Tonic Jukebox History
WEEK 49 - Bears and other pets
To honour Tonic Choir's pet (mascot), Beary Tone, I have chosen music that I think he would appreciate. So the theme this week, loosely, is Bears.
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Monday February 15
Night on Bare Mountain
Also known as Night on the Bald Mountain, this is a series of compositions by Modest Mussorgsky (1839–1881).
The genesis of this piece is quite a long story. If you are interested follow the link above.
Short version (3 mins)
Full version (13 mins)
Tuesday February 16
The Bare Necessities
The Jungle Book is a 1967 American animated musical comedy film produced by Walt Disney Productions. It is based on Rudyard Kipling's 1894 book of the same name. The score features eight original songs: seven by the Sherman Brothers and one by Terry Gilkyson. Longtime Disney collaborator Gilkyson was the first songwriter to bring several complete songs that followed the book closely but Walt Disney felt that his efforts were too dark. The only piece of Gilkyson's work which survived to the final film was his upbeat tune The Bare Necessities, which was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song but lost to Talk to the Animals from Doctor Dolittle. The Sherman Brothers were then brought in to do a complete rewrite.
Performance
Wednesday February 17
Song to the Evening Star (O du mein holder Abendstern)
This beautiful song from Wagner's Tannhäuser is sung here by one of my favourite bearytones (sic), Christian Gerhaher.
I saw him make his Royal Opera debut in 2010 in Tannhäuser as Wolfram von Eschenbach. It was an Olivier Award-winning performance. Although there are plenty of other recordings, I particularly wanted you to hear Gerhaher, even though this video is rather strange.
7.11.21: This recording is not longer available. Bryn Terfel is an excellent replacement.
Performance
Lyrics
Thursday February 18
Listen to the rain on the roof
If you have not yet seen the movie Paddington 2 (it's very good for bears and humans, as is the first Paddington movie) you will have missed this routine. Watch Hugh Grant as you never seen him before. In his award-winning performance Grant plays a (comedy) retired actor/villain who is eventually caught and sent to prison. He helps the inmates to put on a show and here we see him in a glorious song and dance routine.
Performance
Friday February 19
Thank You For The Music
In Swedish the word for 'bear' is 'björn', so enter singer-songwriter Björn Ulvaeus, one quarter of the group, ABBA. It was difficult to choose one song, but choose I must and this one seemed very appropriate.
Performance
Well, perhaps just one more. Here is one from the musical, Chess, in which Ulvaeus had a hand in both the music and the lyrics.
Perfomance
Weekend February 20/21 - National Love Your Pet Day
WARNING: There is no connection with bears in this piece.
Walking the Dog (Promenade)
As many people have dogs, Walking the Dog, seemed an appropriate choice for National Love Your Pet Day.
This is one of many musical numbers written in 1937 by George Gershwin for the film Shall We Dance. The film stars Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers and this piece accompanies a sequence of walking a dog on board a luxury liner. In 1960, the sequence was published under the title of Promenade. This was one of the last pieces Gershwin wrote as he died in 1937, aged 38.
Performance
Weekend Extra
Barefoot in the Park
Barefoot in the Park is a 1967 American romantic comedy film directed by Gene Saks from a screenplay by Neil Simon, adapted from his 1963 play of the same name. Here is the music for the titles of the film. I think it is typical of 'rom com' movie music of the 1960s. And our final bare (bear) of the week.
Performance
Night on Bare Mountain
Also known as Night on the Bald Mountain, this is a series of compositions by Modest Mussorgsky (1839–1881).
The genesis of this piece is quite a long story. If you are interested follow the link above.
Short version (3 mins)
Full version (13 mins)
Tuesday February 16
The Bare Necessities
The Jungle Book is a 1967 American animated musical comedy film produced by Walt Disney Productions. It is based on Rudyard Kipling's 1894 book of the same name. The score features eight original songs: seven by the Sherman Brothers and one by Terry Gilkyson. Longtime Disney collaborator Gilkyson was the first songwriter to bring several complete songs that followed the book closely but Walt Disney felt that his efforts were too dark. The only piece of Gilkyson's work which survived to the final film was his upbeat tune The Bare Necessities, which was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song but lost to Talk to the Animals from Doctor Dolittle. The Sherman Brothers were then brought in to do a complete rewrite.
Performance
Wednesday February 17
Song to the Evening Star (O du mein holder Abendstern)
This beautiful song from Wagner's Tannhäuser is sung here by one of my favourite bearytones (sic), Christian Gerhaher.
I saw him make his Royal Opera debut in 2010 in Tannhäuser as Wolfram von Eschenbach. It was an Olivier Award-winning performance. Although there are plenty of other recordings, I particularly wanted you to hear Gerhaher, even though this video is rather strange.
7.11.21: This recording is not longer available. Bryn Terfel is an excellent replacement.
Performance
Lyrics
Thursday February 18
Listen to the rain on the roof
If you have not yet seen the movie Paddington 2 (it's very good for bears and humans, as is the first Paddington movie) you will have missed this routine. Watch Hugh Grant as you never seen him before. In his award-winning performance Grant plays a (comedy) retired actor/villain who is eventually caught and sent to prison. He helps the inmates to put on a show and here we see him in a glorious song and dance routine.
Performance
Friday February 19
Thank You For The Music
In Swedish the word for 'bear' is 'björn', so enter singer-songwriter Björn Ulvaeus, one quarter of the group, ABBA. It was difficult to choose one song, but choose I must and this one seemed very appropriate.
Performance
Well, perhaps just one more. Here is one from the musical, Chess, in which Ulvaeus had a hand in both the music and the lyrics.
Perfomance
Weekend February 20/21 - National Love Your Pet Day
WARNING: There is no connection with bears in this piece.
Walking the Dog (Promenade)
As many people have dogs, Walking the Dog, seemed an appropriate choice for National Love Your Pet Day.
This is one of many musical numbers written in 1937 by George Gershwin for the film Shall We Dance. The film stars Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers and this piece accompanies a sequence of walking a dog on board a luxury liner. In 1960, the sequence was published under the title of Promenade. This was one of the last pieces Gershwin wrote as he died in 1937, aged 38.
Performance
Weekend Extra
Barefoot in the Park
Barefoot in the Park is a 1967 American romantic comedy film directed by Gene Saks from a screenplay by Neil Simon, adapted from his 1963 play of the same name. Here is the music for the titles of the film. I think it is typical of 'rom com' movie music of the 1960s. And our final bare (bear) of the week.
Performance