Murray Perahia plays the final movement of Mozart's Piano Sonata in A Minor, K310.

 

"Shadowplay" by Joy Division.

 

Alfred Cortot playing Liszt's solo piano transcription of Chopin's "Wiosna" ("Spring"), one of the latter's Polish songs.

"B.O.B" by Outkast.

 

"Lightning Field" by Sneaker Pimps.

 

"Love Me Two Times" by The Doors.

"Suburban War" by Arcade Fire.

 

Friday First

"La Haine" by Jacques Brel, from his debut album Jacques Brel et ses Chansons.

Fairport Convention's version of Bob Dylan's "Percy's Song".

 

"Talons" by Bloc Party.

"Duet Solo Dancers" by Charles Mingus.

 

"3's & 7's" by Queens Of The Stone Age.

 

"Day Of The Baphomets" by The Mars Volta.

 

Sviatoslav Richter's ridiculous performance of Chopin's Étude Op. 10, No. 4.

Friday First

"Don Caballero 3" from What Burns Never Returns.

Heard this being rehearsed at the music school earlier. Bill's Conti's "Gonna Fly Now", better known as the Theme from Rocky.

 

Wednesday Links

"Stratus" by Billy Cobham.

"Safe From Harm" by Massive Attack.

 

We're staying near a music school, so we've been treated to various piano, choral, and brass rehearsals throughout each day. The tutors there are clearly doing a pretty good job - someone was playing the piano part from this yesterday afternoon...

...and doing a very good job of it. It's the final movement of Ravel's Piano Concerto In G. 

We arrived in Lucca yesterday, and have already been treated to two welcome rarities (for Brits at least): decent weather, and a bar that plays Led Zeppelin albums loudly enough for an entire piazza to hear. Today's selection was Physical Graffiti - here's "Trampled Under Foot".

"Disarm" by The Smashing Pumpkins.

The great bassist Donald "Duck" Dunn died today. Most famous for his work with Booker T. & The M.G.s, he performed for dozens of other artists, including Otis Redding, Neil Young and Bob Dylan. Here's Albert King's "Born Under A Bad Sign", which features Dunn.

"Child In Time" by Deep Purple.

Friday First

"Les Fleurs" by Minnie Riperton, from Come To My Garden.

"21st Century Schizoid Man" by King Crimson, from In The Court of The Crimson King.

"When An Old Cricketer Leaves The Crease" by Roy Harper.

 

A live performance of "Like Spinning Plates" by Radiohead.

"Blinded By The Lights" by The Streets. 

"Archangel" by Burial.

 

"The Rover" by Led Zeppelin.

"Another Star" by Stevie Wonder.

 

"Way To Blue" by Nick Drake.

A live performance of "How I Got Over" by the incredible Mahalia Jackson.

 

"Grey/Afro" by Alexander Spence.

 

Friday Firsts

"Traveller" by Talvin Singh, from OK.

The death of Beastie Boy MCA was confirmed today. This is "Paul Revere".

 

"Jerez" from Albéniz's Iberia, performed by Marc-André Hamelin.

Last night I was lucky enough to see The Staves play at The Tabernacle in London. Unforgettably beautiful stuff. This is a performance of "Wisely And Slow" from the previous night.

"Stella Was A Diver And She Was Always Down" by Interpol.

 

Tuesday

"Shaking Hand Incision" by At The Drive-In. DRUMMING.