Résultats de Combat ( #BOTB Results )

I took two years of college French, which included reading books in that language and countless hours in the language lab reciting in French, and now I can say that my aunt's pen is on the table...

Paris France (Viking River Cruises)

Eric Satie: The Velvet Gentleman

      For the past several years it's been nice to see several A to Z participants blogging about France and French culture.  Getting educated is a nice thing about reading blogs.  The posts about France are interesting to me since I have never been there nor is it likely that I ever will be.  But I can dream can't I?

       These days, eating at a good French restaurant is a bit out of my league, but I still enjoy French Fries on a regular basis, order French onion soup if it's on the menu of a place where I'm eating, and occasionally purchase the French roast coffee if it's darkest boldest one on sale. 

       More than anything though I sometimes like to immerse myself in French classical music.  Eric Satie became a favorite composer of mine around 1970 or so after seeing a documentary about "The Velvet Gentleman" as Satie has been called.   In the documentary they played Satie's "Trois Gymnopédies"" which I recognized from the version that appeared on Blood,Sweat and Tears' second album.   

       From that point I started researching Satie and buying any music I could find by him.  Compared to other composers, Satie has a rather limited catalog of music--mostly solo piano music.  Still, as I became more familiar with his music, he became among my favorite "classical" composers though more legitimately he comes from the movements of Impressionism and Surrealism.  No surprise that I liked his music--it's often quirky and sometimes hauntingly beautiful.

        So that's one more point about my personal tastes and that's what Battle of the Bands is mostly about.   That's why my previous Battle was chosen.  Three versions of music by Eric Satie is like a buffet of desserts for me...

Battle of the Bands Results

        This Battle was another exciting horse race (if that's an okay analogy after the Kentucky Derby fiasco).  Apparently I offered a fair balance of something for everyone not unlike the mash-up Battle I offered in the middle of April.

        Any one of these Battle selections is a winner for me as it was a somewhat difficult choice for me to make.  But like those who voted, I settled for my absolute favorite--mine being the jazzy version by the Jacques Loussier Trio.  A few years ago this album stayed on replay in my office for many weeks.  It's great music to write by at night.

           As you will see in the results, this is almost an ideal Battle due to the closeness of the voting.  Doesn't get much better than this...

Final Vote Tally

Chicha Libre                                8

Quartet Cinderella                       6

Jacques Loussier Trio                 6

Next Battle on Wednesday May 15th

         I'm going to stay quiet here until that date, but I'll keep trying to visit around to keep in touch with what you all are up to.  And if you're being quiet like me, I hope we're all productive in other realms.  Stay happy!

         What is your favorite thing about France?   Have you ever visited France?   Are you familiar with the music of Eric Satie?

Gnossienne No. 1 ( #BOTB ) ( #IWSG )

           Language has power. Words have meaning.  Then there are some words we just make up and they might mean anything.  Words like "Gnossienne"...


The Insecure Writer's Support Group

Join us on the first Wednesday of each month in Alex J. Cavanaugh's Insecure Writer's Support Group--a forum of writers who gather to talk about writing and the writer's life. For a complete list of participants visit Alex's Blog. 


The co-hosts for the May 1st posting of the IWSG are Lee Lowery, Juneta Key,Yvonne Ventresca, and T. Powell Coltrin! 

The Power of Language
         
          From the earliest times of my life that I began to grasp language, I understood that words have power.  My needs and wants were met through a persuasive use of words. Then, there were the stories I heard my mother and other adults tell.  They would draw me in to leave some kind of impression.  Once I learned to write there was no stopping me other than those expanses when I mostly stop myself from writing.  Persisting with writing has often been a struggle for me, but if I can get going with it then it feels better.

         Coming off another year of the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge I'm feeling a boost in my spirit in regard to writing as well as many other things.  This year I went into the month with not much advance preparation as far as posts written ahead of time, so I went through winging it.  There was a lot of stream of consciousness writing which is an exercise that I enjoy.

       Was what I wrote good?  I liked it because I wrote it.  

       I'll write more about my A to Z April in the Reflections post that I'll do next Monday.

        Now how about some relaxing music.  Hope you'll stay and listen...

Battle of the Bands

Battle of the Bands is the blogging event started by Far Away Series and now hosted by StMcC Presents Battle of the Bands.   This event happens each month on the 15th and on some blogs there is also a Battle on the 1st of the month.  My blog is one of those with a second Battle on the 1st of the month.   The premise is simple:  Listen to the songs presented below and then in the comments vote for your favorite and tell us why you liked it.  Then visit the links listed near the bottom of this post for more Battle action.

Gnossienne No. 1 by Eric Satie

          Since April was pretty frantic, I'm going to keep it slow and simple.  I'll just say that Satie is a favorite Impressionistic composer of mine and I love this song series.  Here is the first melody of the series as interpreted by artists from Brooklyn, Serbia, and France.  Still keeping in the international theme that I've been following in the past several posts.


Chicha Libre   "Gnossienne No. 1"  (2008)





Quartet Cinderella   "Gnossienne No 1"  (2014)




Jacques Loussier Trio   (Gnossienne No. 1)  (1998)






Time to Vote!

     Hope you can discern the differences between these--they sound very different to me  I like all of them, but I'm going to pick one as a favorite.  What about you?   Have some fun with us.  What's your favorite between these two choices?   You don't have to know about music to have an opinion since it all comes down to your own personal taste.

         Please vote on your favorite by letting us know your choice in the comment section and tell us why you prefer the version you chose. Then after you've finished here, please visit the other blogs listed below who may or may not be participating this time around. And if you've put up your own BOTB contest let us know that as well so we can vote on yours.




Here are some other places where you might find BOTB posts:

 StMcC Presents Battle of the Bands

  'MIKE'S RAMBLINGS'

'Curious as a Cathy'

Sound of One Hand Typing

Angel's Bark  

Debbie Doglady's Den

Jingle, Jangle, Jungle 

Cherdo on the Flipside

A I Love Music


Winner of this Battle Announced on Wednesday May 8

        I'll have an A to Z Reflections post next Monday--that's where a lot of the A to Z participants share their experiences for the 2019 event and I guess I'll do that as well.  Then on Wednesday I'll be back with the ceremonial unveiling of the winner of this current Battle. See you then--or then--or both. 

          Do you have a difficult time motivating yourself to write, then when you start, the words pour out?   Do you feel a swelling of motivation after completing something that took a lot of effort?  Or would you prefer to take a vacation after completing some project?