Top 10 Tuesday – Music and Christmas

Because I’m feeling generous and also Christmasy today, I have two Top 10 Lists!

Top 10 Favorite Classical Music Movements, excerpts, Recordings, etc.  No surprises here:

10.  Debussy Nocturnes – in general 

9.  Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 – NOT the choral movement but the Scherzo – 2nd movement.

8. Con te Partiro - Trumpet Solo – Chris Botti.

7. Nessun Dorma – ONLY the Pavarotti recording will do.  I cry EVERY single time I play this.

6. Gounod’s Faust.  There is so much beautiful music in this opera that it’s hard to distinguish what I like.  I’m bias as this was the first professional performance that I was in.

5. Debussy’s Clair de lune – I don’t know why but this piece just gets to me.  The entire piece feels like a resolution that is so complete that it reminds me of exhaling.

4. Orff’s Carmina Burana – what a shocker, right?  Who doesn’t love to sing this one?  I can sing it in my sleep at this point.

3.Dido and Aeneas – When I am Laid to Rest – Act 3.  I don’t particularly like Purcell.  But I must say that this is the most haunting and beautiful piece.  I am a sucker for explicit composition and the fact that the entire solo is accompanied with a descending line (as when being laid to rest, of course) wins me over.

2. Rachmaninoff – Piano Concerto No. 3 – Oh, how I love this entire piece.  I have a difficult time figuring out if I like the Allegro, the Intermezzo, or the Finale best.  I’m leaning towards the Intermezzo for its lush melody.  I also have a thing for minor key/major key shifting.

1.  Verdi’s Requiem – the entire work. – I mean, I like everything.  Vienna Philharmonic with Sutherland, Horne, Pavarotti, and Solti.  However, if you want to get really specific about this, I particularly love the Trumpets in the Tuba Mirum (#3).

Top 10 things I like about Christmas:

10.  Playing Vince Guaraldi’s Trio – A Charlie Brown Christmas, until my cubical neighbors want to jump out their window

9.  Decorating the tree while drinking Bailey’s Irish Cream

8.  Christmas Brunch

7.  Opening presents

6.  Watching Christmas Specials on TV

5. Seeing New York City at Christmas

4. Seeing old Ornaments from Christmas past.

3.  First opening your eyes on Christmas morning but not yet getting out of bed

2. Knowing that Ski Season has started

1.  Did I mention presents?

Weekend Wind Down – Instrument within the Instrument

As all singers know, whatever the body goes through, your voice is sure to be affected.  Dry air, allergies, sickness and, not to mention, everyday stress can take your voice down a notch or two.  The best thing, especially during the cold and flu season, is to stay as healthy as possible.  This includes eating plenty of the good foods that give us energy and build our immune systems, drink plenty of water, and exercise.   A fit, strong and flexible body is absolutely essential to overall well being.  Singing is demanding.  Try singing Carmina Burana without breaking a sweat!  I’m learning to find a balance with my exercise with cardio, strength, and flexibility.  This weekend, I started the New York City Ballet Workout DVD’s.  Through the workout, you not only gain flexibility, but incredible posture and relaxation.