Like most people familiar with this week's featured tune, my introduction to it was the movie The Deer Hunter. My love for it through the years has grown, though, thanks to having learned how to play the guitar (albeit badly) in the interim--I have watched this week's artist perform it on many a YouTube video (and, no, I wouldn't even think of trying to play it myself). Also, it is a bit different from our usual fare--pretty sure this is the first song I've written about that is considered classical...
John Williams was born in Melbourne, Australia in 1941, and by the age of four had begun playing the guitar. When he was eleven his family moved to England, and he started studying via summer courses with classical guitar great Andres Segovia in Italy. In 1956 he began attending the Royal College of Music where he had to study piano because it didn't have a guitar program. Williams had his initial performance at the age of seventeen and has spent the last sixty-five years recording and performing. Williams has won both a Brit Award and a Grammy Award and has been called the "most technically accomplished guitarist" in history. Between studio albums and compilations, Williams has released over 150 albums. Williams is also known for playing numerous genres of music, including performing with Pete Townshend for a charity concert, and with the fusion band Sky.
"Cavatina" originally appeared on Williams' album Changes, released in 1971. Unsurprisingly for a classical release, the song was not released as a single and the album did not chart. However, after the release of The Deer Hunter the song was released as a single in the U.K. and eventually reached the top twenty.
Fun Fact: Though it gained fame as the theme of The Deer Hunter, "Cavatina" was originally written by British composer Stanley Myers for another movie, The Walking Stick.
In Italian, "Cavatina" translates roughly as "simple song," which I like because although it's anything but, "Cavatina" is enlivened by its simplicity. The repetition of notes, the quiet pauses, and the soft orchestral backing give the song a gentle poignancy that fills the soul. In the end, though, it's Williams' guitar virtuosity--and even as a half-assed guitarist myself I can attest to said virtuosity--that makes the song. He's just a joy to listen to--and as such, makes the song the same.
Lyric Sheet: I know what you're thinking loyal readers (both of you): "How can an instrumental have lyrics?" Well, jazz great Cleo Laine wrote lyrics to the music and called it "He Was Beautiful." She also performed it with Williams, and after giving it a listen I can tell you that she (and he) came up with a wonderful rendition.
Enjoy:
Republicans = Nazis
Peace,
emaycee
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