Folk Tunes

For a "YouTube clip for a peaceful weekend":

In this video, we hear a selection of folk tunes assembled by Béla Bartók that were presented during an installment of Noontime Concerts in November, 2017, at Old St. Mary's Cathedral in San Francisco.

Cue Laura Griffiths on oboe and Miles Graber at the piano:

Video by Kevin McGlynn.

Shenandoah

I've shared the beautiful folk song "Shenandoah" in this space once before.

It's been a favorite of mine since I sang it with the community chorus in my hometown years and years ago.

Today, I came across a beautiful take on the tune by VOCES8.  Here it is for a "YouTube clip for a peaceful weekend."

Peace:

How High The Moon

This year, Eric's dad and stepmom are both marking major birthdays as well as their 25th wedding anniversary in December.  Two weeks ago, to help celebrate their milestones, we spent a fun long weekend together in Nashville, along with his Eric's two sisters and their husbands.

That Saturday evening, we went to the Grand Ole Opry.  Among the many performers were the Quebe Sisters (described as "triple-threat fiddle champions").  I was very happy to hear their cover of the '40s jazz standard "How High The Moon."

I've loved "How High The Moon" since I first heard it during the opening credits of the 1988 film "Biloxi Blues" in a lovely slow (even mournful) take by Pat Suzuki.

For a "YouTube clip for a peaceful weekend," here below are both of those renditions.

Peace:

The Silent Wish You Make

Recently, I have been doing some research on the work of lyricists Alan and Marilyn Bergman.  (Marilyn Bergman is a fellow graduate of NYU's undergraduate liberal arts college.)

While going through the many songs for which the couple has created lyrics, I came across a gorgeous rendition of "What Are You Doing The Rest Of Your Life?" performed by Stacey Kent and Jim Tomlinson.

Here it is below as a "YouTube clip for a peaceful weekend."

Peace:



P.S. This song was written for the 1969 film "The Happy Ending." But, I'd say it fits perfectly with the current-day #LoveWins hashtag.

Jay Livingston's Centennial

Jay Livingston at a McDonald anniversary

100 years ago today, on March 28, 1915, American songwriter Jay Livingston was born in McDonald, Pennsylvania (my hometown).

Earlier this week, the Observer-Reporter's Brad Hundt wrote about his youth in McDonald (when he was still known as Jacob Harold Levison).

Together with Ray Evans, Jay Livingston wrote the standards ''Mona Lisa'' and ''Que Será, Será,'' the 1948 Oscar-winning song ''Buttons and Bows,'' "Tammy" and many other songs.

The pair also wrote the theme music for the television shows ''Bonanza'' and ''Mr. Ed.''

In honor of this centennial, here is a "YouTube clip for a peaceful weekend" of Nat King Cole singing "Mona Lisa."

Peace:

Flashback: "Hear Them Ring"

Haul Out The Holly

It's that time of year.

For a "YouTube clip for a peaceful weekend," here is Angela Lansbury and friends singing "We Need a Little Christmas" as it was first heard in the 1966 musical "Mame."

Peace:



Hat-tip: Rev. Gerardo Ramirez, who made mention of this tune yesterday on Facebook.

Quis dabit oculis

For this week's "YouTube clip for a peaceful weekend," below is Costanzo Festa's beautiful and contemplative motet "Quis dabit oculis" (written in early 1514).  I think it lends itself well to the home stretch of Lent.

Pax:



Hat-tip: 500 Years Ago Today (a new Twitter account curated by yours truly)

It Goes Without Saying

I recently have begun to explore the music of Nico Muhly.  His Wikipedia profile describes him as a contemporary classical music composer and arranger.  Two loaded words there: "contemporary" and "classical."  I aspire to one day have the time and talent to properly unpack them.  But, before then, let's listen to one of Muhly's works in this space.

Below is the instrumental composition "It Goes Without Saying" for this week's "YouTube clip for a peaceful weekend."  It's a clarinet piece featuring "metallic noises" (including that of a kitchen whisk) and "warm, woody sounds."  It's a stretch to call this tune "peaceful" but it's a fun ride.

Pax:

A Million Miles Away

I love the pacing and peacefulness of "The Moon Song" from the movie "Her."  It speaks well of the quiet and tender moments of love that can be shared by two people.

Here it is below for this week's "YouTube clip for a peaceful weekend."

Peace:



Here are the tune's lyrics from the pens of Karen O and Spike Jonze:

"I'm lying on the moon
My dear, I'll be there soon
It's a quiet starry place
Time's we're swallowed up
In space we're here a million miles away

"There's things I wish I knew
There's no thing I'd keep from you
It's a dark and shiny place
But with you my dear
I'm safe and we're a million miles away

"We're lying on the moon
It's a perfect afternoon
Your shadow follows me all day
Making sure that I'm okay and
We're a million miles away"

Requiem for Two

On Monday afternoon, I attended the funeral Mass of Bill Penna.  Bill died February 12 at the age of 54 following a battle with cancer.  He was a member of a political organization in which I am active.  The Mass was beautifully celebrated at St. Catherine of Siena Church on New York City's Upper East Side by Fr. Jordon Kelly, O.P. (who I know from my old gig).

Bill's funeral began with a talented schola singing the Introit and Kyrie from the Requiem Mass composed by Maurice Duruflé.  Circa 1994 - 1995, I sang this powerful piece as a member of the NYU Choral Arts Society.  It's one you never forget.  I later asked Fr. Jordan if there is an ensemble of singers at every funeral at St. Catherine's.  "No," he replied, the schola and classical selections had been requested by Bill prior to his death.

On Tuesday morning, at St. Columbkille Church in the village of Imperial in Western Pennsylvania, a funeral Mass was celebrated for Helen Kramer.  Helen, who died February 13 at the age of 86, was the mother of my Aunt Kay and grandmother of my cousins Amy, Luke, Sara, Mary Ellen and Ben.  I was sorry I was not able to be present to help celebrate the long life of this wonderful woman who was so dedicated to her family and community.

In memory of Bill and Helen, below is the Duruflé Reqieum for this week's "YouTube clip for a peaceful weekend."  We pray that they are now in God's loving embrace.

Peace:

804 Kilometers

For this week's St. Valentine's Day edition of the "YouTube clip for a peaceful weekend," I thought I would return to the smooth sound of that young Irish trio of Glenn Murphy, Ronan Scolard and Óisín O'Callaghan. Here they are with a beautifully slow take on The Proclaimers' tune "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)."

Peace:



To my husband on our first married St. Valentine's Day:

" ...  And if I grow old, well, I know I'm gonna be

I'm gonna be the man who's growing old with you ... "

February

February is my least favorite month -- for reasons obvious to any inhabitant of the American northeast.

But, I love the voice of Dar Williams.  And she has a lovely tune named after this godforsaken month.  Here it is below for this week's "YouTube clip for a peaceful weekend."

Peace:

Hat-tip: Anthony

Lives Within My Heart

As someone who still has "newlywed glow" in ample supply, I hesitate to post a melancholy tune about lost love.  But, I'm eager to share another offering from the young Irish trio of Glenn Murphy, Oisin O'Callaghan and Ronan Scolard.  Their slow style is enchanting.

So, for this week's "YouTube clip for a peaceful weekend," here are Murphy, O'Callaghan and Scolard with Randy Newman's "When Somebody Loved Me" that was first heard in the movie "Toy Story 2."

Peace:

You're Broke

This has been one of the most challenging weeks in my 15 years of professional life.  It's been filled with deep sadness, rays of hope and growing community.  Crisis usually brings forth all of these things, I guess.

But, as the God Googler reminded us yesterday (quoting the Franciscan friar Richard Rohr):

"Life is hard.  Get over it."

This has been my first instance of great professional difficulty since the steady and I got married in June.  It's been such a help.  Whatever happens, I know someone else is sharing my life and we will get through any challenge together.  That knowledge brings great comfort.

Which brings me to the clip below.

For a "YouTube clip for a peaceful weekend," here are Glenn Murphy, Oisin O'Callaghan and Ronan Scolard with a beautifully slow take on The Rembrandt's "I'll Be There For You" (best known as the theme song of "Friends," of course).

Peace:

Blackbird Has Spoken

Earlier this week, the fiance and I were watching a rerun of "Pushing Daisies" (a series I missed when it aired a few years back).

At the end of this particular episode, the character played by Ellen Greene (famous as Audrey in "Little Shop of Horrors") sang the beautiful old hymn "Morning Has Broken."  It occurred to me her soft and sweet rendition would work perfectly as a long-overdue "YouTube clip for a peaceful weekend" in this space.

Peace:

Fire is Low

It's a beautiful spring Saturday afternoon here in New York City -- sunny and warm.  The day calls for a joyful "YouTube clip for a peaceful weekend."

 So, below is "Fire is Low" by the South African band Freshly Ground.

Peace:



Hat-tip: Mercy Daramola, an NYU graduate student who I had the pleasure of meeting Thursday afternoon at the Plaza Hotel during the NYU Alumni Association's annual awards luncheon.  Mercy posted this tune to her blog.

Risen Today

Happy Easter!

A belated "YouTube clip for a peaceful weekend" to mark the day:



For Easter reflections, visit the God Googler, Concord Pastor and Deacon Greg.

He Who Comes

For Western Christians, tomorrow is Palm Sunday, the first day of Holy Week.

At the beginning of Mass, the suggested antiphon echoes the words of the crowds in the Gospel of Matthew 21: 9:

"Hosanna to the Son of David;
blessed is he who comes
in the name of the Lord,
the King of Israel.
Hosanna in the highest"

The Englishman Orlando Gibbons (1583-1625) was one of multiple composers through the centuries to put this verse to music.  For this week's "YouTube clip for a peaceful weekend," here is Chanticleer with that beautiful setting.

Peace:

So They Say

This week, I've listened several times to Morten Lauridsen's composition "Dirait-On" from his cycle "Les Chansons Des Roses" ("Songs of Roses"). The French lyrics are from a poem by Rainer Maria Rilke (1875-1926).

At his website, Lauridsen states that "Dirait-On," "is composed as a tuneful chanson populaire, or folksong, that weaves together two melodic ideas first heard in fragmentary form in preceding movements."

For this week's "YouTube clip for a peaceful weekend," here is this beautiful, enchanting piece.

Paix:
  
From here, a non-literal English translation of the lyrics:

"Abandon enveloping abandon,
Tenderness brushing tendernesses,
Who you are sustains you
eternally, so they say;

"Your very being is nourished
by its own enlightened reflection;
so you compose the theme
of Narcissus redeemed."

R.I.P., Etta James

The great singer Etta James died yesterday at the age of 73.

Etta's wonderful voice has been featured in this space before.  One Sunday night in March, 2010, shortly before I met the steady, I posted her rendition of the beautiful song of longing "A Sunday Kind of Love."

For this week's "YouTube clip for a peaceful weekend," here again is Etta with her take on the 1930s tune "These Foolish Things (Remind Me of You)."  

Peace: