The Beviad–musings, mutterings and myths

So, we celebrated St. Cecilia’s Day. And discovered just what kind of music people find uplifting. Which was interesting.

My choice was Gershwin tunes, which cheer me because they speak of twenties glamor and New York sophistication. Even ostensibly sad pieces like “Not For Me” or “The Man I Love” seem locked into a nostalgia for an era which, strangely enough, I never knew. I guess they also remind me of “When Harry Met Sally”, and movies with Gene Kelly or Fred Astair, which also seem timeless and cheerful.

For John, it was jazz, everything from Dave Brubeck to Charlie Parker. Plus a burst of joy in the form of Ravel’s Daphnis and Chloe, the overture, which paints a picture of dawn. It is reminiscent of the section in “The Wind in the Willows” where Rat and Mole, up all night looking for a missing baby animal, stumble upon an island of reeds on which, to their great awe and amazement, they find Pan himself, playing his reeds as the sun rises. Pure magic!

Paze, on the other hand, played everything under the sun, from Donovan to John Denver, from the Beatles to Glen Campbell to Judy Collins–most of it music from her childhood car trips. Plus music from “An American in Paris,” with Gene Kelly.

Devon, for her part, sang a song–”Part of Their World”– from her Disney Princesses CD, since the CD wouldn’t work on our player. She managed the difficult words and odd tune very well while standing on her chair, blushing. She also serenaded us with a guitar she made out of a bunch of elastic bands and a styrofoam tray.

All in all, it was quite wonderful. We played the music as loudly as we wanted, despite the fact that Devon was upstairs later on, sleeping. She didn’t wake up, either. Thanks to everyone who came and/or brought music.