks to tape, as well as what sequence they should be in, and all the while keeping a close eye on the small - but vital - matter of timing.

Well, the principle remains the same, even if the medium - CDs - has changed. And yes, the ritual - as you have so eloquently expressed it - seems not to have changed much, either.
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Scepticalscribe, until seeing your posts mentioning Pink Martini, I had not heard of them -- so immediately went off to run a search in YouTube and to have a look and a listen. Wow, this group is amazing! Next stop: iTunes, to pick up one or more of their albums, as I really do like them. Very cool approach to music!

Hadn't spotted this post: I love Pink Martini, they are one of my favourite groups, brilliant, accomplished musicians and performers and terrific singers - they record songs in twenty odd languages and explore esoteric musical traditions with verve, flair and a deep respect infused with fun.

I have most of their albums, and have had the privilege of seeing them play live, twice.

Glad you have checked them out and like them.

 

[LizKat]

An Alan Hovhaness work, the “Exile” symphony, Op 17, No.2 (Gil Rose and Boston Modern Orchestra Project, 2011 release). It’s on an album given that name but which also contains some other early and later Hovhanness works. Just making good on a promise to myself that I'd sometime make an effort to hear something of his besides "Mysterious Mountain". I'm more of a Bartók fan myself, but these are certainly worth a listen.

 

[kazmac]

Only my most metal album of all time...

 

[Clix Pix]

A parcel arrived today, containing several fascinating CDs sent by a friend - Scandinavian progressive rock from the sixties, (Savage Rose, and Burnin' Red Ivanhoe), a CD by Gabriela Montero, and a CD containing a rare form of music - known as zarzuela - that I have never come across before.

A fun night's listening lies ahead.

I'll bet that CD with zarzuela includes some of Montserrat Caballe's performances of zarzuela.... If you find that you really enjoy that kind of music, check out her album which is totally that: "Zarzuela Arias and Duets" (I believe still available in both CD and digital download formats, from Amazon and I think iTunes, too.)

 

[Scepticalscribe]

I'll bet that CD with zarzuela includes some of Montserrat Caballe's performances of zarzuela.... If you find that you really enjoy that kind of music, check out her album which is totally that: "Zarzuela Arias and Duets" (I believe still available in both CD and digital download formats, from Amazon and I think iTunes, too.)

Thanks - must admit that I am looking forward to listening to it.

 

[JamesMike]

I good idea, putting it on now.

 

[mobilehaathi]

 

[Scepticalscribe]

I have that CD; excellent choice.

 

[JamesMike]

Listening David Bowie's 'The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars'.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Listening David Bowie's 'The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars'.

Ah, now that is truly timeless listening.

 

[mobilehaathi]

Listening David Bowie's 'The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars'.

A truly excellent choice!

 

[hawkeye_a]

I heard these couple of tunes late last year and i really like them. They're from the TV show "Due South". Think you guys might like em too...

Cheers

 

[Scepticalscribe]

I heard these couple of tunes late last year and i really like them. They're from the TV show "Due South". Think you guys might like em too...

Cheers

I remember having seen several episodes of that show when it aired (or was broadcast) back in the 90s and always hugely enjoyed it.

 

[decafjava]

Preparing dinner and listening to Pink Martini's latest "Je Dis Oui", wow what a fantastic album!

 

[arkitect]

Here's something I happened upon this weekend. (Spotify truly is a blessing sometimes.)

Neue Meister Live in Berlin

Some might find it "difficult" music, but it really grows on you.
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An Alan Hovhaness work, the “Exile” symphony, Op 17, No.2 (Gil Rose and Boston Modern Orchestra Project, 2011 release). It’s on an album given that name but which also contains some other early and later Hovhanness works. Just making good on a promise to myself that I'd sometime make an effort to hear something of his besides "Mysterious Mountain". I'm more of a Bartók fan myself, but these are certainly worth a listen.

Ah! Hovhaness. Another one that I came to love courtesy of Carl Sagan's Cosmos soundtrack.
Only a short snippet of his Symphony No.19. But it made me curious and gradually I "tuned in" to him.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Preparing dinner and listening to Pink Martini's latest "Je Dis Oui", wow what a fantastic album!

Terrific album, some superb tracks, and not a bad track to be found. Loved it, myself.
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Here's something I happened upon this weekend. (Spotify truly is a blessing sometimes.)

Neue Meister Live in Berlin
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Some might find it "difficult" music, but it really grows on you.
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Ah! Hovhaness. Another one that I came to love courtesy of Carl Sagan's Cosmos soundtrack.
Only a short snippet of his Symphony No.19. But it made me curious and gradually I "tuned in" to him.

Ah - the soundtrack of Cosmos - that is a personal favourite of mine; I loved the TV series when it was broadcast, and adored the music, but it took me ages (until the early 90s, in Vilnius, of all places) to find a CD of the soundtrack.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

A little David Bowie always goes down well.......

 

[LizKat]

I was thinking of winding up Vivaldi's Four Seasons,,,, just to nudge Mother Nature towards some variety. She seems stuck in the rainy bits of spring and is now going backwards, as we have a forecast of two to three inches of snow in the forecast over the next day or so. Snow in May, I dunno... it happens here sometimes but not recently that I can remember. The dandelions are in for a surprise.

Anyway I decided to skip the subtle hints of Vivaldi and point Ma Nature to Summer Time, from Gershwin's Porgy and Bess. Then as it's been awhile since I listened to all of that work I decided to stick with it. I have the 1988 recording w/ London Symphony under Simon Rattle.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Among many other David Bowie songs tonight, I listened to "Space Oddity" - a timeless classic then and now.

And then, I thought to check out (because I haven't done so for around two years) Chris Hadfield's astounding, brilliant - and extraordinarily powerful and moving - cover version, filmed while he was serving on the ISS (International Space Station). Now, that is truly magnificent, a word I do not often use. Actually, it is simply awesome.

 

[JamesMike]

A little David Bowie always goes down well.......

Yes it does, listening 'Diamond Dogs'.

 

[notmach67]

Port Nocturnal - "Spire Daze"
Labeled as progressive/psych/desert/jazz/bluesy goodness...
Nothing but all around good sh**!!

 

[mobilehaathi]