Category Archives: 1800 – 1804

Day 63: Still More Scottish Songs

Posted on by
Reply

HaydnCD63Another terrific selection of Scottish songs featuring soprano Lorna Anderson and tenor Jamie MacDougall, both of whom actually are Scottish.

The music is terrific, too, provided by the Haydn Trio Eisenstadt, which consists of:

Harald Kosik piano
Verena Stourzh violin
Hannes Gradwohl cello

As with the previous CDs of Scottish songs, this one was recorded where it was likely first performed, or even composed: Haydn Hall, Esterhazy Palace, Eisenstadt.

This morning when I went to Google something to do with these Scottish songs, I discovered this:

GoogleCallasIt’s Google’s tribute to the late soprano Maria Callas.

Classical music is cool.

Day 62: More Scottish Songs

Posted on by
Reply

HaydnCD62The underpinning of Buddhism is a word called dukkha, which is a Pali word often translated as suffering, anxiety, dissatisfaction, un-ease. It is found in the Four Noble Truths – in fact, it is the first of the Four.

The second of the Four Noble Truths tells us where dukkha comes from — ourselves. We crave. Or, another way to describe it is we grasp. Essentially, we want things to be different from how they are.

That has to be the reason why I think differently about today’s Haydn CD from how I did about yesterday’s.

It’s, essentially, the same music. The same performers. The same musicians.

Yet, today, I like it. I don’t mind the near-contralto range of soprano Lorna Anderson, or the lower-range of tenor Jamie MacDougall. For some reason, I actually like today’s selection of songs.

Obviously, there are two possible explanations: (1) The song selections are different, and/or (2) I am different.

Frankly, I think it’s the latter. Maybe I just needed a little time to get used to what I was hearing.

Track 9 (“Hey tutti taiti”), for example. A really fun little ditty.

And Track 16 (“The wish”).

What I’ve noticed about today’s CD is: Continue reading →

Day 61: Scottish Songs? George Thomson?

Posted on by
Reply

HaydnCD61Today’s CD looked like an incredibly interesting diversion from the previous compositions. And it is. Just not the way I was hoping.

I love songs from the U.K. Give me Ireland, Scotland (even England) any day. There’s something about the sound and feel of music from that spot on the globe that does it for me.

But, today’s music isn’t exactly giving me goosebumps.

For one thing, the tempo is too slow for a Scottish song – at least, my favorite Scottish songs. (Come to think of it, I don’t believe I could name any Scottish songs. I’m thinking of Irish songs full of tin whistles and “Laddies” and “Lasses” and Danny Boys.)

The song titles on this CD certainly have the right feel to them. Track 4, for example, is called “The wee, wee man.”

I’m glad I’m not a wee, wee man. (But I’ve had a lot of coffee this morning. So I may be soon.)

Here’s what I find off-putting about this music: The vocalists .

They are listed as Lorna Anderson, soprano, and Jamie MacDougall, tenor. (MacDougall sounds like the right guy for the job.) However, Ms. Anderson sounds more like a contralto to me. Her soprano range is definitely lower register. And Mr. MacDougall’s tenor range sounds more like baritone to me. So the two of them together are not endearing me to what I thought would be a toe-tapping round of Gaelic drinking songs.

Here. Listen for yourself. This is the exact same performance to which I’m listening this morning.

To be sure, laddie, “Rattling roaring Willy” (Track 6) is making me yearn for a pint or two. But, overall, this music sounds less festive and more pensive than is my preferred style. Continue reading →