Croix Parler

[Croix]

I'd like to use this pace for miscellaneous matters that don't fit elsewhere

Thanks

Croix

[Croix]

Dear Quercus~

Thank you, we both have blessings and reminding each other of it is good. As you know I'm only middling at the moment and being reminded of the real things that count helps put the rest into perspective.

Croix

[Guest_322]

Hi everyone,

Croix, I'm not sure what Quercus is referring to but I also hope whatever it is you're going through settles soon. And don't worry, you don't need to explain as I know you come here for the arts so I won't pry. Just hang in there...

Anyway, thanks for the comparison. I might have to look up Fitzgerald. I hope you enjoy your movie!

Quercus, oh no need to apologise. Thanks for wanting to read the thread but there's no rush or pressure or anything. Only if you're up to it (or super bored as I tend to go off on weird tangents haha).

This is an old favourite, Gavi's Song by Lindsey Stirling. It's kind of sad but I like it- wish I wrote it. You know that feeling when you really connect with a piece or song? When it perfectly conveys a mood or feeling? That's often Gavi's Song for me. It captures sadness beautifully. She wrote it when she was grieving so that's probably why... it's beautifully poignant.

Speaking of soulmates, I'm 200% certain that mine is music. No joke...

Dottie x

[Guest_322]

Hi Croix and world,

I just had to share this...

Music gets the best of me, Sophie Ellis-Bextor.

I relate very much to the lyrics. Music is her greatest love. Mine too. So for anyone who loves music (and mean passionate, crazy love for music!), this one is for you. Even if you don't like the song itself, I hope you appreciate the sentiment 😊

Dottie x

[Croix]

Dear Dottie et al.~

I had a listen to Music Gets the Best of Me and looked at the lyrics (surprise). I get it totally, and I think the line
And there's no need for jealousy
sums it up pretty neatly.

I guess you are one of those people for whom the arts (music for you of course) go directly into the brain and emotions, with no intervening or conscious filter. The effect is as if it was part of you. Something you are born with . You didn't have to learn - like the piano, though I think your facility may have prompted you to want to learn and guided you as you were learning. (There's more but I'll leave it there)

I sort of understand. With reading the ideas and emotions flow directly from the page into my senses and feelings, there is no book, just a rectangular solid which which held transmits and transports. Although learned it may give me just a dim glimpse of your world.

Gavi's Song is sad in one way, this one is in another:

Manu Chao Rainin' In Paradize

Croix

[Guest_322]

Hi Croix,

I guess you are one of those people for whom the arts (music for you of course) go directly into the brain and emotions, with no intervening or conscious filter. The effect is as if it was part of you.

You get it. Nailed it. I shared because I thought that you might understand. Thank you.

I like your comparison to reading. Maybe, in a way, reading is your equivalent.

Yeah, Gavi's Song is sad. But in many ways, Rainin in Paradize is even sadder. Rainin in Paradize is about a a loss of humanity in some spheres, which has far reaching consequences for ordinary citizens. Thanks for the recommendation. I hadn't heard of it before.

Dottie x

[Guest_322]

Here's my virtual present to you for understanding, Croix.

An old favourite: Nocturne Op.9, no.1 in B-flat minor (Chopin).

I recommend listening to Arthur Rubenstein's interpretation.

The. Master.

His nocturnes...my heart...that's all I can say. No words can describe the feeling. One of the greatest pianists of all time.

Dottie x

[Croix]

Dear Dottie~

I really don't know what to say, you have given me several gifts here, your confidence, the wash of pleasure at the music, and a further, smaller but happy one.

I went to YouTube and played Op9No1-Rubenstein and left it running. not only did the sheet music display - one of my likes- but after it ended the remaining 2 followed, then other Rubinstein-Chopin works. I could not turn it off until all had gone past.

Even with my semi-mono hearing it is magic

Thank you, and I really hope you reach similar heights in your playing as your life progresses.

Croix

[Guest_322]

Hi Croix,

I should be thanking you instead. You're a good listener and have a quiet sensitivity about you.

I'm so happy to hear that you were mesmerised by Rubenstein's work. He definitely did Chopin's nocturnes justice.

My piano teacher loved Chopin too (not as much as his beloved Brahms but Chopin was a close second).

For a different style of playing, Vladimir Horowitz is brilliant. Passionate and in some ways, experimental and daring, in his interpretations. I loved his take on Piano Concerto no. 1, op. 23 in B-flat minor. Funny how both pieces that I mentioned are in B-flat minor haha.

If you're after virtually flawless technique, look no further than Rachmaninov. A legend.

That's all from me this weekend.

Dottie x

[Wednesday]

Hello lovely ones,

I have an old a cappella song for you (1959). Wish I had a voice like this, swoon:

The Fleetwoods - Unchained Melody (A Cappella Version)

Hugs, xx

[Guest_322]

Hi Wednesday,

Lovely to see you here. I'll have to check out your recommendations 😊

Croix, I've just been doing a lot of thinking. Sometimes I feel as though I'm speaking the wrong "language" (for me at least). I know that our dominant language uses words but sometimes I find words feel so unnatural to me. I do like words but it just feels very effortful for me, you know.

Conan Gray recently said that to him, song writing/music is like "breathing." When I heard that, I instantly thought "me too!" Music has always been the "language" that I've always instinctively understood best.

When I hear a song or piece, I see images in my head. Sometimes they're memories and sometimes it's my imagination. But above all, it's a feeling.

Anyway, I haven't really felt like myself lately (and I'm not really going to get into it) but I think that I need to spend more time in my "music cave." Getting back to basics (so to speak), which naturally entails music for me.

I don't come from a very outdoors-y family. So it has always somewhat baffled me when people sometimes lament about kids missing out on "a real childhood" of climbing trees, roaming streets freely, etc. Don't get me wrong, I'm not knocking those things at all and I can appreciate that those activities are very important to some people (and children).

But I did none of those things when I was a child, and I never felt like I missed out. I come from a background that valued the arts immensely so we were more likely to visit a museum or gallery than to climb a tree haha. Specifically, my mum loved art galleries and my dad loved music. Car rides usually meant a lot of classical music was played although dad did also like some more contemporary music too. He loved Beethoven (especially some of the angrier sounding ones).

Now I'm rambling...is it weird to say I "miss" music even though I spend quite a substantial amount of my time in what you call "music clouds?"

Anyway, I might be taking a break from BB to get back into music more. Like composing...there will be no lyrics...why force myself to do something that doesn't come naturally to me (?) Just notes...

Dottie xxx