The key signatures of music are kind of like the signs of the zodiac. If you take all the music in a given key, you’ll discover certain characteristics —﻿ characteristics that can define your personality.

Visit CBC Music to learn more about the characteristics of all the key signatures covered so far. Which key are you? www.cbcmusic.ca/signatureseries

The Signature Series is produced in Vancouver, Canada for CBC Radio 2's In Concert by @paolopp with Denise Ball.

B major: The Artist

Salve Mater

Composed by Jimanica
Drums and programming by Jimanica
Voice by Anna Yamada


Something In My Hand

Cover #22 from the series "Songs I Love" by Piers Faccini
Free download: http://www.unlock.fm/4g7

Given my love of her writing, I really should have already covered a Joni Mitchell song in the series by now. As a lyricist she's in a hallowed place all of her own and I can't think of anyone else who writes with such invention and grace. Little Green almost hurts to sing. It tells the story of the daughter Joni Mitchell gave up for adoption. One can only imagine the torment of a young mother having to give up her child and it's tempting too as the verses unfold to question her for doing so. Perhaps that's what makes it such a moving piece, taking us as listeners, deep into complex and ambiguous emotional waters where compassion, sorrow and forgiveness can mingle? I wonder how Joni's biological daughter feels about the song, would she have preferred it to have remain unwritten, unsung? It makes me think that writers are inevitably selfish beings as nothing is ever off limits for them. Shining a light on events that others might rather hide  is hard for the people that inspire the stories. But despite the sorrow Little Green calls up, I have no doubt the rest us are better off for hearing it.  The beautiful guitar part here was played by my friend the South African Guy Buttery. We met when I toured South Africa in 2008 with Nibs van der Spuy, I've collaborated on a few songs of Guy's over the years,  including one on his next album, I encourage you to discover his amazing music, he has a crowdfunding thing going on for his next album, I hear guitar buffs can even bid for one of his guitars! http://igg.me/at/guybuttery/x

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Franchement, vu comme j’adore ses compositions, il y a longtemps que j’aurais pu inclure une chanson de Joni Mitchell  dans la série!  Comme parolière, elle évolue dans une sorte de sanctuaire qui n’appartient qu’à elle – je cherche en vain quelqu’un qui écrive avec autant de grâce et de sincérité.  ‘Little Green’  est une chanson très sensible, poignante. Elle raconte l’histoire de la fille que Joni Mitchell a dû abandonner et confier à l’adoption. On peut imaginer les tourments d’une jeune mère acculée à laisser son enfant ; mais au fil de l’histoire, on a aussi envie de l’interpeller sur son geste… C’est sans doute ce qui rend ce récit si touchant, et qui plonge ceux qui écoutent dans les hauts fonds des émotions complexes et profondes, là où peuvent se fondre la compassion, la tristesse, et le pardon… Je me demande ce que ressent la fille biologique de Joni à l’écoute de cette chanson : aurait-elle préféré qu’elle demeure non-écrite,  jamais chantée ? Je réalise que les auteurs sont en fait des êtres assez égoïstes, qui ne se posent aucune limite. Porter au jour des événements que d’autres préfèreraient cacher n’est pas sans conséquences douloureuses pour les personnes qui inspirent ces récits. Malgré la tristesse que ‘Little Green’ éveille, je suis convaincu qu’une autre part de nous est heureuse de l’écouter.  
Sur cette reprise, la superbe partition de guitare est jouée par mon ami Sud-Africain Guy Buttery.  Nous nous sommes rencontrés lors de ma tournée là-bas en 2008 avec Nibs van der Spuy. Je vous invite à découvrir son incroyable univers musical. J’ai contribué à quelques chansons de Guy ces dernières années, y compris pour son prochain album. Il y a une campagne de financement participatif en cours sur ce projet, et je crois même qu’il y a des enchères possibles pour une de ses guitares. Avis aux amateurs ! http://igg.me/at/guybuttery/x
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Order book/cd 'Songs I Love' vol.1: http://shop.beatingdrumrecords.com

Also available on:
http://iTunes: smarturl.it/songsilove1
http://Spotify: spoti.fi/1jbGOfl
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http://Google Play: bit.ly/songsiloveplay
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Piers Faccini : http://www.facebook.com/PiersFacciniMusic
Beating Drum : http://www.beatingdrumrecords.com

FREE DOWNLOAD

Piers Faccini - Little Green [Joni Mitchell Cover](Songs I Love #22)

Background and poem text: https://www.brainpickings.org/2016/06/28/amanda-palmer-reads-humanity-i-love-you-e-e-cummings/

Join me in supporting Amanda on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/amandapalmer

BACKGROUND / POEM TEXT

Amanda Palmer reads "Humanity i love you" by e.e. cummings

Silent Shores

A Glowing Heart

Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Edo de Waart, conductor
Leila Josefowicz, violin

Stravinsky: Violin Concerto in D (December 2019)

Mendelssohn - String Quartet No. 4 -- I. Allegro Assai Appassionato

James Joyce reads from the Aeolus episode of Ulysses, the only passage he found to be “declamatory” and thus suitable for recital.

Background and context: http://exp.lore.com/post/53132569188/as-open-culture-explains-this-rare-1924-recording

James Joyce reads from Ulysses

brainpicker

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