randy newman's album "sail away" was written 30 years ago. it seems many of the songs could have been written after 11 sept '01... doug s. |
For the first week I was into somber music and found myself listening to Mozart's' Requiem and Beethoven's 5th and 7th over and over. Beyond that time my listening habits have been pretty much across the spectrum.
As far as music that touches my spiritual side, my tastes run more towards "High Church" and a new member of my collection has been getting a lot of play, "Laudate!" from Proprius (PRCD 9100.) Without any comprehension of the language except "amen," I know exactly what they are communicating. Music of the 17th century. Awesome.
Take care,
Charlie. |
I know this doesn't help, but essentially nothing. I've tried to listen to 2 or 3 cds in the last 6 weeks but I just seem to have lost interest. I bought some new cds that weekend and havent opened them (e.g., newest from Alison Krauss).
Good suggestions above, gospel, spiritual, some classical all good ideas.
I think Etta James and Irma Thomas may be a way back for me. Try Irma's gospel cd (can't remember the title offhand though it's around here somewhere).
I did listen to Jennifer Warnes's new cd, The Well, the other day and liked it.
Johnny Cash's Solitary Man cd is another thought. |
Laurinsen's Lux Aeterna and Brahms German Requiem...music that lets you know you're not alone. |
Etta James, "Her Best", true soul, great blues singer. "Cannonball Adderley Quintet in Chicago", Bruckner, Symphony No 4. Berlin Philarmoniker conducted by Gunther Wand (live recording) and Beethoven Symphonies No 1 & 2 NDR- Simfonieorchester conducted by Gunther Wand (again, a live recording) and, strangely enough, "The Best of The Blackwatch" The Pipes and Drums and Regimental Band of the Black Watch, I think just hearing the pipes might set the Taliban straight. I simply wish all of the Western World luck and determination in stopping terrorism and Godspeed to any American and British troops which may at this very moment be in harm's way. By the way, I recently saw a documentary on the Battle of Britain, such documentary should be required viewing in North American schools and by everybody too young to have first hand knowledge of the great courage of the British people, and the kind of determination required in the face of evil. |
I just got the Telarc DVD A of the 1812. The cannons firing and the explosions in sound made me hope that bin Laden was experiencing the real thing. |
During the 911 tragedy, I was over in Europe for business.
I could not get back to the states until 921. I was "stuck"
in Zurich(beautiful city but very expensive). I went to several concerts at Tonhalle, a lovely Schubert Mass, and
Mahler's 7th conducted by Zinman(5th row seats at both).
What contrasting performances!!! Schubert's a loving reminder of the good in mankind and Mahler's end of the world vision. When I got home I pensively turned to Schubert's later string quartets(Emerson String Quartet).
They are gloriously serene works on the inner strength
of man in the face of tragic turns of fate(autobiographical in Schubert's case). I have moved on to Webern, Bartok, Reger, and Hindesmith chamber music which keeps in step
with the dissonance of the currrent world. |
Thanks to all for your responses. Some of the things that I have listening to include a couple of different versions of Beethoven's "Eroica", Astor Piazzola, Ellis Regina, Coltrane, and Bill Evans. Some of this music and artists have a certain melancholy in their sound or attitude but also optimism.
Fam124, interesting comment concerning Stan Getz's "sound". A beautiful sound it was and isn't it interesting how the "sound" of an artist can cause an emotional reaction. He had an incredibly honest sound without affectations. Could sound velvety, beautifully breathy and introspective. Ever notice how often his reed "squeaked" or chirped (usually in up-tempo tunes) and yet it never seemed to matter? If you haven't yet, check out his work with Bill Evans. Talk about introspection. Beautiful stuff.
I also find interesting the various mentions of artists of various nationalities. Perhaps with all the attention that world events is getting right now, more people will be exposed to the music of other nations. Naive? Maybe, but the power of music should not be underestimated.
Best to all. |
I did not discriminate any specific music for that tragic event, but not to be extreme I ran on my TT the day after Musorgski "Shakherezade" and some of Bethoven symphonies Pastoral and Ode to Joy.
Music as any kind of entertainment has to be a part of life. So after continuous watching TV and listening to the news, there has to be a time to bring yourself back the way you've been before. Ambient of Brian Eno certainly was my first choise of my listening hunger. |
Jennifer Warnes' The Hunter - these songs and her voice are very emotional - the song Big Noise, New York really does it. |
I too have been listening to a lot of contemporary Christian music. CFB, 'The Word' I'm familiar with is by Sara Groves on her Conversations CD. Great voice, well produced. Some other great voices are Rachael Lampa, Sara Jahn, Jaci Velasquez & Rebecca St. James. I heard Sara Groves in a small venue last month & it was excellent. I've also been listening to my old standby's like Supertramp, Jethro Tull, Timbuk 3, Pink Floyd & mix in some Art Tatum & Muddy Waters, etc. I guess whatever the mood is I try to intensify or modify with the (hopefully) right selection. Glen, I was told by a medical Dr. back in the 70's that I probably had brain damage from using drugs...but I thought your comment was humorous! |
I've been strangely obsessed with the Magnetic Fields and their 3-disk "69 Love Songs" set. It's wacky and strange stuff, to be sure, but it is also almost hauntingly intelligent when taken as a whole. If I weren't concerned about sounding like an idiot (which I'm clearly not, concerned, that is) I'd say it manages to portray a robust yet celebratory melancholia that is at once (or alternatively) both deeply sad and flippantly irreverent. Yea, whatever, but that's more or less been my mood and the imperfect reflection thereof in the CD player. I'd have to second the Getz/Gilberto collaboration as a fine idea as well. |
I'd like to apologize to Kelly(a.k.a. cornfedboy) publicly. This is a very thoughtful and sincere thread. I think I may have went a little to far with my slap stick comedy this time. |
Hi I`ve been listening mostly to 10 yr old praise and worship songs. I couldn`t imagine going through these last 6 weeks without knowing Jesus. Nothing like entering His gates to find the peace that surpasses all our understanding. Good question. dan r |
Ditto, cfb, great question, Frogman! Up until this moment, found I'd gravitated [seemingly inexplicably during these recent weeks] to listening to "the sound" of Stan Getz, and in particular, "Cool Velvet Stan Getz and Strings" (Verve), plus some of the Jobim, Gilberto, collaborations. Realize now (by way of F'man's post) that it puts me smack back in that comfy-cozy, safe-haven zone of my parents' living room during those utterly blissful, carefree years that were my 1950's childhood. As well, I've been stuck on Michel Petrucciani's, "Au Theatre des Champs Elysees," one, because I just happened to order it from Amazon prior to the tragic events of 9/11, two, because I find its brilliance beyond words, and last but not least, because of the fact I find the level of beauty in this performance gives rise to a state of melancholia (which here again, by way of this thread, I've come to realize is befitting of the times). BTW, for those unaware, Mr. Petrucciani, three-foot tall, fifty-pound jazz pianist of truly Herculean proportions, died from the debilitating disease, osteogenesis imperfecta, at age 36, in 1999. At any rate, when listening to this body of work, I simply cannot help but reflect upon how blessed we were/are by the existence of this dearly departed genius. |
Stuff I dragged back from France this summer: Petrucciani father (guitar) and son (piano) jazz; a ridiculously good street band I heard in Avignon, whose CD I just had to buy;
unfortunately call themselves Que Passa (what do they know from French?...these guys were amazing POLISH guitarists and accordeonist!
Just found a duo of Ian Shaw and Cedar Walton that swings, and a bit of Grappelli in Paris.
See the Yankees last night?
Let's get a spring back in our step, eh guys? |
Very intersting question, as I realize that my listening habits have changed somewhat. To be totally honest, I've been listening almost exclusively to blues, particularly Missippi delta and hill country blues. Some notable examples: Dark Was the Night, Cold was the Ground by Blind Willie Johnson (if this doesn't move you, you're dead or soulless), anything by Son House, R.L. Burnside's pre-punk music, Leadbelly, and Mississippi John Hurt. |
glen: yeah, right! i've got dangerously eclectic tastes? how about yusaf islam (f/k/a cat stevens), itzahk perlman and enya? sounds like a pretty dysfunctional united nations to me. :^} -kelly (a/k/a cfb) |
A lot of Grateful Dead. I find the music thought provoking with some melancholy twists. Good for the soul. |
CFB ARE YOU MADD! Don't you know mixing Gospel with Dylan has been proven to cause extensive BRAIN DAMAGE! How do you think the Bee Gee's were formed?
I agree with Kelly or at least what use to be Kelly. Good topic, we need to talk about music more. I've got Tangerine Dream THE PINK YEARS in the transport right now, but it's starting to scare the cat! I just picked up Itzhak Perlman's G/H, Yo-Yo Ma EMANUEL AX, and Andres Segovia THE ROMANTIC GUITAR. The three discs sitting on top of my component stand are John Coltrane A LOVE SUPREME, Enya A DAY WITHOUT RAIN, and Cat Stevens TEA FOR THE TILLERMAN. |
Radka Toneff/Fairytales CD on ODIN records (Norway 1986). About as far away from our current world situation that can be imagined. More a transport to an unearthly delight (sonically too) than I should have a right to experience, at this troubled time in America.
David Gray/ White Ladder
Am finding no comfort in Anything classical,opera,jazz or instrumental. Dont know why. At times like these its gotta be introspective singer/songwriter stuff. |
frogman: great question. just 2 of the pieces i've been listening to over the past 5 weeks are: (1) "the word," on ropeadope records; amazing gospel stuff that'll open your soul, no matter whom, if anyone, you look to as the last or most important prophet. (2) "love and theft," dylan's latest. i saw him perform much of this release last sunday eve at the denver coliseum. at age 60, he still be da' man. -cfb |
