May 2011:
Sounds of Summer
Vancouverites have it pretty good. Living in a cosmopolitan city with a vibrant cultural scene, surrounded by spectacular coastal views and mountains to play in, year round, leaves one little to complain about. Or so you’d think. But this insane, almost unjust proportion of riches seems largely overlooked for the seven months per year when we Lotus Landers drown in our least favorite four-letter word, RAIN! OK, not every year is this bad. In fact, after five Picasso-esque years of living in Arizona, which my husband and I aptly named our Blue Period, we were eased into moving back to the Northwest with two unusually dry, warm winters (as witnessed by the world when we hosted the nearly snowless 2010 Olympics). But in our third year back, I was reminded why BC natives have single-handedly kept Hawaiian tourism alive and well. And thanks to Sally Dominick, my old band camp bunk mate with a guest house in Haiku, we had ourselves our first pre-requisite Maui getaway this winter too.
So, after 163 grey days out of the last 200, during which those elusive mountain views were but figments of our collective imaginations, Vancouverites finally emerged from their dens to recharge on Vitamin D. Of course, those first powerful doses had people exploding onto the seaside, streets, and parks of this fine city for BBQ’s, blading and beach volleyball. But it takes only a couple of days for the secondary bi-product of baking in the sun’s rays to settle in. That smooth, silky sensation that seeps into your pores when your skin stops shivering, your teeth stop chattering, your shoulders stop tensing and you finally surrender to the all-encompassing relaxation that only summer brings. This natural cycle of slowing down provides a wonderful opportunity for daydreaming and quiet listening while watching the world go by. In fact, my yoga teacher friend, Eoin Finn, has even coined a term for this blissed-out state. He calls it Hammock Enlightenment, and you can hear more about this on an inspiring presentation that he gave at a recent TED talk: (link)
The soundtrack that this mojito-sipping, general lounging-around phase inspires is usually something like the sultry Brazilian tones of Bebel Gilberto. But I’d like to suggest some classical works that also go well with the down-tempo ease of warmer days. These pieces can beautifully accompany an afternoon with a good beach read or a slow walk in the shade, and they are delectable with chilled white wine shared amongst friends. The first list only includes pieces written in major keys, as that mode, like Vivaldi’s Verano movement of the Four Seasons, seems to best suit the brilliance of this time of year. But for those who drink shiraz year-round, prefer Goethe to Grisham, or Mossy Green to Lapis Lazuli Blue, I’ve added some minor key Adagios for good measure.
For the sunnier list, one has to go no further than the master of slow himself, Wolfgang Amadeus, because it seems that Mozart could barely bring himself to write a taciturn tune in anything but a cheerful key. Here are my favorite four tracks from the Adagios album that I mentioned in an earlier entry.
Mozart’s Serenades are perfect for summer as they were originally intended for outdoor performances. I will always remember the first movement of the Adagio from his B flat Major Serenade, K361 for its sublime first note. The oboe enters, as if from nowhere, on a sustained bb flat that lingers unaccompanied until it has sent chills through every cell of your being.
I have another outdoor association with, Mozart's Concerto for flute and harp, K 299, Andantino. When I performed it under a tent with the National Repertory Orchestra in the dizzying air of Keystone, Colorado which is perched amidst the Rockies at 9,000 feet, a typical summer monsoon took full force during the delicate melodies of the second movement, adding hilariously incongruous thunder claps to this utterly serene music. But heard sans storm, it makes the perfect music for a late August afternoon.
When it comes to Mozart’s work there’s no shortage of significant memories for me. The slow movement of his Clarinet Concerto, prominently featured in Out of Africa amongst dozens of other films, even for all its melancholy, will forever bring back the outrageous humor and spirit of my Painted Sky Music Festival Co-Founder, Michael Sullivan, whom we lost to cancer in 2007. (Also included on the recording with the Flute and Harp Concerto listed above)
And then I certainly can’t leave out Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 27 in B flute Major, K 595 since I played it on my first performance in Carnegie Hall. And it’s lucky I did since I was stuck the Hall’s elevator for 45 minutes, just an hour before the show!
The Adagios of Barber and Mahler (from his Fifth Symphony) are perhaps redundant to mention, as they’re on nearly every Best of Classical list out there. But I would be remiss if I omitted them from a selection of music that can help you take it down a notch. The 2nd link is a unique collection of the adagio movements from all 9 of Mahler’s symphonies.
And lastly, I have to include one track from my duo, Forbidden Flutes' CD, Take the L Train, because it perfectly blends the sensuality of Gilberto with the breath of fresh air that Mozart’s music brings. So, with your next pomegranate salad and prosecco, try listening to Christopher Caliendo’s Por Siempre Para Siempre.
