Wednesday 13th January 2021

New Year Uplifting Playlist

Track Listing

1. Meredith Monk: Early Morning Melody (Transcr. Parkin for Soprano Saxophone) performed by Jess Gillam

Meredith Monk is an American composer who released the album, ‘Book of days’ in 1985 for 25 voices, synthersizer and piano. In a transcription for saxophone of the track Early Mornig Melody, Jess Gillam welcomes in the early morning or in this case perhaps, the New Year.

2. Michael Nyman: Where the Bee Dances performed by Jess Gillam, Aurora Orchestra, Nicholas Collon

We don’t think the first track gives us enough of Jess Gillam’s playing so we’ve added her version of Michael Nyman’s Where the Bee Dances (1991). Although this piece has a very delicate start, it ends spectacularly with a sense of joy running throughout the piece.

3. J.S. Bach: Magnificat anima mea from Magnificat in D Major, BWV243 performed by The Sixteen, Harry Christophers

We couldn’t have an uplifting playlist without J.S. Bach’s Magnificat anima mea from his Magnificat in D Major (this version composed in 1733). The words in this chorus translate as ‘My soul glorifies the Lord’, what could be more joyful than a whole choir of voices singing the praises of God as one?

4. Arvo Pärt: Passacaglia performed by Kristjan Jävi, Anne Akiko Meyers, MDR Leipzig Radio Symphony Orchestra

Arvo Pärt’s Passacaglia was composed in 2003 for the Joseph Joachim Violin Competition in Hannover. As with a lot of Pärt’s music, it seems rather simple and yet, there is a lot to discover here. The word ‘Passacaglia’ comes from two Spanish words: Pasar which means ‘to walk’, and calle which means ‘street’. Listen out for Pärt walking his baseline downwards and the upper voice taking half-steps upwards. If you enjoyed this piece by Pärt, why not check out our Arvo Pärt at 85 Spotify playlist and read our article about the composer here?

5. Franz Schubert: Impromptu No. 3 in G-flat major from Four Impromptus, Op.90, D.899 performed by Khatia Buniatishvili

This piece by Schubert provides a bit of respite from the exuberance of some of the other pieces. However, it’s a superb example of Schubert’s lyrical abilities and it’s that quality along with the pleasing fluttering harp-like accompanying triads that make this piece uplifting in a quiet, meditative sense.

6. John Playford: Wallom Green from The English Dancing Master performed by Bjarte Eike, Barokksolistene

After the moment of meditation comes a bit of raucous fun, Baroque-style! Barokksolistene presents their rendition of John Playford’s Wallom Green, published in his book ‘The English Dancing Master’ in 1651.

7. Antonio Caldara: Allegro from Sinfonia in C major performed by La Serenissima, Adrian Chandler

Another Baroque treat, this time from La Serenissima and Adrian Chandler. Antonio Caldarda’s music, though less well-known than that by his Venetian counterpart, Antonio Vivaldi, has a certain flare that warrants his appearance in this playlist. The lively Allegro continues the dance begun by Barokksolistene.

8. Frank Bridge: The Bee performed by Tenebrae, Nigel Short

Frank Bridge composed The Bee in 1913 and uses text by Alfred, Lord Tennyson. It’s fanciful depiction of a bee buzzing makes this a delight to listen to and cannot fail to make you smile.

9. Felix Mendelssohn: The Hebrides, Op. 26 “Fingal’s Cave” performed by John Eliot Gardiner, London Symphony Orchestra

At a time when a lot of us are turning to nature as our souls crave more inspirational vistas than our own living rooms, Mendelssohn’s Hebrides Overture will provide. Feel that sea spray as the music conjures the rugged coastline and the wild seas off the Isle of Staffa.

10. Antonio Vivaldi: Gloria in excelsis Deo from Gloria by The Monteverdi Choir, English Baroque Soloists, John Eliot Gardiner

This Baroque classic is uplifting in both words and delivery. Just listen to the wonderful trumpet and oboe obligato set against the semi-quaver passages in the strings – this is Vivaldi at his best!

11. Igor Stravinsky: Dance of the Firebird from The Firebird Suite performed by Klaus Tennstedt, London Philharmonic Orchestra

Stravinsky’s Dance of the Firebird from the ballet The Firebird (1910) is a delightful character piece which shows off the agility and delicacy of the flute. We hope it’s balletic sound will lift your spirits and transport you to the the magical, fairytale world of the firebird.

12. Maurice Ravel: Presto from Piano Concerto in G major, M.83 performed by Martha Argerich, Alexander Vedernikov, Orchestra della Svizzera Italiana

Ravel’s Piano Concerto in G major was composed a few decades after Stravinsky’s The Firebird in 1931. He intended the work to entertain, rather than to be profound, in the manner of Mozart and Saint-Saëns. His use of jazz and Basque themes certainly do entertain and the lively Presto that we’ve chosen for this playlist is sure put a smile on your face.

13. Errollyn Wallen: Movement I from Concerto Grosso performed by Chineke! Orchestra, Tai Murray, Isata Kanneh-Mason, Chi-Chi Nwanoku, Anthony Parnther

Errollyn Wallen’s Concerto Grosso, composed in 2008, uses the Baroque form to feature a combination of soloist instruments – piano, violin, double bass – alongside a string orchestra. It is a wonderful piece, that uses Baroque dance elements and rhythms alongside rhythms found in popular music. It’s both dramatic and uplifting.

14. W.A. Mozart: Exsultate, jubilate from Exsultate, jubilate, K.165, performed by Julia Lezhneva, II Giardino Armonico, Giovanni Antonini

We couldn’t have an uplifting playlist without featuring a piece by Mozart. We could have chosen many of his works but we plumped for his Exsultate, jubilate which translates as ‘Rejoice, be glad’. The piece shows off the elegance of the early Classical style and is surely one of the best-loved pieces of Mozart’s early career, making it a fine choice for this playlist.

15. J.N. Hummel: Rondo from Trumpet Concerto in E-flat performed by Tine Thing Helseth

We couldn’t create a New Year’s playlist without including Hummel’s Trumpet Concerto in E-flat which was first performed on New Year’s Day in 1804. The Rondo is a delight to listen to, with its bouncy melody and joyful, sympathetic accompaniment.

16 & 17. Ludwig van Beethoven: Finale from Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op.125 “Choral” by City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Simon Rattle

The last movement of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 in D minor, which features the Ode to Joy, is another piece that we just had to include in this playlist. The Ode to Joy is heard at Hogmanay and many New Year Celebrations from Germany to Japan, and as we could all do with a bit of joy this year, we hope including it in our playlist will act as a precursor of things to come. This recording from the CBSO splits the Finale into two, the Presto – Allegro assai and “O Freunde, nicht dies Töne!” (Ode to Joy).

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MaO Playlists

We hope you have enjoyed our New Year Uplifting Playlist. If you have any suggestions for other playlists you would like to see us create, why not drop us a line at info@musicatoxford.com?