It's the kind of music that would make Angel misty-eyed.
Hee! I think I've managed to avoid hearing this guy, by some strange grace, though that description makes me think of John Mayer, who I kind of want to strangle every time I hear that song about "fathers, be good to your daughters, because someday they'll grow up and be wives and mothers." Ugh.
It's a choral/chant piece called Path of Miracles, composed by Joby Talbot and performed by Nigel Short and Tenebrae.
Sean, that sounds really fantastic. Thanks for the long writeup; I think I'm going to have to track that down.
Oh God I hate that song "You're Beautiful." I have this really unpleasant reaction to it and change the station whenever it comes on, which is a LOT. Gag.
Sean, after that writeup I can't not check that out.
Sean, that sounds really fantastic. Thanks for the long writeup; I think I'm going to have to track that down.
Sean, after that writeup I can't not check that out.
I'm working on some edits today, and hope to post them later today, along with a few other program notes on the piece.
John Mayer is way better than James Blunt. They only play his two sappy songs on the radio, but he's got a lot of stuff that is really really good.
Since I've been negligent in posting xmas music (I'll rectify that tonight, if possible) here's the WOXY Holiday Mixer to tide you over.
The last 10 songs spun
1:54pm The Flaming Lips - A Change At Christmas
1:51pm The Dandy Warhols - Little Drummer Boy
1:50pm Classic Cartoon Christmas - We're A Couple Of Misfits
1:46pm Rosemary Clooney - Christmas Song (remix)
1:43pm Saint Etienne - I Was Born On Xmas Day
1:40pm Jimmy Donley - Santa! Don't Pass Me By
1:37pm The Crystals - Santa Claus Is Coming...
1:34pm Cale Parks - Oh, Holy Night
1:32pm Yo La Tengo - It's Christmas Time
1:30pm The Raveonettes - The Christmas Song
So.... Buffistarawk. mp3s or wavs?
More on
Path of Miracles
The first movement covers the period of time between St. James' death, beheaded by King Herod, and the founding of the St. James cathedral almost a millennia later, in Santiago. This theme is dramatically demonstrated by the pasiputput technique used at the begining of the piece. In fact, this is something that Talbot does repeatedly throughout the whole piece -- making the themes and events described by the music manifest in the music itself.
There's a moment in the final movement, Santiago, where you can hear the moment when the pilgrims crest a hill and set eyes on Santiago for the first time.
I've put the pasiputput section up at Buffistarawk. It's a six minute section, about 8.5 megs. I think there's been some loss in my necessary multiple conversions and editing passes, but there should still be plenty of fidelity left.
More on other parts of the piece later, but I have to step away from the computer for a couple hours.
I'm glancing at Christgau's record guide online, and it's interesting looking at his A Lists. For each year he summarizes a list for every record rated A- or higher, or as he puts it "records which I recommend unreservedly."
Masterpieces Per Year is a useful rule of thumb to consider musical trends coming and going and when things peak.
So, without the rest of you looking at his website, what do you think are his top three years between 1970 and 1980 inclusive? And what's the worst year?
I could've guessed the worst year, but I would've been slightly off on the best years. (Hint: the most productive years usually come a year after legendary/breakthrough years.)
OK. I'll bite.
The best years are '77 through '79. The worst is '74.
