Tonic Jukebox History
WEEK 26 - America 2
This week we are continuing with our America theme. So many great tunes.
Monday September 7
Fanfare for the Common Man
Aaron Copland (1900 – 1990) was an American composer, composition teacher, writer, and later a conductor of his own and other American music. This piece is one of his best known compositions. Some of you know how much I like the sound of the French horn. Lots of them here, plus trumpets and trombones. Glorious.
This recording is from the BBC Proms and the conductor is the genial Andrew Davis.
Every week should start with a fanfare.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ryHDsQIYJs
Tuesday September 8
Ragtime Cowboy Joe
This popular song dates from 1912. The lyrics were written by Grant Clarke and the music was composed by Lewis F. Muir and Maurice Abrahams. Here it is performed by Bryan .. and Bryan .. and Bryan .. and Bryan.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vembu7A9CF4
Wednesday September 9
Washington Post March
John Philip Sousa (1854–1932) was an American composer and conductor known primarily for American military marches. Sousa helped in the development of the sousaphone, a large brass instrument similar to the tuba. It was designed to be easier to play than the concert tuba while standing or marching, as well as to carry the sound of the instrument above the heads of the band.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gzIH7vytjEE
Thursday September 10
Blue Suede Shoes
I cannot believe I chose this one. It’s not me at all.
But it is quintessentially American.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6BbL4DrrBo
Friday September 11
Porgy and Bess (Summertime)
The great American opera written by George and Ira Gershwin, and DuBose Heyward in 1935.
A beautiful rendition of Summertime is here sung by our own Nadine Benjamin, who some of us saw make her ENO debut in this role (2018).
This recording was made in the Henry Wood Hall, a short walk from London Bridge Station.
The hall is a popular venue for rehearsals and recordings. and is a key part of the Tonic story.
In March 2006 I attended my first session with Mary King as part of the ENO Baylis scheme.
We sang choruses from the opera Sir John in Love (Ralph Vaughan Williams), which is based on Shakespeare's The Merry Wives of Windsor.
It was my introduction to both Mary and choral singing.
That weekend sowed the seed which 3 years later blossomed into the Tonic Choir.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=91ANcPraYZY
Weekend September 12/13
Hamilton, An American Musical
Until a few days ago, ‘Hamilton’ for me meant Lewis Hamilton, possibly the best Formula 1 driver of all time.
I had dismissed the other Hamilton as being ‘not for me’.
I admit that I had not even listened to an entire song.
I berate people for not giving opera a chance and here I was making the same mistake.
So with the theme of America I decided I had to give Hamilton (the musical) a chance.
After all, it is about one of the founding fathers of the USA.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Hamilton
And the critical response to this musical has been extraordinary.
I was blown away by these two clips.
I confess I don’t think I could manage a whole evening of this, but these two numbers are terrific.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b5VqyCQV1Tg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ECzlMYRKLg
In case you were wondering, next week will not be America 3.
Fanfare for the Common Man
Aaron Copland (1900 – 1990) was an American composer, composition teacher, writer, and later a conductor of his own and other American music. This piece is one of his best known compositions. Some of you know how much I like the sound of the French horn. Lots of them here, plus trumpets and trombones. Glorious.
This recording is from the BBC Proms and the conductor is the genial Andrew Davis.
Every week should start with a fanfare.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ryHDsQIYJs
Tuesday September 8
Ragtime Cowboy Joe
This popular song dates from 1912. The lyrics were written by Grant Clarke and the music was composed by Lewis F. Muir and Maurice Abrahams. Here it is performed by Bryan .. and Bryan .. and Bryan .. and Bryan.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vembu7A9CF4
Wednesday September 9
Washington Post March
John Philip Sousa (1854–1932) was an American composer and conductor known primarily for American military marches. Sousa helped in the development of the sousaphone, a large brass instrument similar to the tuba. It was designed to be easier to play than the concert tuba while standing or marching, as well as to carry the sound of the instrument above the heads of the band.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gzIH7vytjEE
Thursday September 10
Blue Suede Shoes
I cannot believe I chose this one. It’s not me at all.
But it is quintessentially American.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6BbL4DrrBo
Friday September 11
Porgy and Bess (Summertime)
The great American opera written by George and Ira Gershwin, and DuBose Heyward in 1935.
A beautiful rendition of Summertime is here sung by our own Nadine Benjamin, who some of us saw make her ENO debut in this role (2018).
This recording was made in the Henry Wood Hall, a short walk from London Bridge Station.
The hall is a popular venue for rehearsals and recordings. and is a key part of the Tonic story.
In March 2006 I attended my first session with Mary King as part of the ENO Baylis scheme.
We sang choruses from the opera Sir John in Love (Ralph Vaughan Williams), which is based on Shakespeare's The Merry Wives of Windsor.
It was my introduction to both Mary and choral singing.
That weekend sowed the seed which 3 years later blossomed into the Tonic Choir.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=91ANcPraYZY
Weekend September 12/13
Hamilton, An American Musical
Until a few days ago, ‘Hamilton’ for me meant Lewis Hamilton, possibly the best Formula 1 driver of all time.
I had dismissed the other Hamilton as being ‘not for me’.
I admit that I had not even listened to an entire song.
I berate people for not giving opera a chance and here I was making the same mistake.
So with the theme of America I decided I had to give Hamilton (the musical) a chance.
After all, it is about one of the founding fathers of the USA.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Hamilton
And the critical response to this musical has been extraordinary.
I was blown away by these two clips.
I confess I don’t think I could manage a whole evening of this, but these two numbers are terrific.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b5VqyCQV1Tg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ECzlMYRKLg
In case you were wondering, next week will not be America 3.