Favourite Things

My Favourite Things

A life in music is a life of listening. This is pianist John McArthur's weekly online journal of reflections on some of his favourite musical moments.

Chapter 9

Eric Whitacre's "Lux Aurumque" - sung by Cantus
As a personal practise, I have divided my days into sections, each starting with meditation and resembling - albeit loosely - the Offices of the Anglican Church and Buddhist tradition.
Chapter 8

"Peace Piece" - Bill Evans, pianist
This is a fascinating little piece and well worth a listen.
Chapter 7

Holiday Encore: Hart Lorenz & Richard Rogers: “Little Girl Blue” - Nina Simone, singer/pianist.
This arrangement of “Little Girl Blue” is, to me, the embodiment of the word enchanting. It’s a wonderful double duet where the first duet is between Nina the singer and Nina the pianist and the s...
Chapter 6

Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah" - Jeff Buckley, KD Lang, singers
I could ramble on about a song with a beautifully written melody or perhaps shed some unsolicited light on the thought provokingly ingenious lyrics...
Chapter 5

Gartner, transcribed by Ignaz Firedman, & Rachmaninoff - Victor Borge, pianist
I’ve included, for the first time, two pieces for one performer because they represent a more full picture of Victor Borge’s wonderful musicianship coupled with an ingenious intellect and irrepres...
Chapter 4

J.S. Bach's Chaconne from Violin Partita No.2 in D minor, arr. by Feruccio Busoni - Jorge Bolet, pianist
This work, in its original form, is revered and treasured by violinists and audiences worldwide.Up until the mid-1970’s, the arrangement for solo piano by Busoni was also extremely popular with pia...