Andrea Bocelli, Sarah Brightman [Italy 2007] Time To Say Goodbye: Con te partiro: "Time to say goodbye, To countries I never saw and shared with you, Now yes, I shall see them I’ll go with you, Go on ships across seas which I know, don’t exist anymore, It’s time to say goodbye."

'Summertime' Aria With Its Magical Blues Transformation Becomes Forever: By S.L.

A 'Porgy and Bess' movie poster: Composed in 1934, 'Summertime' was one of George Gershwin's most famous and covered songs from the opera. Blog contributor and lecturer friend S.L. fills her lungs and exhales...

Thanks S.L. for your lovely lovely feel of this opera and blues classic.

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I am sure most people who heard "Summertime" for the first time would be captivated by the song. I truly was and it remains an all-time favourite of mine. 

The version I had listened to was likely Ella Fitzgerald's and Louis Armstrong's jazz version. It starts with lush symphonic sounds, then Armstrong interjects with his blaring trumpet solo and finally Ella Fitzgerald enters singing in her rich, silky, clear voice. For a young child, it was "WOW!"

'Porgy and Bess': 'Summertime': Clara [Paula Ingram] 

Sung by Harolyn Blackwell. YouTube Video by amadeusvideolog.

The song started out as the aria for the opening scene of America's iconic opera, "Porgy and Bess". Gershwin based the composition on the African-American spiritual. In the opening scene, Clara sings it as a lullaby to her baby.

The song is a study in contrast and irony. The pace of the music is slow, quiet in one part and soaring in another. It begins evocative of the season but the languid atmosphere hides the harsh reality of Clara and her baby's lives. She tries to escape it for a while by complimenting baby on his good fortune of having fine parents. She ends her lullaby in the soaring notes of her hope for a different and better future and life for him. A mother's inextinguishable love and hope. One hears melancholy, defiance, consolation and desperate hope all in the song.

Summertime - the season - is also my favourite. The days are long and the living is easy. If you own a cabin by a lake and a canoe, cast a line and the fish will be biting. Start a BBQ and conversations with friends. Summertime living, but a millions miles away from Catfish Row.

*****

Louis Armstrong and Aretha Franklin 

with their rendition of 'Summertime'. 

Thanks to YouTube and XXL Radio.

[Original posting; audio/visuals not in sync.]

Begging your indulgence, Andy.

I just wonder how many people, except for classical and opera aficionados, have heard "Summertime" sung as an aria. 

I certainly listened to Ella Fitzgerald's "Summertime" and definitely know "Porgy and Bess" being an opera. But I didn't know that "Summertime" was the opening song of the opening scene. That is until I did my reading up and discovered how one aria from an opera transformed into the multitudinous covers that exist in all genres of music. 

So thanks to you, Andy, I re-listened to the Ella Fitzgerald/Louis Armstrong duet version, as well as her solo performance, Leontyne Price, Renée Fleming, Mahalia Jackson, Billie Holiday, Janis Joplin, Billy Stewart, Chaka Khan, Nora Jones, Herbie Mann, Simon Gale, The Zombies, Sublime, even Lana del Ray and finally, the genius composer himself, George Gershwin on piano. 

There is a rendition in every genre of music, in voice and instrumental. And the amusing thing is fans of the genre, or singer or band will stake that their idol's version is the best. ☺️

So I say to you, Andy, sincerely and gratefully, thank you for letting me re-visit "Summertime" and in so doing, led me to sample its delightful variations. 🙏🙂

An original composition by S.L.

Click on 'Comments' below this post to read them.

Mahalia Jackson: Live sings 'Summertime'

YouTube Video from gevinque.

Ricky Nelson performs 'Summertime' 

YouTube video from: jesmelric

Thanks to Prof. Steve Farram for the information.

Image: Google.

SSO @ The Botanic Gardens: Jason Lai Conducting ENCORE

Singapore Symphony Orchestra: 22 July 2017 Botanic Gardens

A Personal Experience About Concerts In The Parks:

An SSO Concert at the Botanic Gardens will always be a treat especially if it's a stone's throw away. But if the enthusiast for classical music is driving his car, then don't complain if there are no parking lots; unless the early bird comes at about 4 pm (concert starts at 6).

A friend and I managed to squeeze into the last lot at the sheltered car park at Nassim Gate. It was a Saturday evening gift from above.

The coffee house (image) around the corner served our purpose since the Symphony Lake was another two minutes walk from there. But a fruit juice at the outlet was near $6.00 and a fizzy drink, $3.00. The 2-hour wait was comfortable as we managed 2 seats in air-conditioned comfort. These were the last seats available.

The concert venue itself was fun. Perspiring with T-shirts and track pants on, both of us had no trouble getting grass space as we squatted on the right wing facing the stage. Because we were sitting on a slope, it was a balancing act throughout the show. 

So if you don't have nimble feet and acrobatic skills go further 'upstairs' near where Chopin is sitting with his wife. A better view and you can sit on the more level meadow. No trees behind. The deadly one crashed remember?

It was about 5.30 pm. Sun kept us steaming. But the greens, flora, whispering winds and chirpy birds kept the balance; it wasn't uncomfortable.

The newspapers announced 10,000 persons came. It didn't look that many to me but the figure is possible. 

Sharp at 6 pm, handsome conductor Jason Lai, in a polo-T, jumped on the stage like the gymnast he was as he announced the evening's performance. He looked more like a fitness instructor. Fit as a fiddle? 😊 And sporting a whistle-thin moustache too.

Meanwhile, two jets flew above us, drowning Mr Lai's short introduction. National Day coming mah!

The performance was superb! I came just to listen to excerpts from West Side Story and Ritual Fire Dance. But Morning Mood from Peer Gynt (Greg) just blossomed as the Singapore sun started to set. 

When Brahms was hardly a minute on, my temporary neighbours started chatting and peanut packets were crackling. First Youth had better attention but Maria and Tonight kept everyone hushed. Some Seniors were humming. (full programme below).


Meanwhile the people kept pouring in; in fact, they kept on coming even when the concert was about to end. Puzzling. One of the passers-by was heard shouting on his phone.

"Hey, where are you? I'm here, I'm here!" as he waved his hand in front of the crowd. The music was playing, Home.

It was a short concert but SSO on stage, with all its Botanic Gardens challenges, sweaty T shirts and wet palms, was a joy to listen to.

While walking to our car we bumped into my friend's old buddy. A member of the SSO he is. Pictures and phone numbers were exchanged.

If each one of us had taken along the rubbish we left back there and dumped them in the bins, the workers would have had a happier time the next morning.

Thank you, Jason Lai, SSO, The Straits Times and the Botanic Gardens. 

22 July 2017 Programme:

Grieg: "Morning Mood" from Peer Gynt Suite No. 1, Op. 46

Brahms: Third movement (Poco allegretto) from Symphony No. 3 in F major, Op. 90

Bernstein arr. Jack Mason: Selections from West Side Story.

Morricone: Cinema Paradiso: Theme, First Youth, Love Theme

Falla: "Ritual Fire Dance" from El amor brujo

Dick Lee: Home. (Encore)

Images: A Private Collection, Google.
The video above is only temporary and will be replaced after some technicality.

Disneyland Dwarfs, Pink Panther, Good Bad Ugly: Whistling Songs

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Whistle While You Work:
I remember watching Disney cartoons when I was very young and loved Snow White (1937) with her seven dwarfs. One particular song, Whistle While You Work, enchanted me so much that I easily learnt the skill because I wanted to whistle the tune so badly. Music from the past has many of these whistling tunes. This posting is about some of them.

Coloney Bogey March:
Another one that became a whistling hit was the Colonel Bogey March written in 1914. Although not many people remember the title, they knew how to whistle, "that River Kwai song." The song was a powerful one because of its repetitive, simple melody and because it was from the soundtrack of the blockbuster, The Bridge On The River Kwai.

Mitch Miller - The River Kwai March ~ Colonel Bogey March YouTube Video by: ubsswp

Prisoners of War:

The tune was played when the POW's marched towards the prison camp and is not to be mistaken with the orchestral counter-march composed in 1957 by Malcolm Arnold. Both marches had been recorded together by Mitch Miller and his Orchestra as March from the River Kwai - Colonel Bogey.

The Good, The Bad And The Ugly:

In 1966, Singapore film goers went wild with a spaghetti western called, The Good, The Bad And The Ugly and the main theme, composed by Ennio Morricoe, echoed for months everywhere.

Clint Eastwood:

Hugo Motenegro had a version using the Moog synthesizer that went up to number two on the Billboard Pop Single Chart in 1968. And gunslinger Clint Eastwood (image) clinched it again. It was so popular that it had been covered by our local group, The Stylers.

I Whistle A Happy Tune:

The very pretty Deborah Kerr appeared in a movie that fascinated both young and old. The King And I (1956) showed for weeks at the Cathay Cinema in the 50s and a song that kept everyone bright and cheerful was, I Whistle A Happy Tune.

The King And I:

In the movie, it was performed on board a ship when teacher Andrews was on her way to meet Yul Brynner the King. To ease her son's fear and tension, she sang and whistled the song. It became a hit with other songs in the show.

The Pink Panther Theme: Henry Mancini

YouTube Video by: Officer 620.

The Pink Panther Theme:

The Henry Mancini Pink Panther Theme (1963) has not been recorded as a whistling song but an instrumental composition that whistled its way to a nomination at the Academy Award for Original Music Score in 1964. It won three awards. Because of the Pink Panther cartoon character and Peter Sellers' success with the movie series, the song soared its way up the charts.

Inspector Clouseau:

The movie about the pink cartoon character was animated in time to the tune. It became successful commercially and made bungling Inspector Clouseau (Peter Sellers), a character in the Pink Panther series. It was directed by special Oscar winner *Blake Edwards. 

Roger Whittaker:

Are there many whistling tunes? Do you know one that you like? Have you heard of Roger Whittaker? He whistles most of his songs like Mexican Whistler, Pretty Bird, River Lady and classics like The Elizabethan Serenade. It's a nice ending to introduce one of the best whistlers in pop history like Whittaker. But that's another story...

Image: Google.

Original article: Andy Lim.

The best whistling song ever from regular reader and contributor, Steven Farram:

I was Kaiser Bill's Batman: By Whistling Jack Smith. YouTube Video By:Top401967.

Elvis Presley - G.I. Blues & Classical Music

Elvis Presley: Tonight's So Right For Love [G.I. Blues: 1960]

Offenbach -Barcarolle from Les Contes d'Hoffmann (The Tales Of Hoffmann)

Please listen to the Elvis video and the original classical composition below.

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Hold me tight 

The moon's so bright 
Tonight is so right for love... 

In the early 60's, while listening to Elvis Presley's, Tonight Is So Right For Love from G. I. Blues (1960), I found the melody familiar.

Barcarolle from 'Les contes d'Hoffmann' by Offenbach

YouTube video by: mezzocristina.

Since the world of popular music has gleaned many of its hits from the classics, the Wayne, Silver and Lilly composition is actually based on Offenbach - Barcarolle from Les Contes d'Hoffmann (The Tales Of Hoffmann) and not from Johann Strauss as some surfers claim it to be.  Listen to Elvis' version, then key in Google Video for Offenbach Barcarolle. 

Della Reese* is one singer who had recorded songs classical music based on Puccini, Tchaikovsky, Schubert and other composers. 

The list below provides information on popular songs from classical music. Some songs are not from the 60's:

Procol Harum: 
Whiter Shade Of Pale
Bach's Air On The G String.

Eric Carmen: 
All By Myself
Melody of Rachmaninoff's 2nd Piano Concerto in C Minor.

Eric Carmen: 
Never Gonna Fall in Love Again
Main Theme Rachmaninoff's 2nd Symphony.

Tony Bennett: 
Stranger in Paradise (Kismet)
Alexander Borodin's Polovtsian Dances.

Della Reese: 
Don't You Know
La Boheme by Puccini.

Freddy Martin: 
Tonight We Love
Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto in B Flat.

Elvis Presley:
It's Now or Never
O Sole Mio.

Elvis Presley:
Surrender
Torna A. Surriento.

Jackie Wilson: 
Night 
Saint-Saens Opera Samson and Delilah.

Della Reese:*
Till The End Of Time
Chopin adapted.

And the list goes on. It is common knowledge that many of today's pop musicians are well-versed with classical music. Pop stars like Bono, Keith Richards, Elton John, Paul McCartney and Elvis Costello are just a few of these artistes. And Elvis?

I had records by Mario Lanza when I was 17, 18 years old, I would listen to the Metropolitan Opera. I just loved music. Music period. (Elvis Presley, 1972 interview).

Song list compiled from classical music websites.

Images: Google.
Original Article: Andy Lim.

You Tube: Elvis Presley video from Kevin Allen. 
               Barcarolle video from mezzocristina.

Touched n Inspired By Hymns Through My Years...

My Good Friday and Easter Posting

School Days

When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the Prince of glory died.

I do not remember, as a young student in an Anglican school, learning specific Good Friday and Easter songs. It happened too long ago but I can still recollect being taught, for both my music classes and Religious Knowledge (R.K.) lessons, by Mr. V. Q. 

Chapel Time on Friday morning was when we got our energy together and sang our hearts out, accompanied by a truly unique church organ played by Mr Q.
It was the most enjoyable period on the time table and I loved every moment. This weekly class was usually conducted by a kind Reverend Dr D.D. C. 

During special events, the school would use the majestic cathedral, beside City Hall MRT, for prayers, blessings and hymns. We were thrilled when we first entered it and found the grandeur architecture awesome but the visits seemed too few.  There were not many inaugurations yearly.

When I Survey The Wondrous Cross

YouTube Video from: Northern Baptist Association.

The hymn, When I Survey the Wondrous Cross, written by Isaac Watts and published in Hymns and Spiritual Songs in 1707 was one of the earlier hymns I learnt at school. The version I learnt is the one sung by Cliff Richard (You Tube One) above. 

There were many other hymns and I do remember a few like, Forty Days and Forty Nights (1856), Onward Christian Soldiers (1865/1871), All Things Bright And Beautiful (1848) and All People That On Earth Do Dwell (1650). And not forgetting the School Hymn. Woe betide the student who didn't know both, which included the School Song.

Post School Days

He touched me, oh he touched me
And oh the joy that floods my soul.

Since I left school, there was this period when I only listened to Christmas carols on the radio, vinyl records, cassettes and CD's. But because of my interest in pops, I had nearly two dozen songs recorded by an artiste who kept me in tune. 

The CD which I have till today is Take My Hand, Elvis Presley Gospel Favourites. This recording is a memorabilia among Presley fans and includes classics like I Believe (1953), Amazing Grace (1779), Put Your Hand In The Hand (1970), Joshua Fit The Battle (1865), How Great Thou Art (1885) and others. 

Then the Presley specials, Peace In The Valley (1937), Crying In The Chapel (1953), Take My Hand Precious Lord (1844) and He Touched Me (1964). There are twenty songs in all.

As the years went by, touched and inspired with this genre of music I started collecting again. One I learnt was Because He Lives (1971). Written two hundred years later after Wondrous Cross, this particular song was written by  William Gaither in the 60's. 

Gaither was an American singer and songwriter of the southern gospel and contemporary christian music.  He Touched Me (You Tube Two), the Presley favourite which became a hit, was the William Gaither breakthrough song.

Forty days and forty nights
Thou was fasting in the wild
Forty days and forty nights
Tempted and yet undefiled...

There is a second part to this piece; it will surface in another posting. 

Have a Good Friday and a Happy Easter.

NB:

The Hymn 
is addressed to God for praise, worship, adoration and prayer. It allows us to confess our sins to God, claim His mercy and promises, and pledge our loyalty and faithful service.

The Gospel song 
is addressed to the people, warn them of the consequences of sin, give the promise of liberty, peace, joy and heaven. With it we can appeal directly to the people to do likewise. 

Both Hymns and Gospels are used in Evangelistic churches.

(If errors are found in this article please write to advise; I am a novice with religious music.)

Images from: 
(1) http://www.pictures88.com/good-friday/wonderful-good-friday-graphic/
(2) http://episcopalvail.com/?event=easter-sunday

You Tube videos of Cliff Richard, Elvis Presley and Alabama from: 
(1) Sir Cliff Richard
(2) you tube addict cyber space enthusiast
(3) GaitherVEVO
Dates of song composition have been taken from WIKI.

ST. ANDREW'S SCHOOL SINGAPORE MEMORY TRAIL.

Wolfgang, Winnipeg, Winter Wonderland: Story 2

My Valentine's Day 2016 Posting:

         *Mozart - Symphony No. 40 in G minor, K. 550 (complete)

(About the music: The common perception is that the symphony is tragic in tone and intensely emotional. Charles Rosen has called the symphony a work of "passion, violence, and grief".  Interpretations differ but it is one of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's most greatly admired works and frequently performed or recorded.)

If I remember correctly, it was around Valentine's Day that I went through a delightful movie moment and learnt the harshness of a Winnipeg Winter with Mozart in my mind.

Classical Music Influence
It is safe to say that my classical music knowledge is hardly sufficient to write a blog but what little education about classical music I have are the vinyl records and CD's on renowned composers and the literature about them in the home cupboard. 
A bright eyed and animated sister-in-law who is an expert in the field fills the gap in between to help but she is hardly in town since she lives on the West Coast of Canada, far away from the city about to be described below.

Wolfgang
It was nearly the Spring of 1985 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, when I went to see the 1984 film version of Amadeus.  This film was popular then with super star director Milos Forman and F. Murray Abraham as Anthony Salieri. 

Having read the Peter Shaffer play in Aberdeen, Scotland in 1982 as a university text I was very excited with the notion of seeing the movie interpretation and only knowing later that the film won 8 Academy Awards, 4 Golden Globe Awards and other achievements. 

I could not remember the name of the cinema but it was a small building and a little out of town. I managed to struggle into the downtown bus which took me there. 

Winnipeg
It is one of the coldest cities in Canada and getting a bus was not easy since most everyone drives. Outsiders make fun of the place and call it Winterpeg. 

In Winter the temperature could go down below freezing, way, way, down to minus 40 degrees centigrade. And that my dear reader, was very cold. Breathing was a problem sometimes and nearly every door-knob touched gave a static electric shock. The spark could be seen between the knob and finger (image).

Since it was Spring I was glad I could move around but still in my woolen overcoat, muffler, mittens and snow boots. Coming from a temperate place like Singapore, living in Manitoba was like existing in a giant refrigerator. 

And it was impossible to get used to, even after three years.  But it wasn't too cold that night at a mere 11 degrees C. Some locals were walking around as if it were already summer time. 

A Classic Movie Experience
I expected a crowd but did not see many people. Thinking it was still early I bought the ticket and waited inside the building. There was not much air-conditioning to keep me warm but it was comfortable enough. 

After waiting for fifteen minutes or so I decided to go in since the movie was about to start. After checking in with the door attendant, I sat in the last row of the small cinema and found I could lean my head on the back wall. Just above me were the peep-holes for the projectors. 

Meantime I noticed that there were no other patrons in the cinema. Half an hour went by and the movie had not started, so I went out to find out what had happened. The attendant standing by surprised me with his statement:

"So sorry sir, I didn't know you are inside. I will screen the movie now!"

It took me a while to realise what had happened but alone I sat and saw Amadeus in comfort and quiet, munching popcorn in the dark. It was my first experience ever. 

Winter Wonderland
This particular theatre was not part of a cinema complex or cineplex but a smaller movie house that had no patrons. It was not because of the movie but because of the weather, its distant location in nowhere land and the social situation. 

Not many readers will find this experience surprising as it is a common occurrence in the West. And with the advent of DVD's, home cinema and computer streaming these days I guess it is more prevalent.  

Another reason is the notoriously ill repute of the city as Winnipeggers hardly go out at night because it is the **crime capital of Canada and the siren from police cars doesn't stop screaming; an incessant cry, 24 hours a day.  Despite Winnipeg's reputation, it is still a beautiful place to live in, a winter wonderland from October to March.

I had a difficult time waiting for a bus in the late night after the movie. The bus-stop was just an open glass shelter and the snow came fast as it pounded on the panel. The heavy woollies I had on saved me.

A Happy Valentine 2016 To All Love Birds.

NB: 

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791).

My knowledge of Mozart is near zero but I do remember the music I am familiar with as (b) below:

a) The Symphony No. 25 in G minor, K. 183/173dB, was written by Mozart in October 1773.  Its first movement is widely known as the opening music in Miloš Forman's film Amadeus.


b) Mozart wrote his Symphony No. 40 in G minor, KV. 550, in 1788. It is sometimes referred to as the "Great G minor symphony," to distinguish it from the "Little G minor symphony," No. 25. The two are the only minor key symphonies Mozart wrote (You Tube).

Click below to read Story 1: Army Daze or Amadeus?

http://singapore60smusic.blogspot.sg/2015/11/an-original-jack-neo-more-popular-than.html

* https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCB8hGTXASO_TUNGjlIaCVnA

**http://www.winnipegsun.com/2014/07/23/winnipeg-still-violent-crime-capital-of-canada

Images: A personal collection; Google.

X'mas Greeting - Standing At The Gate Of The Year

​                The Gate of the Year - Video by meganspark.

Christmas Letter Two:
William Meyer, a Singaporean friend of *Denyse Tessensohn, has been living in the UK for decades. He sends an early festive greeting below:

"B​ack in the mists of my childhood years (late 1950's), a pre-teen, I read a poem in my ACS School Annual that deeply moved me and quietly lodged in my now-fading memory throughout the long and winding 50+ years.

I remember cutting it out and sticking the piece of paper on my old bedroom cupboard door with Scotch tape (no blue tack until a few decades later).  As a kid I often used to ponder over the comforting words much like a morning prayer as I got ready for school, or had just a few minutes spare in the middle of my wild childhood days.  Now that my time is starting to draw-in, the fear of the mess I may leave for others to gather up and stick in a rubbish skip when I've gone has got me doing the odd bit of rummaging and chucking-out.  It's currently stuff that my mum and dad brought across the seas when they emigrated from Singapore to the UK that I'm still sifting through for the umpteenth time.

I was going through the contents of their old camphor-wood chest, and got the shock of my life... there was that exact piece of paper, yellowed with the passage of decades, but with words as comforting to me as the day I first read them in my old school annual.  My mum knew I loved these lines and when they uprooted from the old country she'd saved my scrap of paper, carefully removing the sticky tape, and stored it with all her memories and treasures, hoping that one day I would be able to read them again. This action encapsulates the loving​  support that she and my dad always had for whatever I held close to my heart.

Today was that day, and scanned-in on the left is that old piece of paper that I found after all those hidden years - it brought to me a melancholic nostalgia or 'saudade', not just due to the poem, but also the manner of its passage from my childhood room in our old Singapore house to my current flat in London.  Reading it again from the same source for the first time in fifty odd years brings a rather larger than normal lump to my throat from the realisation that all the intervening years have not even slightly dulled ​it's​ emotional charge,​ and I hope you too enjoy the message, and the wonderful serendipity now transformed into an Xmas greeting from us all.

Have a blessed Xmas and may the new year finally bring us the peace and love that all living creatures deserve."

(Thanks to William Meyer for sharing this post and to Denyse for making the request on my behalf.  *Denyse was a fellow lecturer at NIE when we were teaching together in the 2000's.)

God Knows

And I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year: “Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown.”
And he replied:
“Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the Hand of God. That shall be to you better than light and safer than a known way.”
So I went forth, and finding the Hand of God, trod gladly into the night. And He led me towards the hills and the breaking of day in the lone East.

So heart be still:
What need our little life
Our human life to know,
If God hath comprehension?
In all the dizzy strife
Of things both high and low,
God hideth His intention.

God knows. His will
Is best. The stretch of years
Which wind ahead, so dim
To our imperfect vision,Are clear to God. Our fears
Are premature; In Him,
All time hath full provision.

Then rest: until
God moves to lift the veil
From our impatient eyes,
When, as the sweeter features
Of Life’s stern face we hail,Fair beyond all surmise
God’s thought around His creatures
Our mind shall fill.

The Gate of the Year is the popular name given to the poem by Minnie Louise Haskins (1875-1957). The title given to it by the author was God Knows. She studied and then taught at the London School of Economics in the early twentieth century.

Image: Google.

References:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minnie_Louise_Haskins

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