Violin, Augustine Haugland, c. 1937
I walked into my piano teacher’s front room to wait my turn for lessons. My teacher amazed me. I can still see her youthful smiling face, and see her introducing to me a new piece I was going to learn. She sat down at the piano, and put her whole soul and body into playing the masterpiece. All the while, a joy so passionate radiated from her face with an indestructible smile and eyes closed. I was in awe of this woman who displayed great strength and fervor for her creative work in this world. Learning classical piano from my teacher was not only an education in music, but it also opened my mind to other places and languages and art. There was a large poster on the wall in her front room with the title Eine kleine Nachtmusik, a little night music. I was studying both French and German languages that year and it brought me a little whisper of joy to be able to read this song title in German. The piece was by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Listening to it now as I write brings forth a little giggle. It is so playful and youthful, like an uncontrollable smile just almost breaking into laughter.
This year, one of my writing goals is to share a post each month about music. I will share about songs that are currently on my playlists, streaming through both my truck stereo and kitchen streaming device while I work to prepare oh so much food for my growing teens and tweens. The kitchen is the heartbeat of the home, my father-in-law likes to say, and I agree, especially when there is music!
This month, I will share a few selections of music that have been in my soundtrack of recent months. And, kind readers, if you find a selection that companions your pathway this year, I would be delighted. The following are my January selections to share with you. May you be blessed with a little night music.
The Lark Ascending - (arr. for violin and choir by Paul Drayton) Performed by VOCES8 and Jack Liebeck
The first time I heard a portion of this song was actually in the “early o’s” as my hubby likes to call the 2000’s! It was the intro to a song on a live David Crowder album. I was stunned when listening to the soaring violin solo and was taken captive by its originality and the rise and fall of beauty in sound. This last Fall, I learned of a choral group from England called VOCES8. As I explored their music, I found this song performed by them, and was immediately gratified by the beauty in every note as it tells the story of a bird in flight.
O God Beyond All Praising - Performed by Sarah Kroger, Words by Michael A. Perry (1982), Tune composed by Gustav Holst (1918)
At the end of 2021, I remember looking at an auto-generated list sent to my email about which songs I listened to the most that year on my music streaming app, and this one was top of the list. I don’t even remember how I came across this recording and version of this song, but it’s here to stay. Sarah Kroger’s voice is clear and bold, giving praise to the Triune God through this more modern hymn written actually when I was a young child. And of course, the triumphant orchestral suite by Gustav Holst, The Planets, provides the landscape for this song of praise. In fact, I would like to study more about Gustav’s composition, written between 1914-1917, and based on each of the seven known planets (not including Earth or Pluto… where are we at with Pluto these days?) at that time in history. The combination of words and music both give glory to God, the Creator, beyond all praising.
In the Bleak Midwinter - Performed by John Van Deusen, Words by Christina Rossetti, Tune by Gustav Holst
Honestly, I didn’t know much about this song until researching for this post. I did not know that this song was originally a poem by English poet, Christina Rossetti, nor that Gustav Holst who composed The Planets, as mentioned above, also composed the tune used in this famous Christmas carol. In fact, the first time I heard this song was on Canadian singer-songwriter Sarah McLachlan’s Wintersong album released in 2006. When searching this past Christmas for new music to listen to, I came across this album by John VanDeusen. Before listening to the music, I was already hooked by the album artwork of a vintage rural scene in winter. The simple and quiet acoustic style was warmly received by the whole family.
Winter, by Joseph Rubens Powell
I look forward to curating a list of songs to share here in February. Be blessed and may you find wonder in ordinary tasks and the beauty of created order all around you.
“I often think in music. I live my daydreams in music. I see my life in terms of music.”
-Albert Einstein