Thursday, May 10, 2018

Revision Music

The sun is shining, the weather is warm, the leaves are springing on the bough... it must be exam season!  Here is a small compilation of music for those who are studying for exams at the moment... knowing how much music always helped me through mine.  To be listened to while working or while resting.  Hopefully these are all either relaxing or cheering or both!  And that they put the exams in perspective.  One of the things that music proves is that, in spite of how it seems in the thick of it, exams are a considerable way down the list of the most important things in the world...

Rachel Laurin: Concerto for vibraphone, marimba and strings, particularly the second movement:


Jacques Ibert: the first movement of his suite Escales ('Ports of Call'): Rome - Palermo:


Ernest Tomlinson: 'Serenade to a Wayward Miss'


Eric Coates: his 'Four Centuries' suite.  Have taken the liberty of linking straight to 'Rhythm'... the twentieth century of course!


Can't resist linking to the second movement of the 'Three Elizabeths' suite, 'Springtime in Angus', a musical portrait of Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother.  (Anything by Eric Coates will work wonders, really).

Gerald Finzi - Introit for Solo Violin & Small Orchestra - Op. 6 (Molto Sereno), which also forms the second movement of his Violin Concerto:


For something more contemporary, how about some music from the 'Jednego Serca Jednego Ducha' hymn-singing concerts in Rzeszów, Poland (which will take place this year on the 31 May)?  At the foot of this post I have compiled a list of the concerts that can be listened to on YouTube.

Here's something up-to-the-minute, eight minutes long and quite peaceful...

Twoja miłość jak ciepły deszcz — Mietek Szcześniak

And here is a tune that may sound familiar:

Głoś imię Pana (Lobe den Herrn; Praise to the Lord, the Almighty)

Plenty more where they came from!

For more music see this post from last year.  Otherwise... GOOD LUCK in all exams!

5 comments :

  1. I am listening to that first piece already, Rachel Laurin! Truly magical, delicate and moving! Thank you!

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    1. You're welcome! I think that concerto is a hidden gem and am very glad you like it. Thanks as ever for commenting!

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  2. I believe I like music to be soft, lush and shimmering...rather than enamelled and gleaming!

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    1. Luminous, then, rather than polished?... Interesting that you say this - 'gleaming' and 'shimmering' aren't exactly opposites and there aren't always a million miles between them. 'Mistiness' in music is often what attracts me.
      It's all so subjective, and a mystery!

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    2. Yes, "luminous" rather than "polished" is a better way of putting it. "Mistiness", too.

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Please add your thoughts! All civil comments are warmly welcomed.