Just as I played joyous music for Hilary on the day before she died, so am I going to post a thread of the same kind of music at regular intervals today. We need more joy—and who better than to start with than Louis Armstrong? Let there be boundless hope:
We'll call it #joyoussongs.
Next on #joyoussongs, a rocker by the Pixies to which I was introduced by @lademans, my best friend. Here's "Gigantic":
Next on #joyoussongs, Mozart's truly festive overture to "The Impresario," performed by George Szell and the Cleveland Orchestra. I played it in college, but not like this!
Next on #joyoussongs, one of the records that I played for Hilary on Monday, the Band's live cover version of "(I Don't Want To) Hang Up My Rock and Roll Shoes":
Next on #joyoussongs, Leroy Carr and Scrapper Blackwell perform "Papa's on the Housetop." Hilary and I loved to listen to this in the car on our theatrical road trips:
Next on #joyoussongs, Ricky Skaggs' cover version of Flatt & Scruggs' "Don't Get Above Your Raisin'":
Next on #joyoussongs, Benno Moiseiwitsch's done-in-one-take recording of Rachmaninoff's piano transcription of Mendelssohn's "Midsummer Night's Dream" Scherzo, the most miraculous piano record ever made:
Next on #joyoussongs, another Hilary-and-Terry road-trip special, Booker T. and the MGs' "Hip Hug-Her":
Next on #joyoussongs, some Haydn, for how can there be joyous music without Papa Haydn? Alfred Brendel plays the first movement of the C Major Piano Sonata:
Next on #joyoussongs, here's one that Hilary adored, Ry Cooder's "Poor Man's Shangri-La":
Next on #joyoussongs, something a little quieter, a song by Jonatha Brooke that sums up my abiding love for Hilary:
Next on #joyoussongs, a Marvin Gaye song that Hilary heard for the last time when we watched "Barbershop" together in the hospital a few weeks ago. Oh, how she loved it!
Next on #joyoussongs, a comic song from Bernstein's "Candide" at which Hilary and I laughed together countless times, "What's the Use?":
Next on #joyoussongs, some pure happiness from the King Cole Trio:
Next on #joyoussongs, pure and transcendent joy from Debussy and Vladimir Horowitz. Every time I listen to the last bars, I feel like getting up and dancing:
Next on #joyoussongs, my favorite song by @erinmckeown, one of the many artists to whom @lademans has introduced me through the years:
Next on #joyoussongs, the most joyous of all Bach's fugues, played by E. Power Biggs. I cannot hear this piece—even now—without rejoicing in my heart at the existence of such sounds:
Next on #joyoussongs, let's move from mere joy to outright laughter as Bing Crosby and Bob Hope sing the title song (by Johnny Burke and Jimmy Van Heusen) from "The Road to Morocco":
Next on #joyoussongs, this one was an obvious pick—Cole Porter, Frank Sinatra, and Nelson Riddle:
Next on #joyoussongs, joy from Stephen Sondheim? Well, sure—and yes, that's Jason Alexander singing:
Next on #joyoussongs, I'm going to tug at your heartstrings with this one by Fats Waller. Yes, it's making me cry—but not an ugly cry. Maybe you will, too:
Finally on #joyoussongs, you're invited to look at and listen to a dance to which I introduced Hilary, Nancy LaMott, @lademans, and many other beloved friends. The music is by Bach, the steps by Paul Taylor. Thanks for keeping me company:
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