Let It Be

This link will take you to my "Lent 2014" playlist.  It's not your typical Lenten music because I mix religious with non-religious songs.  I first put this together when I was really down, in a really dark place.  I later edited out the songs that expressed only my angst.  I think all the songs I let remain have an element of hope.
http://grooveshark.com/#!/playlist/Lent+2014/96037144

Keep in mind this is music for my lent.  Not yet Easter.

 

Breath

I'm listening to Sara Groves sing "Breath of Heaven" on Grooveshark and I am overcome with a Holy grieving: a heart breaking before the Lord and receiving the grace to let Him hold me while I fall apart.  I'm thinking of my mother as she died.  I'm thinking of her birth into Heaven.  I'm remembering how her face felt in my hands.  I'm remembering how she took her last breath.  Oh Papa (Abba)!  I miss my mommy, my sweet dear mother, Your lovely daughter and quietly faithful disciple Almeda.  Lord, bless my mom most richly. 

Tango!

Today I'm listening to tangos on Grooveshark and on Songza.  My love for tangos is a new discovery for me! :)

Brubeck and More

Today I'm trying one of Grooveshark's "stations."  I selected Brubeck and so far I've been treated to Brubeck, Art Tatum, and Ben Webster.  This seems to be a good way to get acquainted with music I haven't heard before but am likely to appreciate.

http://grooveshark.com/davebrubeck

Van Cliburn

Van Cliburn's recordings on Grooveshark.

Van Cliburn died today; may he rest in peace.
Thank You, Lord, for Van Cliburn.  I enjoyed his artistry and inspiration growing up.
He was probably most famous for his concerto playing, but I especially enjoyed being introduced to Chopin through his recordings.

Chopin "Aeolin Harp" Etude

I'm listening to several recordings of Chopin Etude in Ab, Op. 25, No. 1 on Grooveshark.  The most notable have been by Roustem Saitkoulov, Maurizio Pollini, and Vladimir Horowitz.  I knew ahead of time I'd love the Pollini and Horowitz performances, but I hadn't yet heard of Saitkoulov.  There's something extra-special about his; not sure what it is I like so much, but I'm hooked! :)

Brubeck Playlist

Yesterday I put together a playlist of best Brubeck on Grooveshark.com.  I started w/ around 900 songs and whittled it down to around 200.  Many of the 900 were duplicates from one source to another, and some were duplicates of a song but different performances.  Of the 200 I kept only a few instances of this latter type of duplicate-yet-different-performances.

I'm not an expert on Brubeck, by any means; I simply like much of his music.  The world of Brubeck is quite large and I look forward to exploring it further!

Enjoy:
http://grooveshark.com/playlist/Brubeck/75301270

For other playlists I've made public on Grooveshark, check here.

Classical Gas

Listening to "Classical Gas" by Mason Williams on grooveshark.  I loved this piece when I first heard it as a 10-year-old in Aibonito, Puerto Rico in 1970 (or was it '71?), and I still love it!  Great energy and articulation, besides fun, modal melody.  Plus, I enjoy the mix of genres/styles/instruments.

Btw, the link I've given for Aibonito shows the street on which I lived, and I believe the very house, although most else has changed.  When I was there, we were the newest house on the block and there was a large bamboo forest behind our house and to the east (if I have my directions oriented correctly).

Spanish Guitar

I'm listening to Spanish Guitar music on Grooveshark.com.  The selections are from an album of the same name.  This collection includes a wide range of styles and genres, but they are all played on acoustic guitar, sometimes including other instruments, and are either composed or performed by Spaniards or in a Spanish style, I presume! :)

How To Breathe.

Today I'm listening in layers.  I have Yo-Yo Ma playing baroque cello in the studio while on my laptop via grooveshark.com I'm listening to Sara Groves' "All Right Here."  I'm all a-jitter.  I'm too easily made anxious.  Something's coming up that I'm looking forward to but I will either have to cut my time short w/ it or find a sub for a much-loved responsibility.  I'm favoring cutting the new thing short.  I'm also hoping on Monday to find out if there's an alternate date.  Meanwhile I feel anxious.  Part of me wants to say "so silly."  But I'm not silly!  This is my life!  God made me with an anxious nervous-system.  Who am I to say God's work is "silly?"  (Smiling.)  So I let my mind weave itself around two tracks: one calming and orderly, the other expressive of my restlessness.  It's good.  It helps me breathe.  Lord, can You use my restlessness?  Can You use my familiarity w/ anxiety?  Surely Lord, You create only that which can glorify You!  Use me, Lord.  You are my whole raison d'etre.  I love You Abba-Papa-Lord-Jesus-Christ-Holy-Spirit-Lover-of-my-soul-Eternal-One-Only-One-Beloved-Life-Life-LIFE-!!!!  Praise be Your Holy Name! :)

In time of grieving

'Listening to Sara Groves on Grooveshark.com  ... a little boy from our local community died this past weekend.  I don't know the family well, but I know many people who know them.  Some of my piano students are best friends with James and his siblings.  The whole community is grieving.  I'm listening to Sara Groves because I find her authentic expressions of faith (and questioning) very consoling in times of suffering.  Lord, please hold and console James' family and friends while they grieve.  May they eventually feel the peace and joy of knowing James' Joy in You, and meanwhile, may they feel the life-sustaining support of their friends.  Bless them, Lord.  Bless the whole community with Your Gracious Spirit.

Grooveshark is Great!

Today I don't know what music I need to hear so I'm browsing Grooveshark.  At the moment I'm listening to someone else's classical piano playlist.  They've started w/ Debussy's Claire de Lune.  Lovely.

I highly recommend this site for free streaming music.

Verdi

I heard Verdi's "Va Pensiero" on Grooveshark when I was looking for musical settings of Psalm 137.   Now I want to see/hear all of Verdi's Nabucco.  This music is SO beautiful!