Cover image: Leda and the Swans

This is a photo taken through the window of the Rivoli Bar at The Ritz, capturing some of Tessa Kennedy's art deco image of Leda and the Swan, which I have overlaid with a photo of a black swan on St James's lake, about 10 minutes' walk from the hotel.

Main Playlist

In chronological order, and on Spotify. Use right click/open in new to keep this window open if you want to browse from AO3.

1. Hildegard of Bingen (c.1098-1179): Vos flores rosarum (You buds of roses). Responsory for Martyrs.
   Hildegard's writing is always beautifully mysterious. "You buds of roses, within your blood outpoured you’re blessed in joys supreme and fragrant, distilled of that redemption that flowed from th’ inmost heart of counsel kept before all time ..."
2. Hildegard of Bingen (c.1098-1179): O viridissima virga (Song to the Virgin)
   An abbess who also knew a lot about botany, she opens with the line O branch of freshest green and the full lyrics here about the Virgin Mary echo much of the imagery in Vine Slips.
3. Biber, Heinrich Ignaz Franz von (1644-1704): 'Guardian Angel' Passacaglia
   The last piece tacked onto Biber's set of 'Mysteries of the Rosary Sonatas' is beautiful piece of soulful solo violin music.
4. Purcell, Henry (1659-95): 'The Cold Song' i.e. 'What Power Art Thou', from King Arthur; Alternative version by Sting and another by Nomi.
   Poor Crowley on his bathroom floor.
5. Purcell, Henry (1659-95): Dido's Lament ('When I am laid in earth')
   Poor, poor Seb!
6. Delius, Frederick (1862-1934): Walk to the Paradise Garden
   Sounds beautifully rural, but Delius was in fact off to the pub-buh. On the way he gives a beautiful solo to the cor anglais/English horn.
7. Sibelius, Jean (1865-1957): Swan of Tuonela
   A black swan swims in the land of the dead, with a big tune on the cor anglais. Much more than the oboe the cor is the instrument of my heart and soul.
8. Sibelius, Jean (1865-1957): Symphony 5 movement 1
   It's widely reported that Sibelius said he was inspired by the sight of [a large number of] swans taking flight from the surface of a lake (in the land of the living! Listen for that moment from about 7'30").
9. Beach, Amy (1867-1944): Morning Glories
   The first of five piano pieces in the set From Grandmother's Garden.
10. Beach, Amy (1867-1944): Canticle of the Sun
    A setting of words by St Francis of Assisi, giving thanks for all of nature's elements in turn: the heavenly bodies, air, water, and fire, referring to Brother Sun and Sister Moon.
11. Poulenc, Francis (1899-1963): Vinea mea electa
    "O vineyard, my chosen one! I planted you: how are you changed from sweet to bitter ... ?"
12. Poulenc, Francis (1899-1963): Elegy pour cor et piano
    Composed in memory of Dennis Brain, the virtuoso British horn player who died in a car accident aged 36. We know Ewan McGregor, an inspiration for Seb, also played French horn.
13. Britten, Benjamin (1913-76): Missa Brevis, Agnus Dei
    The haunting, discordant harmonies of the Agnus Dei, in very not-straight 5/4 time, seem appropriate to the priest's initially ambivalent feelings towards his lamb.
14. Britten, Benjamin (1913-76): Metamorphoses, Niobe
    Solo oboe music to express the grief of the inconsolable Niobe, weeping for the death of her children.
15. Bernstein, Leonard (1918-90): Chichester Psalms, movement 2
    The Hebrew text in this movement uses Psalm 23, The Lord is my Shepherd.
16. Bernstein, Leonard (1918-90): Somewhere (aka There's a place for us)
    Tony and Maria know there's a place for them, even though they come from opposite sides.
17. Pärt, Arvo (1935-): I am the true vine
    The Gospel of John, chapter 15 uses an extended metaphor of vines and vineyards to express intimate relationships.
18. Pärt, Arvo (1935-): Cantus in memoriam Benjamin Britten
    Another moving piece to honour a musician in death.
19. Tavener, John (1944-2013): Song of the Angel
    Just heavenly.
20. Tavener, John (1944-2013): The Lamb
    Featuring what Tavener called the 'joy-sorrow chord' (A-C-G-B).
21. Kernis, Aaron Jay (1960-): Musica Celestis
    The final, living composer on my list says he was influenced by Hildegard of Bingen in this evocation of angels singing together, so bringing us full circle.

Bonus Tracks

Not unplugged, but I couldn't resist (for obvious reasons)

• Vangelis (1943-2022): some tracks from the album Rosetta
• Starstuff
• Celestial Whispers
• Sunlight