Tonic Jukebox History
WEEK 55 - Water Overflow
There were so many possible pieces for last week's theme of water that we have decided to let it overflow into this week.
If you were expecting something to appear last week and were disappointed, perhaps you will find your tune this coming week.
Monday March 29
Vltava (from Má vlast)
Má vlast (My Fatherland) is a set of six symphonic poems composed between 1874 and 1879 by the Czech composer Bedřich Smetana.
The most well-known movement of Má vlast is Vltava. The name is that of one of the region's main rivers, known as Die Moldau in German or The Moldau. In the composer's own words: "The composition describes the course of the Vltava, starting from the two small springs, the Cold and Warm Vltava, to the unification of both streams into a single current, the course of the Vltava through woods and meadows, through landscapes where a farmer's wedding is celebrated, the round dance of the mermaids in the night's moonshine: on the nearby rocks loom proud castles, palaces and ruins aloft. The Vltava swirls into the St John's Rapids; then it widens and flows toward Prague, past the Vyšehrad, and then majestically vanishes into the distance."
If you listen carefully you will hear a phrase that sounds very much like a well-known national anthem. Later this week I will get Bryan to put his explanation of this on Facebook.
I chose this recording for two reasons. Firstly for the speed, slower than some I found. Secondly for the performance location. Many of you will recognise the hall where we attended a Fiddler on the Roof workshop with Mary King. She kindly invited Bryan and me to sing with her and some of the BBC Singers on the stage, occupied here by the orchestra. Can it really be six years ago?
Performance (15 mins)
Tuesday March 30
Cry me a river
Cry Me a River is a popular American torch song, written by Arthur Hamilton, first published in 1953 and made famous in 1955 with the version by Julie London. Follow the link to read about the song's interesting origins. The song was written for Ella Fitzgerald and so I include both versions. Let me know (on Facebook) which you prefer.
Performance (Julie London)
Performance (Ella Fitzgerald)
Wednesday March 31
Song to the Moon (from Rusalka)
Rusalka is an opera by Antonín Dvořák. A rusalka is a water sprite from Slavic mythology, usually inhabiting a lake or river. At this point in the story, Rusalka, the water-nymph (sprite), tells her father she has fallen in love with a human Prince who comes to hunt around the lake, and she wants to become human to embrace him. He tells her it is a bad idea, but nonetheless steers her to a witch, Ježibaba, for assistance. Rusalka sings her Song to the Moon, asking it to tell the Prince of her love.
This performance from the Royal Opera House was recorded last year in an almost empty opera house. The orchestra are in the stalls and on stage you will see Latvian soprano Kristine Opolais. Tony Pappano conducts.
Performance
Thursday April 1
Bridge over Troubled Water
Bridge over Troubled Water is a song composed by American singer-songwriter Paul Simon and recorded by Simon & Garfunkel. The song is featured on their fifth studio album, Bridge over Troubled Water (1970). Garfunkel performs lead vocals over a piano accompaniment exhibiting strong influence of gospel music. Simon felt his partner should sing the song solo, an invitation Garfunkel initially declined but later accepted.
Performance
Friday April 2
Moon River
Moon River is a song composed by Henry Mancini with lyrics by Johnny Mercer. It was originally performed by Audrey Hepburn in the 1961 movie Breakfast at Tiffany's, winning an Academy Award for Best Original Song. So many artists have covered this wonderful song. I so like this song and on one occasion I got to sing it with a band at a function. Although I grew up associating this with Andy Williams (I never missed his weekly show), I have chosen someone else for today. I think you will like it.
Performance
Weekend April 3/4
The Blue Danube
The Blue Danube is the commonly used English title of An der schönen, blauen Donau (On the Beautiful Blue Danube), a waltz by the Austrian composer Johann Strauss II, composed in 1866. I cannot hear this piece without seeing images from Stanley Kubrick's 1968 film 2001: A Space Odyssey. It was an inspired choice for the movie. Here's something interesting. You all know, I am sure, that for a waltz we count three beats to a bar. Usually this is a regular 1-2-3, 1-2-3, etc. But the Viennese waltz has an occasional variation. Some say the second beat comes early, others that the third beat is delayed. Bryan says it is a bit of both. Listen out for this in today's piece, one of the most famous and popular Viennese waltzes of all time.
Performance
If you were expecting something to appear last week and were disappointed, perhaps you will find your tune this coming week.
Monday March 29
Vltava (from Má vlast)
Má vlast (My Fatherland) is a set of six symphonic poems composed between 1874 and 1879 by the Czech composer Bedřich Smetana.
The most well-known movement of Má vlast is Vltava. The name is that of one of the region's main rivers, known as Die Moldau in German or The Moldau. In the composer's own words: "The composition describes the course of the Vltava, starting from the two small springs, the Cold and Warm Vltava, to the unification of both streams into a single current, the course of the Vltava through woods and meadows, through landscapes where a farmer's wedding is celebrated, the round dance of the mermaids in the night's moonshine: on the nearby rocks loom proud castles, palaces and ruins aloft. The Vltava swirls into the St John's Rapids; then it widens and flows toward Prague, past the Vyšehrad, and then majestically vanishes into the distance."
If you listen carefully you will hear a phrase that sounds very much like a well-known national anthem. Later this week I will get Bryan to put his explanation of this on Facebook.
I chose this recording for two reasons. Firstly for the speed, slower than some I found. Secondly for the performance location. Many of you will recognise the hall where we attended a Fiddler on the Roof workshop with Mary King. She kindly invited Bryan and me to sing with her and some of the BBC Singers on the stage, occupied here by the orchestra. Can it really be six years ago?
Performance (15 mins)
Tuesday March 30
Cry me a river
Cry Me a River is a popular American torch song, written by Arthur Hamilton, first published in 1953 and made famous in 1955 with the version by Julie London. Follow the link to read about the song's interesting origins. The song was written for Ella Fitzgerald and so I include both versions. Let me know (on Facebook) which you prefer.
Performance (Julie London)
Performance (Ella Fitzgerald)
Wednesday March 31
Song to the Moon (from Rusalka)
Rusalka is an opera by Antonín Dvořák. A rusalka is a water sprite from Slavic mythology, usually inhabiting a lake or river. At this point in the story, Rusalka, the water-nymph (sprite), tells her father she has fallen in love with a human Prince who comes to hunt around the lake, and she wants to become human to embrace him. He tells her it is a bad idea, but nonetheless steers her to a witch, Ježibaba, for assistance. Rusalka sings her Song to the Moon, asking it to tell the Prince of her love.
This performance from the Royal Opera House was recorded last year in an almost empty opera house. The orchestra are in the stalls and on stage you will see Latvian soprano Kristine Opolais. Tony Pappano conducts.
Performance
Thursday April 1
Bridge over Troubled Water
Bridge over Troubled Water is a song composed by American singer-songwriter Paul Simon and recorded by Simon & Garfunkel. The song is featured on their fifth studio album, Bridge over Troubled Water (1970). Garfunkel performs lead vocals over a piano accompaniment exhibiting strong influence of gospel music. Simon felt his partner should sing the song solo, an invitation Garfunkel initially declined but later accepted.
Performance
Friday April 2
Moon River
Moon River is a song composed by Henry Mancini with lyrics by Johnny Mercer. It was originally performed by Audrey Hepburn in the 1961 movie Breakfast at Tiffany's, winning an Academy Award for Best Original Song. So many artists have covered this wonderful song. I so like this song and on one occasion I got to sing it with a band at a function. Although I grew up associating this with Andy Williams (I never missed his weekly show), I have chosen someone else for today. I think you will like it.
Performance
Weekend April 3/4
The Blue Danube
The Blue Danube is the commonly used English title of An der schönen, blauen Donau (On the Beautiful Blue Danube), a waltz by the Austrian composer Johann Strauss II, composed in 1866. I cannot hear this piece without seeing images from Stanley Kubrick's 1968 film 2001: A Space Odyssey. It was an inspired choice for the movie. Here's something interesting. You all know, I am sure, that for a waltz we count three beats to a bar. Usually this is a regular 1-2-3, 1-2-3, etc. But the Viennese waltz has an occasional variation. Some say the second beat comes early, others that the third beat is delayed. Bryan says it is a bit of both. Listen out for this in today's piece, one of the most famous and popular Viennese waltzes of all time.
Performance