My innocuous post on the Dixie Chicks, plus my 100 things, have caused quite a reaction from the LYRIC LOVERS and the MELODY MEISTERS. Since I am not a political post and most people know who I’m voting for anyway, this is the most controversial topic I could come up with! I grew up in a home filled with beautiful classical music, played the piano and violin, went to symphony concerts with my dad and discovered that music with no lyrics could touch my emotions like nothing else. (Thank you, Dad!) A little known fact about me is that my daughters put me on Samuel Barber Adagio restriction because they got very tired of me weeping every time I listened to the piece. I heard it first in the wonderful Spanish language film El Norte, fell in love with it and could hear it every day, if my tear ducts could handle it. They were also not fond of me saying,” When I die, make sure that this gets played at my funeral!” Christmas time never passed at our house without Handel’s Messiah and yes, I know there are lyrics to it. However, I’m not even sure what most of them are! I also adore Bach–one of my favorites by him is Air for the G String which I once pilfered from my older daughter and played over and over again. (I don’t feel TOO guilty though because where are my Sarah McLachlan CDs and tapes, Ashley??) Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring was played at my wedding and is another one that tears at my heartstrings. For you classical music lovers and melody people, my other favorites are–Joaquin Rodrigo’s Concierto de Aranjuez which I heard at ballet; it’s a gorgeous piece. Then there’s Debussy’s Clair de Lune, Rimsky-Korsakov’s Scheherazade (just listened to it tonight), many pieces by Borodin, Ravel’s Pavane, another weeper, and the Henry V soundtrack. (it’s probably not technically classical music, but I love it anyway!) I know I am forgetting a lot and will think of them all later. What is your musical passion? What does music do for you? Do you vote for lyrics or melody as the most important musical attribute?
Comments
5 responses to “Lyrics or melody?”
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Hmm, lyrics or melody? For me I’d have to say it’s pretty equal. I tend to KNOW the lyrics to a lot of songs, but not learned consciously. And, I’ve also dabbled in writing lyrics, which is rather interesting. There are different “formulas” you have to follow. As an example, with blues, you always repeat the first line (think of Tracy Chapman’s “Give me one good reason to stay here…”) So I do love lyrics, because they’re a unique form of poetry, though they don’t stand alone very well. But I also love instrumental, and I also was exposed to a lot of classical in band. (Can’t spell the composers, though!) Schosticovich? (heh) I loved him. And I have to say, the silly Star Trek show (with Captain Janeway) has an awesome theme song, I believe by John Williams, that is mesmerizing. I love brass.
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I like many different types of music with the exception of opera or jazz. My total favorite is Springsteen, but then again, I AM from Jersey…
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Hmm…interesting topic for me. I am an opera singer by training and love classical music but oddly enough I don’t listen to it much anymore. I think after all these years of performing and singing classical all the time I tend to listen to other things (blues, pop, easy listening, jazz), you basically name it and I listen to it.
Nice blog and thank you for sharing! -
I used to relax after school by lying on my living room floor and listening to the Barber Adagio! T’was a thrill performing it later with my hubby (violin) in college. Classical orchestral and chamber music is a huge part of my life and I also love opera music. Here are the pieces I listened to while making dinner last night: Misere by Alegri, Four Songs for Female Chorus, 2 horns, and harp by Brahms, and Romanze (2nd mov’t) from Piano Concerto #1 by Chopin. I was trying to keep things calm and mellow! ;~) I’m truly enjoying reading your blog, Margaret!
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I love classical music, and Christian music from hymns to some of the current praise songs.
As far as specific pieces of music, I like Smetana’s “The Moldou” because that was the first piece I ever announced on the radio, kicking off my five-year career in broadcast radio. The Brandenburg concertos I also enjoy, mostly because of a guy I really, really like, who happened to have the same last name.
The songs I played in my high school touring band are also special to me, as is flute music performed by Jon-Pierre Rampal.
In the Christian arena, Steve Green, Wayne Watson, and Steven Curtis Chapman about ten years ago are among my favorite Christian artists. In each case I had personal encounters with them as part of my work with the radio station.
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