Throwback Thursday: “Do Not Cast Me Off,” Maksym Berezovsky

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Maksym Berezovky (1745 –1777) was a major Ukrainian composer active around the time of Mozart (1756-1791), and one of the first Ukrainian composers to be recognized throughout Europe.  This piece is an a capella choral concerto set to the words of Psalm 71.  There is so much going on in this piece – not least of which are the tempo changes throughout that increase the urgency of the words being sung.  What gets me even more than that are the moments when the entire comes together in one voice like at 1:05.  It really makes you sit up and take notice.

Diplomatic talks in Paris stalled in the face of Western demands Russia pull back its forces, and the Russian foreign minister’s refusal to recognize his Ukrainian counterpart.  And, in an interesting demonstration of how divided Ukraine is, thousands of pro-Russia and pro-Ukrainian activists tussled over whose flag would fly atop the administrative headquarters of Donetsk.

Map of the location of Ukraine's forces from IISS, as of 5 March

Map of the location of Ukraine’s forces from IISS, as of 5 March

—

1 In you, Lord, I have taken refuge;
let me never be put to shame.
2 In your righteousness, rescue me and deliver me;
turn your ear to me and save me.
3 Be my rock of refuge,
to which I can always go;
give the command to save me,
for you are my rock and my fortress.
4 Deliver me, my God, from the hand of the wicked,
from the grasp of those who are evil and cruel.

5 For you have been my hope, Sovereign Lord,
my confidence since my youth.
6 From birth I have relied on you;
you brought me forth from my mother’s womb.
I will ever praise you.
7 I have become a sign to many;
you are my strong refuge.
8 My mouth is filled with your praise,
declaring your splendor all day long.

9 Do not cast me away when I am old;
do not forsake me when my strength is gone.
10 For my enemies speak against me;
those who wait to kill me conspire together.
11 They say, “God has forsaken him;
pursue him and seize him,
for no one will rescue him.”
12 Do not be far from me, my God;
come quickly, God, to help me.
13 May my accusers perish in shame;
may those who want to harm me
be covered with scorn and disgrace.

14 As for me, I will always have hope;
I will praise you more and more.

15 My mouth will tell of your righteous deeds,
of your saving acts all day long—
though I know not how to relate them all.
16 I will come and proclaim your mighty acts, Sovereign Lord;
I will proclaim your righteous deeds, yours alone.
17 Since my youth, God, you have taught me,
and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds.
18 Even when I am old and gray,
do not forsake me, my God,
till I declare your power to the next generation,
your mighty acts to all who are to come.

19 Your righteousness, God, reaches to the heavens,
you who have done great things.
Who is like you, God?
20 Though you have made me see troubles,
many and bitter,
you will restore my life again;
from the depths of the earth
you will again bring me up.
21 You will increase my honor
and comfort me once more.

22 I will praise you with the harp
for your faithfulness, my God;
I will sing praise to you with the lyre,
Holy One of Israel.
23 My lips will shout for joy
when I sing praise to you—
I whom you have delivered.
24 My tongue will tell of your righteous acts
all day long,
for those who wanted to harm me
have been put to shame and confusion.

Worldly Wednesday: “Wonderlust King,” Gogol Bordello

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This is my all-time favorite Gogol Bordello song.  There are others they wrote with lyrics that are more apropos to the current crisis, but I just can’t get enough of the energy of this one.  It sounds so fantastically, bravely defiant.

Gogol Bordello was formed in 1999 in New York City by Eugene Hütz.  “Gogol” references Ukrainian writer Nikolai Gogol who purportedly “smuggled” Ukrainian culture into Russia in the mid 19th century.

U.S. military troops are relatively close to Ukraine, and the U.S. government has pledged money and technical support.  Russia is using equipment placed in Crimea to block the cell phones of Ukrainian politicians.  Meanwhile, over at The Atlantic, there is a great piece that posits whether conflicts like this are going to be more common in a post-“war on terror” world.

Finally: hello to my readers in Georgia!  Welcome to my blog!  მოკითხვა ჩემს მკითხველს საქართველოში! მოგესალმებით ჩემს ბლოგზე!

—

Back in the day, as we learned,
A man was not considered to be
Considered to be fully grown
Has he not gone beyond the hills
Has he not crossed the seven seas
Yeah, seven seas at least!

Now all them jokers kept around
Just like the scarecrows in hometown
Yeah, scarecrows in hometown
From screen to screen they’re travelin’
But I’m a wonderlust king

I stay on the run
Let me out
Let me be gone
In the world’s beat up road sign
I saw new history of time…
New history of time!!!

Through Siberian woods
Breaking up their neck
Chinese moving in, building discotheques
Trans-Siberian sex toys and whatnot
Yeah, and why not?
Well at least it’s something different
From what they got in every other airport

Я не еврей, но кое-что похоже
Соврать не даст ни Юра, ни Сережа!
Simple because I’m not a total gadjo
Да я шут, я трюкач, ну так что же?

I traveled the world
Looking for understanding
Of the times that we live in
Hunting and gathering first hand information
Challenging definitions of sin

I traveled the world
Looking for lovers
Of the ultimate beauty
But never settled in
I am a Wonderlust King!

I stay on the run
Let me out
Let me be gone
In the world’s beat up road sign
I saw new history of time…
New history of time!!!

And presidents
And billionaires
And generals
They’ll never know
They’ll never know
What I have owned!
What I have owned…
I am a Wonderlust King!

Termagant Tuesday: “Roses on the Platform,” Yulia Pashkovska

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Man, I wish I had Yulia Pashkovska’s voice.  Her tone is so full and warm without being overwhelming.  Pashkovska was a major Ukrainian jazz singer in the 1960s.  I can’t find much on her, at least in English, so if you have any background on her, *please* share; I’m dying to learn more.

Speaking of more, here’s what’s happening in Ukraine now.  Ukrainian soldiers have rejected Russian demands that they pledge allegiance to the Kremlin, gold and oil prices rose as a reaction to the crisis, and the U.S. has suspended trade and investment talks with Russia.

Location of Russian troops and weaponry, as of Monday, 3 March

Location of Russian troops and weaponry, as of Monday, 3 March

Modernism Monday: “War Again,” Balkan Beat Box

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This week, The Daily Tune-Up will be devoted to events unfolding in Ukraine.  I find this all so deeply troubling and what do I do when I find something troubling?  I use music to help me sort it out. This song encapsulates my mood about this entire thing.  Balkan Beat Box is, obviously, not from Ukraine, but rather comprised of musicians from the U.S. and Israel who lean on Balkan, Mediterranean, and Middle Eastern sounds.  The lyrics talk about the awful cycle of war that can only end if enough people choose that it should end.

Here is a good overview article on what’s happening in Ukraine right now, the background of the conflict, and another on what the U.S. could do about it with the assets it has in the region (if I chose to go the military route).

—

Here we are like we’re going to get war again
Coming hard, come and get a gun, join the gang
With the bang bang and the same song we sang
Coming over and over again

It’s picking up now, getting more like a game
And it feels real like we learn to fake the fame
And there’s never more then one truth
But you can always tell your better half

Always tell your better half of the story
It goes well with the better side of your face you show on TV
Give me a good reason why I shouldn’t start a revolution
What’s in the constitution? Is this illusion that we bought?
You cut the wings and then you say fly
You say the hero is the one that died
But the true hero is the one who doesn’t live a lie and understands
That there’s an end out of the cycle
Who’s the master? Who’s the disciple?
You can do what you can, but will you do it again?
So what’s the plan?
Looks like we are going to get war again

Here we are like we’re going to get war again
Coming hard, come and get a gun, join the gang
With the bang bang and the same song we sang
Coming over and over again

It’s picking up now, getting more like a game
And it feels real like we learn to fake the fame
And there’s never more then one truth
But you can always tell your better half

Look out
Going to get war again, going to get wrong again
Gone again, with the same song again, on again
Can’t be born again, who’s gone again?
Who’s going to gain out of this war again?
Hooligan in a tie rule again
Soon again you will see it all begin again
Sink again, and that will make you think again

And when they call you go
When they are wrong you know
And u will follow, and you will swallow
Again like long ago and the bomb will blow
So sit back relax and enjoy the show
‘Cause you are as cold as snow and I am here below
I’m going to speak out, scream out
Here we go, got the fresh flow
So before it’s over
Then you are going to find a different kind of war to start again

Going to get war again

Sacred Sunday: “Let Tyrants Shake Their Iron Rod”

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There is a big protest right now at the White House on climate change. I am painfully and gratefully aware that, in my country, I have the right of peaceful assembly and freedom of speech. In my country, were I to join the protest, the police would protect me – not shoot me. This hymn is from my country’s revolution that was fought to create and enshrine these rights in law. I am filled with thoughts of Ukraine today.

Salubrious Saturday: “Mountain Dew,” The Stanley Brothers

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If I had to pick just one style of music to listen for the rest of my life, bluegrass would make the short list, and the Stanley Brothers would definitely be one of the groups I’d pick.  I particularly love this song a) because the lyrics are a riot (below), and Ralph’s voice is so smooth.

Ralph and Carter Stanley were born in the Clinch Mountains of Virginia in the 1920s (if the name Clinch Mountains means anything to you like it did to me, it’s probably because there’s a bluegrass song called Clinch Mountain Backstep that the the Holy Modal Rounders covered.  But I digress.).  They were a pretty popular bluegrass group for their time up to Carter’s death in 1966.  Ralph continued to play and got a prominent spot in the O Brother, Where Art Thou? soundtrack.  You know that a cappella song, “O Death?”  That, my friend, is Ralph Carter.  He won a Grammy for that song – Best Male Country Performance – in 2002, and, I’m happy to report, is still picking his banjo today.

—

Down the road here from me there’s an old holler tree
Where you lay down a dollar or two.
Go on around the bend, when you come back again,
There’s a jug full of that good old mountain dew

They call it that good old mountan dew,
And them that refuse it are few.
I’ll hush up my mug if you’ll fill up my jug
With that good old mountain dew.

Now Mr. [Franklin] Roosevelt told ’em just how he felt
When he heard that the dry law’d gone through:
If your liquor’s too red, it will swell up your head.
Better stick to that good old mountain dew

They call it that good old mountan dew,
And them that refuse it are few.
I’ll hush up my mug if you’ll fill up my jug
With that good old mountain dew.

The preacher rode by with head high, stood high,
Said that his wife had been down with the flu
He thought that I ought to sell him a quart
Of my good old mountain dew.

They call it that good old mountan dew,
And them that refuse it are few.
I’ll hush up my mug if you’ll fill up my jug
With that good old mountain dew.

Well my uncle Snort, he is sawed off and short,
He measures four feet two,
But he thinks he’s a giant when you give him a pint
Of that good old mountain dew.

They call it that good old mountan dew,
And them that refuse it are few.
I’ll hush up my mug if you’ll fill up my jug
With that good old mountain dew.

Funk Friday: “I Got The…,” Labi Siffre

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It’s too damn cold this week for me to be in an uptempo funky mood, so I pulled Labi Siffre off the shelf for today’s funk offering.  I love how spare this song is at first and then builds to a simple richness.  A nice and mellow sound while you pour yourself a drink and curl up indoors.

Throwback Thursday: “Prelude and Fugue No. 3 in C-sharp Major,” J.S. Bach

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These two pieces together sound like three friends going on a road trip.  The Prelude is all of them excitedly discussing where they want to go.  Some voices are heard more than others at which point they start getting into a minor (ha ha…hm) disagreements that are quickly resolved amicably.  The Fugue is the trip itself.  Friend One gets in his car and drives to Friend Two’s house, picks up Friend Two at 1:10, then they pick up Friend Three (who’s gone and gotten them all coffee) at 1:15.  These friends then tootle on their way.  There’s a bit of backseat driving after they take a wrong turn (1:34), but they finally get to their destination (2:27) and happily natter on about how great it is for a while until it gets dark (2:47) and they turn for home.

At least, that’s what it sounds like to me.

Worldly Wednesday: “Decent Days and Nights,” The Futureheads

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Oh man this song is such a trip.  The Futureheads are a great punk-oriented group from Sunderland, England, and so far, this is my favorite song of everything they’ve put out.  I am a complete sucker for weird changes in time signatures, and the lyrics are interesting and funny.  It’s a happy, lively song for the middle of the week, and the driving rhythm has earned it a top spot in my running playlist.

Termagant Tuesday: “Tokyo Traffic,” Dave Brubeck

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Classic Brubeck sound meets classic Japanese tonality = super cool.  This song is off the 1964 album “Jazz Impressions of Japan,” and while it obviously draws on international sounds, it wasn’t the first Brubeck record to do so.  That record was “Time Out,” and was released five years earlier in 1959.  The idea for “Time Out” came from a trip Brubeck took around Eurasia in (I believe) the late ’50s, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State.  Evidently, he heard a group of musicians in Turkey playing in 9/8 time, filed it away, and came back determined to devote an entire album to odd time signatures – hence the title, “Time Out.”

I know, you’re wondering why I didn’t post a song from that album, and when I’m going to get back to “Tokyo Traffic.”  Hang with me, Tune-Up fans.

Columbia Records was extremely leery of letting Brubeck issue an album only in wacky time signatures and made him do an album of Southern folk standards first.  You know what the biggest hit off of “Time Out” was?  You guessed it – “Take Five.”  That song off that album launched a whole oeuvre of globally-inspired jazz music – Brubeck in Amsterdam, Brubeck in Berlin – which brings us to “Tokyo Traffic.”   (Told you this would all make sense.)

As much as I love “Take Five,” and I adore it (it’s on my Funeral Music list), there’s something really fun and exciting about “Tokyo Traffic.”  It’s the first song off the album so it sounds like his very first day off the plane, wandering around.  Brubeck in the liner notes talks about how overwhelming and wonderful it was to be in Japan, and I feel that when I hear this piece – it’s the musical equivalent of a guy being unable to stop swiveling his head around to look at everything.  It makes me want to travel.

Imagine if the State Department hadn’t organized that trip for Brubeck; that he’d never heard Turkish musicians playing in 9/8 time; that, for whatever reason, the idea of doing an album of odd time signatures hadn’t occurred to him.  No “Take Five,” no “Tokyo Traffic.”  Pretty lame.  And now imagine if way, way more people got out into the world a whole lot more.  One guy wrote “Take Five” – what would you be inspired to do?