I first learned to play cornet in our Young People’s band in Govan – with my dad as YP Band Leader – so no pressure there. Then, by the time I joined the Songsters (choir for those unfamiliar with Salvation Army terminology 😉) my dad was Songster Leader. So there is probably no doubt that my “style” owed something to my father.
Nearly French😂
I think that a bit of fun is called for seeing as it is Saturday.
Calming Down A Bit Today
Calming music for Friday and we return to Debussy as – given that we are having a mini series of French music there are very few that can compete with this for calm.
Bolero – But Not As You Know It
The third French composer of the week is Ravel – this is an arrangement of Bolero – shortened from the original and part of the theatre show Blast! I didn’t get to see this show live – but I did experience the follow up show which was called Shockwave – it didn’t prove to be such a hit – not sure why because I for one thought it was a great show.
Another French Choice
Having had Poulenc yesterday we will stay in France for a few days and listen to some Debussy today. There are an assortment of arrangements of this music – I played a wind band arrangement when tutoring at the Glasgow Schools Concert Band course (can’t remember which year, but it may have been more than once) but I prefer listening to the orchestral version that we have here.
Chamber Music Fun
This is a piece of music that I played quite a lot – partly because it was always easier to find just two other players compared to any larger grouping😃
A Romantic Symphony
Today’s “big” piece is a symphony that is not part of what I perceive to be the “well known” classical repertoire. Indeed I can’t actually remember how I came across this one.
My Tribute
I first heard this song more than a few years ago at a Scottish SA Congress. The visiting section was (if I remember correctly) the band from Örebro and they had with them a vocal soloist. She sang this with a male voice “backing group” more than once over the weekend and it stuck in my head for a long time.
Staying In Italy…
An Italian Overture today – this one has a story attached.
Some Italian Calm
For the more calming Friday music we stay with Italy. A composer/performer today who has plenty of options when it comes to “calm”.