Music has a wonderful way of making us feel connected to many things: emotions; events, places; people like family, friends and loves past and present. There is, also, a connectedness to and among the musicians, singers, composers—the music makers then and now and yet to come.
When I listen to good music, most often there is another piece of music, a rhythm used in another work, or a performer’s phrasing and tone on instrumental or vocal that, while still its own sound, has reflections of some other. Then, there are the compositions with a quality of texture and mood that connect to our sense of wonder, strength and sadness, humor and delight—whatever the touching point, it is that recognition that triggers the notes of connection.
Listening to the musical suites of Kenny Wheeler, I am reconnected to the stunning sense of beauty’s creation that I first experienced as a child listening to the suites of Claude Debussy. For me, their music disappears all else in the world for a time. They wrote with structured abandon, moving from what is sometimes pretty to pretty far out of the bounds of the music rules of the time. Their shared use of the melodic, muted and meditative mixed with their tonality, textures and tendencies toward complex harmonies and improvisation evoke the best that is, coupled with the possibility of what can be the next, new best.
It is not surprising then to learn that both wrote for and played in small as well as larger ensembles. They shared an appreciation of voices as instruments, writing for vocalists and being inspired by them in equal measure. They composed music to celebrate poems, paintings, literature and dance. Of course, they were unique in many ways, but there is a connecting energy that moves around and through them and their music.
With his recent death, much has been written about Kenny Wheeler’s music and personality, which are both honored by those who knew him personally and/or through his work. I greatly enjoy his individual songs and jazz performances, and his instrumental soloing on trumpet and, most especially, on flugelhorn. However, there is a special joy taken in his musical suites. They are like the full-length novel compared to a compact short story told in a single song. The movements, much like chapters building toward the end, have their own musical colors and themes and, yet, combine in a united whole. Whether they are interpretations of known stories, or totally new visions and adventures, Mr. Wheeler brings you into a musical place at once unique and familiar, exciting and peaceful, uncommon and, somehow, connected to bygone and future.
Decide what you feel when you listen to The Long Time Ago Suite by Kenny Wheeler.
And, here is one by Claude Debussy: Suite Bergamasque
You can find more selections by both composers next week on my youtube channel and of course feel welcome to check out all of the playlists at any time. Here’s the link:
http://www.youtube.com/user/DianeTaberMusic
When I listen to good music, most often there is another piece of music, a rhythm used in another work, or a performer’s phrasing and tone on instrumental or vocal that, while still its own sound, has reflections of some other. Then, there are the compositions with a quality of texture and mood that connect to our sense of wonder, strength and sadness, humor and delight—whatever the touching point, it is that recognition that triggers the notes of connection.
Listening to the musical suites of Kenny Wheeler, I am reconnected to the stunning sense of beauty’s creation that I first experienced as a child listening to the suites of Claude Debussy. For me, their music disappears all else in the world for a time. They wrote with structured abandon, moving from what is sometimes pretty to pretty far out of the bounds of the music rules of the time. Their shared use of the melodic, muted and meditative mixed with their tonality, textures and tendencies toward complex harmonies and improvisation evoke the best that is, coupled with the possibility of what can be the next, new best.
It is not surprising then to learn that both wrote for and played in small as well as larger ensembles. They shared an appreciation of voices as instruments, writing for vocalists and being inspired by them in equal measure. They composed music to celebrate poems, paintings, literature and dance. Of course, they were unique in many ways, but there is a connecting energy that moves around and through them and their music.
With his recent death, much has been written about Kenny Wheeler’s music and personality, which are both honored by those who knew him personally and/or through his work. I greatly enjoy his individual songs and jazz performances, and his instrumental soloing on trumpet and, most especially, on flugelhorn. However, there is a special joy taken in his musical suites. They are like the full-length novel compared to a compact short story told in a single song. The movements, much like chapters building toward the end, have their own musical colors and themes and, yet, combine in a united whole. Whether they are interpretations of known stories, or totally new visions and adventures, Mr. Wheeler brings you into a musical place at once unique and familiar, exciting and peaceful, uncommon and, somehow, connected to bygone and future.
Decide what you feel when you listen to The Long Time Ago Suite by Kenny Wheeler.
And, here is one by Claude Debussy: Suite Bergamasque
You can find more selections by both composers next week on my youtube channel and of course feel welcome to check out all of the playlists at any time. Here’s the link:
http://www.youtube.com/user/DianeTaberMusic
This was shared by David Benders on Face Book.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Diane Taber. Another great Didja Feel the Music! Tnx for the Long Time Ago Suite by Kenny Wheeler - next to the Debussy. Of course I love that kind of programming. And blah blah blah - my usual rap - insert here - you're not gonna get that on radio theseadays or on Pandora either! So thanks to you. BTW I wouldn't know about Wheeler, a Canadian, were it not for the CBC ... just one of the many ways we were blessed living next to Canada in BFLO. Canadian radio presented his music at a time when I think US audiences were not up to speed. I even remember getting some recordings of Wheeler through the transcription (that's a record folks, before satellite networks) services of the CBC. I love it when things that have happened come back around years later and here is Diane is talking Wheeler! Canada consider him one of their cultural treasures.
David, your gracious comments are a real gift to me--thank you! Yes, listening to jazz from Toronto radio 91.1 was a definite perk in Buffalo. And, remember the great late-night jazz radio from Rochester?:) We were able to enjoy artists from UK before they became more recognized in US and what a lucky thing for us!
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