Arvo Pärt - "Psalom," performed by the Quatuor Franz Joseph. I realize that two classical pieces in one week is rather unusual in this hip-pop-and-go mp3blog world, but we here at Said the Gramophone say: fuck that, let's rock! And by "rock", I mean listen to moving, ghostly music by a contemporary Estonian composer. While StG readers continue to send me terrific songs (hooray! please continue!), I've gotta admit that much of the past few days has been spent listening to a new, Canadian recording of Pärt works. My dad picked it up and it's really, really wonderful - "Psalom," "Fratres," "Es Sang Vor Langen Jahren," two versions of "Summa" (strings and choir), and the centerpiece, "Stabat Mater." The performances - by the Studio de musique ancienne de Montréal (cond. Christopher Jackson), Quatuor Franz Joseph, and countertenor Daniel Taylor, - are exceptional. It's all so beautiful, and yet aches so hard.
Even if you're not one to seek out classical music, do download "Psalom" and tell me what you think. The cello line grows and shifts, meeting the other strings at every step, their dark feet leaving fiery impressions. Long silences, yearning reaches; then, with the bass, the sound of an unmoved acknowledgement. Something hears you but says nothing in reply: the monolithic, (re/un)assuring presence of the old testament god. Beautiful. Terrible. Blind eyes trying to see through the fog. [buy]
I recently but two and two together and realized that since Pärt's from Tallinn, and I'll be visiting Tallinn in November, there might be something related for me to check out... Anyone know?
The New Year - "Disease". I know I'm way behind the ball on this one, but this track from The End is Near retains everything I like from the Kadanes' old band, Bedhead. It stumbles sort of sleepily along, filled with that summer immobility: "106 degrees. The air was hot water, there was no motion in the trees." And then in comes that other guitar, doing chordal things I don't understand for a minute, but the result is that it feels like the skylight's pulled open, that there's suddenly cool air flowing in. Then lurch, we're back in that hot slow place, but then this time when things change the whole place breaks apart, wind flowing everywhere - it's in our hair, the creases in our clothes, the wrinkles of our smiles. Electric guitars surge up, a sound to fill your head; it's a beautiful noise, gentle and strong. "And dis-ease / has found us again." Everything's chiming and ringing and me I don't want to sit down. (Ooh, music video.) [buy]