At this time of midwinter and to remind ourselves that other seasons will eventually come, here is some relaxing music, all composed, arranged or performed by musicians born in 1917, a number of them from the northern countries.
- From the guitar of Laurindo Almeida (1917-1995) and the saxophone of Stan Getz (1927-1991) comes a beguiling bossa nova Winter Moon (1963).
- From Finnish composer and songwriter Kalervo Hämäläinen (1917-2015) we hear Lapin äidin kehtolaulu (Mother Lapland lullaby) (1949), the song that made him known. We hear the original version sung by Mirjam Helin (1911-2006).
- From Danish composer Egil Harder (1917-1997) comes Den Blå Anemone (The Blue Anemone) (1945), a reminder that in a few months there will be spring flowers.
- Pianist and comedian Victor Borge (1909-2000) and baritone Robert Merrill (1917-2004) bring us a priceless interpretation of Autumn Leaves. The song was composed in 1945 by the Hungarian-French Joseph Kosma (1905-1969) who set Les Feuilles mortes (Dead Leaves), a poem by Jacques Prévert (1900-1977). Its Hungarian title was Hulló levelek (Falling Leaves). Johnny Mercer (1909-1976) wrote the English lyrics in 1947.
- In 1941 Swedish composer Hakan Norlen (1917-2003) wrote Visa vid Midsommartid (Midsummer Ballad) (1941) which has become one of Sweden's most popular songs. It was first recorded in 1946 by Margareta Kjellberg (1916-2005). The text is by screenwriter Rune Lindström (1916-1973), and was used in the film Sången om den Eldröda blomman (Song of the Scarlet Flower) (1956). We first hear the original singer in a recent re-release and then the movie version which introduces the tune on a kantele, a traditional Finnish zither, played by Ulla Katajavuori (1909-2001).
- From Australian composer James Penberthy's (1917-1999) Pastorals for voice, flute and piano, we hear No. 5 Winter Afternoon.
After service in the Australian navy during World War II Penberthy studied in Melbourne and later composition with Nadia Boulanger (1887-1979) in Paris and conducting with conducting with Sir John Barbirolli (1899-1970) in England.
Penberthy is best known for his operas and ballets but wrote in many genres. His style evolved from 'a traditional European style to works involving chance and computer assisted composition'(1) and was often influenced by Australian aboriginal music.
- Finally, here is Jardin d'hiver (Winter garden), a beautiful, fairly recent song from French chansonnier Henri Salvador (1917-2008) who was originally from French Guyana. The song was written by Benjamin Biolay (b. 1973) and Keren Ann (b. 1974) in 2000. Henri Salvador included it in his album Chambre avec vue (Room with a view) that same year.
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(1)"Guide to the Papers of James Penberthy 1935-2003 MS 9748." Biographical Note, National Library of Australia website. (http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-234896591/findingaid (12/22/2017))
- From the guitar of Laurindo Almeida (1917-1995) and the saxophone of Stan Getz (1927-1991) comes a beguiling bossa nova Winter Moon (1963).
- From Finnish composer and songwriter Kalervo Hämäläinen (1917-2015) we hear Lapin äidin kehtolaulu (Mother Lapland lullaby) (1949), the song that made him known. We hear the original version sung by Mirjam Helin (1911-2006).
- From Danish composer Egil Harder (1917-1997) comes Den Blå Anemone (The Blue Anemone) (1945), a reminder that in a few months there will be spring flowers.
- Pianist and comedian Victor Borge (1909-2000) and baritone Robert Merrill (1917-2004) bring us a priceless interpretation of Autumn Leaves. The song was composed in 1945 by the Hungarian-French Joseph Kosma (1905-1969) who set Les Feuilles mortes (Dead Leaves), a poem by Jacques Prévert (1900-1977). Its Hungarian title was Hulló levelek (Falling Leaves). Johnny Mercer (1909-1976) wrote the English lyrics in 1947.
- In 1941 Swedish composer Hakan Norlen (1917-2003) wrote Visa vid Midsommartid (Midsummer Ballad) (1941) which has become one of Sweden's most popular songs. It was first recorded in 1946 by Margareta Kjellberg (1916-2005). The text is by screenwriter Rune Lindström (1916-1973), and was used in the film Sången om den Eldröda blomman (Song of the Scarlet Flower) (1956). We first hear the original singer in a recent re-release and then the movie version which introduces the tune on a kantele, a traditional Finnish zither, played by Ulla Katajavuori (1909-2001).
- From Australian composer James Penberthy's (1917-1999) Pastorals for voice, flute and piano, we hear No. 5 Winter Afternoon.
After service in the Australian navy during World War II Penberthy studied in Melbourne and later composition with Nadia Boulanger (1887-1979) in Paris and conducting with conducting with Sir John Barbirolli (1899-1970) in England.
Penberthy is best known for his operas and ballets but wrote in many genres. His style evolved from 'a traditional European style to works involving chance and computer assisted composition'(1) and was often influenced by Australian aboriginal music.
- Finally, here is Jardin d'hiver (Winter garden), a beautiful, fairly recent song from French chansonnier Henri Salvador (1917-2008) who was originally from French Guyana. The song was written by Benjamin Biolay (b. 1973) and Keren Ann (b. 1974) in 2000. Henri Salvador included it in his album Chambre avec vue (Room with a view) that same year.
___________________________________________________
(1)"Guide to the Papers of James Penberthy 1935-2003 MS 9748." Biographical Note, National Library of Australia website. (http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-234896591/findingaid (12/22/2017))