h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

The office is like a morgue this week - it needs some music to cheer it up.

I don't fancy anything as mind-destroying as the radio, so please post some suggested music (preferably that's available online - Youtube or similar). I'm pretty catholic in my music tastes, so I'll give anything a play. Impress me!

Traveller in Time listening to BMIR.org
"Absolutely non commercial, classical to dubstep, live chanting and 'live' comment in the x-mas setting.

Well it is actually a rerun from last burn, sometimes lots of nonsense talk. There may be excerpts from the radio episodes (DJ Raindog will). Not unlike our clsssified adds are the announcements of local activities "

I'm happy to oblige, but what might appeal to me might turn others off.

For instance, Julie Andrews singing "In the bleak midwinter."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cHR9NJxj-SU

John Rutter's version of "In dulci Jubilo" brings tears to my eyes, but some might find it too saccharine [indeed *anything* by Rutter might be thought saccharine]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydxH8wETZNU

Seasonal but hopefully not too offputting:

Holly jolly Christmas [Burl Ives]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nVMCUtsmWmQ

Something Baroque and instrumental: Corelli' Christmas concerto
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vN5_481hImM

Something from the jazz-inflected 1960s by the Vince Guaraldi Trio for the Charlie Brown Christmas special
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0jpGOb-gB-o

But it's possible that *none* of these will work for you. If so, I apologize. Of the latest Christmas recordings, I liked the Mary Blige one, but detested the Renee Fleming one.


[Yes, I do try to buy something new every year. This year, I ordered "A Very English Christmas," but it hasn't arrived yet....]

Sorry, I will remove those pesky s's from the yotube links:

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Your Nickname is paulh. Merry Christmas, but not white Christmas.


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Sorry, I will remove those pesky s's from the yotube links:



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The Posting to which you are replying is from paulh. Merry Christmas, but not white Christmas
I'm happy to oblige, but what might appeal to me might turn others off.

For instance, Julie Andrews singing "In the bleak midwinter."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cHR9NJxj-SU

John Rutter's version of "In dulci Jubilo" brings tears to my eyes, but some might find it too saccharine [indeed *anything* by Rutter might be thought saccharine]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydxH8wETZNU

Seasonal but hopefully not too offputting:

Holly jolly Christmas [Burl Ives]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nVMCUtsmWmQ

Something Baroque and instrumental: Corelli' Christmas concerto
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vN5_481hImM

Something from the jazz-inflected 1960s by the Vince Guaraldi Trio for the Charlie Brown Christmas special
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0jpGOb-gB-o

But it's possible that *none* of these will work for you. If so, I apologize. Of the latest Christmas recordings, I liked the Mary Blige one, but detested the Renee Fleming one. sadface


[Yes, I do try to buy something new every year. This year, I ordered "A Very English Christmas," but it hasn't arrived yet....]

I am quite fond of the "Communion After Dark" music mixes on youtube. Electronic dance music, gothic rock, that sort of thing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ZCk51W2Kvk is one example.

Then there is "Nightcore". They seem to just do uptempo covers of various styles of songs. Check out their version of Hans Zimmers "Time" (off the Inception soundtrack)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mVM7RCo8lwM

Oh, and should you like the cover, you could always let the original run on a ten hour loop, as done here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LqRZ2_w56U0

And if all else fails, try this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPoqNeR3_UA
It's 24 hours of NCC 1701's engine at warp something point nine...

If you are not looking for Christmas music, this is a collection of some of my favourites I put together a while back A87823317 They are all available on the web, most, if not all, on Youtube.



f s

Sorry, Icy, I assumed you wanted Christmas music...

Thanks for those - I'll try some today.


Oh, and can we add 'Christmas Music' to the long list of oxymorons.

Phillip Glass. In particular Koyaanisqatsi. (Reasonable bass required on whatever speakers you have though)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-t8w08QNJM

or

The Space Between Us - Craig Armstrong.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7InxJEvsxY

Background enough not to distract but never heard in a lift anywhere.

PP.

"can we add 'Christmas Music' to the long list of oxymorons?
[Icy North]

Only if we also add Military Music.

There was a time, many many years ago, when writing music for Christmas church performances was the most prestigious thing a composer could do. We have come down a very long way since then .
Even the Beatles' "Wonderful Christmas Time" seems like a beacon from a more enlightened era....

To be honest, I groan when I hear about Rudolph, Frosty, and White Christmas, but I always figured that that was just me....

You are not alone

I'm glad to hear that. Bad music makes the season seem even more forced than it would otherwise be. Anyway, if there's not a lot to be merry about from January to November, why should December suddenly be a month of boundless joy?

There's just one thing, though: What other time of year gives you tender, gentle lullabyes? I'm not a bay or toddler any more, but that doesn't mean I wouldn't like to be consoled and treated gently in a musical way. As I fight heavy traffic on my long journey to the home of relatives, I find myself deeply moved by soft, gentle choral singing on the radio. With all the craziness of the season, that is the only part that seems to help.

Well, instead of a CD of "Christmas music" (of which we have a whole shelf full) I put on a CD of Chopin piano music yesterday. It was to accompany present-opening with toddler present, and was just the ticket, and it would also make a suitable background for office work.

"Elevator music" is out of the question, (well, it would certainly put my nerves on end) and, in fact, anything with words, if you really are working. Actually, though, now I think of it, we do have the radio on at work - albeit in the next room. If I drove to work, I would find that useful occasionally for the traffic news, to know if I needed to take an alternative route home.

Also I would avoid anything with a heavy beat, or opera. Do you have to speak on the phone to people not in the same company? Pinky and Perky in the background might not give a good impression.

I have recording of a new piano transcription of "Nutcracker Suite." It seems to be nice background music.

Dare I confess to liking Christian Victor Hely-Hutchinson's Carol Symphony, especially 'Andante quasi lento e cantabile'.

<BB<

Well, I like it too. Silence is the enemy I most fear, though, so I might not be the best person to ask.

I like or what most people call silence especially the absence of music.
Listen to the small sounds nature makes bats make fantastic sounds, a fox in dark woods

I love it when a mourning dove sits on a telephone wire and sings.

I love to walk near a field on an August night and listen to the crickets and grasshoppers sing.

The sound of the river near my sister's cottage in the mountains is a welcome one, except when it is at flood stage .

The sounds of nature are relaxing and soothing. However, at work, you need something to instil vigour and enthusiasm. And drown out the telephones and shouty people.

Well, that's why ABBA were invented

[Relax, I'm just kidding. ]