Week Three (Blues & Baroque)

Ray Thomas, an original member of The Moody Blues, passed away in early January. Two different people sent songs by the band in his honor. The British band first found fame in the mid-1960s with "Go Now", an American rhythm 'n' blues song sung by guitarist Denny Laine (who went on to join Paul McCartney's Wings. Once Laine left the band, the remaining members decided to write their own material and took a turn towards the symphonic starting with 1967's "Days of Future Passed."  The band's more adult sound, which featured Thomas's flute and the vocals of Justin Hayward, became extremely popular with a decade's worth of big albums. They broke up in 1975, reformed in 1977 and toured incessantly for the next 25 years. Thomas retired fro the band due to ill health in the early 2000s and only played sporadically up until the time of his death.

"Tuesday Afternoon" - The Moody Blues - From "Days of Future Passed", an album that featured instruments such as the mellotron (an early synthesizer) and acoustic guitar, pretty melodies, and a gloss of psychedelia, this song paved the way for groups such as Yes.

(song submitted by B Rosenblum)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wM8JjT-97i8

"Legend of a Mind (Timothy Leary's Dead" - The Moody's next album "In Search of the Lost Chord" was even more psychedelic, especially this paean to the guru of LSD, Dr. Timothy Leary.  Submitted by Daniele Dugre-Martin, she wrote "...There are no words to describe this…it’s funny and musical but definitely a cultural reference if you’re under 50."  And a distant memory for those over 50!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yU8x8mLVALU

The Original Soundtrack from "The Piano" - This fascinating movie by New Zealand native and now resident of Australia Jane Campion was her first international hit. She wrote the script as well as directed the film which featured Holly Hunter, Sam Neill, Harvey Keitel, and Anna Paquin (in her screen debut).  The soundtrack came courtesy of British composer Michael Nyman and was big seller.  Ms. Hunter played a number of her solo pieces in the movie and on the soundtrack.  Submitted by Betsy R, she writes "(The music) takes me to a million places and through a myriad of emotions. Just sit back and close your eyes. You’ll understand."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zpBoxRcZprY

"Cantata 140,  Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme" - Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750), you really have to dig to find who is singing and playing this particular version.  Thomas Williams submitted the piece and wrote "I’ve quite fond of the Baroque period (1600 - ~1750) and the music of  Vivaldi, Handel, etc. but I’m particularly fond of JS Bach. Particularly his Cantatas.

It reminds me of my late father.  He loved to play this sort of music for Sunday dinner (an important event when I was growing up).

I hear this music and I can smell the roast pork. This is not the best arrangement, but it was easy to find."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3sj-NKqR0tw

"The Cello Suites of J. S. Bach" - This is such an incredible collection of pieces, six suites in all. Bach was the first to write solo music for this instrument and it has haunted musicians as well as audiences ever since.  Here's a great article that will help you understand the importance of this music. https://theconversation.com/decoding-the-music-masterpieces-bachs-six-solo-cello-suites-83797.

"Cello Suite No. 1 in G Major" - Yo-Yo Ma - This great cellist has released two recordings of the "Suites" and continues to play it in concert as one can see and hear in this 2016 concert video. 

(Submitted by R Kamins)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rGgG-0lOJjk

Ricardo Gallen is one of the world's foremost interpreter of Bach's works for lute (an early version of the guitar). This music amazes me as does the cello suites and the "Goldberg Variations" for piano below.  This music calms me down, makes me reflect on the tome it was composed and how it remains relevant almost four centuries later.

Bach : Complete Lute Works by Ricardo Gallen

Then, there's Glenn Gould and Bach's "Goldberg Variations"  - he recorded the music numerous times. The version below is from live concerts in 1958 and 59, the height of Gould's performance career.  He was an amazing character, as maddening as he was creative but, as you can hear, he could play!

(R Kamins)