Compelling Musical Selections

May is the month of exhaustion. There is so much to do: spring cleaning, window washing, weeding, and planting. It is now June; the tasks are complete and this old body is much in need of restoration. It is the perfect time to kick back and relax, to listen to arresting musical pieces. It’s the perfect prescription for a weary soul.

Some of my most compelling musical selections are listed below. I recommend that you listen to the entire composition or album even though I am calling attention to particular movements, parts, or songs. When you reach the point in the recording that I have listed you will know it. These portions are so beautiful and noteworthy that your attention will be concentrated on the experience before you realize what’s happening. Hopefully you will be transported for a relaxing few minutes of total enjoyment. Some of my favorites are listed below. Hopefully there is sufficient variety to tempt you.

Classical Pieces: Ralph Vaughan William’s Lark Ascending performed by Iona Brown or Nigel Kennedy; Anton Dvořák’s Symphony No. 9 “From the New World” II. Largo; Edward Elgar’s Variations on an Original Theme, “Enigma Variations” No. 16 Var. IX (Nimrod) Adagio; Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 2 “Resurrection,” Sir Georg Solti conducting, the Conclusion; Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 5 Adagietto, Fourth Movement; Gustav Mahler’s Das Lied Von Der Erde conducted by Leonard Bernstein, Wiener Philharmoniker, VI “Der Abschied”; Alan Hovhaness’ “Prayer of Saint Gregory for trumpet and string orchestra in the album Celestial Gate.

Lighter Classical: Yo-Yo-Ma’s Classic Yo-Yo No. 10 “Tun Dun: The Eternal Vow” from Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon; Aaron Copeland’s “Saturday Night Waltz” from Rodeo; Tobias Picker’s “Old and Lost Rivers” in John Williams’ The Five Sacred Trees album; Ensemble Galilei’s album Come Gentle Night selections ten, “The Asp”, eighteen, “Heart’s Ease/Gathering Peascods,” and nineteen, “No Longer Weep for Me.”

Popular: Trent Willmon’s “Louisiana Rain” from his A Little More Livin’ album; Billy Joel’s “Until the Night” from the 52nd Street album; Ahmad Jamal’s “Ahmad’s Blues” in the album, Ahmad Jamal at the Penthouse; Bob Seeger’s Against the Wind album has two attention grabbers, “No Man’s Land” and “You’ll Accompany Me;” The Kingston Trio’s ”San Miguel;” Tommy Makem’s “Four Green Fields;” John Denver with Placido Domingo singing “Perhaps Love;” Raphael’s “Serpent” from the Music to Disappear In;” and finally, all of Mychael Dana’s Skys album.

These selections are not intended to represent a comprehensive list, but they definitely compel your attention. I hope you will listen to some of them. Sit back, relax, and ENJOY.