Interactive Poll: Where Musicians Don't Interact

Özgür:  Colin Tilney “Handel: Harpsichord Suite 5 in E M - IV air”  So stately and beautiful.  Obviously perfectly executed.  I, too, love the richness of the harpsichord.  A good acoustic solo instrument, as it doubles itself, basically.  Badur’s Gate II “Harper Theme”  As you know, I am a hobby harper, so it’s obviously a favourite instrument.   This one has sort of 3 parts to it, the melody shifting each time.  Quiet and moody, you can just about picture a bard sitting in a window, while playing.  Handel “Chaconne in G Major for Harpsichord”  All three of these are quite regal in feel to me, nice listening for this late afternoon.  Assuming Out of Competition:  “Retarded Beatbox”  Seems to be making fun of beatboxing, so yeah, not to be taken seriously. Someone may have eaten too much sugar. 

JD:  Wintergatan “Marble Machine”  I have seen this before, what a wild original creation of an instrument.  Almost a Rube Goldberg-acting thing, sorta.  Has a pretty, bright melody, with a vibes-like sound and percussive elements as well.  About halfway through, he switches it up for a bit, then back to the bell-like tones of the vibes-ish sounds.  “Contact Mic Sound Board DIY”  Another experimental instrument, this one has a kalimba sort of thing on the side and lots of little wiry, vibatory things for tapping and striking, for various other sounds.  Less of a tune and more of a grouping of various sounds than the first one. Gorkem Sen “Yaybahar”  This one has sounds similar to a sitar or cello, being bowed strings, but more of an Indian motif.  It also has almost a fluted sound toward the end.  The first piece felt more like a complete piece than this one, but I like both of them better than the middle one.

Kees:  Steve Reich “Violin Fase”  A modern minimalist piece, this begins with a repeating violin phrase, begins to shift a bit about 1/5^th in, adding some embellishments.  Video is fascinating to watch along with it.  More shifting sounds about a third in.  They certainly both have stamina. 

Greg:  Janis Joplin “Mercedes Benz”  Very familiar with the hit song, was all over the radio when I was growing up.  I really loved her best with Big Brother and the Holding Company, but I did enjoy this song.  Tracy Chapman “Behind the Wall,” Years later, Tracy Chapman was all over the radio as well, let’s see if I remember this one, if it got airplay or not in LA where I was living at the time.  Her unmistakeable and beautiful voice tells a sad tale of an abusive relationship.  I like that one.  Amazing how much can be said in 1 ½ minutes.

Christian:  Joe Jackson “Nocturne”  I’ve enjoyed other Joe Jackson songs, looking forward to hearing this unheard one.  Piano to the fore, will there be a vocal?  Seems perhaps not, but beautifully played, a spare melancholy melody.  Becomes a bit more ornate halfway in, then back to a more pensive feel.  Very much to my liking. 

Lorenzo:  Ruben Talon - Manuel de Falla “Fantasía Bética”  Dramatic solo piano piece, I am not familiar with it.  It is very moving, and does have many ebbs and flows.  I hear and see what you mean in your intro re it’s been used percussively.  Out of Competition John Fahey “Thus Krishna On The Battlefield” In true Fahey style, fingerpicking on, it sounds like here, a 12-string.  He was absolutely a master of both 6- and 12-string guitars and a hugely influential musician.  This has a dark feel to it, and a sense of Indian music,  apropos of the title.  So far, so good, but I know you’re bringing more, so will wait to select a favourite yet.