An evening pause: Hat tip Jim Mallamace, who wrote, “Classic country music had loss, booze and infidelity as three main themes. This selection from 1974 is by George Jones, whose real-life often mirrored these classic country themes.”
An evening pause: I like the simplicity, as it forces you to listen to the words.
Hat tip Wayne DeVette.
An evening pause: This Metallica cover was performed by Daniela on guitar (14 years old), Paulina on drums (12 years old), and Alejandra on bass guitar (9 yrs old).
Hat tip Jim Mallamace.
A evening pause: Performed live June 13, 1987. I think of these words whenever I am in a truly glorious place underground:
My life goes on in endless song
Above earth’s lamentations,
I hear the real, though far-off hymn
That hails a new creation.
Through all the tumult and the strife
I hear it’s music ringing,
It sounds an echo in my soul.
How can I keep from singing?
While though the tempest loudly roars,
I hear the truth, it liveth.
And though the darkness ’round me close,
Songs in the night it giveth.
No storm can shake my inmost calm,
While to that rock I’m clinging.
Since love is lord of heaven and earth
How can I keep from singing?
An evening pause: Make sure you watch for at least 20 seconds. You will watch the rest. As the website notes, it’s “the only thing that works every time.”
Hat tip Jim Mallamace.
An evening pause: This performance is especially interesting in its unusual use of instruments.
Hat tip Danae.
An evening pause: From the 1949 musical comedy Neptune’s Daughter, with Esther Williams, Ricardo Montalbán, Red Skelton, and Betty Garrett.
Hat tip Edward Thelen.
An evening pause: Recorded live October 20, 2012 at Christians Church, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Hat tip Danae.
An evening pause: Performed live for the first time on April 6, 1974 during the Eurovision Song Contest 1974, winning the contest for the then essentially unknown ABBA.
Hat tip Edward Thelen.
An evening pause: I can never get enough of this John Denver song, a fact that anyone who has every spent any time in West Virginia will understand completely. This beautiful performance by Olivia Newton-John was performed live in 1972.
An evening pause: It is the quality of the sound that especially impresses me.
Hat tip James Mallamace.
An evening pause: A great cover by a group of Russians, who did it, as they say, “as a tribute to the one of the greatest bands in the world!”
Hat tip Frank Kelly.
An evening pause: Written by Michael Hunter Ochs and performed to celebrate the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashahah, this song applies now as well. As it says, “As long as there are stars above, there comes a new year.”
An evening pause: Performed in 2011 by the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra as part of its annual New Year’s Eve performance.
I like how little conducting the conductor does. This is music his orchestra can play in their sleep.
Hat tip Danae.
An evening pause: Some true silliness for this truly silly season, between the holidays.
Hat tip Jim Mallamace, who notes that this Danish comedy group’s name translates to “Sons of the Desert” in English.
An evening pause: Here’s some more Jewish music to celebrate Hanukkah, though somewhat different from yesterday’s piece.
Hat tip Jim Mallamace.
An evening pause: A fitting musical piece in the middle of Hannukkah. Performed by the Orchestre Nouvelle Génération.
Normally I don’t post orchestra performances filmed in their entirety from only one wide shot, as this is. I make an exception here for three reasons: 1. The music is good. 2. It is not well known, and should be. 3. Unlike most orchestras, this string orchestra performs while standing, and the high angle looking down allows you to see them all as they play together, almost like a choreographed dance. It works.
Hat tip Danae.
An evening pause: Recorded at The Thornbury Theatre, December 13, 2013. The guests are Jane Patterson, John Flanagan, Tash Parker and Wally De Backer.
In good will I — a secular humanist born a Jew — wish all of my Christian brethren a very Merry Christmas.
