i was drawn to this disc out of curiousity, being attracted in particular to track three (where flamingos fly) which remains my favourite tune as penned by canadian composer gil evans, most famous for his work with miles davis and yet an extraordinary composer and musician in his own right. i first heard this piece of music as a high school student on gil’s album “out of the cool.” i signed this album out of the local branch of the public library over and over, struck by the colour of the music as much as by its difference from anything i had heard to that point. that it was created and pressed in 1960 was of little consequence to me. it was out of the box.
the treatment of this wistful almost mournful tune is exquisite; gentle without the breathy obsequiousness so many female singers resort to instead of delivering true emotion through their voices.
track seven (as well as several other tracks) comes from a similarly sterling pedigree, having been penned originally by james joyce. the words are chosen from a collection of joyce's work released some 100 years ago. go here to read james joyce’s work entitled “chamber music” published in 1907:
http://whitewolf.newcastle.edu.au/words/authors/J/JoyceJames/
verse/chambermusic/index.html
here are the words to two of my favourite pieces:
The twilight turns from amethyst
To deep and deeper blue,
The lamp fills with a pale green glow
The trees of the avenue.
The old piano plays an air,
Sedate and slow and gay;
She bends upon the yellow keys,
Her head inclines this way.
Shy thought and grave wide eyes and hands
That wander as they list—
The twilight turns to darker blue
With lights of amethyst.
james joyce
similarly, “bright cap and streamers” finds its origins in the mind of james joyce:
Bright cap and streamers,
He sings in the hollow:
Come follow, come follow,
All you that love.
Leave dreams to the dreamers
That will not after,
That song and laughter
Do nothing move.
With ribbons streaming
He sings the bolder;
In troop at his shoulder
The wild bees hum.
And the time of dreaming
Dreams is over—
As lover to lover,
Sweetheart, I come.
the ubiquitous “black is the colour of my true loves hair” makes an appearance here and (with some gender adjustments e.g., “him” replaces “her”) is performed against a musical backdrop that owes as much to aaron copland’s lush minimalism as it does to its roots. the song by the way is often attributed to ireland but it is believed to have originated in the appalachian mountains.
here are the words:
Black is the color of my true love's hair
Her lips are like some roses fair
She has the sweetest smile and the gentlest hands.
I love the ground whereon she stands
I love my love and well she knows
I love the ground whereon she goes.
And I wish the day, it soon will come
That she and I will be as one
I'll go to the Clyde and I'll mourn and weep
Where satisfied I never shall be
I'll write her a letter, just a few short lines
And suffer death ten thousand times.
compass: an album of music that is as mind-engaging and beautiful as i have heard in some time.
Track listing: 1. Bathyal; 2. Black Is The Colour; 3. Where Flamingos Fly; 4. Lo Fiolaire; 5. Sea, Sea!; 6. Don't Set Sail; 7. The Twilight Turns From Amethyst; 8. Primrose; 9. Bright Cap And Streamers; 10. A Call For All Demons; 11. Children's Song #1; 12. In The Dark Pine-Wood.
Personnel: Susanne Abbuehl: vocals; Wolfert Brederode: piano, harmonium; Christof May: clarinet; Lucas Niggli: percussion; Michel Portal: clarinet (2,4).
to see and hear a sample of susanne’s work go here: http://www.jazzland.nl/Susanne%20Abbuehl.html
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