...and the livin' is easy...

Arthur Rubenstein once said, "The seasons are what a symphony ought to be: four perfect movements in harmony with each other." Reading that expressive quote, I began to think about summertime tunes. Given today's heat and humidity, the music might have to be some slow, funeral-like dirge. Because that's about how fast my heart is beating.

But...some other "summertime music? Certainly Gershwin's Summertime:

Summertime,
And the livin' is easy
Fish are jumpin'
And the cotton is high

Oh, Your daddy's rich
And your mamma's good lookin'
So hush little baby
Don't you cry

One of these mornings
You're going to rise up singing
Then you'll spread your wings
And you'll take to the sky

But until that morning
There's a'nothing can harm you
With your daddy and mammy standing by

Summertime,
And the livin' is easy
Fish are jumpin'
And the cotton is high

Your daddy's rich
And your mamma's good lookin'
So hush little baby
Don't you cry

Yep, that song is ideal, isn't it?

And most everyone is familiar with Vivaldi's Four Season's "Summer". It is very enjoyable to listen to, but does not, in my opinion, fit the Kansas summer. (Except the thunderstorm part.)

But I like this one for "summertime": Vitali Chaconne

Here's a Youtube link for the Vitali Chaconne:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jlcca97wow4&feature=related

and Summertime (w/ Ella Fitzgerald):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AoPlAe23Ruo
And Vivaldi:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXqHJPuGVsY&feature=related

Listening to music like this makes the heat and humidity just a bit more bearable. Yessirree.