Bitz of Brin #78 - Please Say Something

Another of my favorite songs lately

fix you

One of my favorite movie moments this year

Of Time and the City

The reason 'Consolation in D Major' is my favorite piece of music this month.

Consolation in D Flat Major; Franz Liszt 1811-1886, played by Annette Servadei.

My favorite piece of music this month.

Beethoven 9th Symphony: Ode to Joy 3 • Volker Hartung, conductor

Oh friends, not these tones!
Rather, let us raise our voices in more pleasing
And more joyful sounds!
Joy! Joy!
[...]
Whoever has had the great fortune
To be a friend's friend,
Whoever has won a devoted wife,
Join in our jubilation!
Indeed, whoever can call even one soul,
His own on this earth!
And whoever was never able to, must creep
Tearfully away from this band!
[...]
Be embraced, millions!
This kiss for the whole world!
Brothers, above the starry canopy
Must a loving Father dwell.
Do you bow down, millions?
Do you sense the Creator, world?
Seek Him beyond the starry canopy!
Beyond the stars must He dwell.

Mahler 3rd - Finale - Dudamel

Kinda obsessed with Mahler right now.

Bring It On Home To Me

Great cover of a great song.

Finnegans Wake

I started reading this sometimes frustrating but enjoyable and brilliant Joyce book a couple of weeks ago, and then noticed some twitter activity between Rian Johnson and Joseph Gordon-Levitt about adapting a page of the book into a short film. I'm delighted I could play some small part in this:

Page Four Hundred and Thirty-Nine from Clara Aranovich on Vimeo.

The Page 439 project coincides with my first trip back to Ireland in four years and has deepened my obsession with Joyce and his work. Hopefully, I'll release some more recordings in the near future. Meanwhile, this clip from archive.org incorporates the language of the work and even the song which partly inspired its title and is possibly my favorite MP3 of the year.

Gary Moore with Phil Lynott - Parisienne Walkways (live)

Buddy Guy

On Friday evening, I witnessed the greatest live music event of my life. I’ve been to around twenty Mountain Stage shows during my nine years in West Virginia – many were good, some were great, but none prepared me for the raw energy, the electrification of a crown, the transformative experience that was Buddy Guy.

Buddy Guy is noble, a nobility few artists have earned. Buddy Guy is playful, in a way few artists are brave enough to be, taunting the audience with his artistry. He created a unique musical event, flitting between songs he has known intimately for decades, mimicking the playing styles of Clapton, Hendrix and more, calling out to his bandmated and taking joy in their responses. He played his guitar as if it were part of himself, one-handed, or behind his back, or with his teeth. Yet, none of it seemed ostentatious. He was simply sharing his gift. My wife reviewed the entire Mountain Stage show for the Charleston Gazette, and here are some YouTube clips that attempt to capture the magic of Buddy Guy:

Mark Kermode Reviews Mamma Mia - BBC Radio 5 live

filmspotting #258 massacre theatre - Gladiator

Fiddler Medley by Pianafiddle

I was fortunate enough to attend a show by this duo and hope to do so again - the entire performance was amazing but this is my personal favorite.

From my favorite album of the year so far

King Of The Dogs - Iggy Pop

I listen to this almost every day

Bach - Cello Suite No. 1, Prelude

On Hiatus

I leave you with The Lass of Aughrim ...

Mozart gives hope.... KV 622

a transporting piece of music

re: Your Brains

Aria (Bach)

Bellissimo

Paul Potts sings Nessun Dorma

This one brought tears to my eyes - I heard about him cos they're making a movie about his story.