Tuesday, 22 February 2022

Music That Makes Me Weep

 



Have mercy, Lord, on me,
Regard my bitter weeping,
Look at me, heart and eyes
Both weep to Thee bitterly.

(Text from St Matthew Passion, Bach)

 

I will return in this blog to chart some more of my journey with music, but I am interrupting it with this little musing about music that makes me cry.

And, there are some songs and pieces of music that almost always cause me to cry; things I cannot listen to without being moved to tears… and it is getting more so the older I get. In certain circumstances, there are a very many songs and musical pieces that can move me deeply, and sometimes to tears. But the following five just about always do this.

 

Erbarme dich, mein Gott, um meiner Zähren Willen! (Bach)

Peter’s aria from Bach’s St Matthew Passion after the cock crows following his denial of Jesus is so deeply moving. (see the translation quoted at the head of this post). While it is set in the context of Peter’s grief at realising that he has so grievously failed Jesus, for me it reflects my own sense of falling short and failing Jesus in so many ways. And it makes me cry.[1]

 

Don’t Give Up (Peter Gabriel with Kate Bush)

I have referenced this song more than once in my blog. It is – for me – so powerful and so moving. Again, it is my own sense of letting people and God down that it speaks to. I first heard it in a situation where I had let others, God, and myself down and when I hear it I am back in that moment, and I can’t stop crying.[2]

 

 

Somewhere (There’s A Place for Us) (Bernstein and Sondheim ‘West Side Story’)

I may post at a later date about the impact that West Side Story had on me (although I did reference it a few posts ago). But this song (and especially when it is briefly reprised at the end of the film by Maria after Tony dies in her arms) is just so terribly moving. It is wistful, poignant, hopeful… and – I would say – spiritual, even theological![3]

 

Symphony Number 6 (Pathétique) (Tchaikovsky)

This last of Tchaikovsky’s works (first performed with the composer himself conducting,  just 9 days before his death) is an immensely passionate and powerful work. But that last movement is the one that always gets to me. So moving! [4]

 

Awaken (from the album ‘Going for the One’ by Yes)

Yes are one of my favourite bands (or – at least – the 1970’s incarnation of them was one of my favourite bands, probably second only to King Crimson, although the similar era Genesis, and Van Der Graaf Generator – whom I am going to see and hear on Saturday evening, also come close). In my view, the best Yes album is ‘Close to the Edge’. But, for me, the best track is this one, from ‘Going for the One’. And it is at the very end (around 14.35) that Jon Anderson sings, in his distinctive voice, these words ‘Like the time I ran away, turned around, and you were standing close to me’. And once again, there I go, and the tears start flowing! Whether I think of these words in terms of human love, or Divine love, they just get to me. I suspect that it is more likely that it touches that part of me that can so easily turn away from God and then find that God is still close.[5]

 

Reading all of this over, I realise that it is an interesting mix of music from very different genres, which fairly well represents the diversity of my musical taste (although no folk or jazz I guess!)

Now, I think I will go and put on some music and have a good cry!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



[1] https://open.spotify.com/track/2H4DnggkcJLymT1aYtjkrP?si=83b461340cb7425c

[2] https://open.spotify.com/track/2t77hjgJY4sC9DoX5uaVUD?si=61c4cf9f7aed419f

[3] https://open.spotify.com/track/7DhQXwTYALJHMqoYaVaTFg?si=652f89e48aa24684

[4] https://open.spotify.com/track/37Sx42ecraWiai21ZiW6se?si=83b2df71b0d74c74

[5] https://open.spotify.com/track/5QzZDAATnQhIEQSyktZFEU?si=0412dd69bc33493b

Thursday, 10 February 2022

I Keep Singing That Same Old Song

 



‘I keep singing that same old song,

You keep singing it too;

I keep singing that same old song,

Hearing a different tune.’

 

Heavy Jelly ‘I Keep Singing That Same Old Song’[1]

 

 

Christmas 1969 was the day my musical life changed

I was only 13 years old, but in the couple of years prior to that I had become aware of new things happening in the popular musical world. The Beatles – whom I loved – were experimenting with different sounds and approaches, and the music was sometimes becoming complex and ‘alternative’; new bands and artists were emerging including Cream and Jimi Hendrix and so on. And yet, even in the summer of 1969 (as well as watching the investiture of Prince Charles as Prince of Wales on the TV) I was still more interested in the more ‘poppy’ styles that were in the charts. The likes of Marmalade, Amen Corner, Herman’s Hermits, Zager & Evans and so on were the folks I was listening to, and whose singles I was buying.

I am not sure what happened in the course of the autumn of 1969 to begin to change all of that. I think some of my friends were turning towards the bands that played what was now being labelled as ‘rock’ rather than ‘pop’. I think also that some of the artists that were making it to the charts were becoming more interesting to me; David Bowie, Jethro Tull, Fleetwood Mac, etc (the last two of whom released singles that I had bought). Yes, things were changing

I cannot recall who it was recommended to me the LP ‘Nice Enough to Eat’. But it was what was then called a ‘sampler’ album… various artists from a record label (in this case, the Island record label) each of whom had a track on a budget album… and I suspect that word ‘budget’ was also important! I would not have wanted to commit too much to the unknown! In the end, I persuaded my parents that it would be the ideal ‘extra’ Christmas present, and so it happened.

I listened to it on that Christmas Day of 1969.

Some of the bands (though not the songs on the album) were already familiar to me. Fairport Convention, Traffic and Jethro Tull for example. They had already had singles in the charts which I had enjoyed. So it was good to hear other songs from them. Other artists I would become familiar with over the next wee while such as Free and Mott the Hoople.

And what a joy it was to discover for the first time on this album the heavy riffs of Spooky Tooth and the delicate, delightful, tragic talent of Nick Drake! (If you have never listened to Nick Drake’s music, do check it out).

But nothing prepared me for the piece on this sampler album by a band of whom I had not as yet heard – King Crimson. The opening track from their first album was included on this ‘sampler’: ‘21st Century Schizoid Man’.

This can sound as though I am over-stating the case, but I am not. My life would never be the same again. This piece of music defied analysis yet was utterly enthralling. A heavy rock riff, distorted guitars and vocals, jazzy lines, stunning virtuoso playing, and so much more. From that day (25th December 1969) until this I have been utterly caught up in the music of King Crimson (whom I last saw in concert in Glasgow just 3 or 4 years ago).

This proved to be my road into Progressive Rock (‘Prog’) and through that, back to jazz, classical and so much more.

I can still recall kneeling by that Garrard record player in our Clarkston semi at Christmas 1969 and realising that nothing would ever be the same for me musically.

And it wasn’t. I never ever bought another record by Herman’s Hermits![2]

 

PS – I still have that original vinyl album from 1969… much worn and scratched, but still in my possession all these years on.



[1] Heavy Jelly were a short lived fictitious band. In reality they were the band Skip Bifferty recording under a pseudonym in 1969. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skip_Bifferty However, while this song appeared on ‘Nice Enough to Eat’ it sadly is no longer available to stream and so you will be denied its delights!

[2] If, by any chance you would like to have a wee listen to Nice Enough to Eat (or at least those tracks that are available to stream) then try this link on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/playlist/042lmrLg5OBtp6ArRVBJ9d?si=bda778e10b8e43ca

 

Friday, 4 February 2022

Music Was My First Love

 

‘Music was my first love
And it will be my last
Music of the future
And music of the past
To live without my music
Would be impossible to do
In this world of troubles
My music pulls me through’

 John Miles ‘Music’

 


I was intrigued to read in the papers recently that the Pope has an extensive music collection, and a rather eclectic musical taste (one might even say a ‘catholic’ taste?!?). Apparently he is ‘passionate about music’ with his playlist including Bach and Elvis.[1]

Well, I may not have as extensive a collection, but I too am passionate about music and over the last couple of weeks I have been once again reflecting on how significant music has been in my life. It has always been hugely important to me. I have been wondering why.

And so, I will reflect on that a wee bit in some posts on my blog. If music is of little or no interest to you then you might well not wish to bother reading these!

It seems that music has always accompanied me. Not only the songs learned at school, in church and Sunday School, and at my mother and grandmother’s knee. But music was an ever-present part of my life for as long as I can recall. There was always a piano in my home and also in my grandmother’s home. My father was a very good singer indeed. He sang in the church choir, and (along with my mother) in amateur musical performances and so on. Therefore there was always singing in the house as pieces were practised… and often just because people sang! My father later became a professional singer for a while, appearing on stage and on TV, sometimes singing popular pieces, sacred pieces, many Burns’ songs and opera too.

But music all really opened up for me when my parents bought the first record player. It was a Garrard portable which could play 45s, 33s and 78s. I think it looked something like the one pictured above.

Along with the record player, several records were bought; singles and LPs. And thus began my musical fascination and education. The singles included a wide mix: Cliff Richard, the Beatles, Val Doonican, Roger Miller, the Swinging Blue Jeans and so on. The LPs were more my parent’s scene, musicals, Sinatra etc.

At that point, to me, it didn’t matter. It was all wonderful and fascinating. Discernment came later!

To this day I can sing every word of Roger Miller’s ‘King of the Road’ or Val Doonican’s ‘Walk Tall’. Sad really.

But all that music from way back in the day has filled me with many rich memories and I find it helps me place things that happened in my life and in world history. Some of the key events of the 1960’s (Kennedy’s assassination, the Aberfan disaster, Harold Wilson’s election in 1964, the Moon landing, etc) as also the birth of my younger sister, summer holidays , and so much more are somehow linked in my mind with music and place.

I am glad I have the musical memories from back then. My life would be much, much poorer had I not been exposed at an early age to so much music, by so many artists, of so many different styles.

I did not have an easy or trouble-free relationship with my parents – far from it – but for this I can certainly thank them. ‘Thank you for the music’.

Almost all of the music I listened to as a youngster I enjoyed at the time (even if I would not listen to some of it now). But there was some music that stirred a deeper interest and curiosity in me.

I began to be captivated by some of the musicals that my parents had on LP (or sang in amateur shows). Not so much the familiar Oscar and Hammerstein shows (which were ok, I guess), and certainly not the Gilbert and Sullivan operettas that irritated me even then (and irritate me much more now!). It was the likes of ‘Guys and Dolls’ and, more so, ‘West Side Story’ that caught my attention.

Frank Sinatra also really impressed me and I especially remember the wonderful album of Frank Sinatra and Count Basie. I am wondering now if that is where the seeds of my love of jazz may have been sown.

Amongst the contemporary pop singles in our collection, while I listened to them all, I found the rawer and rockier sound of the Swinging Blue Jeans and ‘Hippy, hippy shake’ particularly appealing.

But more than anything it was the Beatles who connected with me. With their early singles there began a fascination, appreciation, and even obsession which lasts until this day.[2] I think that even as a young child I realised and recognised that the deceptive simplicity of these early singles even then hinted at a talent and creativity which transcended the passing, pop star image.

I have the most vivid memory of lying on the sitting room floor at home in 1963 and watching he Beatles perform at the Royal Variety performance on TV. Their final song, ‘Twist and Shout’ really impressed this wee seven year old.[3]

Between the Beatles, ‘West Side Story’, Sinatra and Basie, opera, and church music, a wee fire was being lit within, and even then I knew that music would live with me as a key part of my life. 

 



[1] https://cathstan.org/news/culture/pope-s-music-library-contains-nearly-2-000-cds-includes-elvis-and-piaf 

[2] A few years later, at Christmas 1968, my father had progressed sufficiently in singing and entertainment to be cast in that year’s pantomime at the Kings’ Theatre in Glasgow which starred Kenneth McKellar; ‘The World of Jamie’. One of the co-stars (whom my father was understudying in addition to his main role) was the comedian and entertainer Nat Jackley who had appeared the previous year in the Beatles film ‘The Magical Mystery Tour’.  There being no panto performance on Christmas Day and with Nat having nowhere else to go, my father invited him to ours for Christmas dinner and the poor man got no rest from my insistent and persistent questioning regarding the Beatles!