The Music Appreciation Group

Leader:  Mike Stow - musicapp@ashbyu3a.co.uk - 01530 469152

5th June

We met at Nev's house this time and again there were 9 of us.

Dorothy started the ball rolling with some jazz. Django Reinhardt on guitar and Stéphane Grappelli on violin playing Ultrafox, a great swing jazz piece from the mid 30s.

Sallie continued with a piece from 'La Gage aux Folles' – "I Am What I Am" sung by Douglas Hodge

Mike then turned to YouTube to play Dolly Parton singing her bluegrass version of "Shine".

Brenda had chosen an apt and favourite song of ours, the incomparable Ella and Louis playing and singing "Summertime"

Neil switched to rock with the Animals and "We've Gotta Get Out Of This Place". Mike recalled that this was the theme tune of an office he once worked in!

Yogi took us to another place with the haunting Elgar piece "Lux Aeterna". If the name is not familiar, the tune will be. Often sung at Requiem Mass and was played as part of the D-Day commemorations.

Janet maintained the D-Day theme with Vera Lyn and the inevitable, inimitable, "White Cliffs of Dover"

Sarah brought us back to rock and Joe Cocker singing "The Great Divide", a 90s power ballad.

Nev showed us something different. A few years ago he and some friends followed the Tour de France and cycled the whole route, albeit slightly slower than the professionals. One of his friends videoed them and set it to music. We watched sections of it backed with REM’s “Everybody Hurts” as they climbed the mountains and Heather Small’s “Proud” as they finished. Very apt pieces of music.

Dorothy returned to the D-Day theme with another classic of the 40s – The Glenn Miller Orchestra and "American Patrol" then Sallie took us back even further to the 1920s with Al Jolson singing "Red, Red Robin"

Mike gave us a video clip from 'The Blues Brothers' movie featuring Aretha Franklin as a waitress in a diner singing "Think" with some great choreography by Jake and Elwood, the customers and staff.

Brenda's next choice was from one of her favourite artists – The Modern Gustin Trio and a lovely jazzy instrumental version of the Beatles' "Girl"

Next from Neil was "I Guess the Lord Must Be in New York City" by Harry Nilsson which was supposed to have been the opening music to the film 'Midnight Cowboy' but was dropped in favour of the harmonica theme by John Barry. This is the better song!

Yogi had chosen an interesting piece by Whitney Houston - "Queen of the Night". Interesting because it is sung as her persona Rachel in the film 'The Bodyguard' which we watched courtesy of YouTube.

Janet came back to the wartime theme, this time with the very English Flanagan and Allen singing "Hang Out The Washing On The Siegfried Line", great fun.

Sarah brought us almost up to date with James Blunt and "1973" and Nev closed the show with another video this time of Billy Joel singing "Piano Man". A very humorous video.