Among My Assets ...

As I look through the traffic on my various blogs, the one that gets the least traffic is this one.  I'm frankly surprised, because I find music so soothing or evocative, energizing or inspiring.  It is here for all those who wish to explore the music I find delightful - from jazz to classical; from opera to contemporary.  The love of music is an asset I find as a source of refuge.  I wish to impart the same to my readers/listeners.

One of the most moving scenes in cinema history - "The Pianist"

It has been a long time since I've made an entry in this blog.  My love of music goes in spurts, swinging from jazz to classical, and back again, meandering through the romantic songs of the '40s to more recent vintage Michael Buble.

Then, there is the haunting music of Frédéric Chopin - Ballade no.1 in G minor op.23, especially as represented in the movie, The Pianist. Scene from The Pianist.

He plays the piano with frozen hands, hungry and disheveled, at the "invitation" of the German SS officer, starting gingerly on an out-of-tune neglected piano, then losing himself in the music, all the time knowing that he might be shot at any moment.  It is an intense scene, the memory of which brings gooseflesh to my entire body. Imagine how the German officer must have felt, oppressed by the war and endless harshness of military orders and discipline, away from the normal enjoyment of living, away from music and celebration.

The resolution of the video is rather bad.  Enjoy nevertheless!

Our Collective Musicality

I once designed some Table Topics around human senses, asking the question, "Which is the most powerful and primitive of our five senses?"  It was my opinion (later corroborated) that the sense of smell is our deepest, most primitive, and arguably most influential of senses. But it seems that our senses overlap in important ways, each assuming an importance of its own. Consider music and sound, for example. From very early in the womb, around 4 or 5 months of gestation, the fetus begins to respond to sound. Indeed, we respond to sound far more than many of us would admit. Consider our language, for example. We speak of good health as being "sound." If we communicate well with someone, we say that we are "on the same wave length." If we don't agree with someone, we say, "we are out of sync."

Tchaikovsky: 5th Symphony, L. Bernstein

I have never paid much attention to the conductor. Oh, I've heard the names of the Big Boys, Toscanini, von Karajan, Seiji Ozawa - but I must say that I'm now hooked on Bernstein. His passion is visible; and when combined with the passionate work of Tchaikovsky, you have here a truly triumphant combination.

"I'll Be Seeing You" M. Buble

Why do I love old Wartime songs? Too young. And yet, I'm moved to the core.

Antonio Carlos Jobim and Sinatra - Quiet Nights, and others

Oh, my! Two superlatives together.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FBhCeWBW88A&feature=related

Cole Porter "Begin the Beguine" by M. Buble

Another of my favorite songs. He improvised on a word (days instead of nights), but with a velvety voice like his, I suppose it's forgivable. Take a listen.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6-FSc3CpQI&feature=related