Monday Dedicated to all of us who went through French 101 (and you, Barb). Foux Da Fa Fa – Flight of the Conchords
Tuesday Yambú pa’ Inglaterra – Tito Puente y Eddie Palmieri (4:05)
Wednesday Apple Jack – Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt, Emmylou Harris (2:59) and then After the Gold Rush – Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt, Emmylou Harris (3:38)
Thursday It’s snowing, here’s a big chunk of German Romantic warmth. The Alto Rhapsody of Johannes Brahms, with verse by Goethe. Christa Ludwig, Alto (12:33) in a classic recording.
But who is that apart?
His path disappears in the bushes;
behind him the branches spring together;
the grass stands up again;
the wasteland engulfs him.
Ah, who heals the pains
of him for whom balsam turned to poison?
Who drank hatred of man
from the abundance of love?
First scorned, now a scorner,
he secretly feeds on
his own merit,
in unsatisfying egotism.
If there is on your psaltery,
Father of love, one note
his ear can hear,
then refresh his heart!
Open his clouded gaze
to the thousand springs
next to him who thirsts
in the wilderness!
Friday Tired of Being Alone – Al Green (2:43), Get Out of Town – Ella Fitzgerald (3:27), On the Road Again – Willy Nelson (2:35)
Saturday Yet more German Romantic vocal music! You’re so lucky! This aria, Dich, teure Halle, from Wagner’s opera Tannhäuser, can be described as someone coming back to a beloved performance venue after a long absence. (She’s in love, too, this is opera.) I know that when we are able to go back to making music in person, I may burst out in this when I come through the door. I guess I’ll have to learn it! Performed by the great Birgit Nilsson. (5:15)
| Dich, teure Halle (Halle der Minnesänger in der Wartburg. Elisabeth betritt die Halle voller Freude und begrüßt sie mit Worten) Elisabeth: Dich, teure Halle, grüß’ ich wieder, Froh grüß’ ich dich, geliebter Raum! In dir erwachen seine Lieder Und wecken mich aus düstrem Traum. Da er aus dir geschieden, Wie öd erschienst du mir! Aus mir entfloh der Frieden, Die Freude zog aus dir. Wie jetzt mein Busen hoch sich hebet, So scheinst du jetzt mir stolz und hehr. Der mich und dich so neu belebet, Nicht weilt er ferne mehr. Wie jetzt mein Busen hoch sich hebet, So scheinst du jetzt mir stolz und hehr. Der mich und dich so neu belebet, Nicht weilt er ferne mehr. Sei mir gegrüßt! Sei mir gegrüßt! Du, teure Halle, sei mir gegrüßt! Sei mir gegrüßt! Du, teure Halle, sei mir gegrüßt! | You, dear hall (At the hall of the Minnesingers in Wartburg. Elisabeth enters the hall joyfully and greets it) Elisabeth: You, dear hall, do I greet again I greet you joyfully, beloved room! In you his songs awake And wake me from a dusky dream. When he departed from you How dull you seemed to me! Peace flew out of me And joy went out of you. And now my bosom is raised high As you now seem to me proud and noble He who brings you and me to life Is no longer wandering far away And now my bosom is raised high As you now seem to me proud and noble He who brings you and me to life Is no longer wandering far away I greet you, I greet you! You, dear hall, I greet you! I greet you! You, dear hall, I greet you! |
Sunday I Be Your Water – Sweet Honey in the Rock (6:10)