What are you listening to? Part III

[Scepticalscribe]

A few from Caetano Veloso - elegant music with a cool, late sixties - yet different - vibe.

Some of the tracks came from a wonderful album (CD) called 'Tropicália - A Brazilian Revolution In Sound' which also includes tracks from Oz Mutantes; and then, there is the superb and haunting track 'Burn It Blue' from the soundtrack to the motion picture Frida (based on the life of Frida Kahlo).

A few years ago, I was privileged to see an exhibition of her work - stunning and absolutely gripping.

 

[mobilehaathi]

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Another song from the 80s.

"Men At Work" with "Down Under".

 

[Scepticalscribe]

More music with an early 80s vibe. Maybe a sort of trip down memory lane, late on this Sunday night. Maybe it is just the fact that I was watching an episode or two of "Deutschland 83" - and I spent a few months in Deutschland in 1983 as an undergrad - and am feeling ever so slightly nostalgic. Great soundtrack, by the way, accompanying the (excellent) series.

Anyway, I am listening to a group called 'The Cure' and a few of their songs, "Boys Don't Cry", "Friday I'm In Love", "Just Like Heaven", "Pictures Of You", "Lovecats", "Lovesong", and "Lullaby".

 

[LizKat]

The work is new agey and as it develops, doesn’t really go anywhere musically, which is quite fine with me if I’m in the mood to hear it. I don’t think I could listen to a bunch of tracks serially from this album; they start to sound the same. The music certainly suits the poem here, which is beautiful. I hope the poem is in the public domain by now; anyway it’s all over the net, so I am at worst a follower of wrongdoing here.

Gold Leaves
by G.K.Chesterton​

Lo! I am come to autumn,
When all the leaves are gold;
Grey hairs and golden leaves cry out
The year and I are old.

In youth I sought the prince of men,
Captain in cosmic wars,
Our Titan, even the weeds would show
Defiant, to the stars.

But now a great thing in the street
Seems any human nod,
Where shift in strange democracy
The million masks of God.

In youth I sought the golden flower
Hidden in wood or wold,
But I am come to autumn,
When all the leaves are gold.​

 

[sk1wbw]

Can't get enough of his new album. Digging it big time.

 

[Apple_Robert]

"The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy" BBC Radio Theatre series.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

"The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy" BBC Radio Theatre series.

The original? From the late 1970s?

How wonderful. Enjoy it - that was a superb and entirely brilliant series.

Actually, I have the original double album - vinyl of course - of the original series.

 

[Apple_Robert]

The original? From the late 1970s?

How wonderful. Enjoy it - that was a superb and entirely brilliant series.

Actually, I have the original double album - vinyl of course - of the original series.

Yes, the original

I agree with you. It is brilliantly done, and brings Douglas' series to life in a way that a single narration audiobook cannot do. Speaking of which, if you haven't listened to Douglas narrating each of his books, I recommend hunting that version down, though it is very hard to find.

While I appreciate Stephen Fry's narration of the first book, Douglas brings a subtle nuance (of timing and interpretation) that gives the story a spark that I haven't experienced with Fry or Freeman etc.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Yes, the original

I agree with you. It is brilliantly done, and brings Douglas' series to life in a way that a single narration audiobook cannot do. Speaking of which, if you haven't listened to Douglas narrating each of his books, I recommend hunting that version down, though it is very hard to find.

While I appreciate Stephen Fry's narration of the first book, Douglas brings a subtle nuance (of timing and interpretation) that gives the story a spark that I haven't experienced with Fry or Freeman etc.

No, I haven't heard Douglas Adams narrate his own books, and I can only imagine that that is a real treat for those who love this work.

For that matter, I enjoyed (hugely) the original TV series. And, of course, I have the books.

 

[Benjamin Frost]

Can't get enough of his new album. Digging it big time.

View attachment 605454

I didn't know Voldemort had written an album.

 

[Benjamin Frost]

Great post and wonderful story. Finding an iPod - a long forgotten - iPod in such a way is a terrific excuse for a trip down musical memory lane. And, for once, I am not at all sorry for the cats.

Moreover, I agree with you completely on the small matter of that bleak, bare cold December light.

While I strongly dislike the cold, detest the wet miserable conditions of winter, and am no fan of either snow or ice, it is the light deprived nature of December that I loathe most of all.

I like the gloomy days. Cozy. I love the rain and the wind. The cold. Keeps people off the streets.

 

[Gutwrench]

Can't get enough of his new album. Digging it big time.

View attachment 605454

What a coincidence, I d/l'd last night.

 

[mobilehaathi]

 

[LizKat]

I like the gloomy days. Cozy. I love the rain and the wind. The cold. Keeps people off the streets.

I love a rainy day now and then in midsummer... but the long grey times of November and December in the mountains, wow. I drape my studio in tropical fabrics, drink extra coffee and play music like Manu Chao's La Radiolina. I turn on all the house lights at 4pm and draw the shades at 4:30 so I never have to notice it's pitch dark at 4:45!!

Besides, how can I finish my little-presents wrapping gig without Chao's Panik Panik

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Rachmaninov: Piano Concertos Nos. 1-4

My father absolutely adored the Piano Concerto No 2. (As do I).

After his death, I found a truly astonishing number of tape cassettes which featured this piece - some with the details neatly transcribed by him, and one with "Rach 2" written on it in my father's scrawled hand, - it seems he had forgotten quite how many he had. I think his view was that one can never have quite enough recordings of a piece you love.

But it is a really brilliant piece.

Listening to more stuff I haven’t heard for awhile. This is all the fault of @Scepticalscribe for having mentioned Carmina Burana (Carl Orff) the other day. After she posted on having listened to the "O Fortuna" I went and listened to that as well as a few more bits from the work as well: “In taberna quando sumus” (the drinking song) plus the lively snippets of “Swaz hie dat umbe” and the brief, sweet “In trutina” piece. All this is not how I envisioned monks illuminating copies of sacred manuscripts and holding a candle against dark ages. Who knew they were having so much fun on their breaks.

So later of course while I was in that library of my stuff, I rummaged around for more things that had fallen off playlists for awhile. Currently on tap is Alan Hovhaness, Symphony No.2 (Mysterious Mountain). I have the Reiner/Chicago recording but I ripped it a long time ago to mp3 and should do it over.

I only like some parts of Mysterious Mountain, but then so did Hovhaness. I’m not like the composer though, I mean at least I listen to the whole thing and it’s not that long. He apparently used to walk out when it was performed if he turned up someplace and it was on the program. He had decided he didn’t like most of the thing!

Well, given that a considerable number of the great beer and wine making cultures and traditions only really came about thanks to the existence of medieval monasteries - a number of them, such as the Belgian Trappist monks still brew beer, - while the Cistercians under the successors of Bernard of Clairvaux were supposed to have come up with some very advanced ideas, practices and theories on how to produce excellent and consistently good wine, I am not really all that surprised that drinking songs featured in Carmina Burana.

View attachment 605824

Lovely Deutsche Grammophon album sleeve; their albums tend to be recorded to exceptionally high production standards, - a fact sometimes reflected in the price you can pay for a Deutsche Grammophon recording. However, I have found it is usually well worth while to try to get a version of a piece recorded by Deutsche Grammophon.

I love a rainy day now and then in midsummer... but the long grey times of November and December in the mountains, wow. I drape my studio in tropical fabrics, drink extra coffee and play music like Manu Chao's La Radiolina. I turn on all the house lights at 4pm and draw the shades at 4:30 so I never have to notice it's pitch dark at 4:45!!

Besides, how can I finish my little-presents wrapping gig without Chao's Panik Panik

Ah, agreed, Manu Chao is real sunshine music. An absolute tonic on a wintry day.

I first bought two of his CDs over a decade ago on a miserable February day because I craved the sound of sunshine, and still listen to him, yes, mostly in winter. The musical equivalent of a shot of Vitamin C, or a proverbial ray of sunshine.

 

[Benjamin Frost]

My father absolutely adored the Piano Concerto No 2.

After his death, I found a truly astonishing number of tape cassettes which featured this piece - some with the details neatly transcribed, and one with 'Rach 2" written on it in my father's scrawled hand, - it seems he had forgotten quite how many he had. I think his view was that one can never have quite enough recordings of a piece you love.

But it is a really brilliant piece.



Well, given that a considerable number of the great beer and wine making cultures and traditions only really came about thanks to the existence of medieval monasteries - a number of them, such as the Belgian Trappist monks still brew beer, - while the Cistercians under the successors of Bernard of Clairvaux were supposed to have come up with some very advanced ideas, practices and theories on how to produce excellent and consistently good wine, I am not really all that surprised that drinking songs featured in Carmina Burana.



Lovely Deutsche Grammophon album sleeve; their albums tend to be recorded to exceptionally high production standards, - a fact sometimes reflected in the price you can pay for a Deutsche Grammophon recording. However, I have found it is usually well worth while to try to get a version of a piece recorded by Deutsche Grammophon.



Ah, agreed, Manu Chao is real sunshine music. An absolute tonic on a wintry day.

I first bought two of his CDs over a decade ago on a miserable February day because I craved the sound of sunshine, and still listen to him, yes, mostly in winter. The musical equivalent of a shot of Vitamin C, or a proverbial ray of sunshine.

Nice post.

Rach 2 is one of my favourite pieces ever. Music from the heart.

 

[mobilehaathi]

My father absolutely adored the Piano Concerto No 2.

After his death, I found a truly astonishing number of tape cassettes which featured this piece - some with the details neatly transcribed, and one with 'Rach 2" written on it in my father's scrawled hand, - it seems he had forgotten quite how many he had. I think his view was that one can never have quite enough recordings of a piece you love.

But it is a really brilliant piece.



Well, given that a considerable number of the great beer and wine making cultures and traditions only really came about thanks to the existence of medieval monasteries - a number of them, such as the Belgian Trappist monks still brew beer, - while the Cistercians under the successors of Bernard of Clairvaux were supposed to have come up with some very advanced ideas, practices and theories on how to produce excellent and consistently good wine, I am not really all that surprised that drinking songs featured in Carmina Burana.



Lovely Deutsche Grammophon album sleeve; their albums tend to be recorded to exceptionally high production standards, - a fact sometimes reflected in the price you can pay for a Deutsche Grammophon recording. However, I have found it is usually well worth while to try to get a version of a piece recorded by Deutsche Grammophon.



Ah, agreed, Manu Chao is real sunshine music. An absolute tonic on a wintry day.

I first bought two of his CDs over a decade ago on a miserable February day because I craved the sound of sunshine, and still listen to him, yes, mostly in winter. The musical equivalent of a shot of Vitamin C, or a proverbial ray of sunshine.

Yes, no. 2 is really lovely. I listen to it often.

Agreed re Deutsche Grammophon, I actually have quite a hefty collection of classical music under this label. Mostly Brahms, Chopin, and Rachmaninov, but I was also recently gifted a huge (56 CDs) collection of a range of works they've released. I'm still listening my way through it all!

 

[LizKat]

... I was also recently gifted a huge (56 CDs) collection of a range of works they've released. I'm still listening my way through it all!

We'll be right over to help you

I’m very fond of Glass’s second violin concerto, “The American Four Seasons”. I’ve just recently bought Gidon Kremer’s New Seasons album, which includes that and a few works by others.

http://www.amazon.com/Seasons-Glass-Part-Kancheli-Umebayashi/dp/B00U8UZCBE

https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/new-seasons-glass-part-kancheli/id989413596

(I caved in and went for the mastered-for-iTunes download)

 

[lowendlinux]

 

[Scepticalscribe]

For those who love classical music - @mobilehaathi, @SandboxGeneral and @LizKat among others, today's Google doodle (featuring L. van Beethoven) is utterly charming, and I must admit I had great fun working it out.

 

[LizKat]

For those who love classical music - @mobilehaathi, @SandboxGeneral and @LizKat among others, today's Google doodle (featuring L. van Beethoven) is utterly charming, and I must admit I had great fun working it out.

Thank you so much for mentioning that, it was a kick! I don't use Google as my default search engine so I would have missed it. And of course now wonder what other fun doodles I've been missing. Very creative effort in honor of Mr. B's birthday!

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Thank you so much for mentioning that, it was a kick! I don't use Google as my default search engine so I would have missed it. And of course now wonder what other fun doodles I've been missing. Very creative effort in honor of Mr. B's birthday!

My pleasure. Glad you enjoyed it.

Must say that I thought it a delightful and utterly charming homage, and terrific fun to work out, too.

 

[mobilehaathi]

 

[Scepticalscribe]

View attachment 606026

Ah, before he developed a taste for classical music, my father loved - and continued to love - this stuff, along with Irving Berlin and Cole Porter.