Dreams and the Night

Welcome back to the darkness of the night, insomnia, and dreams. As I get older I have more and more trouble sleeping, so here’s some music for any of you who might also have this problem. Plus poetry by e.e. cummings, Langston Hughes, Sharon Bryan, and Kazim Ali.

In this episode of American Highways, pianist Guy Livingston brings us music by Henry Cowell, Miles Davis, Wolfgang Korngold, and Thelonious Monk. Performers include Carmen McRae, the BBC Philharmonic, and Brad Mehldau.

AMERICAN HIGHWAYS EPISODE #26 :
Dreams and the Night PLAYLIST

Theme Music :
Steve Reich. The Desert Music (1984)
First Movement (Fast).
Chorus of the Brooklyn Philharmonic, Members of the Brooklyn Philharmonic, Michael Tilson Thomas & William Carlos Williams.
Nonesuch Records 79101.

Henry Cowell
Three Songs On Poems Of Langston Hughes – Moonlight Night: Carmel
Mary Ann Hart, Robert Osborne, Jeanne Golan
TROY 240

“Sawdust” by Sharon Bryan
Why not lindendust,
hackberry, hemlock, live oak, maple, why
name the remains after the blade, not
what it cut (…)

arr. Ravel ; DeRose and Shefter
The Lamp Is Low
Carmen McRae
BMG Music 3110-2-N

“Sleep Door” by Kazim Ali
a light knocking on the sleep door
like the sound of a rope striking the side of a boat
heard underwater
boats pulling up alongside each other (…)

Miles Davis
Moon Dreams
Miles Davis and ensemble (incl Gunther Schuller on french horn)
Capitol Jazz 7243 5 30117 2 7

“it is at moments after i have dreamed” by e.e. cummings
it is at moments after i have dreamed
of the rare entertainment of your eyes,
when(being fool to fancy)i have deemed
with your peculiar mouth my heart made wise (…)

Wolfgang Korngold
Symphonic Serenade, Op. 39
I. Allegro Moderato – Semplice
II. Intermezzo: Allegro Molto
III. Lento Religioso
IV. Finale: Allegro Con Fuoco
BBC Philharmonic Orchestra; Matthias Bamert, conducting.
Chandos 10433 (1996)

“Dream Variations” by Langston Hughes
To fling my arms wide
In some place of the sun,
To whirl and to dance
Till the white day is done (…)

Thelonious Monk
‘Round Midnight
Jazz ensemble
CMC 20057-2

Thelonious Monk
Darn That Dream [Take 1]
Thelonious Monk, piano.
Columbia Legacy C2K 65495

Thelonious Monk
Monk’s Dream
Brad Mehldau Trio
Warner Bros. #9362468482