http://achangeoftune.blogspot.com
Since my 20th century music history class during the fall of my senior year of undergrad I've been following The New Yorker's music critic, Alex Ross' blog, "The Rest is Noise." It's the namesake of Ross' breakthrough book on the music of the 20th century in it's cultural context. Its frequent that I encounter posts that in some form or fashion align with my own studies. This time its from a post about Lincoln Center's White Light Festival in October. The opening night features a free art installation by Janet Cardiff. The exhibit is multidisciplinary. The visual concept focuses on the arrangement of 40 speakers (you might realize where I'm going with this) in a room, each playing something different to invoke the idea of spacial meditation. Each speaker plays one of the voices of the motet Spem in alium (1573) by Thomas Tallis. Read about The Forty-Part Motet exhibit here http://new.lincolncenter.org/live/index.php/white-light-2010-the-forty-part-motet
I find that I repeat some ideas a lot in my research. This one in particular keeps poking its problematic little head up. That is the concept this, new music has an uncanny ability to sound and function a lot like early music.
That being said, though early music is more popularly performed now because of an increased interest in musicology and historically informed performance. Perhaps accidentally or perhaps with a real influence or connection, choral music in particular sounds a lot like early music. Arvo Pärt and Eric Whitacre are easy examples of this. Pärt's "Magnificat" is unmetered, with the stress and rhythm dictated by the natural rise and fall of the text. Whitacre specializes in unaccompanied works for choirs with close harmonies that require non-vibrato tone color.
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Through the silences of space their soundless music sings, part 1
http://achangeoftune.blogspot.com/
Over the past 5 years of being employed as a church musician, I have begun to collect some favorite hymns. Usually, I gravitate towards ones that have beautiful texts, along with beautiful melodies and harmonies. However in a post like this it's difficult to give examples of the melodies, so my focus will be on text.
First is one I grew up loving and the text is "Bí Thusa 'mo Shúile", better known by it's hymn tune name "Slane" or the English title, "Be Thou My Vision."
I grew up with the English translation in the Methodist Hymnal. Translations seem to show some variation in wording, some are a little more traditional and Old English in feel, others have a more modern language appeal. Different hymnals have different numbers of verses, for example the Hymnal 1982 used in the Episcopal church only contains 3 verses. This is the translation by Eleanor Hull from 1912.
#1
Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart;
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art.
Thou my best Thought, by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.
Be Thou my Wisdom, and Thou my true Word;
I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord;
Thou my great Father, I Thy true son;
Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.
Be Thou my battle Shield, Sword for the fight;
Be Thou my Dignity, Thou my Delight;
Thou my soul’s Shelter, Thou my high Tower:
Raise Thou me heavenward, O Power of my power.
Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise,
Thou mine Inheritance, now and always:
Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,
High King of Heaven, my Treasure Thou art.
High King of Heaven, my victory won,
May I reach Heaven’s joys, O bright Heaven’s Sun!
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
Still be my Vision, O Ruler of all.
#2
My second is one originally written in English, a poem by Timothy Dudley-Smith (b. 1926) based on Psalm 19.
The stars declare his glory;
the vault of heaven springs,
mute witness of the Master's hand
in all created things,
and through the silences of space
their soundless music sings.
The dawn returns in splendor,
the heavens burn and blaze,
the rising sun renews the race
that measures all our days,
and writes in fire across the skies
God's majesty and praise.
So shine the Lord's commandments
to make the simple wise;
more sweet than honey to the taste,
more rich than any prize,
a law of love within our hearts,
a light before our eyes.
So order too this life of mine,
direct it all my days;
the meditations of my heart
be innocence and praise,
my rock, and my redeeming Lord,
in all my words and ways.
#3
This is one where I like the words better than the tune.
Words by George Matheson: "My hymn was composed in the manse of Innelan [Argyleshire, Scotland] on the evening of the 6th of June, 1882, when I was 40 years of age. I was alone in the manse at that time. It was the night of my sister’s marriage, and the rest of the family were staying overnight in Glasgow. Something happened to me, which was known only to myself, and which caused me the most severe mental suffering. The hymn was the fruit of that suffering. It was the quickest bit of work I ever did in my life. I had the impression of having it dictated to me by some inward voice rather than of working it out myself. I am quite sure that the whole work was completed in five minutes, and equally sure that it never received at my hands any retouching or correction. I have no natural gift of rhythm. All the other verses I have ever written are manufactured articles; this came like a dayspring from on high."
O Love that wilt not let me go,
I rest my weary soul in thee;
I give thee back the life I owe,
That in thine ocean depths its flow
May richer, fuller be.
O light that followest all my way,
I yield my flickering torch to thee;
My heart restores its borrowed ray,
That in thy sunshine’s blaze its day
May brighter, fairer be.
O Joy that seekest me through pain,
I cannot close my heart to thee;
I trace the rainbow through the rain,
And feel the promise is not vain,
That morn shall tearless be.
O Cross that liftest up my head,
I dare not ask to fly from thee;
I lay in dust life’s glory dead,
And from the ground there blossoms red
Life that shall endless be.
Over the past 5 years of being employed as a church musician, I have begun to collect some favorite hymns. Usually, I gravitate towards ones that have beautiful texts, along with beautiful melodies and harmonies. However in a post like this it's difficult to give examples of the melodies, so my focus will be on text.
First is one I grew up loving and the text is "Bí Thusa 'mo Shúile", better known by it's hymn tune name "Slane" or the English title, "Be Thou My Vision."
I grew up with the English translation in the Methodist Hymnal. Translations seem to show some variation in wording, some are a little more traditional and Old English in feel, others have a more modern language appeal. Different hymnals have different numbers of verses, for example the Hymnal 1982 used in the Episcopal church only contains 3 verses. This is the translation by Eleanor Hull from 1912.
#1
Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart;
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art.
Thou my best Thought, by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.
Be Thou my Wisdom, and Thou my true Word;
I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord;
Thou my great Father, I Thy true son;
Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.
Be Thou my battle Shield, Sword for the fight;
Be Thou my Dignity, Thou my Delight;
Thou my soul’s Shelter, Thou my high Tower:
Raise Thou me heavenward, O Power of my power.
Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise,
Thou mine Inheritance, now and always:
Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,
High King of Heaven, my Treasure Thou art.
High King of Heaven, my victory won,
May I reach Heaven’s joys, O bright Heaven’s Sun!
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
Still be my Vision, O Ruler of all.
#2
My second is one originally written in English, a poem by Timothy Dudley-Smith (b. 1926) based on Psalm 19.
The stars declare his glory;
the vault of heaven springs,
mute witness of the Master's hand
in all created things,
and through the silences of space
their soundless music sings.
The dawn returns in splendor,
the heavens burn and blaze,
the rising sun renews the race
that measures all our days,
and writes in fire across the skies
God's majesty and praise.
So shine the Lord's commandments
to make the simple wise;
more sweet than honey to the taste,
more rich than any prize,
a law of love within our hearts,
a light before our eyes.
So order too this life of mine,
direct it all my days;
the meditations of my heart
be innocence and praise,
my rock, and my redeeming Lord,
in all my words and ways.
#3
This is one where I like the words better than the tune.
Words by George Matheson: "My hymn was composed in the manse of Innelan [Argyleshire, Scotland] on the evening of the 6th of June, 1882, when I was 40 years of age. I was alone in the manse at that time. It was the night of my sister’s marriage, and the rest of the family were staying overnight in Glasgow. Something happened to me, which was known only to myself, and which caused me the most severe mental suffering. The hymn was the fruit of that suffering. It was the quickest bit of work I ever did in my life. I had the impression of having it dictated to me by some inward voice rather than of working it out myself. I am quite sure that the whole work was completed in five minutes, and equally sure that it never received at my hands any retouching or correction. I have no natural gift of rhythm. All the other verses I have ever written are manufactured articles; this came like a dayspring from on high."
O Love that wilt not let me go,
I rest my weary soul in thee;
I give thee back the life I owe,
That in thine ocean depths its flow
May richer, fuller be.
O light that followest all my way,
I yield my flickering torch to thee;
My heart restores its borrowed ray,
That in thy sunshine’s blaze its day
May brighter, fairer be.
O Joy that seekest me through pain,
I cannot close my heart to thee;
I trace the rainbow through the rain,
And feel the promise is not vain,
That morn shall tearless be.
O Cross that liftest up my head,
I dare not ask to fly from thee;
I lay in dust life’s glory dead,
And from the ground there blossoms red
Life that shall endless be.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Sunny day, chasing the clouds away...
http://achangeoftune.blogspot.com/
Yes, this post is about Sesame Street, where the good music goes to relax and educate. Norah Jones and Leslie Feist are among those. I think this probably goes hand in hand with my love of covers.
I wonder a bit about how much a two year old really takes from these cameo appearance by great musicians and actors, but I forget that the target audience of Sesame Street is more than just young children. There are the parents and caretakers who watch too, myself included. I never expected that my nanny job to provide musical material for me to explore. This first video of Leslie Feist singing new lyrics to the hit from her 2007 release "The Reminder." The video for "1,2,3,4" was shot in a single take and featured in an iPod commercial the same year, rocketing her quiet indie status to a mainstream pedestal. I assume that's about where Sesame Street picked her up. She now takes her place among some of the greatest performers of all time, from Little Richard to Marilyn Horne.
When I first discovered these little pieces of pop culture crossing into other pieces of pop culture, I got so excited. I'm fascinated by the creative combinations
Feel free to explore on my new favorite Youtube channel SesameStreet.
"1, 2, 3, 4 penguins that went by the door..."
Just listen and enjoy.
Elmo is so precious.
Another recent sky rocketing from relative obscurity to world wide fame with Jason Mraz and his hit "I'm Yours." Now retitled, "Outdoors"
Marilyn Horne! One of my favorite voices of all time.
One bonus, non musical, celebrity appearance. Love this man.
Yes, this post is about Sesame Street, where the good music goes to relax and educate. Norah Jones and Leslie Feist are among those. I think this probably goes hand in hand with my love of covers.
I wonder a bit about how much a two year old really takes from these cameo appearance by great musicians and actors, but I forget that the target audience of Sesame Street is more than just young children. There are the parents and caretakers who watch too, myself included. I never expected that my nanny job to provide musical material for me to explore. This first video of Leslie Feist singing new lyrics to the hit from her 2007 release "The Reminder." The video for "1,2,3,4" was shot in a single take and featured in an iPod commercial the same year, rocketing her quiet indie status to a mainstream pedestal. I assume that's about where Sesame Street picked her up. She now takes her place among some of the greatest performers of all time, from Little Richard to Marilyn Horne.
When I first discovered these little pieces of pop culture crossing into other pieces of pop culture, I got so excited. I'm fascinated by the creative combinations
Feel free to explore on my new favorite Youtube channel SesameStreet.
"1, 2, 3, 4 penguins that went by the door..."
Just listen and enjoy.
Elmo is so precious.
Another recent sky rocketing from relative obscurity to world wide fame with Jason Mraz and his hit "I'm Yours." Now retitled, "Outdoors"
Marilyn Horne! One of my favorite voices of all time.
One bonus, non musical, celebrity appearance. Love this man.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Sharing the limelight: Ben Sollee
It was brought to my attention that, for a headliner, he shares the spotlight almost constantly. Whether the spotlight is shared with the cause of his choice, or with the musicians he's playing with, there is an air of graciousness about Ben Sollee's playing.
Everything seems to be handcrafted to make each moment about something more than him. There were beautiful, transcendent moments like Try, Try, Try (featured below) and moments of pure hilarity, thanks to a cover of Tom Waits' of Chocolate Jesus.
Ben Sollee LIVE @ WFPK Live Lunch June 2008: Try (re-mastered in HD) from Keith Robbins on Vimeo.
Friday, February 26, 2010
I'm back! And obsessed with this song
Les Trois Cloches AKA The Three Bells
In it's English words, it's often called Jimmy Brown or Little Jimmy Brown.
I guess I originally heard this song sung by Edith Piaf in French on an Artists Choice disc, favorite songs by Joni Mitchell. It was a beautiful song, and one that introduced me to Piaf. The song never struck me as of importance until I recognized the tune listening to WNCW one afternoon. The English version, recorded by The Browns sounded strangely familiar as I drove. I couldn't place it, so I began to Google. At first I couldn't remember the title, but once I figured it out I realized where I knew the tune from.
Click here to watch Edith and her ensemble Les Compagnons de la Chanson.
You can watch the version by The Browns here, and then my personal favorite by Allison Krauss here
It's a sad song, but beautiful in both languages.
[Originally a French tune written in 1945]
[Original French words by Bert Reisfeld]
[Music by Jean Villard]
[English words added by Dick Manning]
There's a village hidden deep in the valley
Among the pine trees half forlorn
And there on a sunny morning
Little Jimmy Brown was born
All the chapel bells were ringing
In the little valley town
And the songs that they were singing
Were for baby Jimmy Brown
Then the little congregation
Prayed for guidance from above
Lead us not into temptation,
Bless this hour of meditation
Guide him with eternal love
There's a village hidden deep in the valley
Beneath the mountains high above
And there, twenty years thereafter
Jimmy was to meet his love
All the chapel bells were ringing,
Was a great day in his life
Cause the songs that they were singing
Were for Jimmy and his wife
Then the little congregation
Prayed for guidance from above
Lead us not into temptation,
Bless oh Lord this celebration
May their lives be filled with love
From the village hidden deep in the valley
One rainy morning dark and gray
A soul winged its way to heaven
Jimmy Brown had passed away
Just a lonely bell was ringing
In the little valley town
Twas farewell that it was singing
To our good old Jimmy Brown
And the little congregation
Prayed for guidance from above
Lead us not into temptation,
May his soul find the salvation
Of thy great eternal love
In it's English words, it's often called Jimmy Brown or Little Jimmy Brown.
I guess I originally heard this song sung by Edith Piaf in French on an Artists Choice disc, favorite songs by Joni Mitchell. It was a beautiful song, and one that introduced me to Piaf. The song never struck me as of importance until I recognized the tune listening to WNCW one afternoon. The English version, recorded by The Browns sounded strangely familiar as I drove. I couldn't place it, so I began to Google. At first I couldn't remember the title, but once I figured it out I realized where I knew the tune from.
Click here to watch Edith and her ensemble Les Compagnons de la Chanson.
You can watch the version by The Browns here, and then my personal favorite by Allison Krauss here
It's a sad song, but beautiful in both languages.
[Originally a French tune written in 1945]
[Original French words by Bert Reisfeld]
[Music by Jean Villard]
[English words added by Dick Manning]
There's a village hidden deep in the valley
Among the pine trees half forlorn
And there on a sunny morning
Little Jimmy Brown was born
All the chapel bells were ringing
In the little valley town
And the songs that they were singing
Were for baby Jimmy Brown
Then the little congregation
Prayed for guidance from above
Lead us not into temptation,
Bless this hour of meditation
Guide him with eternal love
There's a village hidden deep in the valley
Beneath the mountains high above
And there, twenty years thereafter
Jimmy was to meet his love
All the chapel bells were ringing,
Was a great day in his life
Cause the songs that they were singing
Were for Jimmy and his wife
Then the little congregation
Prayed for guidance from above
Lead us not into temptation,
Bless oh Lord this celebration
May their lives be filled with love
From the village hidden deep in the valley
One rainy morning dark and gray
A soul winged its way to heaven
Jimmy Brown had passed away
Just a lonely bell was ringing
In the little valley town
Twas farewell that it was singing
To our good old Jimmy Brown
And the little congregation
Prayed for guidance from above
Lead us not into temptation,
May his soul find the salvation
Of thy great eternal love
Saturday, August 15, 2009
SXSE
WARNING: Shameless self-promotion in this post.
In my mind I've been thinking of offering my assistance to my familyfriends (these friends are family too, so henceforth, when i say family or friends i mean they are one entity). I have a small, but growing number of contacts in the Carolina music scene who I could share, along with a hung connection to encouraging my demographic to participate in a wonderful organization.
A brief description and video.
SouthxSoutheast Website
"The South by Southeast Music Feast is a local non-profit/charitable organization formed in 2003 by a group of Myrtle Beach, SC area music lovers and educators to preserve and promote American music not usually heard in traditional venues.
Our mission is to provide assistance and support to local music education programs, with our goal being to offset some costs associated with the musical education of young people in our area. In this time of budget cuts and strangulation of funding for the arts, our goal is to help young people in their pursuit of the joys of music."
My two cents.
I'd like to be the one to tap in to advertising and raising awareness through social media (as it is now being called) such as this blog, Facebook, and Myspace. We have a website, but it's not likely that it gets much traffic. I know that there going to be some changes in the way its run business wise that will hopefully keep us afloat, and Weekly Surge, a magazine in Myrtle Beach, recently published an amazing article telling our story and really promoting us well. View it here.
http://achangeoftune.blogspot.com
In my mind I've been thinking of offering my assistance to my familyfriends (these friends are family too, so henceforth, when i say family or friends i mean they are one entity). I have a small, but growing number of contacts in the Carolina music scene who I could share, along with a hung connection to encouraging my demographic to participate in a wonderful organization.
A brief description and video.
SouthxSoutheast Website
"The South by Southeast Music Feast is a local non-profit/charitable organization formed in 2003 by a group of Myrtle Beach, SC area music lovers and educators to preserve and promote American music not usually heard in traditional venues.
Our mission is to provide assistance and support to local music education programs, with our goal being to offset some costs associated with the musical education of young people in our area. In this time of budget cuts and strangulation of funding for the arts, our goal is to help young people in their pursuit of the joys of music."
My two cents.
I'd like to be the one to tap in to advertising and raising awareness through social media (as it is now being called) such as this blog, Facebook, and Myspace. We have a website, but it's not likely that it gets much traffic. I know that there going to be some changes in the way its run business wise that will hopefully keep us afloat, and Weekly Surge, a magazine in Myrtle Beach, recently published an amazing article telling our story and really promoting us well. View it here.
http://achangeoftune.blogspot.com
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Chills
Thanks to Dr. Robbin's American Pop Music class junior year, I've been well acquainted with a version of "Hound Dog" that gives me chills. Yes. I know how could Elvis singing "Hound Dog" give me chills? How could just the song? There's nothing incredible moving or special about the song except for one woman.
The meaning of the song wasn't fully clear to me until I heard Big Mama Thornton sing it. It's incredible. On NPR today I discovered a video of her that I'd never seen before. I started listening and chills just moved through my body.
Check it out.
http://achangeoftune.blogspot.com/
The meaning of the song wasn't fully clear to me until I heard Big Mama Thornton sing it. It's incredible. On NPR today I discovered a video of her that I'd never seen before. I started listening and chills just moved through my body.
Check it out.
http://achangeoftune.blogspot.com/
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Grace like rain
Part of being involved in arts education is being aware in greater detail than usual of the personal lives of those you are working with. And with that, seeing the accomplishments of students who have endured not only their daily artistic struggles but their own personal trials, both their deepest emtions and with their relationships with those around them.
I rarely find myself in tears during a classical music performance. However, when I do, there are is some amount of knowledge that is not obvious about the performer or the situation surrounding the event. Last week when the kids from the Academy program at the summer SC Governor's School for the Arts gave their recitals, I had the privilege of attending 3 out of the 4 music recitals. On Friday, I found myself wiping my eyes as one of the girls in my building sang her sweet, but broken heart out.
Prior to coming to Governor's school she had experienced a tremendous loss in her family, there were multiple deaths, including her mother. I watched her during those two weeks, struggle to find her place between her friends who cared for her and her deep sadness and depression. There were some difficult nights for her, but when the last night of the program came around, it appeared that she had gone through the program with no problem. She gave what was probably the best performance of her life.
My tears were a mix of being so taken by her talent and a level of pride in her victory. I was reminded in that moment of what makes it all worth it. My roll as a residential life counselor is perhaps not as important to her artistic development per se, but I think that the nurturing of the spirit, which falls in the realm of my duties, is essential to the nurturing of the artist. I love my job. I love being a part of the artistic growth of kids. I love working with kids in general, but to see them excell in the arts, and continue to impress me with their passion and professionalism, makes it so worth it.
I'm looking forward to that same feeling as I watch the Discovery program recitals next week.
I rarely find myself in tears during a classical music performance. However, when I do, there are is some amount of knowledge that is not obvious about the performer or the situation surrounding the event. Last week when the kids from the Academy program at the summer SC Governor's School for the Arts gave their recitals, I had the privilege of attending 3 out of the 4 music recitals. On Friday, I found myself wiping my eyes as one of the girls in my building sang her sweet, but broken heart out.
Prior to coming to Governor's school she had experienced a tremendous loss in her family, there were multiple deaths, including her mother. I watched her during those two weeks, struggle to find her place between her friends who cared for her and her deep sadness and depression. There were some difficult nights for her, but when the last night of the program came around, it appeared that she had gone through the program with no problem. She gave what was probably the best performance of her life.
My tears were a mix of being so taken by her talent and a level of pride in her victory. I was reminded in that moment of what makes it all worth it. My roll as a residential life counselor is perhaps not as important to her artistic development per se, but I think that the nurturing of the spirit, which falls in the realm of my duties, is essential to the nurturing of the artist. I love my job. I love being a part of the artistic growth of kids. I love working with kids in general, but to see them excell in the arts, and continue to impress me with their passion and professionalism, makes it so worth it.
I'm looking forward to that same feeling as I watch the Discovery program recitals next week.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Music+Camping=The Music Camp
Image credit: John GrubbsThe Duhks, the Belleville Outfit, the Infamous String Dusters, the Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Boombox, Donna the Buffalo, Casey Driessen, and many others came together for two days of incredible music and beautiful weather in the South Carolina foothills. The crowd braved the heat during the daylight hours finding seeting in the shade and keeping their cooler's close. But at night was when the real heat was turned on. The majority of the crowd, old and young, swelled toward the stage and the energy created by the music fed the crowd's dancing and singing. In turn, the bands truly responded to the excitement and festive spirit of the audience. Bathing suits, body paint, and beers were the name of the game along with swimming with friends in the river to keep cool and rinse of the dirt and sweat of the day after the music was over.
The low-key nature of the festival gave the musicians the ability to relax into the jovial atmostphere of the hot southern hills, frequently making guest appearances with one another during sets and dancing with festival goers during late night concerts. The bands, especially the Dirty Dozen Brass Band, encouraged audiences to be participatory, even calling them up on stage.
I spent the weekend at a fledgling music festival in Spartanburg called The Music Camp. The majority of attendees set up camp in the field and forest that surrounded the festival grounds. Tents and campers created temporary community of individuals dedicated to loving music and the outdoors.
Donna the Buffalo kicked off the night on Friday with their rollicking, exhuberant zydeco and Americana got the crowd dancing. The energy snowballed as The Duhks launched headlong into an incredible set. I happened to meet a little girl named Katie that had been seeing Duhks concerts since their first singer, Jessi. She sang along to all of the songs and new all about the band members. Luckily, her love of music has led her to take violin lessons. I hope to see her again.
After The Duhks played overtime, the Dirty Dozen Brass Band of New Orleans continued the French/American/Canadian/African connections. They invited Ms. Sarah Dugas of the Duhks to sing with them, and eventually several audience members to dance during a call and response style blues jam.
The Infamous String Dusters lead the crowd into the nighttime on Saturday, preparing the way for hometown favorites and organizers of the very special festival, the Belleville Outfit. The band features 3 members who are Spartanburg natives. Rob and Jeff took it upon themselves to use their connections to bring together the people and the bands. The crowd was incredibly appreciative of their hard work and their music. Heartfelt thanks were made and the audience really soaked up their amazing set.
A change of pace came for the last set of the festival. Even when Boombox was setting up, it was clear this would be a differnt set than those before it. Electronic music equipment filled the stage and only one guitar. No fiddles or banjos. The main lights went down and beat rose from an unseen instrument as the color filled the stage. The dancing changed and so did the mood. Everyone danced themselves into exhaustion until just around 2am before everything fell silent for the night.
It's safe to say that it was a hit and I think everyone's looking forward to seeing something just as spectacular next year.
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