Good Morning

Reconnecting ..

Ha, today I thought was a normal Monday but as it turns out is a bank holiday. I realised that when no bus turned up from Kiln Court to take me into town. So I walked to the local store to get some provisions and two cans of strong cider.

So, It is another day of discovering CDs I have not played for ages. One such CD is by the American singer, Cat Power, and her 2003 album "You Are Free".

Cat Power - Werewolf

Then another CD I reacquainted myself with is Basic Kirchin's "Particles". This is an extraordinary work rediscovered by Johnny Trunk.

Basil Kirchin - Particles

ENJOY

Monday At The Movies

This was a tough one as I wanted to highlight the music of Michael Nyman. He is a minimalist composer that worked scores for some of Peter Greenaway's films. So I could have included The Draughtsman Contract, Prospero's Books, and many others. Check the films out as they are ae all good in different ways.
So I settled on two of his more famous film compositions, Carrington and The Piano.

Michael Nyman Band - Carrington (Outside Looking In)

Michael Nyman Band - The Piano (Main Theme)

ENJOY

Turtle Dreams

Back in the early days or Wire - the eighties to nineties, the music of Meredith Monk received a lot of mentions. So, after all these years, I am beginning to appreciate her work more.

So here is one from 1983.

Meredith Monk - Turtle Dreams

Turtle Dreams, produced for WGBH-TV, originally aired September 2, 1983. Shot by Ping Chong. Composed by Meredith Monk, performed by her and her Vocal Ensemble. For more information, visit meredithmonk.org.

So Who Is Merdith Monk?

Well, here is a 1994 documentary.

Meredith Monk: A Documentary, by Sidsel Munsal (1994)

In this 1994 documentary, Monk shares her process and we see behind-the-scenes footage of her rehearsing and working with members of her acclaimed Vocal Ensemble on such works as "New York Requiem", "Do You Be", and "Vessel".

I have her ECM album "Facing North"

Wired Monk

Article from Wire August 2013.

Meredith Monk -  Do You Be

Meredith Monk - Gotham Lullaby

Meredith Monk - Dolmen Music interview

Interview with Meredith Monk filmed in Manhattan, New York City, NY, October 2019
Special Thanks to Kirstin Kapustik

Enjoy

Akhnaten

Talking of minimalism, this recent recording of a Philip Glass opera was done dring lockdown so I amazed at how well they pulled this off. I know a lot of people will probably think it tired and predictable that they incorporated masks into what the chorus is wearing, but personally... I'd wear that on the street. It looks awesome. @41:56

So for 2 hours enjoy and wallow in this opera.

Philip Glass - Akhnaten

Opéra en trois actes (avec prologue et épilogue)
Livret de Philip Glass, Shalom Goldman, Robert Israel, Richard Riddell
Création au Württembergisches Staatstheater de Stuttgart le 24 mars 1984

Nouvelle production

Distribution
Direction musicale Léo Warynski
Mise en scène et chorégraphie Lucinda Childs
Scénographie et costumes Bruno De Lavenère
Lumières David Debrinay
Vidéo Étienne Guiol

Akhnaten Fabrice Di Falco
Nefertiti Julie Robard-Gendre
Reine Tye Patrizia Ciofi
Horemhab Joan Martín-Royo
Amon Frédéric Diquero
Aye Vincent Le Texier
Amenhotep (rôle parlé) Lucinda Childs
Six filles d’Akhnaten Karine Ohanyan, Rachel Duckett*, Mathilde Lemaire* Vassiliki Koltouki*, Annabella Ellis *, Aviva Manenti *

Avec la participation des danseurs du Pôle National Supérieur Danse Rosella Hightower

Poems Of The Week

Two poems for this winter season  and both by Thomas Hardy.





Thomas Hardy
‘The Darkling Thrush‘.

I leant upon a coppice gate,
When Frost was spectre-gray,
And Winter’s dregs made desolate
The weakening eye of day.
The tangled bine-stems scored the sky
Like strings of broken lyres,
And all mankind that haunted nigh
Had sought their household fires.




Thomas Hardy
"The Oxen"

Christmas Eve, and twelve of the clock.
‘Now they are all on their knees,’
An elder said as we sat in a flock
By the embers in hearthside ease.

We pictured the meek mild creatures where
They dwelt in their strawy pen,
Nor did it occur to one of us there
To doubt they were kneeling then.

So fair a fancy few would weave
In these years! Yet, I feel,
If someone said on Christmas Eve,
‘Come; see the oxen kneel,

‘In the lonely barton by yonder coomb
Our childhood used to know,’
I should go with him in the gloom,
Hoping it might be so.