Favorite Music

The lovely Elizabeth of The Country Handmaiden recently posted a roundup of her favorite musical artists, and I thought "ooh, I like this idea," and so am copying her.  With permission, of course.

You already know a bit about my musical tastes from my long-neglected Song Saturday series, but I've sort of changed a bit since then.  I think.  Do you ever find that after a while you just get really tired of hearing the same music over and over again?  I do.  And then I take a nice long break from it, and sometimes I start liking it again afterwards.  Sometimes not.  It depends.  (Oh frailty,  thy name is Victoria.)

Cécile Corbel

She's from Brittany in France and sings in many languages, including French, English, Breton, Spanish, and even Turkish.  I'm kind of in awe of her command of languages, and I love her accent.  She's definitely my favorite singer - for now.

I had a really hard time choosing a song to embed here.  "Maybe I should do one in Breton so they can see how intriguing that language is...nah, that might be too weird for an introductory song.  I wish My Lullaby was on Youtube. Should  I do one with a video?  Sometimes music videos actually spoil the effect..."  One of her songs, En La Mar, has a video which I quite like, but I think the song may have some inappropriate lyrics, so I didn't want to do that one.  It's in Spanish, which I cannot say that I speak, so I'm not entirely sure, but I can pick up a few words...I dunno.  I should just ask a Spanish-speaker to tell me.  Anyway, the one I did post, Sweet Song, is one of the first songs of hers that I heard, and every time I hear it I just really want to write a fairy-tale story.  The lyrics suggest it.  Only I've never tried a fairy-story and don't think I'd be good at it.

Some other favorite songs of hers are My Lullaby, C'hoant Dimien, The Great Selkie, and Mary.  Oh, forget it, I like basically all of her songs.

Regina Spektor

You might know her from the film adaptation of Prince Caspian, where her song The Call was used in the last scenes and into the credits.  It's a lovely song, almost certainly her most beautiful.

I do have to put a warning here, though.  Not all her songs are good, by far.  I've come across some with swearing, and one or two with immoral subject-matter.  So just be aware of that if you search her on Youtube or anything.  Once you find the good ones, though, she's an interesting artist.  Very quirky, and her songs never really quite make sense.  She can do pretty amazing things with her voice, and she too has a cool accent - she's Russian-born, Jewish, and lives in New York.  That makes for an intriguing pronunciation.  Oh, and you want to talk about weird music videos?  SHE has WEIRD music videos.

(This song, Eet, is definitely the least-weird music video of hers.)  Other songs of hers that I like are Fidelity, The Calculation, Us, Folding Chair, Time is All Around, and How, for starters.

 Anúna

Anúna is an Irish choral group and is awesome.  (You might remember them from my first Song Saturday.)Besides having gorgeous voices, if you go to their Youtube channel and read the comments you will see how snarky and humorous they are.  That might not be a good thing to everybody, but I really get a kick out of it.

Ahem.  Anyway.  They sing mostly traditional pieces in English, Gaelic, and Latin - often medieval religious texts set to music by Michael McGlynn (the one kneeling down in the picture), or pieces written entirely by him.  Their music is just so peaceful and lovely.

This is The Wild Song, which I like to lie on my bed and listen to with my eyes closed, just imagining out the mental images suggested by the lyrics.  (Don't I have constructive hobbies?) Other good songs are Siuil a Ruin, The Rising of the Sun (Eiri na Griine), Pie Jesu, Greensleeves/Scarborough Fair, Dulaman, etc. etc. etc.  (Sorry, getting a bit bored typing it all out and remembering the names of things!)

Loreena Mckennitt

Unfortunately I must once again put a warning here.  This time it's religion.  Though after research I found that Loreena McKennitt herself doesn't practice any religion, a lot of her songs are very pagan.  So just keep that in mind.  

She sings a lot of poems and old folk songs (or songs based on folk tales), often with unusual instrumental accompaniment such as Eastern instruments or electric guitar.  She also does some Turkish/Middle-Eastern type pieces and, as I mentioned, New Age-y things, which I'm not fond of.

 This is The Highwayman, one of my absolute favorites.  I really don't know why, but I am fascinated by the legend(s) of the Highwayman.  I usually turn away in disgust from "bad boy" heroes, but I find the various incarnations of the highwayman mesmerizing.  Help?

Other favorites are The Lady of Shallot (which I have posted about before), The Bonny Swans, Dante's Prayer (which makes me want to lie on the floor and sob every time I hear it),  and The Mummers' Dance, which hopefully is not pagan.  I can't figure that one out, but I think it's okay.  (Also right now I'm listening to Caravanserai, which is pretty good.)

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

I know, it's totally typical to like Mozart.  Why couldn't I like some cool obscure composer?  But, to be honest, I have trouble appreciating classical music (which is shameful), and somehow I've don't have trouble with Mozart.  I always think of him as the Baroque Taylor Swift, which I suppose is highly insulting and probably not true.

Piano Concerto no. 21 is probably my very favorite piece - and since we're doing Victoria Confesses To Being A Snob I will admit that I very much enjoy saying airily, "Oh, yes, my favorite Mozart piece is his Piano Concerto no. 21. Oh, you've never heard of it?  You should look it up."  Yes, bad me.  Sorry.  

My other favorite Mozart pieces are Exsultate Jubilate, Serenade no. 10, Symphony no. 40, Horn Concerto no. 4, and, possibly second favorite of all, Requiem in D minor.  I do not think it's morbid to like requiems.

Well, I do believe that is enough for one post.  I left out strictly religious music, which seems like it shouldn't really be mingled with the common crowd.  That'll have to be its own post someday.

Tell me all about your favorite music, or better yet, do your own post about it!  I love discovering new things.  Also tell me what you think of my selection.  Did you discover something you liked?  Something you disliked? (I'm fine with criticism.)  I'd love to know.

Song Saturday

Summer Rain by Hayley Westenra.  This is one of my favorite of her songs, and I actually found it accidentally:  I bought it mistaking it for another Hayley Westenra song.  (The one I was looking for was Summer Fly.  That's what happens when someone has two songs containing the word 'summer' in the title...I like this one better now, anyway.)

Song Saturday

I haven't done this in a long time.

I'm sure most of you know the poem The Lady of Shallot from Anne of Green Gables, don't you?  To be honest, when I first heard this song, I forgot that it was even a poem to begin with.  But anyway, it's lovely, and listening to it is a good way to memorize the poem.  And memorizing poetry always makes one feel cultured and intellectual, doesn't it?  :)

Song Saturday

Today's Song Saturday selection (see my alliteration there?) is Dream by Priscilla Ahn - rather a change of pace from my usual choices.  But 'tis a pretty song, and though I haven't quite "gotten" the whole message yet, I think it's a good one.  Listen and tell me what you think!

Song Saturday (On Sunday Evening)

Last night it was much too late to do this.  I do apologize.

First today is Fairytale, by Enya.  I love the music for itself, but mixed with the video... well.  I must confess that every time I see it I start crying.

And because after that you can't possibly switch to a different artist, I beg leave to post another Enya, Exile this time.  It's quite a sad song, but so very lovely and peaceful.

Happy Sunday!

Christmas Carols!

In honor of Gaudete Sunday, I decided to post some of my favorite Christmas carols.  I know you may be groaning right now, thinking, "For heaven's sake, I've had all the Christmas music I can bear from the stores!"  Well, I promise you that my kind of Christmas music is NOT like the kind in the stores.  I have a strong dislike for department-store Christmas music, actually.

Of course, the first carol absolutely must be Gaudete.  I'm afraid I couldn't find a YouTube version that I liked as well as I like the CD version that I have, but I did my best.  This one seems to be sung by all girls.  If you'd like to try a mostly male version, try Anuna.  Theirs is pretty good too, but I don't like the solo parts much.

Next is Chanticleer's Riu, Riu Chiu.  This is one of my mom's favorites, and I think she was going to post it on her blog as well.  Whatever, I know all of you don't look at her blog.  Anyway, this is a Spanish medieval hymn.  I believe the lyrics are about the Immaculate Conception, but don't quote me on that - I'm not quite sure.

Now, for a bit of a change of pace, here is Orla Fallon's enchanting version of God Rest Ye, Merry Gentlemen/We Three Kings, both of which have long been among my favorite carols.  (I'm sorry about how it cuts off at the end...)

While we're on the subject of Orla Fallon, I have to post another song from that CD which I really like.  I don't consider it exactly a Christmas carol, but it's about Christmas-y things, and it's called The Bells of Christmas, so I think it's all right.  And hey, this is supposed to be about unique Christmas songs, anyway.

This next song is an instrumental - Circle of Joy from the CD Celtic Christmas III by...Wyndham Hill, I think.  The artist is Lisa Lynne.  I have a soft spot for this song because to me it does sound full of a quiet, peaceful joy, which is the feeling that Christmas ought to have.

Okay, are you going to come and murder me if I finish off with yet another Orla Fallon song?  I'm sorry if it bores you, my dear, but I can't help it.  It's my favorite Christmas CD.  *makes puppydog eyes*
I don't see how one could not like Orla Fallon, anyway.  Especially if she's singing What Child is This.

Ooh, here's some trivia about the song.  We all know that What Child is This shares a tune with Greensleeves, but did you know that Greensleeves actually came first?  I don't know who turned it into a Christmas carol, actually.  It's popularly believed that King Henry VIII of England wrote Greensleeves, but that is not proved, and I don't want to believe that one of my lovely Christmas carols is based on something written by that horrible monarch.

Well, happy Gaudete Sunday, and be good until Christmas!

PS - I'm labeling this Song Saturday.  Just pretend today was yesterday.
PPS - If you're confused about the whole "Gaudete" thing, or if you want to hear Anuna's version of the song by that name, visit my mom's post for today.

Song Saturday

Hello again, my dear!  Today's Song Saturday features three of my absolute favorite melodies, because...
MY BIRTHDAY IS WEDNESDAY!   Yes, perhaps I'm a bit excited.  See, I've always seen sixteen as the quintessential almost-grown-up-young-lady age.  I used to think that sixteen was so old, and I thought I'd be able to do just about anything I wanted once I was sixteen.  Thank goodness, I was wrong about that.

Anyway.

First today is the lovely Orla Fallon's Who Knows. 

Next is Enya's Only Time.  (You knew that I was going to put an Enya song in here, didn't you...)  My whole family knows this song, and I've unconsciously heard it since I was small, so it has some sentimental connections.

Last is my very favorite, The Call by Regina Spektor.  I'm quite sure you all have heard this, given it's appearance in Prince Caspian, but I'm posting it anyway.  It's too lovely to not listen to it again, even if you have it on your iPod, like I do.   
The Call has a peculiar attraction for me because I feel like the lyrics really apply to me.  Being part of a military family, I'm always leaving places, promising I'll come back one day, starting everything over.  To me, that's what this song expresses.  I daresay I'm putting my own meaning into it, but I don't care.  It's perfect.

 

 

Song Saturday

Well, it's that time again - time for me to bombard you with my musical tastes. Yay!


First off, may I present Orla Fallon's lovely version of Siuil a Run.  (Remember my first Song Saturday? This is the same song.)  I have a soft spot for it notwithstanding it's propensity to get stuck in my head.

 

Next we have Athair Ar Neamh by the ever-talented Enya.  (And no, I can't pronounce the title.)*  I don't know what the words of this song are.  All I know is that listening to this makes me feel all calm and ethereal and lovely.  And that's always nice.  Especially during geometry lessons, which are the complete opposite of all that is calm and ethereal and lovely.

And yes, I did just realize that both of my song selections for today are in Gaelic. Oh well.  Hope you liked them!


* Thanks to Mary MacArthur, I now know the pronunciation and meaning of Athair ar Neamh.  Mary says that it's pronounced Ah-her air Navv, and that it means Father in Heaven.  Thank you, Mary MacArthur!

Song Saturday

I think last Saturday was Song Saturday, but I was away, so I'm doing it today.

I couldn't make a descision...It's bit hard without knowing what kind of music y'all would like...so I'm putting two songs here.

First is the Lay of Nimrodel from The Two Towers, performed by a group that seems to be called Broceliande.  While not exactly the way I imagined the lay of Nimrodel being sung, it's very pretty, and the pictures add to the effect. 

 Next is Love Story Meets Viva la Vida by Jon Schmidt.  (I believe that's his name, anyway...) I don't particularly care for the second part (Viva la Vida), but the first part (Love Story) is just so pretty.  I like Taylor Swift way better in piano.  :) 

Song Saturday

I've decided to do Song Satuday every other week instead of every single week.  See, I feel like I'm posting more songs than anything else. (Even I only have....three.) :p  

So after this week I'll post songs twice a month.  (Of course, now that I've decided that, I'll probably end up doing two songs in one post because I suddenly got ideas for songs to post. Oh well!)

Anyway.  This week's song is Caribbean Blue by Enya.  If you like it, it's on the CD Shepherd Moons.  I don't own the CD, but I'm sure the rest of the songs are pretty, too. :)  Enjoy!

P.S. - if you have any suggestions for music, or ideas for topics you'd be interested in seeing covered on Raindrops and Moonlight, comment and tell me!  Ideas are always welcome.

Song Saturday

Hello again!
Today's Song Saturday features one of my favorite artists: Orla Fallon.  I own her CD Distant Shore, and it's one of my favorites.  She has the loveliest voice!  And she plays a harp.  I like harps. 
Anyway.  So, today our song is Dancing in the Moonlight, written and performed by said Orla.  I have never met anybody (*ahem* except my father) who didn't like this song, so tell me what you think!

Not until I started posting songs to this blog did I realize how much "Celtic" music I listen to. It makes it hard to find things to post, because I know not everybody enjoys Celtic music....

Song Saturday - even though it's Sunday

I'm afraid I forgot to post a song yesterday....sorry about that.  Oh well, better late then never!  Maybe it's Saturday somewhere in the world...
Anyway.  This week we have Hayley Westenra's Both Sides Now.  Enjoy!

Song Saturday

It's my first Song Saturday!

Today we have Siuil a Run performed by the Irish choral group Anuna.  Now, I'm not the least bit Irish, but I love this song.  I love the words, the bits in Gaelic, the tune, the violin instumentals, everything!
I know that you're probably thinking "is this the only kind of music this girl listens to?"  Well, I shall reassure/disappoint you.  It's not.  I listen to Anuna, Celtic Woman, Regina Spektor, and even Taylor Swift, but for now, this is what you get.  And it really is beautiful.
Enjoy!