Anna Hill's 'Unofficial' Desert Island Discs

Back in 2007 I wrote the post, 'Robin Hill's 'Unofficial' Desert Island Discs'.

For those unfamiliar with the Radio 4 programme, you can read all about it here.

After this blog post I was asked by a Twitter friend, egoboss, what my choices would be...
As one of the founders of the personalized news site 'Ensembli', and also the online business development company, 'Egoboss', and after a nudge from Carl over Christmas, I thought I better get on with it.

So over the holiday period I gave it some thought.
I must say the task was far harder than I had initially anticipated.
A lifetime of listening to music, and being involved in the music industry, makes narrowing down to just 8 pieces a real challenge.

But here are my choices:

1) Take Five: Dave Brubeck Quartet

'Take Five' was written bu Paul Desmond and performed and recorded by the Dave Brubeck Quartet on numerous occasions. Written in 5/4 time it has endured as a jazz classic.

This piece of music is so familiar to me and brings comfort and sorrow in equal measures.
As I grew up this piece was repeatedly played by my stepfather, Tony. Looking back I now realise what a significant role he played in my musical education.
He had exceptionally eclectic tastes, and many hours were spent listening to all styles of music.
This partially resulted in my musical tastes being completely out of step with my generation, which was possibly one of the greatest favours he did me.
To hear music from all eras and styles was the best education I could have asked for.
Take Five was such a significant piece to all in our family, that on the terribly sad occasion of Tony's funeral, Robin performed his own arrangement of 'Take Five', live, accompanied by saxophonist, Munch Manship.
How they ever managed to perform so beautifully under such sad and emotional conditions I shall never know, but will always be very grateful. My only regret being that Tony wasn't able to hear it as he would have been delighted.

2) Schubert Piano Trio No.2 in E flat major, D929 (Op.100)

Franz Schubert (1797-1828) was a prolific, Austrian composer known for his melodic and harmonic writing.
As the rules of 'Desert Island Discs' only allow me one movement, it is without hesitation that I choose the 2nd movement, Andante con moto.
I actually remember the very first time I heard this movement.
I was driving the car with the radio on and despite reaching my destination I simply couldn't turn the radio off. I remained in the car until the piece had finished, and was consequently late for a lecture, but it was worth it!

3) The Beatles: All My Loving

Anyone who knows me will not be surprised to find a Beatles track in my list.
It's another example of being out of kilter with my peers as I was only a baby when The Beatles split.
The problem was choosing a song.
It could have been 'Something', 'She's Leaving Home', 'Here Comes the Sun', 'Eleanor Rigby' or any of them really.
But choose one I must, so I have decided on, 'All My Loving'.
The reason being that the energy and enthusiasm of The Beatles shines through, even though the song was written in 1963!

4) 'Eternal Dance' by Robin Hill

I am in the enviable position of being married to a musician. People generally seem very interested in musicians, which is one of the reasons this blog started in the first place!
But Robin is not only a performing musician but also a composer.
I added 'Eternal Dance' to the list, not out of a sense of loyalty, but, because I think it is the first movement of a fantastic concerto.
As Sir Thomas Beecham (1879-1961) said, "Composers should write tunes the chauffeurs and errand boys can whistle."
'Eternal Dance' certainly fulfills this requirement as our chauffeurs and errand boys have never ceased to whistle it since its creation....
You can read more about 'Eternal Dance' here.

Needless to say, if any orchestras are interested in adding the concerto to their programme then please feel free to get in touch, and likewise, if any guitarists out there are interested in performing or recording this new and exciting guitar concerto, don't hesitate to contact me!

5) 'God Only Knows' The Beach Boys

The Beach Boys released 'God Only Knows' in 1966. Its complicated melodic structure and vocal harmonies made it one of the most technically sophisticated songs of the time.
As Sir Paul McCartney is known to have listed it as one of his favourite songs, then I'm in good company.
It's also one of the songs I have listened to for most of my life and continue to listen to today.

6)Violin Concerto in D minor Op.47: Jean Sibelius

The Finnish composer Jean Sibelius made his mark early in my musical development.
The movement I choose , I, Allegro Moderato, would often be played when I was home alone as a teenager, loudly, whilst I marvelled at the sheer brilliance of the music.

7) 'Say a Little Prayer' Aretha Franklin

Aretha Franklin has to be the greatest soul singer of all time.
This is a difficult song to sing, and believe me I've tried...
If you haven't got a copy in your collection then I suggest you rectify that immediately.

And finally,

8) 'Hissing of Summer Lawns' Joni Mitchell

Both Robin and I love all Joni's work, particularly from 'Court and Spark' to 'Travelogue' and consider her one of the greatest song writers of our times.
The track 'Hissing of Summer Lawns' from the album of the same name is on the list because it is a highly significant song for Robin and I. Say no more.

I am also allowed to take a book.
I have selected, 'Crime and Punishment' by Fyodor Dostoevsky.
I have read this before, many years ago, and it is such an incredible story that I would like to read it again.

My luxury item:
This would have to be a never ending supply of writing paper and a fountain pen with a lifetime's supply of ink.
If I'm going to be stranded on a desert island at least I would finally have time to write all the stories that constantly circulate in my imagination!

So there you are, a small insight into my musical tastes....

The iPod nano and the Rehydrated Alien...

I hope you have all had a lovely Christmas and are enjoying the lull before the New Year festivities get under way.
We have had a great time and enjoyed a relaxing break, spending time with the family, and playing with all the new toys that have accumulated around the house.
Son number one is now the proud owner of an iPod nano, and I must say that I have been delighted with his choice of music.

As you would expect he has added the soundtrack for 'Doctor Who' and 'The Simpsons Movie', but, there are also many fantastic tracks, that I'm proud to say he has chosen.
The artists are diverse, Aretha Franklin, The Beatles, Bob Dylan, Cecilia Bartoli, Genesis, Green day, Santana, Tower of Power, Van Morrison and John Rutter, to name a few.
But I happened to notice one piece that has found its way on to the iPod, much to son's amusement, John Cooper Clarke, 'Evidently Chickentown', which, whilst not particularly suitable for a boy of 10, (although it is the cut version) it is an incredible poetic accomplishment.

Today alone he has requested 'Walton: Crown Imperial', oh, and of course, not only his Dad's 'Virtuoso', but, also his 'Concerto Primavera', but then it was composed for him.

We have also been enjoying a very generous gift of a voucher for iTunes. So far, Flora Purim has made her way to our collection, and we are enjoying the sound immensely.

Whilst we listen to 'the beats' as son number one now refers to his music..., I can also report that son number two received a triangle, which he did request on his Christmas list, and is now practicing daily...for lengthy periods.....

But now, I have to rehydrate an alien that we are currently growing in a test tube, another Christmas gift....

From Billy Cobham to John McLaughlin

Sunday morning = musical quiz here in Hillhouse and today it was a particularly upbeat affair.
We were given the task of recognising the time signature for two pieces. The first, Billy Cobham, 'Spectrum' from the album also named Spectrum. It's fast and furious and no matter how hard I tried to get in and count, I just couldn't do it. For those interested, I was informed by an amused Robin that it is in 7/8 time.
Fuelled by his success, he put another track on.
John McLaughlin and the Mahavishnu Orchestra, 'Miles Beyond', from the album 'Birds of Fire'.
Robin was obviously intent on winning this morning. It starts in 4/4 time but moves swiftly on to 9/4. No, I didn't get that one either.
Incidentally, John McLaughlin appears to be a dog lover as two of his album covers sport Labrador/Retriever dogs, and I was pleased to see we aren't the only ones who allow our dogs on the furniture.
He, and any other dog lovers, may be interested in an article by Roger Highfield, 'Dogs' behaviour - it's all in the wag.' Apparently dogs wag their tails to the right when they are pleased to see you, and to the left when they secretly want to run away!
We have been studying our two canine friends in the interest of science. The results are mixed. Milly, dependable, loyal and aged 7, has a definite right sided wag. Miss Bimps obviously hasn't read the article and has an equal sway in either direction. She, however, is the 'dotty' one, and it isn't as much her tail that wags but the whole body making it difficult to assess.
In the light of my musical failings this morning I sent Robin, (he'd already done a few hours guitar practice), sons and dogs off to the park so that I could play Aretha Franklin, 'I Say a Little Prayer', very loudly, and sing along. No-one sings it like Aretha, and certainly not me...