By Gene Howington
I have been a fan of movie and television scores for as long as I can remember. They are an essential layer for storytelling on that canvas and so very often go unnoticed although they establish mood (or character) just as much as the script, the acting, the writing and the production design. Independent filmmaker John Carpenter, famous for also scoring his own films, has even told the story that his seminal horror classic Halloween “didn’t work” until he laid down the soundtrack. Today’s Music Monday selection is written by Bear McCreary for the first season of Ron Moore’s excellent re-boot of the Battlestar Galactica franchise. It is called “Passacaglia”.
The name is actually the form of the composition and may not be as familiar to many listeners as forms such as overtures, fugues, concerto, symphony, sonata, suite, or études. A pascalle was originally a type of strummed interlude between songs common in early 17th Century Spain. This became passacaglia in Italian and it was the Italian composer Girolamo Frescobaldi who in the late 1620’s transformed the incidental Spanish form into a series of continuous variations over a bass (which itself may be varied). By the nineteenth century the word came to mean a series of variations (usually of a serious character) over an ostinato pattern which is exactly what McCreary provides here. Enjoy.
For contrast by way of a simpler arrangement, here is the man who introduced me (albeit not personally) to passacaglia in general. Famed Spanish guitarist Andrés Segovia playing Frescobaldi’s “Passacaglia”.
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Flowers For Socrates 
This has nothing to do with anything but … I love classical guitar.
The music is by Carlos Bendfeldt. His father, Dr. Fernando Bendfeldt, was one of my late wife’s doctors. Dr. Bendfeldt took most of the photos, with the soundtrack by Carlos. Carlos studied at Julliard, where he received his Master’s degree. That’s Dr. Bendfeldt and family at 1:01 in the video. The beautiful woman to his right sipping coffee is Mrs. Bendfeldt, Carlos’ mother.
Barber’s Serenade for Strings was used for overwhelming counterpoint effect in the movie Platoon. I don’t think I had ever been so riven by music coupled with its movie.
As an acknowledged musical illiterate I can only comment based on what seems more pleasing to my tin ear. The Galactica piece seemed far less interesting to me than Segovia. Perhaps it is the clear, individual beauty of one instrument played by a master, as juxtaposed with an orchestral piece where the repetition blends the sounds together in a way I don’t find pleasing.Then again I’ve always loved the sound of acoustic guitar played in the Spanish style. Carlos Bendfelt’s piece was a more stirring piece of music in my limited estimation. Since I have little musical expertise in that I play no instruments and can’t carry a tune with my voice, my only fall back is my emotional reaction to what I hear. The emotion evoked and the continued capture of my attention defines good music for me.
Music Monday, as with Poetry Friday and Edible Flowers should be FFS institutions. I see us as a forum for the human experience in all its variety, beauty and terror.
Electric guitar by Lai. He is a Laotian refugee. Back when he was young, he was in a refugee camp run by an American Army Captain. The Captain was a guitarist and had several electric guitars. Lai wanted to learn, so the Captain taught him. After a while, the student surpassed the teacher. Lai is more open about letting his face be seen these days, but when he first started posting YouTube videos, he usually wore a hoodie and kept his face hidden. He still has family in Laos.
Lai may be one of the best guitarists to not have a recording contract. He makes his home in the Vancouver area, and loves America and Canada alike.
His recording of Amazing Grace was one of his first YouTube postings. He does everything himself, including his own backing with synthesizer and his video production.
He says Jeff Beck is his inspiration, but his style is his own and is distinct from Beck. For a man, he has unusual hands. Notice his fingers in the video.
Gene,
I don’t believe one should hate an artist for who their boss was anymore then then you should hate me & my ole crew for building a new bathroom/crapper for a Federal Judge which you didn’t agree with his rulings.
(I’m not in prison, I guess he’s happy with the commode! LOL:), I don’t do toilets anymore except for those very, very, very,Very exceptional people, I mean my Wife. 🙂 )
Ignore the video & just listen to the artist.
I like it along with the pieces you guys posted.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CEJLmgJLbE4
I remember St Louis as a young boy & one day for a few minutes an uncle got me a chance to set at the controls of a running locomotive at the St Louis Rail yard.
http://www.terminalrailroad.com/
Chuck,
Lai’s version of Amazing Grace was superb. It is one of my all time favorite pieces of music since it never fails to evoke emotion in me.
Oky1,
The first link to the music behind the video was not to my taste, far too jumpy. The piano version of the St. Louis Blues was excellent though and that too is one of my favorite songs. My favorite versions are by Louis Armstrong:
And
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJnxxtM8YzQ
Thanks Mike. Music that evokes an emotional response is always best. And for that, one of the most haunting laments ever written. Ken Burns used it in his Civil War series. Many people think it is a tune from that era because it has a 19th Century feel. Jay Ungar wrote “Ashokan Farewell” in 1982. He composed it for the goodnight or farewell waltz at the annual Ashokan Fiddle & Dance Camps run by Ungar and his wife, Molly Mason.
This is Jay Ungar and Molly Mason and their family band. There are a lot of covers of “Ashokan Farewell,” but nothing I have heard yet beats the original.
This melody also says something about where my head is right now. August 19 would have been our 58th anniversary.
Dr. Stanley,
For lack of better word I feel so blessed I’ve an ear for multi types of art/music,. Thank you people for posting… Gene, Stanley, Mike, Pete… etc… More!
PS: Mike, your ear isn’t as tone deaf as you would have others believe, you know what you like & I know why as I like it as while.
Post music as you see/hear it as you do when you write, not everyone will like it, but we’ll never please everyone, sell people by selling what you truly believe in.
And don’t worry, you’ll know when lynch mob is throwing rocks at you when you might want to reconsider your position. LOL:)
Mike,
If you wish a lil insight to who I am, this is my favorite song this year. Chris is no long with us, but I met the gentlemen years back. Nice Guy, I felt & excellent music I thought.
YOU JUST CANT SEE HIM FROM THE ROAD CHRIS LEDOUX
Chuck,
I had no idea that “Ashokan Farewell” was contemporary since it seemed so right for the times of Burns series. It is a hauntingly beautiful, yet so sad, piece of music and I can well understand its effect on you as this time of year rolls around again. Hang in there friend.
Mike
Pete,
I love me some “raw” Blues because it really does get down to the essence of life.
Ok1,
As we’ve discussed I’m a sucker for cowboy music, even though I never liked horseback riding and dislike horses in general.
Like just another lost puppy I can become easily distracted sometimes, but thankfully Stanley bought me back to reality that I/We’ve a duty to attempt to enjoy our lives & aid our friends/families in doing the same.
This 1st piece is just comments, but because of age I find it entertaining.
The 2nd piece I love it, I’m not into the video so much, but I love audio.
Gnite.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=blikloNcPVQ
Hit the youtube button & the 1st video should play.