Summary: Prepare to be dazzled by the Music, Voices and Artists in this Whirlwind Tour of French Language Popular Music. This program was specially created for English Speaking Audiences. A great selection for Bastille Day, July 14.
I listened on an overcast, late-spring day, which put me into a Parisian mindset. On any day, though, I would have thoroughly enjoyed Charles' survey of French music. I had heard of many of the artists, and heard their work, but I never had context - who was contemporary with whom, who influenced whom. This piece is great for structuring my understanding of the music, presenting the artists in loose time sequence and drawing connections of influence among them. I enjoyed hearing stylistic shifts across artists and over time. I'd like a piece like this for many music traditions worldwide.
Charles' writing is simple, clear, and interesting - a great combination that made it much easier to remember what I was hearing. The production quality is high. Nothing fancy, just professionally done, and a reminder that simplicity can work well. The piece does start to feel rather long after 40 minutes or so - Charles himself acknowledges there's a lot of music to go through. It might be worth breaking it up by decade, even at risk of losing the stylistic comparisons over time.
This piece provided a very cursory introduction to some artists of French chanson. I would have liked a little more discussion of what are the common characteristics of French chanson, (something about instrumentation, perhaps?) and I would have liked to hear at least one or two songs in full.
I am moved by this most human music. The emphasis is expression in a beautiful way, not to be loud or shock and there is no repetition of a backbeat. French chanson takes you to a better world.
Comments for The Magic Tent. A Celebration of French Language Popular Music
Produced by Charles Spira, Jonathan Ehrens
Other pieces by Charles Spira
Rating Summary
3 comments
Rekha Murthy
Posted on June 11, 2010 at 01:33 PM | Permalink
Perfectly engaging tour of French chanson
I listened on an overcast, late-spring day, which put me into a Parisian mindset. On any day, though, I would have thoroughly enjoyed Charles' survey of French music. I had heard of many of the artists, and heard their work, but I never had context - who was contemporary with whom, who influenced whom. This piece is great for structuring my understanding of the music, presenting the artists in loose time sequence and drawing connections of influence among them. I enjoyed hearing stylistic shifts across artists and over time. I'd like a piece like this for many music traditions worldwide.
Charles' writing is simple, clear, and interesting - a great combination that made it much easier to remember what I was hearing. The production quality is high. Nothing fancy, just professionally done, and a reminder that simplicity can work well. The piece does start to feel rather long after 40 minutes or so - Charles himself acknowledges there's a lot of music to go through. It might be worth breaking it up by decade, even at risk of losing the stylistic comparisons over time.
Adrienne York-Minor
Posted on July 07, 2010 at 10:16 AM | Permalink
TOO SHORT
This piece provided a very cursory introduction to some artists of French chanson. I would have liked a little more discussion of what are the common characteristics of French chanson, (something about instrumentation, perhaps?) and I would have liked to hear at least one or two songs in full.
Marc Cherbonnier
Posted on July 16, 2010 at 09:17 AM | Permalink
Harmony of music and voice lifts the spirit
I am moved by this most human music. The emphasis is expression in a beautiful way, not to be loud or shock and there is no repetition of a backbeat. French chanson takes you to a better world.