- Apr 7
- 4 min read
writing/turtling + loving classical music again
April's a month of turtling + hiding from the world. Taking a break from live shows until May to focus on writing/finishing music for an upcoming album. (more on that next month if I'm successful, wish me luck 🥺)
MAY 3 SHOW IN ST CATHERINE'S
Pairing up with one of my favorite ambient guitarists, halfdecentheart, in this very heartfelt, very cosmic, very pigeon eve of ambient/experimental music at the Niagara Artist's Centre. It's been a year since I've been able to make it back to the city, and I'm bringing out the big big harp for this big big show with an entirely new set of tunes if this month proves fruitful.
the rest is dedicated to a rekindled love of classical music + recommended listening
After 10 years + an entire university degree in classical music, I was burnt out on the genre and also kinda annoyed it's elitism. Some of it rooted in my own experience of classical communities, and in how culture can view classical music as some sort of peak musical experience that is a higher artform than, say, indie rock - or atleast more 'intellectual'.
To this assumption I disagree - despite how often this is emphasized in such odd ways. For instance, Buzzfeed's Worth It series which, without fail, paired slow motion video montages of people eating the most expensive food option with classical music. Luxury, elitism = classical music I guess...
All of this to say, I really needed a break and my attention was elsewhere in terms of new sounds and ideas to explore. I didn't listen to classical music, barely played it outside of paid gigs, and was very content to gush over Caroline Polachek's immaculate orchestration instead. However, due to the nature of my rent-paying work, I have alot of conversations about classical music, and do quite a large amount of listening as well (especially to the TSO's upcoming season, which is a BANGER lineup, just saying). Thus with classical music was whispering its sweet nothings in my ear again, our love story has proven inescapable. So! As with any new love in it's honeymoon stage (or perhaps since this has been on-off, second honeymoon), I cannot stop gushing and I want you to have the same experience I've had - the same feelings, the same oh-my-god, the world, humanity, LIFE!
therefore, here are pieces that made me love classical music again
Samy Moussa's Elysium
Chordal moments amoeba-melting past an immediate sense of tonality, very cinematic and almost like vacuum-clean-sweeping (if one could vacuum chord progressions).
Funnily enough, this piece greatly reminds me of Paul Glass's string writing in his Corale I + II per Margaret (2004). He was my music professor a few years back and cheekily exclaimed his chorale contained no dissonance in its constant emergence and intertwinings as his love for his wife, Margaret, contains no sadness, just bliss.
Seeing that Samy Moussa conducts the Orchestra della Svizzera Italiana, it wouldn't surprise me if he and Glass crossed paths as Glass also taught there.
Marie-Pierre Langlamet performing Handel's Harp Concerto in Bb
😍😍😍😍EXCUSE ME THOSE BAROQUE TRILLS 😍😍😍😍. If ever there was a piece to frolic about and drink tea while chortling merrily, this is it. It's every aristocratic stereotype you could possible conjure in terms of gold gilded halls and fancy powdered wigs. Now divorced of its original context and audience, one can revel in the maximalism and jolliness - best appreciated while shoulder shimmying to the intro especially. I had to learn this piece back in high school, and after a few months on it teenage me was so over it. Langlamet has me obsessed because this is already a difficult piece, and then she goes on right ahead and adds tasty baroque ornamentation on top of it. Excuse ME, Marie-Pierre 😍
Beethoven's Pastoral Symphony
I was that cool kid who was so over Beethoven in favour of less mainstream 20th century composers like Arvo Part or Mahler. LIES! Do not cop out on Beethoven.
He is Jane Austen incarnate, Pride and Prejudice traipsing melodic trails, and become besties with bluebirds. You should listen to this while playing Stardew Valley or Civilization 6 especially. The world-building WILL be blessed.
Sibelius' Symphony No 5
THOSE *** ******* ************* HORNS. Lay on the floor and close your eyes for this snippet (I gave you about ~1 minute preceding it for musical context, you'll know when the moment is over). Sibelius didn't need to do this much, BUT HE DID. An encapsulation of a heart leaping: is it realizing a truer love never existed? the warm laughter of a roomfull of friends? an urgent desire to tell everyone in your life how meaningful they make it?
Everything is so short and fleeting sometimes. People move, buildings get demolished (for yet another boxy condo), big projects come to a close, or you learn irreversible things about someone's character.
This is standing there amidst it all, appreciating the moment you do have for what it is and the people with which you share it, knowing you'll never be exactly here or with them in the same way ever again.
ANYWAYS, ttyl until next month where I will get back onto indie harp rumbles and shut up about Beethoven. If any of these pieces spoke to you, let me know. I will rant about classical music anytime if you want more recommendations <3 plucks + love <3 grace