The schools have broken up and everyone is going on holiday – or they’re planning their holiday, or they’re enjoying the prospect of being at home during the next few weeks. If you’re working through the summer, though, at least you have long, warm evenings and bright early starts to look forward to!
Humoresque is going on holiday too! This is our last post for a few weeks. We thought we’d leave you with some summer listening – and some summer playing as well.
First up, here’s Humoresque’s Summer Playlist:
- Summer, from Vivaldi’s Four Seasons https://open.spotify.com/track/28rdcw0V7D01LINVGGBQ6v?flow_ctx=72d8c413-1cb8-49b5-8c03-059d9f6fa2f0%3A1784635593&autoplay_ok=1
- Here Comes The Sun, by the Beatles https://open.spotify.com/track/3CPFHaVEHkkH26hAEPgMMp
- Watermelon Sugar, by Harry Styles https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1A27t4aefv3HqcxXxkT0e7
- The Banks Of Green Willow, by George Butterworth https://open.spotify.com/track/4MkDmL4GT7x0UcRxu7nkke
- Walking On Sunshine, by Katrina and The Waves https://open.spotify.com/track/05wIrZSwuaVWhcv5FfqeH0
- Levitating, by Dua Lipa https://open.spotify.com/track/39LLxExYz6ewLAcYrzQQyP
- Dancing In The Street, by Martha and the Vandellas https://open.spotify.com/track/6rLqjzGV5VMLDWEnuUqi8q
- Chanson Du Matin, by Edward Elgar https://open.spotify.com/track/0VeQUpyJxGQGNYw1CyJfQF
- Summer Holiday, by Bruce Welch and Brian Bennett for Cliff Richard and The Shadows https://open.spotify.com/track/1K9yTBoGrKUEt8j5LCI37T?flow_ctx=92ae1042-42fc-4527-aac7-da86659c28a7%3A1784638405&autoplay_ok=1
Humoresque and I hope you’ll enjoy listening to some or all of these tracks, whether you’re in the car, on holiday, or at home. Do give them a try!
And now Humoresque invites you to play your own iconic summer track:
The 1264 song “Summer Is A-Coming In”!
This song was originally a six-part polyphonic composition, with four voices singing the canon above two ground-bass parts – an astonishing level of musical sophistication for the mid-13th century.
Here’s a recording I like (there are many, many recordings, and most of them I don’t like!) https://open.spotify.com/track/3DYj8g7m7sXKOiZaUsGF1z
And below, I’ve uploaded an arrangement of the sheet music for you to play, sing and enjoy. Just download and print the pdf as usual, or save it on your device.
You’ll hear on the recording that the song goes quite fast, but you can play it slowly, at least at first. I haven’t included the middle section, but if anyone wants it, please just ask and I’ll send it to you. I’ve also made the arrangement fairly simple, and included chord symbols on top. Please make whatever you like from this – add to it, improvise over it, embellish it, jazz it up or continue it in your own style. Or, if you’re not quite up to doing all that, just play it as written, whether with one hand or two. I hope you will, because it’s fun to learn new songs and to work things out for yourself.
As always, though, if you get stuck, just ask! Although Humoresque is on holiday for the next few weeks, we’re never completely off-duty!
Summer-Is-A-Coming-In-Full-ScoreNext term starts on Monday 14th September and runs to Saturday 12th December. Please see my online calendar for actual dates. I have not yet put in actual lessons, but will do so when I’ve confirmed days and times with you all individually. You can see the weeks I’m teaching, however, and you’ll also see the dates of next term’s COMPETITION WEEK and REPERTOIRE WEEK. The Competition Piece will be published in Humoresque during the first week of next term. Expect a Christmas theme!
The password for the Pupils’ Pages has changed. Email or WhatsApp me for the new password.
In the meantime, Humoresque and I wish you all a wonderful summer. I’ll be seeing some of you in the next few weeks anyway, but for everyone else – see you in September!
I’d love to know what you think of this Humoresque. You can put a comment in the box below this post, or you can email me directly. I read and respond to everything.
Humoresque is available to anyone who might be interested. You don’t have to be one of my pupils, or even learning music. If you know anyone who might be interested in subscribing to Humoresque, please let me know. I will only need their name and their email address. Thanks.
Humoresque = a whimsical or fanciful piece of music. Be whimsical, be fanciful, but play in time!
This is Humoresque Number 45