Whoops! Thanks for everyone who participated in my poll yesterday to determine the next featured artist playlist. I’m afraid I accidentally wiped out the results when trying to change the duration of the poll. So, I’m calling it now: Yo-yo Ma edges out David Bowie for the win. The poll is still there, but you may consider it dead.
As a born and raised Bostonian, I will always have a soft spot for John Williams.
But I have a Yo-Yo Ma-adjacent story which you may like. When I was in high school, I was in a Filipino orchestra called a rondalla (you can google it) I played several instruments, but I was not good enough to make the travel team to the Philippines tour. The tryouts were in NYC at the home of my rondalla teacher, a world acclaimed musician and conductor named Michael Dadap. After my failed audition I was sitting at the family kitchen table and his wife asked me if I was okay. We talked for a long while and I said even though I was disappointed I could not go, I was used to being outshined—even by my younger sister (who thankfully never went into rondalla). She was so compassionate and she said, “I know how you feel.” I went home to Boston feeling a bit consoled and someone told me shortly after the trip that my teacher was married to Yeou-Cheng Ma who is a physician, musician and older sister to Yo-Yo Ma. It’s worthwhile to google her too!
I got to see Sarah in Boulder when she was an emerging artist about a month before she released “Fumbling” in the fall of ‘93. I was working as a jock in the Mountain Radio Network—a loose collective of ski town FM stations throughout CO. Small room of about a hundred of us. She walked out, swept her long red hair back over her black gown and sat down at a grand piano and started with that voice. I was instantly smitten. Great album you profiled. I play it to this day 30 years later. ❤️
Fabulous roundup as always, John. Possession was the soundtrack to my high school days, and immediately evokes a humid summer night seeing Sarah perform at the first Lilith Fair.
A recommendation for your Places and Spaces exploration: the Icelandic band Sigur Rós, whose work is influenced by and mirrors the landscape around them. Agaetis Byrjun is a great place to start if you don't know their work, and the breathtakingly beautiful tour documentary Heima, which follows the band as they play concerts in spaces with resonance to Icelandic history.
I’d totally forgotten about the RVW Antarctica Symphony- heading back there now. Also I met YoYo Ma once and he was every bit as gracious and delightful as you’d expect.
He does seem like a generous soul. I’m interested in how you voted, considering your love for Bowie— but of course you don’t need a Bowie playlist, since you have internalized his music 🤔
I dithered but voted for Bowie. I couldn’t not lol. All great options. My goal is to finish Beowulf today. We have a big storm here (by NorCal standards anyway) so perfect opportunity.
I can definitely get around this way of doing spaces & places, John! Have you heard of DJ Spooky and his arctic rhythms project? He’s a sort of academic - musician - DJ - climate activist. I’ve seen him speak about the work and it’s 🤯. Anyway, thought you might like it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7tWXEfSps4
Whoops! Thanks for everyone who participated in my poll yesterday to determine the next featured artist playlist. I’m afraid I accidentally wiped out the results when trying to change the duration of the poll. So, I’m calling it now: Yo-yo Ma edges out David Bowie for the win. The poll is still there, but you may consider it dead.
My family and I made a hobby of noticing Holst quotes in John Williams soundtracks 😜
Yes, they’re not subtle!
Also thanks for sharing the Vaughan Williams, I’m a big fan of his but am less familiar with that piece
I’m definitely hearing the John Williams resonance
As a born and raised Bostonian, I will always have a soft spot for John Williams.
But I have a Yo-Yo Ma-adjacent story which you may like. When I was in high school, I was in a Filipino orchestra called a rondalla (you can google it) I played several instruments, but I was not good enough to make the travel team to the Philippines tour. The tryouts were in NYC at the home of my rondalla teacher, a world acclaimed musician and conductor named Michael Dadap. After my failed audition I was sitting at the family kitchen table and his wife asked me if I was okay. We talked for a long while and I said even though I was disappointed I could not go, I was used to being outshined—even by my younger sister (who thankfully never went into rondalla). She was so compassionate and she said, “I know how you feel.” I went home to Boston feeling a bit consoled and someone told me shortly after the trip that my teacher was married to Yeou-Cheng Ma who is a physician, musician and older sister to Yo-Yo Ma. It’s worthwhile to google her too!
Thanks for that story, Zina. I’m sure that your absence was the rondalla’s loss! (Now, I’m going to have to go and listen to some rondalla music.)
Thank you for the Fumbling Towards Ecstasy recommendation❤️
Personally my favorite album of hers is Afterglow
Also great.
I got to see Sarah in Boulder when she was an emerging artist about a month before she released “Fumbling” in the fall of ‘93. I was working as a jock in the Mountain Radio Network—a loose collective of ski town FM stations throughout CO. Small room of about a hundred of us. She walked out, swept her long red hair back over her black gown and sat down at a grand piano and started with that voice. I was instantly smitten. Great album you profiled. I play it to this day 30 years later. ❤️
Wow—it must have been something to see her in such an intimate space. Such a great record; I play it often too.
Fabulous roundup as always, John. Possession was the soundtrack to my high school days, and immediately evokes a humid summer night seeing Sarah perform at the first Lilith Fair.
A recommendation for your Places and Spaces exploration: the Icelandic band Sigur Rós, whose work is influenced by and mirrors the landscape around them. Agaetis Byrjun is a great place to start if you don't know their work, and the breathtakingly beautiful tour documentary Heima, which follows the band as they play concerts in spaces with resonance to Icelandic history.
I’d totally forgotten about the RVW Antarctica Symphony- heading back there now. Also I met YoYo Ma once and he was every bit as gracious and delightful as you’d expect.
He does seem like a generous soul. I’m interested in how you voted, considering your love for Bowie— but of course you don’t need a Bowie playlist, since you have internalized his music 🤔
I dithered but voted for Bowie. I couldn’t not lol. All great options. My goal is to finish Beowulf today. We have a big storm here (by NorCal standards anyway) so perfect opportunity.
I can definitely get around this way of doing spaces & places, John! Have you heard of DJ Spooky and his arctic rhythms project? He’s a sort of academic - musician - DJ - climate activist. I’ve seen him speak about the work and it’s 🤯. Anyway, thought you might like it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7tWXEfSps4
And all your upcoming guests sound fantastic!
Thanks, Kate—I will check that out!