The Best Music in the Whole World July 2007

The Five Best for July

Back again with the best music in the whole world. This month we have reduced our picks to five. Our tracking software told us that we received a lot of visitors, but we are still looking for your comments (worldspiritmusic@gmail.com) and your suggestions. So here goes the best five pieces of humanity’s sweet music.

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One: Last month we went out on a limb and picked the best of Beethoven, this month we start out with the best of Mozart. You all know the story of Mozart, the child prodigy who toured Europe with his father, Leopold, entertaining the nobility with his incredible gifts at the piano. To be sure, there are all the great symphonies, the operas, the string quartets, but we think it is in the piano concertos that you find the greatest of Mozart’s music. There is K271, No.9, sometimes called the “Jeunehomme” and considered by many to be his first masterpiece. There is the No. 21 which now days is called the “Elvira Madigan” concerto because of its use in the Swedish movie of the same name. Our favorite is K466, the No. 20 and in particular the second movement, Romanze. Such a beautiful theme. Listen to some of it. There are many fine recordings. The Martha Argerich, the Alfred Brendel with Neville Marriner and the Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields, but our favorite is an older recording by Guiomar Novaes that is still available as a two disc set from Vox.

Two: While we writing about piano music, we pick our second best from the world of Jazz. The “Love Theme from Spartacus” by Bill Evans from Conversations with Myself. Of the many great Jazz pianists none had such a great lyrical gift and sense of melody as Bill Evans. Recorded in 1963, Coversations was a very popular jazz release. Sidney Bichet in his unique recording of “The Sheik of Araby” and Lennie Tristano with his 1955 track “Turkish Mambo” had used overdubbing before, Evans’ recording was a considerable artistic achievement. The “Spartacus Love Theme” is one of the most beautiful jazz performances you will ever hear. Listen for yourself.

Three: “Imidiwan Winakalin” by Tinariwen from Aman Iman, Water is Life. The group Tinariwen is a product of the desert region of Mali and of the Tourareg people. But, the music beginnings were created in exile as the central government of Mali for many years fought a war with the Touraregs and try to subdue these nomadic peoples. Their music is a wonderful synthesis of indigenous music and Western music. It’s essence is a combination of wonderful mesmerizing vocals and very exciting and vigorous use of guitars. Here is a sample. Another exciting result from the exposure to Western ears of the music of the Touraregs is The Festival in the Desert which has become an important venue for all the music of Mali. You can access Tinariwen’s site here and also find out more about The Festival in the Desert here Another group that will reward your listening is Tartit. Wonderful vocal music.

Four: “When Sorrows Encompass Me ‘Round” Tommy Jarrell and Fred Cockerman. When listening to Tommy Jarrell and Fred Cockerman you are listening to the very finest “old-timey” music. The spring from which their music comes arises from the mountains of North Carolina and Virginia and goes back to the 19^th century. Tommy Jarrell’s highly animated and syncopated bowing give a grand lift and dance pulse to his playing and his wonderful singing can really get a hold of you. Fred Cockerham is one of the finest clawhammer banjo players ever and plays in the archaic fretless style.. Together they make some of the finest traditional music you will ever hear. Listen to a selection. You can get this recording at County Sales, the best source of Bluegrass and Old-Timey music in the world.

Five: “Hearing Solar Winds” by David Hykes. This is the purest music you will ever hear. It is singing about the forces of creation and the awareness of the spirit life. Recorded in 1982 at the Thoronet Abbey, it continues to astound the ears, the minds, and souls of all who listen to it. This singing is a whole universe of vibrations, all ringing together to produce a fundamental tone. Listen. This recording is available from WorldSpiritMusic. You can learn more about David Hykes, the Harmonic Choir, their workshops, their concerts and their other projects here.