Robert Paterson's Weblog

Goose Bump Music - I was Glad - Hubert Parry

I was a boy chorister from 8 - 13. In effect I was a professional musician in that I and the choir were fully committed to our craft. We sang every day in chapel, 2 practices a week and two services on Sunday.

There were times when I wished I was doing something else. But what a joy it was to perform great music. In particular I learned to love English and French church music. I never sung this piece. But when my father died I arranged for this to be sung at his memorial service. Not only did we have a spectacular choir but also the band of the Scots Guards!

This is usually sung at the coronation but the words fitted my hopes for my father who died so young - only 55.

I was glad when they said unto me: 
we will go into the house of the Lord. 
Our feet shall stand in thy gates, O jerusalem. 
Jerusalem is builded as a city: 
that is at unity in itself. 
O pray for the peace of Jerusalem: 
they shall prosper that love thee. 
Peace be within thy walls: 
and plenteousness within thy palaces.

Goose Bump Music - Widor Toccata 5th Organ Symphony

The late and so talented David MacDonald played this at our wedding. He used this tempo - close to Widor's. When played this slow, the foot notes drive the piece and give it huge emotional power. I am always 25 walking down the aisle starting a new life with Robin when I hear this.

Goose Bump Music - Sibelius 5th Finale

In my interview with Dan at WETA, we explored the power of great music to engage the soul. I mentioned also a few pieces that did this to  me. I also mentioned how WETA is sharing its hosts favourites with its listeners.

Here is one of my favourites - the last movement of Sibelius' 5th symphony. I wonder if it is my nordic ancestry that it calls to?

I love the way that Sibelius foreshadows the closing theme in the first movement - this symphony makes such sense.

I was surprised by what happens at 2.27 - the producer obviously feels the same way as I do about the meaning of this piece.

It speaks to me of a good life well lived that is drawing to a close and therefore of a great opening too ....

Thanks to gab1279 who has given music lovers such a gift of 139 music moments

Happy New Year - Mahler's 8th - Transcendent Hope

Here is Simon Rattle conducting the National Youth Orchestra and over 1,000 people in the spectacular finale of Mahler's 8th Symphony.

I have adored this piece since I was a child - seeing all these brilliant young people play it so well under Rattle's simply inspiring leadership caused me to burst into tears last night. Hard to imagine what it must have been like to have been involved. I cannot think of any piece that offers more hope.

Above all, the Eighth Symphony is an act of faith and love, a reply to all the questions and uncertainties of the human condition. It glorifies earthly activity as much as any transcendent concerns. Faust's final redemption is a justification of ceaseless human striving because, at the end of a quest that has led him so far from asceticism and from all that is traditionally considered to lead to paradise, he is welcomed into heaven by the Mater gloriosa herself.

At 5.21 the children's choir stands and there is a moment of sheer ecstasy that is sustained until the final moment.

This performance combines both a musical and a visual feast - I cannot understand why the BBC have not made this into a DVD.

I offer it to you as my hope for a better world. If you have 7 minutes, I promise you they won't be wasted.

Here is how it was received at its premier:

The first performance of the Eighth Symphony in Munich in 1910 proved to be one of the greatest triumphs in the history of music. Mahler's incomparable genius in balancing his massed forces, the evident wealth of melodic invention based on a very limited number of cells and the splendour of the two codas could not fail to fascinate the audience. Mahler had just turned fifty. His whole career hitherto as a composer had been an almost uninterrupted sequence of setbacks and dubious successes, with the result that he was both astounded and moved to tears to see the entire audience screaming, stamping their feet and applauding wildly in a collective frenzy lasting some twenty minutes. The children's choir in particular, on whom he had lavished endless care and attention during the rehearsals, kept on applauding and waving their handkerchiefs and scores. They rushed down from their seats and leaned over the balustrade to give him flowers and shake his hand, shouting 'Long live Mahler! Our Mahler!' at the tops of their voices and presenting him with the only laurel wreath of the evening, a gesture that moved him profoundly. For Mahler, these children represented the future that he felt was slipping inexorably away from him.

The best national anthem in the world

You don't have to be Welsh to be moved - It calls its children to a heroic culture where art, life and the land are held most dear.

I chose this video for the warrior quality of the rugby players, the love of the young spectators and the epic pride in belonging to their people of the older men. It's hard not to weep even if you are not Welsh. For do we not all long for these things?

Here for all us not Welsh is a translation

This land of my fathers is dear to me Land of poets and singers, and people of stature Her brave warriors, fine patriots Shed their blood for freedom

Chorus: Land! Land! I am true to my land! As long as the sea serves as a wall for this pure, dear land May the language endure for ever.

Old land of the mountains, paradise of the poets, Every valley, every cliff a beauty guards; Through love of my country, enchanting voices will be Her streams and rivers to me.

Chorus

Though the enemy have trampled my country underfoot, The old language of the Welsh knows no retreat, The spirit is not hindered by the treacherous hand Nor silenced the sweet harp of my land.

Chorus

O Magnum Mysterium - Morton Lauridsen - UST Nails it

The UST website is here

O Magnum Mysterium - Morton Lauridsen

By chance this morning I heard for the very first time  - O Magnum Mysterium - by Morten Lauridsen.

I must have been alseep for the last 50 years. I cannot understand how I had never heard this utterly sublime piece of of music before.

I have been playing it all afternoon and gently weeping.

Rolling Stones in Moncton - Alex's Review

Here is Alex's review of the concert last night. Cyn was working the dressing room! So watch her space for her inside perspective

Leonard Knows

I can't get this song out of my brain right now.

Everybody knows (clip here Real Player) that the dice are loaded
Everybody rolls with their fingers crossed
Everybody knows that the war is over
Everybody knows the good guys lost
Everybody knows the fight was fixed
The poor stay poor, the rich get rich
That's how it goes
Everybody knows
Everybody knows that the boat is leaking
Everybody knows that the captain lied
Everybody got this broken feeling
Like their father or their dog just died ..........

And everybody knows that it's now or never
Everybody knows that it's me or you
And everybody knows that you live forever
Ah when you've done a line or two
Everybody knows the deal is rotten
Old Black Joe's still pickin' cotton
For your ribbons and bows
And everybody knows

And everybody knows that the Plague is coming
Everybody knows that it's moving fast
Everybody knows that the naked man and woman
Are just a shining artifact of the past
Everybody knows the scene is dead
But there's gonna be a meter on your bed
That will disclose
What everybody knows

And everybody knows that you're in trouble
Everybody knows what you've been through
From the bloody cross on top of Calvary
To the beach of Malibu
Everybody knows it's coming apart
Take one last look at this Sacred Heart
Before it blows
And everybody knows

Everybody knows, everybody knows
That's how it goes
Everybody knows

Oh everybody knows, everybody knows
That's how it goes
Everybody knows

Everybody knows

Has Been - What an achievement!

When I was 30 I knew everything. I knew that I was clever and that I was on the road to "success" I was immune from the problems and failures of others. I suppose that "We are the champions" might have been my song

Now I am 54, I know that life is very hard, very hard indeed. I have already made some really stupid mistakes. My sins are both of commission and omission. I have deliberately hurt others and my neglect and inattention has hurt those closet to me. I have missed what is really going on and been cocky. I have felt superior to those that are more grounded than I. Oh the list goes on and on.

I have found my new album. Has Been by William Shatner. As I hear it, this is not a novelty album. This is a true paen to life as it is and as we discover it after we have had the edges knocked off us. What a brave statement he makes. How brilliantly produced by Ben Folds.

The more I listen the more I hear myself. Thanks Bill!