Showing posts with label voice. Show all posts
Showing posts with label voice. Show all posts

Billie Holiday

I find it hard to write about Billie Holiday without getting very emotional. In fact I don't even listen to her recordings all that often for the same reason. It is hard to comprehend what an unbelievably tragic life she had, to the point where one is sickened to the core by man's inhumanity to man. These two performances I post today with a sense of frustration that there is still so much injustice in the world, and in the hope that the messages can still touch us enough to take a stand against oppression and continue to fight for freedom of speech and expression. April Fool's Day tomorrow and believe me Humanity: the jokes on you...

Billie Holiday - Strange Fruit


Billie Holiday - Fine and Mellow

Eric Whitacre - When David Heard

Been listening to ABC Classical FM in the car recently and heard this work based on the biblical story of David and Absalom that moved me, not religiously, but musically, and as a parent...the thought of my children pre-deceasing me is unbearable.

From II Samuel, 18:33:
'When David heard that Absalom was slain he went up into his chamber over the gate and wept, my son, my son, O Absalom my son, would God I had died for thee!

A hauntingly beautiful work where the silences are as effective as the crescendos...