The Musical Box

I’ve been on an adventure since Memorial Day. While playing host here at The Musical Box, I’ve been moonlighting in Summerfest’s production of Henry IV, Part I. Normally, I like to keep these avenues of my working life separate and not unduly promote what I do in one field to the other camp. But as I delved into studies for a portrayal of Falstaff, music tagged along. Well, maybe I dragged it in against its will.

Perhaps the most rudimentary preparation for a role is the learning of lines. Serious work on a character can’t begin until lines are down. But that doesn’t always make learning them any easier, especially in my somewhat advancing years. So when time permitted for me to actually work on lines at home, I usually found quiet instrumental progressive music to be of help. I’m not talking new age wallpaper filler here, but seriously composed or improvised, ambient-inclined instrumental music. Some might view such a commodity as background music. But for me, it was a companion this summer - an integral ally in the formative stages of creating a character.

So I thought I would share with you the short list of music that accompanied my Shakespeare studies this summer. Sure, they helped bring Falstaff to life. But they also remained captivating listens all on their own - much like a fine soundtrack album does when listened to completely free of the movie it was designed for.

These, then, were the albums that became my good friends this summer:

robert fripp: at the end of time

Robert Fripp: At the End of Time - Churchscapes Live in England and Estonia 2006. Fripp has been the guitarist/guiding force of King Crimson for 40 years. But At the End of Time captures a guitar voice he dubs “soundscapes” (re-dubbed “churchscapes” here after the environments the recordings were created in). The result is a wash of keyboard like chimes and orchestration with a remarkably emotive and reflective ebb and flow. 

andy summers: mysterious barricades

Andy Summers: Mysterious Barricades - Intrigued after covering a Louisville stop of the 2007 reunion tour by The Police, I dug up a handful of out-of-print solo recordings by the band’s guitarist, Andy Summers. Some sport light Brazilian acoustics, other are more ornately rockish. By my favorite is this 1988 guitar/keyboards collaboration with composer/producer/engineer David Hentschel that is as serene as it is summery.

phillip glass: the "heroes" symphony

Philip Glass: The “Heroes” Symphony - A re-discovery from 1996, Heroes re-arranges and orchestrates six songs written during David Bowie’s late ‘70s Berlin residency with Brian Eno. Some tunes possess a distant Eastern accent (Abdulmajid), others have a muted British majesty that differs greatly from Bowie’s blueprints (Sons of the Silent Age). A lovely, tense and dramatic listen as well as one of Glass’ most accessible works.

harold budd/clive wright: candylion

Harold Budd and Clive Wright: Candylion - Long known as a creative co-hort of Brian Eno and the Cocteau Twins, keyboardist Budd was on the brink of retirement when he began collaborations with guitarist Wright. Released in April, Candylion is their second joint album. While sonically more engaging than its title suggests, the liberal use of space, echo and tasteful strings make Candylion a wondrous, atmospheric delight.

anthony phillips: field day

Anthony Phillips: Field Day - This two-disc 2005 set by founding Genesis guitarist Phillips (he left the band long before stardom hit) has such a distinctly warm and wintry feel that I usually save it for Christmastime. Trouble is, I haven’t stopped listening to it since last December. As such, its blend of classical folk and progressive accents performed on acoustic guitar, mandolin, bouzouki and charanga is now a year round fave.