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Summer seems to have arrived: the sun is shining and the birds are singing. So why not make the most of it while it’s here. Debussy’s Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune is a sensuous and beautiful evocation of the languor of a faun in the summer heat. Writing about his work, Debussy noted: "The music of this prelude is … a succession of scenes through which pass the desires and dreams of the faun in the heat of the afternoon."
On a different tone, George Harrison’s ‘Here Comes the Sun’ is an ideal summer accompaniment. From the Beatles’ 1969 album, Abbey Road, the song was written by Harrison in collaboration with Eric Clapton. According to Clapton, the song was composed one morning as the sun rose, and Harrison was able to leave some of the troubles of that year behind.
Continuing the French theme, why not try Joseph Canteloube’s Songs of the Auvergne. Composed over a thirty year period, the songs reflect the beauty of the landscapes of the Auvergne. Drawing on French folklore and rustic melodies, lush orchestral colours combine with a sensuous soprano line to create a wonderfully sumptuous collection.
My fourth and final choice for this week is Brahms’ Ein Deutsches Requiem, Op.45. Composed between 1865-8, the ‘German Requiem’ is often said to be Brahms’ greatest choral work. In fact, why not listen to the University Chamber Choir perform it this Wednesday (3rd June) in the Sir Jack Lyons Concert Hall. Accompanied by Brahms’ own piano reduction of the orchestral score in the able combined hands of Mark Hutchinson and Dr Nicky Losseff, it promises to be a great performance.
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