Skip to main content

And One Thing Led to Another

Sometimes while I am working, I turn on the TV in the next room for atmosphere. That only works for me if what's on is an old movie—there is something magical and atmospherish about the soundtracks and the dialog. Generally, new ones don't count unless they're absolutely fabulous like The Princess Bride or Joe Versus the Volcano or Silverado. We'll get to that one later.

The other day I was working away, being productive and focused on the job at hand, when I heard a familiar piece coming from the speakers on my television. It was the opening theme to How the West Was Won. Now there is a movie with a soundtrack, a patchwork of American melodies from start to finish. But the theme is the thing, the piece that makes me perk up and hum the horn parts. And does that piece ever have horn parts. It has been one of my favorite band pieces since I first started playing the horn, and it makes me happy.

It makes me so happy, in fact, that I stopped working and got on over to iTunes as quickly as I could to buy the song. 99¢ later, and I had downloaded it into a folder of songs with nice horn parts. The iTunes store displayed a list of famous western themes in case I wanted something else, and normally I would have said "no thank you." I like The Magnificent Seven and Shenandoah but not enough to buy them. It was then that I saw the theme to Silverado. For another 99¢ I could buy one of my favorite movie themes of all time. Silverado was the fun western from the mid 80s, and as star powered as that film is, its theme is horn powered. So, I bought that, too.

That got me thinking. If I could buy movie theme songs, what else could I buy? Could I buy fun horn things I have heard on the radio? Of course I could. Several times in the last few weeks I have heard March of the War Priests performed by Burning River Brass. That makes me happy, so I bought it.

I have also heard Brahms' Academic Festival lately. Besides being lovely to listen to, it's fun to play, and iTunes has several recordings in their listings. I bought one and saved it to the folder with the other stuff. I was on a roll.

My summer band often plays a melodic piece amidst its stampeding pieces, and one of my favorites is Ashokan Farewell. We have a lovely arrangement that gives the horns the melody now and then, and I looked for a recording of that arrangement. I couldn't find it, but I did find one with Jay Unger that is haunting and dreamy. I added that to my new collection, providing some soft contrast to all that brass.

I stopped there, but I won't say I'm finished. I haven't played my horn in a group for a few months because of my orchestra's program this season. The horn section got short changed, but we're on again next month for Pines of Rome. So, I'll buy that next and see where it leads. Buying one song at a time on iTunes is like a stream of consciousness. You let your thoughts float from one subject to the next, from one musical thrill to the next, from one happy song to the next. Who knows where it will lead. I can't wait to find out.

Comments

dive said…
Gosh, with me that would pretty soon lead to a big hole in my bank balance, Robyn.
Good to see you're all fired up and ready for the new horn season.
7:36 AM
Neponset River Bridge Dig said…
Geesh and I thought you were going to write about a date you went on with that title. :))

Anyway, How the west was won was used many many times over by marching bands (when they used to have them) here in the Boston area in the 60's and 70's.
11:30 AM
Cheltenhamdailyphoto said…
That was quite a buying fest then, Robyn! I don't know any of the titles you mentioned but i'm glad you're having fun. I too have the tv on in the background, usually just the news, otherwise i'd stop and watch if it was an old black and white.
1:43 PM
savannah said…
joe versus the volcano!!! omg, sugar, one of my favorites, too!

(watch out for itunes, now you'll get emails filed with temptaton!)
8:45 AM
peahen said…
You're right, Robyn, iTunes is the biz. Putting your entire collection on random play is a great thing, as is buying music so easily.

We're a bit sore over here on this side of the Atlantic, though - 99c is about 50p, but we have to pay 79p per track!!

I can relate to your eagerness to get the season underway! Bring it on!
2:49 PM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Classic Green Bean Bake

In anticipation of Thanksgiving, I feel I must post a recipe with plenty of good old American tradition. The classic Green Bean Bake was invented in 1955 by Dorcas Reilly, a home economist who worked for the Campbell's Soup Company. A study was done determining that 50% of all Americans have eaten the classic Green Bean Bake, and 38% of those believe it is best served during the holidays, mainly Thanksgiving. So, for the other 50% and for those in other countries where this dish may be unfamiliar--my treat: The Classic Green Bean Bake serves 6 to 8 1 can Campbell's Cream of Mushroom Soup 1/2 cup milk 1 teaspoon soy sauce Dash of fresh pepper 1 20-oz. bag frozen cut green beans, thawed* 1 2.8 oz can French-fried onions -Preheat the oven to 350 F -In a casserole dish, combine the soup, milk, soy sauce and pepper. Stir in the green beans and half of the onions. -Bake until bubbling, about 25 minutes. Top with the remaining onions and bake for 5 more minutes. Serve hot. *Or cook 1 ...
7 comments
Read more

Bring On the Bombs

In today's edition : I generally try to keep on top of cultural trends even if I don’t adopt them, but there is a growing movement that I have only just discovered. Not long ago, I was walking along in Berkeley, California while visiting my daughter, and I saw a signpost that had been covered with yarn, like someone had sewn a knitted scarf to it. It was colorful and randomly striped, and I pointed it out as if it were the most unusual thing in the world. That’s when my daughter explained the nature of what is known as yarn bombing. It’s when knitters attach something they’ve created to a public object, most often doing their deed stealthily and anonymously. They leave a “bomb,” so to speak, for no other purpose than to brighten up the place and to bring a little cheer to those passing by. Their work has been equated with graffiti, except that the woven yarn is not permanently installed and does no damage to the object it covers. And instead of signifying the territory of a street ...
2 comments
Read more

Cindy Loo Who In October

What is it with people and Cindy Loo Who? Of my last one hundred blog hits, forty have been direct visits from regular readers, and fifteen have been as a result of people searching for "Cindy Loo Who," the little pixie from Seuss's How The Grinch Stole Christmas . A couple of years ago, I posted an image of the original Seuss illustration as compared to the TV cartoon image, and for some reason, that post is bringing in the crowds, relatively. Maybe it's the weather. It isn't even November yet, and already we've had frost and have had to dust off our winter coats. When it gets cold like this, I start to think about Christmasy things like listening to Nat King Cole and decorating the tree. It's ironic because I am offended when retailers start pushing holiday stuff early, but I don't mind my own private celebrations. When my sister and I were much younger and still living with our parents, we would pick a day in July, close the curtains to darken the ...
8 comments
Read more