Archive for the ‘Music’ Category

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The miracle that is Lucy—a neurodivergent blind 13-year-old child prodigy featured on ‘The Piano’

April 30, 2023

Listen to this neurodivergent blind 13-year-old child prodigy play the piano. It is moving and unbelievable. She makes the instrument sing. The music she feels and expresses through her fingertips goes right to the listener’s heart. It felt like I was hearing these well-known classical pieces for the first time. This is how Lucy communicates with the world. It is profound and incomprehensible! These videos tell the story.

BBC – The One Show – Talking about Channel 4’s ‘The Piano’

BBC’s The One Show invited the host and a judge of a new television show, The Piano, on England’s Channel 4. Host Claudia Winkleman and pop star Mika, one of two judges with pianist Lang Lang, discussed the concept for their series and how they were secretly judging amateur musicians playing on street pianos located outside train stations in selected cities. That portion of the interview starts at 1:26 and concludes at 7:25. They don’t give too much away, but we later find out in future episodes that the series will conclude with a final concert performance at England’s premier Royal Festival Hall.

Lucy performs Chopin’s Nocturne in B flat minor

One of those musicians is Lucy, a 13-year-old blind girl who stuns the crowd with her piano performance of Chopin’s Nocturne in B flat minor, Opus 9 number 1. We first see Claudia speak with Lucy’s mom outside the Leeds train station as they wait for Lucy’s teacher, Daniel, to lead her to the piano on an elevated platform. What happens next is breathtaking! It leaves Lang Lang speechless wondering how Lucy can learn how to play the piece. That question is answered below in The Amber Trust video – Lucy’s Story, showing us how Daniel instructs her using The Amber Sound Touch method.

Here is the FULL BROADCAST of that episode. It serves as a backgrounder leading up to the final performance. At 10:24 Claudia reveals to all of the musicians gathered together for the first time that they not only played for people at the train station locations, but also for the world’s greatest classical pianist and a well-known pop star who were secretly watching them. Lang Lang and Mika are introduced, surprising everyone. The explanation of what their intent was, and the power of music, is worth listening to. They invite everyone to attend the upcoming Festival Hall performance as their VIP guests and, after hours of deliberation, announce who and why 1 of the 4 finalists was selected to perform at the finale—Lucy. Actually, as it turned out, all 4 finalists—Jay, Sean, Danny, and Lucy—played, and Lucy was selected as the performance of the night.

Lucy performs Debussy’s Arabesque No. 1

Lucy performed Debussy’s Arabesque No. 1 on Channel 4’s Finale of “The Piano’ at Royal Festival Hall. You could hear a pin drop in the hall, the audience was that intently focused on her, many moved to tears. After her performance, Lang Lang and Mika rose to their feet applauding, shouting “Bravo.” Everyone joined them giving Lucy a standing ovation.

Here is the full episode of 13 Year Old Blind Lucy’s Final Performance at the Royal Festival Hall on The Piano Show. You can read the YouTube notes for fuller explanations. There was one last surprise for the 4 finalists—a piano delivered to their homes!

Complete version of Lucy playing Debussy’s Arabesque No. 1

Enjoy this complete version of Lucy playing Debussy’s Arabesque No. 1. It starts at 1:48. An earlier well-edited short section of the video introduces us to Lucy’s mom explaining her daughter’s medical condition, then segues to Daniel walking Lucy to the piano where she plays Chopin’s Nocturne in B flat minor. It’s where Lang Lang, speechless, not knowing what to say, calls her a genius. At the end of this final performance, everyone is on their feet applauding wildly. The applause continues as Daniel and Lucy leave the stage. Claudia returns and proudly says, “Ladies and gentlemen, THAT is Lucy!”

The Amber Trust – Lucy’s story

The Amber Trust – Lucy’s story is a film made 3 years earlier about Lucy when she was 10 years old, blind, with autism and severe learning difficulties, but exceptional musical potential. Her teacher, Daniel, explains and demonstrates how he guides Lucy to play classical pieces on the piano. Adam Ockelford, founder of The Amber Trust, speaks at the end of the film. Lucy’s story is a part of ‘Amber Sound Touch’, The Amber Trust’s online resource for teaching music to blind and partially sighted children and young people, including those with additional disabilities. For more details, visit The Amber Trust website.

The Amber Trust has now worked with Lucy for over 10 years through their Music Awards program, funding the piano lessons she receives with her wonderful teacher, Daniel. Lucy achieved ‘performance of the night’ on the finale of Channel 4’s The Piano, receiving a standing ovation for her performance of Debussy’s Arabesque No. 1 at the Royal Festival Hall. They are very proud of everything she has accomplished on the show!

May 7, 2023: Astonishing moment blind and autistic pianist Lucy 13, stuns 20,000 spectators at Coronation Concert

Tens of thousands of spectators at King Charles’ Coronation Concert were left speechless Sunday evening as 13-year-old blind and autistic pianist Lucy Illingworth gave a jaw-dropping performance. The pianist, who is part of Queen Camilla’s patronage, The Amber Trust, was one of the talents chosen to perform at a concert taking place on the grounds of Windsor Castle. Playing a rendition of Bach’s Prelude in C Major, the teenager prompted smiles and applause from the Princess of Wales and Princess Charlotte, leaving the newly crowned King and Queen speechless. Her mother Candice Illingworth was beaming as she proudly sat next to her talented daughter as she wowed the crowd.

One of Mika’s Fan Club members from Japan posted Lucy’s performance of Bach’s Prelude in C Major at The Coronation Concert. So inspiring!!!

More videos of Lucy on YouTube

Lucy’s father, Mark Illingworth, takes videos of her joyfully playing a range of musical pieces, which he posts on his YouTube channel.

Other inspiring artists featured on The Uncarved Blog

To see other inspiring artists featured on The Uncarved Blog, scroll through the Archive of the ‘Music’ Category.

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Harpist Nadja Dornik beautifully performs Claude Debussy’s romantic composition Clair de Lune

March 18, 2023

Today, Serbian pianist and harpist Nadja Dornik posted her performance of Claude Debussy’s Suite Bergamasque, L.75 – III. Clair de Lune. The whole composition was recorded on August 30, 2022 at the Belgrade Philharmonic Concert Hall, including the first and second movements — I. Prélude and II. Menuet — posted 4 and 3 weeks earlier, respectively.

Historically, Clair de Lune, was a French poem written by Paul Verlaine in 1869, and became the inspiration for the third and most famous movement of Debussy’s 1890 Suite Bergamasque of the same name.

You can actually hear Debussy playing Clair de Lune (1913), recorded on a piano roll, Claude Debussy plays Debussy. It is included in the Complete recordings made by Claude Debussy: The Composer as Pianist. Compilation from all Debussy recordings available “Claude Debussy Plays His Finest Works” (1904-1913).

Also enjoy listening to Kristan Toczko, one of Canada’s premier harpists, perform Debussy’s romantic composition, Clair de Lune. That post contains links to performances by famous pianists and other musicians, some on unusual instruments, recorded for the celebration of Debussy’s life and music in 2018, the centennial of his passing.  

In an earlier post, Nadja Dornik transcribed and performed a stunningly beautiful version for harp of Frédéric Chopin’s Fantaisie-Impromptu.

See Canadian pioneer filmmaker Norman McLaren’s 1968 NFB film ‘Pas de deux’ for a truly spellbinding aesthetic experience. Predating digital effects, this masterpiece won many national and international awards.

‘Pas de deux’ was nominated as ‘Duo’ for Best Live Action Short Subject at the 41st Academy Awards (April 14, 1969) to honor the films of 1968. It was the NFB’s 24th Oscar®-nominated film at the time.

Some other amazing artists I’ve been inspired by and written about are available in the Archive of the ‘Music’ Category on The Uncarved Blog.

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Manual Cinema and Crescendo Literary produced this video of Gwendolyn Brooks’ “We Real Cool” as part of the centennial celebration of her birth

February 26, 2023

This is real cool! Using simple, illuminative paper-cut puppetry, this enchanting video imagines the moment of witness that inspired Gwendolyn Brooks to write her landmark poem, “We Real Cool.” It was created by Manual Cinema in association with Crescendo Literary, with story by Eve L. Ewing and Nate Marshall, and music by Jamila Woods and Ayanna Woods. Poetry Foundation posted We Real Cool on June 6, 2017 as part of the upcoming centennial celebration of her birth that year.

Everything about this video is excellent—the background story, Brooks’ dialogue, the poem read by her and sung by the chorus, the lifelike facial expressions, outlines and movements of the paper-cut puppetry, the jazzy driving music—all make for a lively and enjoyable realization.

The 6-minute video is a companion to a live staged production of No Blue Memories: The Life of Gwendolyn Brooks. It premiered November 2017 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Brooks’s birth. See the trailer for that show when it played in Vancouver at the Chan Centre. “We Real Cool” starts at 26 minutes into the 68-minute performance.

Gwendolyn Brooks (June 7, 1917-December 3, 2000) won the Pulitzer Prize at 32, and at 68, was the first black woman to become a consultant in poetry for the Library of Congress, aka the 29th Poet Laureate, 1985–86. A prolific poet, author, and teacher, she received a lifetime achievement award in 1989 from the National Endowment for the Arts.

It’s interesting how some poets are only remembered for one special poem. In this 1986 HoCoPoLitSo interview with Gwendolyn Brooks for The Writing Life series (remastered in 2005), she was asked how she felt about being remembered for only this one poem (18:38). She said that the poem was published in many anthologies and that children always ask her to read “We Real Cool” and respond enthusiastically.

But in the short video she says she “would prefer it if the textbook compilers and the anthologists would assume that I’ve written a few other poems,” and then the camera pans over many of her books.

At 19:45 she tells the story behind how she came to write “We Real Cool,” which forms the basis for the storyline of the short video. In the lead up to the poem, she happens to see seven students shooting pool at the Golden Shovel. But instead of asking myself, “Why aren’t they in school?” I asked myself, “I wonder how they feel about themselves?”

But instead of asking myself, “Why aren’t they in school?” I asked myself, “I wonder how they feel about themselves?”

Gwendolyn Brooks’ thoughts on seeing The Pool Players, Seven at the Golden Shovel, which became her poem, “We Real Cool.”

Instead of judging the students, her curiosity and compassion cause her to look deeper. She shares her thoughts about the boys’ situation, and is then asked to recite the poem, which she does at 21:05.

Gwendolyn Brooks, “We Real Cool,” was recorded on May 3, 1983, as part of the Academy of American Poets reading series, held at the Guggenheim Museum in New York City. It first appeared in print in the September 1959 issue of Poetry magazine. You can see the poem and hear Gwendolyn Brooks read “We Real Cool” from Selected Poems on the Poetry Foundation website. Copyright © 1963 by Gwendolyn Brooks.

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Amazing performance of Gary Moore’s ‘Still Got The Blues’ by Vanessa Amorosi featuring Orianthi!

February 18, 2023

The Blues have been around for a very long time. Every once and a while, a few gifted musicians come along who make us sit up and take notice.

Still Got The Blues

I recently discovered these amazing Aussie artists—Vanessa Amorosi featuring Orianthi—playing Still Got The Blues (Live at The Hotel Cafe). They’re backed by keyboardist Carey Frank and drummer Charlie Paxson.

The only person I was familiar with was the brilliant guitarist Orianthi. I had not heard of Vanessa Amorosi before. She can really sing the blues! What a perfect pairing!!

After hearing their awesome performance I searched for the original and discovered Gary Moore, another amazing musician! Impressed with both, I had to create this post.

Still Got the Blues (For You) by Northern Irish guitarist Gary Moore was originally released in 1990 as the title track for what would become his multi-million-selling eponymous album. It was a return to the Blues music of his youth. He died at 58. (April 04, 1952 – February 06, 2011)

The Gary Moore Society posted this mind-blowing performance of what did become his most popular song: Gary Moore – Still Got The Blues, An Evening of the Blues / Live at Hammersmith Odeon, 1990.

Getting the blues from unrequited love

Speaking of getting the blues from unrequited love, one song I remember from my youth was Since I Fell for You sung by Lenny Welch. He really expressed that kind of emotional pain, something most teenagers could identify with at the time.

Originally written as a blues ballad by Buddy Johnson in 1945, it was first popularized by his sister, Ella Johnson, with Buddy Johnson and His Orchestra. A version by Annie Laurie with Paul Gayten and His Trio in 1947 led to its eventual establishment as a jazz and pop standard.

The biggest hit version, arranged and conducted by Archie Bleyer, was the Lenny Welch recording of it in 1963, reaching No 4 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart and No 3 on the Easy Listening chart.

Gary Moore’s friendship with George Harrison

While doing research for this post I discovered two interesting videos that revealed Gary Moore’s friendship with George Harrison. George said they were neighbors, and that he was impressed with Gary’s playing.

In this 1990 Countedown interview, George mentioned when he and Jeff Lynn were producing a recording in his home studio it needed a particular style guitar solo. It would take them a while to do it. So George called up Gary who came over and nailed it in 5 minutes. It turned out to be the lead guitar riff for The Traveling Wilburys playing She’s My Baby!

In the other video, George introduces Gary who plays While My Guitar Gently Weeps with him at the April 6, 1992 concert he had organized for the Natural Law Party in Royal Albert Hall. Among the many musicians who supported George that evening were Ringo, Joe Walsh, and Tom Petty with his band. For more details see Remembering George Harrison: Watch Final Full Concert At Royal Albert Hall In 1992.

Listen to another great British guitarist who left us: The virtuosity and versatility of Jeff Beck was unique among rock guitarists. One of the best!

Another great British musician also left us unexpectedly a few months earlier: Rock’s Songbird—Christine McVie—has flown free.

For more musicians check the Archive of the ‘Music’ Category on The Uncarved Blog.

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The virtuosity and versatility of Jeff Beck was unique among rock guitarists. One of the best!

February 12, 2023

Guitarist Jeff Beck’s unexpected passing earlier this year took the rock world by surprise. He died suddenly of bacterial meningitis. He was 78. R.I.P. (June 24, 1944–January 11, 2023)

A guitar player’s guitar player, Jeff Beck was considered one of the top five of all time. An eight-time Grammy winner, he was inducted twice into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame—as a member of the Yardbirds, and for his own Jeff Beck Group.

Jeff was a humble person, admired and liked by all. Read Jeff Beck, Rock’s Quiet Guitar Virtuoso, Dead at 78. It includes loving quotes from members of Rock and Roll royalty.

Once news of his sudden passing came out, many searched his music online. I was impressed by his amazing virtuosity and versatility. Equally at home in different musical genres, he had his own unique style of playing that defied categorization. Jeff never sang; his guitar did for him.

Part of Gene’s comment (5th from top) explains: “He is a fusion of blues, soul & progressive rock. He could manipulate the strings, whammy bar, volume & tone knobs simultaneously, with technical mastery, to seamless & absolutely dazzling effect. He had voice on the guitar that was exceedingly rare and distinct.”

Here are five examples of the videos I discovered that give us an idea of his talent and range. They cover Rock, Pop, Classical, Opera, and Celtic, respectively: Cause We’ve Ended As Lovers from Live at Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club in London (Nov 2007), Superstition with Stevie Wonder at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 25th Anniversary, Adagietto from Gustav Mahler’s 5th Symphony, Nessun Dorma (No One Sleeps) at Royal Albert Hall, and Mna Na Hereann (Women of Ireland) with Sharon Corr.

Enjoy Jeff Beck – Performing This Week… Live at Ronnie Scott’s. Accompanying Jeff Beck are Vinnie Colaiuta on drums, Tal Wilkenfeld on bass guitar, and Jason Rebello on keyboards. Amazing musicians in their own right, together they produce an exciting cohesive sound. The show’s twenty-one performances include a few surprise star guest appearances. And the camera catches a few famous musicians smiling in the audience. Jeff concludes the evening with the hauntingly beautiful Where Were You.

Jeff Beck also beautifully played all of Women of Ireland, Live in Moscow at Crocus City 2010, and with violinist Lizzie Ball Live at Madison Square Garden 2013. “Mná na hÉireann” (Women of Ireland), a poem written by Ulster poet Peadar Ó Doirnín (1704–1796), became famous as a song.

Another great musician left us unexpectedly a few months earlier. See Rock’s Songbird—Christine McVie—has flown free.

For more musicians check the Archive of the ‘Music’ Category on The Uncarved Blog.

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Something sweet to close out the old year with

December 31, 2022

I love this sweet and rare interaction between this girl and a bird. It’s as if Snow White and The Sound of Music collaborated to create “a golden hour miracle.” The description below explained what had happened. A bird had crashed into their window and was dazed. We see their delighted daughter holding the bird and singing Edelweiss to it while compassionately caressing it. You can hear the bird chirp feebly. This must have helped to get it back on its feet, or in this case, off, since “she flew away fit as a fiddle.” What a magical moment!

Gable Swanlund’s mother posted this video of her and the bird on her Instagram account. The video has hundreds of thousands of likes and over ten thousand comments! It’s bound to put a smile on your face.

Sander from the Netherlands posted a close-up of the video on Twitter.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

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Rock’s Songbird—Christine McVie—has flown free

December 8, 2022

The Rock world has been reeling from the news of the unexpected death of Christine McVie, the longtime co-lead vocalist, keyboardist, and songwriter for Fleetwood Mac. She died Wednesday, November 30, 2022, after a short illness. She was 79. Christine was surrounded by family members at a London hospital when she passed.

Many condolences and remembrances have been pouring in this past week, especially from members of the band attesting to how much she was loved and appreciated as a person and, of course, as one of their foundational musicians. This E News! video contains several quotes from both band and family members alike. Good Morning America aired Celebrating the life and legacy of Fleetwood Mac’s Christine McVie. 

You can read more in some of the many articles published about her life. Here are a few: Rolling Stone: Christine McVie, Keyboardist and Singer for Fleetwood Mac, Dead at 79; The Guardian: Fleetwood Mac’s Christine McVie dies at age 79; and NME’s Mark Beaumont’s excellent piece: Christine McVie, 1943-2022: an eternal songbird.

The Guardian also posted photos and quotes: Fleetwood Mac’s Christine McVie – a life in pictures, and Christine McVie: a look back at the Fleetwood Mac star’s greatest hits – video obituary.

Christine McVie on writing ‘Songbird’

One of the things that came up in my Instagram feed was this post from Far Out Magazine: Christine McVie on Writing Songbird. They included the audio portion from a Dec 17, 2017 BBC Desert Island Discs interview with Christine McVie that dealt with how she came to write her famous song. They also transcribed that part of the conversation in the Instagram post. Raised on Radio also posted the interview on YouTube. The Songbird section starts at 3:18. You can click CC to see their words.

In a recent post, I quoted Brendan Graham, who said, “the truly special songs write us; we don’t write them. We don’t find them; they find us.” Christine McVie described exactly that kind of magical experience.

She couldn’t sleep, and an unknown song was in her head. “I had to play this song. It was as if I’d been channeled or something!” It came to her at 3 in the morning. “The whole song, complete, chords, words, everything within half an hour,” she explained. Fortunately, she had a piano in her room, but no tape recorder. So she kept playing it without sleeping for fear of forgetting it, until she went into the studio at 9 o’clock the next day to record it on a two-track tape. “I just felt as if it was a universal kind of prayer or something. I just don’t know where it came from. This never happened to me since or before.”

‘Songbird’ would arguably become McVie’s signature song. Originally released as the B-side to ‘Dreams’ in 1977, it ended up on Fleetwood Mac’s world-conquering Rumours album. It wasn’t her biggest hit for the group, but the ballad was a frequent closer at Fleetwood Mac concerts, especially after McVie rejoined in 2014.

McVie later recorded an orchestral version of the song, composed and arranged by multi-Grammy winner Vince Mendoza. It was part of her first-ever compilation highlighting songs from her solo career: ‘Songbird ~ A Solo Collection,’ which came out this year.

Enjoy this beautiful photo collage by CK WOOD Music Productions to Songbird (Fleetwood Mac and Christine McVie).

At 2:03 there’s a photo of Christine wearing a top with the words, Nobody’s Perfekt. This is doubly funny, not only because of the misspelling of the word, perfect, but also because it’s her family name! She was born Christine Anne Perfect. She told Peter Robinson of The Guardian: “I used to joke that I was perfect until I married John.”

Two decades after it first aired, the world discovered Eva Cassidy’s amazing voice singing ‘Songbird’. It was published 2 years after her untimely death at 33. Mick Fleetwood knew Eva and said this about her: “She was brilliant. She had the magic. And I call it, It. She had It!” To find out more about her, see The hauntingly beautiful voice of Eva Cassidy.

Christine’s Family, Early Background, and Later Recognition

Christine Anne Perfect was born on July 12, 1943 to Cyril Percy Absell Perfect and Beatrice Edith Maud Perfect. They also have a son named John. Christine’s family contributed considerably to her development. Her grandfather was the organist at Westminster Abbey. Her father was a concert violinist and music lecturer at St. Peters College of Education at Saltley in Birmingham. Her mother was a medium, psychic, and faith healer. After her brother brought home a Fats Domino songbook, she switched from playing classical piano to blues-based rock and roll.

She studied sculpture at school with the intention of becoming an art teacher and met blues musicians who invited her to join a band. She later left a window-dressing job in London to become a full-time musician. She would soon be invited to join an early version of Fleetwood Mac who would go on, through various iterations, to become one of the top-selling bands of all time.

An introvert by nature, McVie’s creative and spiritual influences informed her musical career and kind personality. She impacted her bandmates in positive ways, at times, the quieter center holding them together as they spun out of control due to the excessive drug-fueled lifestyles and rocky romantic relationships of that era. But they turned their melodramas into musical hits. McVie would be honored with many awards, and in 1998, was inducted with Fleetwood Mac into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

MOJO’s Tribute to Fleetwood Mac singer-songwriter Christine McVie

Christine McVie: Her 20 Greatest Songs. In tribute to Fleetwood Mac singer-songwriter Christine McVie, who passed away this week, MOJO selects the best tracks from across her career. They also included Christine McVie Remembered. In memory of Christine McVie, who has sadly passed away aged 79, MOJO revisits our 2017 interview with Fleetwood Mac’s singer-songwriter.

Leland Roberts published in Medium: In Memoriam: Christine McVie is Britain’s Greatest Female Popular Music Artist.

LATER ADDED

Another Rock legend left us in early January 2023: The virtuosity and versatility of Jeff Beck was unique among rock guitarists. One of the best!

Other amazing artists I’ve been inspired by and written about are also available in the Archive of the ‘Music’ Category on The Uncarved Blog.

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Nadja Dornik performs her beautiful transcription of Chopin’s Fantaisie-Impromptu Op.66 for a harp

November 14, 2022

I discovered this amazing musician—Serbian harpist and pianist Nadja Dornik. She transcribed and performed a stunningly beautiful version of Frédéric Chopin’s Fantaisie-Impromptu (C♯minor, Op. posth. 66, WN 46) on the harp. Check out her impressive bio, and see more videos on her YouTube channel and those featured at onepoint.fm.

For another beautiful classic piece of music, listen to Kristan Toczko, one of Canada’s premier harpists, perform Claude Debussy’s Clair de Lune.

Later added: Harpist Nadja Dornik beautifully performs Claude Debussy’s romantic composition Clair de Lune

Norman McLaren’s 1968 NFB film ‘Pas de deux’ creates a spellbinding aesthetic experience

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Karen Matheson sings ‘Crucán na bPáiste’ with a Gaelic band. Brendan Graham tells how the song chose him as a conduit. Truly beautiful and sad.

October 9, 2022

I can remember as a child getting emotional every time my father would play a recording of Toora-Loora-Looral (It’s an Irish Lullaby). My lower lip would pout and quiver, and sometimes I’d cry. I still feel sad when listening to certain Irish artists and created a blog post about them.

Karen Matheson sings Crucán na bPáiste

Another Gaelic artist and song I recently discovered that also moves me is Karen Matheson singing Crucán na bPáiste, ‘burial place of the children’. It was written by Brendan Graham for the heroine of his novel The Brightest Day, The Darkest Night. When I discovered what it was about, what the words of the song meant, it elicited a stronger response.

One commenter explains: “The song is set during the famine in Ireland (1840s). People were dying so fast that they had to be buried in mass graves—the children included. But there was a special mass grave just for the little ones. That is what a ‘Crucán na bPáiste’ is (burial place of the children). In this song, a young mother grieves the fact she could do nothing to keep her dear little one from dying and wishes she had died as well. Now she vows to leave Ireland forever to the States to try and escape the bitter memories.”

Another later adds: “One other aspect you do not know…this is a graveyard for unbaptized babies…died before being baptized….kept separate by the Catholic Church.” Brendan Graham mentions this in his talk about the song in the second video below.

See a translation of the lyrics from Irish Gaelic to English, and listen to the recorded song on Spotify from Karen’s downriver album or on YouTube. They both play out to the end. Truly beautiful and so very sad.

This video excerpt from a BBC Four Transatlantic Sessions 3 includes an introduction by Karen about the collaboration between British and American musicians playing Gaelic music, followed by the band’s performance of the song.

These musicians accompany Karen in her rendition, which is filled with sorrow, regret, and a pleading prayer. The uilleann pipes in the last third of the piece intensify the overall sense of grief. Embedded here is that live performance of Crucán na bPáiste with English subtitles.

Accompanying Karen Matheson are Donald Shaw on piano, Ronan Browne on whistle and uilleann pipes, Aly Bain on fiddle, Tim O’Brien on fiddle, Jerry Douglas on slide, Catriona McKay on harp, and Todd Parks on bass.

How Brendan Graham wrote Crucán na bPáiste

The YouTube algorithm later suggested a short video of how Brendan Graham wrote his beautiful song Crucán na bPáiste. It was a revelation! He happened to be walking up in those beautiful mountains, “a place above the world hung between heaven and earth,” and came upon that place of unmarked stones. That’s when it happened.

He describes how he was affected, how the history of that time and place worked on him over many months to express itself, to tell its story, word by word, line by line, until he “had been set free and it had found its epiphany.”

“I had learned to keep out of the way; let the song write itself. … The truly special songs write us; we don’t write them. We don’t find them; they find us.”

The truly special songs write us; we don’t write them. We don’t find them; they find us.

Songwriter and author Brendan Graham

“How else is it explained how a song can seep out of the wilderness, out of rocks and streams, and the deep pool of its own dark history, and, how a remote place in the Mayo Mountains, can, of its own volition, send out its story to the world.”

He concludes with all humility and gratitude. “I am grateful to be merely the conduit, an accident of time and place through which something I don’t fully understand is given voice and is heard.”

A truly haunting song! It ranks up there with Davy Spillane playing the beautiful lament Caoineadh Cu Chulainn on uillieann pipes, and May Morning Dew on low whistle, alone, and with Moving Hearts in Dublin. Siobhan Miller sings her own beautiful version with her amazing band.

l first discovered Davy Spillane playing Midnight Walker. It captured my attention. Those songs are all embedded with a few artists’ covers here: The hauntingly beautiful music of Davy Spillane played on uilleann pipes and low whistle.

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Joni Mitchell surprised everyone at the July 2022 Newport Folk Festival when she showed up to the Joni Jam organized by Brandi Carlile & Friends

July 29, 2022

Brandi Carlile & Friends were scheduled to perform a Joni Jam at the Newport Folk Festival Sunday, July 24, 2022. Brandi surprised everyone when she announced that Joni Mitchell was joining them on stage. She first appeared at that festival in 1967, and again in 1969, 53 years ago!

This would be Joni’s first public performance after a long recovery period from a brain aneurysm in 2015 that nearly took her life. She had to relearn many basic things, as well as how to sing and play her guitar again, which she picked up by watching herself on YouTube videos.

CBS Mornings correspondent Anthony Mason spent the weekend there. Brandi told him about the Joni Jam, where musician friends would gather together over the years to sing songs in Joni’s California living room. She’d sip her wine and listen, until one day, she started to sing and play. It was Brandi’s idea to bring the Joni Jam to Newport.

Anthony asked Joni if she was nervous about singing in front of an audience again. Joni replied that she’s never been nervous in front of audiences. “But I want it to be good. And I wasn’t sure I could be. But I didn’t sound too bad tonight!” They all share a laugh.

Read Anthony’s wonderful report: Joni Mitchell makes triumphant surprise return to Newport Folk Festival, and see Anthony’s report as he answers co-host Gayle King’s questions: Joni Mitchell performs in public for first time in nine years.

Update: The Extended Interview

CBS Mornings later posted the extended interview (5:32) with this description. Joni Mitchell and Brandi Carlile spoke with Anthony Mason after rehearsing for their surprise “Joni Jam” set at the Newport Folk Festival. Mitchell returned to the festival stage after 53 years, performing for the first time in public since a brain aneurysm in 2015.

Both Sides Now

I love this song! I first heard Joni sing Both Sides Now live in Montreal at a Place Des Arts concert in 1969. She stood on stage, a young innocent woman in a floor-length green dress and just her guitar, mesmerizing us all with her amazing talent.

Decades later, in An All-Star Tribute to Joni Mitchell, 2000, she performed a slower more melancholic version of her song with a full orchestra. Wearing a floor-length blue dress, she humbly sang from a different perspective, having looked at, reflected upon, her experiences of love and life from both sides, win and lose, illusions like clouds, which she sang, “I really don’t know (clouds, love) life at all.”

But this Newport Folk Festival performance was different. Joni was showing her audience, the musicians, and herself, that she can still sing, from both sides now—from before and after her aneurysm.

Her deep baritone-sounding voice is richly colored like dark mahogany. Brandi, hand over her heart, holds back from crying out loud. As the song comes to an end, we see and hear Joni’s happiness spilling over in laughter. She can still deliver. Everyone’s wildly cheering and applauding. Smiles everywhere; not a dry eye in the place. What an emotional return!

Summertime

“Summertime” is one of the most recorded songs in history. More than 2500 by now. Joni delivers the best jazz version of this Gershwin classic that I’ve ever heard! Not only does she still have it, she’s also matured like a rare vintage wine. A big thanks to Amy Karibian for posting the 14-song set.

Recent Awards, Honors, Tributes

Last year, the 44th Annual Kennedy Center Honors acknowledged 5 outstanding artists. They started the evening with a special Joni Mitchell Tribute featuring famous musicians and friends. In 2002, she was honored with a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. This year, Joni appeared in person to receive her 10th Grammy, for Best Historical Album for her collection, Archives, Vol. 1: The Early Years (1963–1967). The night before, Joni Mitchell was recognized as the 2022 MusiCares Person of the Year. The MusiCares 2022 Person Of The Year Tribute featured old friends and new faces, touching testimonials, and some of the greatest songs ever written. It did the songwriting pioneer proud.

Where will she go from here?

Where will Joni Mitchell go from here? She will probably continue to sing and play music. Maybe write new songs? Anything is possible. This ongoing recovery is turning out to be a gift for Joni, and her fans.

She told Anthony Mason what her surgeon had said about her recovery, that she has will and grit. It helped her overcome polio as a child, and now this brain aneurysm. Miracles are continuing to happen for Joni. She’s not done yet. Visit JoniMitchell.com and her socials for updates.

Elton John interviews Joni Mitchell

Nov 12, 2022: Joni Mitchell Talks ‘Blue’, “Both Sides Now”, & Newport Folk Festival with Elton John | Apple Music || Elton John’s Rocket Hour with Joni Mitchell.

In this special episode of Rocket Hour, Elton John sits down with legendary singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell for a rare and personal interview. The two reminisce on the stories behind some of Joni’s classic tracks, as well as some of the personal favorites she’s selected from other artists. Joni reflects on the music and the stories behind each song. She also touches on her experience performing at the Newport Folk Festival with Brandi Carlile, how the music industry has evolved, and her evolution as an artist, and her vocal shift from a soprano to an alto.

Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song

January 12, 2023: The 2023 Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song Goes to Joni Mitchell

Joni Mitchell, the singer/songwriter whose poetic lyrics and jazz-influenced arrangements helped define a generation of musicians, is the 2023 honoree for the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song. Mitchell’s hits include “Both Sides Now,” “Help Me” and “Big Yellow Taxi” as well a rich songbook of elegantly crafted work. She’ll be honored in a PBS concert special on March 31. Watch the 1m 20s teaser and the 1h 24m 6s video.

March 7, 2023: The Hill: Joni Mitchell Honored With Library Of Congress’s Gershwin Prize

Joni Mitchell arrives at the presentation of the Gershwin Prize, which honors a musician’s lifetime contribution to popular music, hosted at DAR Constitution Hall in Washington on Wednesday, March 1, 2023. She is this year’s winner. Joni Mitchell brought “Both Sides Now” of the political aisle together, as lawmakers and musical artists celebrated her life and career at the Library of Congress’s Gershwin Prize for Popular Song.

March 15, 2023: A Conversation with Joni Mitchell

Gershwin Prize honoree Joni Mitchell appears in conversation with Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden in the historic Great Hall of the Thomas Jefferson Building.

March 31, 2023: Joni Mitchell: The Library of Congress Gershwin Prize

After getting her start in coffee shops Joni Mitchell went on to set a new standard, marrying music and lyrics with such songs as “Both Sides, Now.” While her early material is often categorized as “folk,” she became a household name with music that defies categorization. Tune in to PBS, 9 p.m. ET on Friday, March 31st to watch Joni Mitchell receive the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize. Aired: 03/24/23 | Expires: 04/28/23.

Cameron Crowe to Direct Joni Mitchell Movie

March 23, 2023: Exclusive: Cameron Crowe to Direct Joni Mitchell Movie They’ve Been Developing in Secret for Two Years

Above the Line: Thus, much like Almost Famous, sources say the project is deeply personal for Crowe, which is why he’s been putting it together under the radar during the pandemic. I’m told that the project is very much of Crowe’s singular voice, it just happens to be Mitchell’s story that he’s telling, so it’s basically her life from the inside looking out, according to those familiar with the take.

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