March's Listening Picks

Another month with a lot of listening - some of this reflects what I’ve been working on and studying, and some of it doesn’t! As ever, I hope you enjoy listening and discover something new.

Soundtrack to ‘Vertigo’ - Bernard Hermann

I watched this film as part of my studies and was suitably impressed - apart from the fact that the film felt like a real classic, with some dark depths to it that I wasn’t expecting, I thought the music was really interesting. It’s like no soundtrack you’d ever get today, in fact I’d say it was closer to operatic than modern soundtrack music, but it works incredibly well both in the context of the film and as a piece to listen to on its own.

David Baker - Jazz Suite for Violin and Piano

Listening to this piece feels like an endless discovery - there are unexpected dissonances but the melody also feels like it knows exactly where it’s going - and very often there are some lovely harmonies. It’s an incredible balance between the familiar and the unexpected, and I think contrasting the two helps highlight both.

Florence Price - Symphony No. 1

Quite rightly, I think the classical world is in a process of properly discovering Florence Price. Her first symphony is a great example of her mastery of melody and scale. I love the way her music introduces a melody and adds colour to it from all directions with the rest of the ensemble, treading the line between tenderness and energy beautifully. There are also moments that are a lot of fun and unlike anything you’re likely to hear in a symphony by a white man.

Aaron Copland - Appalachian Spring

Another great use of melody and colour to create something with a hugely wide-ranging sensibility. You’ll see from the score that underneath even moments of apparent simplicity there is rhythmic and harmonic ingenuity going on. The whole thing comes together well within the orchestral ensemble. I think it’s a great piece to listen to at the end of March!

Eric Whitacre - Sleep

I feel like Whitacre is a bit like marmite - and this piece is probably his most well known, but I think it’s great and really effective. He has a particular skill of including cluster chords in pieces to great (and juicy) effect, and I think this is such a great listen.

Also - there’s something connecting all 5 composers this month… did you notice?