Dare to Live - Andrea Bocelli and Laura Pausini

There is "one truth", but the rhyming is nice....

Otherwise love the lyrics, voices, and arrangement.

Thanks for reading,
Miss Pickwickian

Every age and hour

No. 26 (52) Chorale

In Meines Herzens Grunde,

In the bottom of my heart,

Dein Nam und Kreuz allein

your name and cross alone

funkelt all Zeit und Stunde,

shines forth every age and hour,

drauf kann ich frohlich sein.

for which I can be joyful.

Erschein mir in dem Bilde

Appear before me in the image,

zu Trost in meiner Not,

as comfort in my distress:

wie du, Herr Christ, so milde

how you, Lord Christ, so abundantly

Dich hast geblut'zu Tod!

did bleed to death!

~From Bach's St. John's Passion

I Will Follow You - from Bach's St. John's Passion

Earlier this month we were able to go to a beautiful performance of Bach's St. John's Passion in Portland. I'd heard most of it before, but never sat through it concentrating and reading the English translation.

If you can get a DVD, I strongly recommend adding it to your Lent traditions. I really want to become more familiar with it. The words are simply amazing. Can you imagine having something like this song in your own language? It makes me want to learn German (even more than usual).

This aria comes right after Jesus arrest and the Evangelist sings -

"Simon Petrus aber folgete Jesu nach und ein ander Junger"

Simon Peter, however, and another disciple followed Jesus.

This is the first soprano solo and focuses on something I've been thinking lately.

The live video isn't the best, but the building is beautiful behind them all. ;-)

No. 9 (13) Aria (Soprano)

Ich folge dir gleichfalls mit freudiegen Schritten
I will follow you likewise with joyful steps

und lasse dich nicht,

and will not let you [go],
mein Leben, mein Licht.

my Life, my Light.

Befordre den Lauf

Hasten the way,

und hore nicht auf,

and do not cease,

selbst an mir zu ziehen, zu schieben, zu bitten.

yourself, to pull at, to push [and] to beseech me.

Thanks for reading,
Miss Pickwickian

Indulging in some of my favorite music...

Not the best recording ever... but beautiful.

Thanks for stopping by. :-)

Miss Pickwickian

Jewish Violin Music

I love this type of music.

The album Songs of our Fathers by Andy Statman and David Grisman is an intense favorite. So lyrical...and sometimes so energetic. There is a medley we dance Whip-the-Willow to that is just the best. :-)

Songs of Zion by Maurice Sklar is another CD that's been around our house for a long time. And now, of course, the Defiance soundtrack. :-)

We should produce music like this!

This song is played by the French violinist, Patrick Chemla.

I've grown up with pieces of this music but I don't think I'll ever think of them the same after reading Elie Wiesel's Night. The scene where his friend plays the violin while they are all waiting in the cold is one of the most moving of the book.

Elie falls asleep to the sound and wakes up and the violinist and most of the people around him are dead...from cold and hunger. The violinist is still holding his instrument in the same position.

Evgeni Plushenko

The King of Ice...artist and athlete.

This is one of my favorite performances...

Although Andrea Bocelli and Plushenko together is pretty hard to beat!

Thanks for watching,
Miss Pickwickian

Vivo Per Lei - Andrea Bocelli

Italian

With Giorgia

This is the original version released in Bocelli's album, Romanza.

Italian/German.

Judy Weiss doesn't have my favorite voice in the world, but this is a pretty awesome duet.

Italian/Spanish

with Martha Sanchez...I'm not a fan of how she sings this, but she does have some pretty songs.

Italian/French

It's interesting with the choir in the background.

With a Brazilian Portuguese singer.

Sandy seems a little more innocent and I like her voice. The sound isn't great in this video. :-P

Italian/English

Three things I love-- Haley Westenra, ice skating, and Andrea Bocelli.

I have watched this video so many times it's crazy.

So yeah...Vivo Per Lei is awesome.

Hope you enjoyed,
Miss Pickwickian

The Lord's Prayer - Andrea Bocelli

Ignore the Christmas cover. :-)



Sigh. Beautiful.

I hope that refreshed you. It always has that effect on me.

Thanks for visiting,
Miss Pickwickian

Tell Me Why - Declan Galbraith

I have really enjoyed some Declan Galbraith over the last few years... I love his early stuff. I'm hoping the current style of his singing is just a faze and that his totally mature voice will be a little less nasally. Not that I don't like it now, but it's certainly not my music of choice.

Another thing that is cool about this singer, for me at least, is the fact that his first public performance was impromptu at a Dickens festival when he was dressed up as a chimney sweep. Obviously his career has sky rocketed since then.

We'll see what happens to it, and his voice in the future.

I know this song isn't completely sound, but I think it is fitting for a boy trying to figure out the world. And it's the first song I heard by him and I love it. :-)


Thankfully this before the bad hair days....

Tell Me Why

In my dream children sing a song of love for every boy and girl
The sky is blue and fields are green and laughter is the language of the world
Then I wake and all I see is a world full of people in need

Tell me why (why) does it have to be like this?
Tell me why (why) is there something I have missed?
Tell me why (why) cos I don't understand.
When so many need somebody we don't give a helping hand.
Tell me why?

Everyday I ask myself what will I have to do to be a man?
Do I have to stand and fight to prove to everybody who I am?
Is that what my life is for to waste in a world full of war?

Tell me why (why) does it have to be like this?
Tell me why (why) is there something I have missed?
Tell me why (why) cos I don't understand.
When so many need somebody we don't give a helping hand.
Tell me why?

(Children) tell me why? (declan) tell me why?
(Children) tell me why? (declan) tell me why?
(Together) just tell me why, why, why?

Tell me why (why) does it have to be like this?
Tell me why (why) is there something I have missed?
Tell me why (why) cos I don't understand.
When so many need somebody we don't give a helping hand.

Tell me why (why, why, does the tiger run)
Tell me why (why why do we shoot the gun)
Tell me why (why, why do we never learn)
Can someone tell us why we let the forest burn?

(Why, why do we say we care)
Tell me why (why, why do we stand and stare)
Tell me why (why, why do the dolphins cry)
Can some one tell us why we let the ocean die?

(Why, why if we're all the same)
Tell me why (why, why do we pass the blame)
Tell me why (why, why does it never end)
Can some one tell us why we cannot just be friends?
Why, why?


Thanks for reading,
Miss Pickwickian

Shenandoah - Hayley Westenra

Beautiful. :-)

Josh Groban is Josh Groban

Duh...
Actually, there is more to this post. ;-)

My sister got Josh Groban's original album, Josh Groban, this year for her birthday. We've been listening to it a lot. Really. Like a lot.
And that's cool. I like it. Josh Groban is great in his realm. He has a seriously amazing voice and some of his songs are over the top. Love 'em.

But I am not a Josh Groban fan. I think the hype is starting to wear off, but I know a lot of people got turned away from his music by the crazy Grobanite fans. I confess I've been very tempted, but that's a bad reason to ignore a talented musician.

I enjoy how Josh Groban mixes classical and almost opera type quality to some of the pop music he sings. He certainly fills a unique place.

If you've been reading you know I am an Andrea Bocelli fan. :-)

Beka, a dear friend, compared the two singers very well (and she really likes both).
Josh Groban is milk chocolate, Andrea Bocelli is dark...at least 72%. Josh Groban is a young man, Andrea Bocelli is da man.

Yeah, anyways... Both have excellent talent.

Here's some videos with some pretty top quality milk chocolate. ;-) These are my three favorite Josh Groban songs.


Sorry about the creepy woman.... Couldn't find another video.

I sing to life! Awesome!
See translation for the entire song here.


Talk about dramatic?
Okay...You are allowed to be made sick by his fans. Gag...
This is 2007 in the hype of the Groban craze. Since then I think he's learned a little more grace and humility during stage performance. ;-)

If you can't stand it all, just listen. It's beautiful!


Love this song. Love, love, love!
After having said that, I think its a little romanticized... And I don't even like Van Gogh's art.
Sister says Vincent is my secret soul mate. ;-) Don't think so...

But I love this song!


Thanks for reading. Hopefully this added some beauty to your day!

Miss Pickwickian

Lilly - Pink Martini

Recently a friend introduced me to Pink Martini, which is right here in Portland. I really enjoy some of their songs and I just thought I'd post one.

I'm trying to work on a couple songs and book reviews, but life is busy (I currently have sheep at the fair).
More to come, I assure you....

Lilly comes when you stop to call her
Lilly runs when you look away
Lilly leaves kisses on your collar
Lilly, Lilly, Lilly, Lilly, stay!

Lilly comes when you stop to call her
Lilly runs when you look away
Lilly leaves kisses on your collar
Lilly, Lilly, Lilly, Lilly, stay!

One day she passed him by
A twinkle in her eye
He said " she was meant for me!"
But when he turned around
He lost what he had found
Oh where can his Lilly be?

Lilly comes when you stop to call her
Lilly runs when you look away
Lilly leaves kisses on your collar
Lilly, Lilly, Lilly, Lilly, stay!

He searched the city streets
He tempted her with treats
But nobody stopped to taste them
Some are in his pocket
Some are in a locket
He couldn't bring himself to waste them

Ever since she's gone
Some days he can't go on
She runined for another
Pressed up against the glass
He prays that she will pass
Now he's living with his mother

Lilly comes when you stop to call her
Lilly runs when you look away
Lilly leaves kisses on your collar
Lilly, Lilly, Lilly, Lilly, stay!

Lilly comes when you stop to call her
Lilly runs when you look away
Lilly leaves kisses on your collar
Lilly, Lilly, Lilly, Lilly, stay!

Stay, stay, stay, stay

Yeah...it's about a dog...

Thanks for reading,
Miss Pickwickian

The Music of "Open Range"

Michael Kamen was an amazing, amazing, amazing soundtrack composer! You've probably heard a lot of his music without even knowing it.

I love the soundtrack to "Open Range" (the last movie released with his music before his death in 2003).
And that's besides loving almost everything else about "Open Range". I love Charlie and Boss Spearmen's relationship. The actors were wonderful fits. For a western, the love story is actually quit tolerable too! Sue was believable and Charlie....well...he's amazing. (Probably another guy who helped form my character ideas). I love the complexity of everyone's characters and how they change. It was very well done.

I tried to find a good recording of the credit song, "Holding All My Love for You", but only could find one which was a tribute to a black lab. What's with that? Very odd... Anyways, here is a rather poor quality video of "Holding All My Love for You" as well as the opening Michael Kamen title. If the orchestral piece doesn't make your gut sing...well... There is something wrong with you. :-)

"Holding All My Love for You" is a wonderful song. It fits Charlie and Sue perfectly. I love the line "I've seen who you are" which is pretty much a direct quote from Sue. Obviously the song is a little romantic, but the concept is really, really cool.
I don't care to much for Julianna Raye's voice, but I hope you enjoy the song and the words. Listen carefully because I couldn't find a good copy of the lyrics.

Thanks for listening!
Miss Pickwickian

(Note: I would recommend "Open Range" if you haven't seen it, but we watch it on Clearplay and recommend you do too. It does contain some very untasteful fighting scenes and language.)

Canto Della Terra and Bellissime Stelle - Andrea Bocelli

Andrea Bocelli has an amazing voice. :-) Here is a video of "Canto Della Terra" from 2000 and "Bellismie Stelle" from 2007. This hall in "Canto Della Terra" is AMAZING! We currently only own his album My Christmas and its about time to put it away...can't wait until next Christmas! :-)

I love the instrumentals on his album Amore and the songs are so beautiful, however some of the translations aren't particularly edifying. The acoustic guitar really adds a lot on that album I think. I also love his version of "The Prayer" with Josh Groban, but I couldn't find a good recording of it on the web. Its interesting to hear their voices side by side too to see there differences. (Especially when my sister likes Josh Groban over Andrea Bocelli!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

I really enjoy hearing all the different music Bocelli does. He's has such a wide range and sings with so many different artists.





Enjoy!
Miss Pickwickian