Nights of the Alhambra, Busking & a quiz

I watched the "Nights of the Alhambra" PBS special with Loreena McKennitt. Thank god for DVRs so I could fast forward through the PBS pledge stuff. The Great Performances hosts talked to Loreena in the studio, but the questions were so repetitive I finally gave up listening. The performance itself was lovely. The Alhambra palace is stunning, so I could understand why they'd want to choose it for a venue. Apparently the organizers wanted assurances that their lighting and fixtures wouldn't mess their historical landmark or that the music wouldn't shake the rafters too much. The only concern there might be for something like "Bonny Swans" with the electric guitar and drums combination. I was pleased they included a few others than what we heard at the DAR. Two songs appear to have been skipped according to the dvd listing: "All Souls Night" and "Huron Beltane Fire Dance" The latter is a shame because you really see the interaction and fun between the musicians, rather than focusing on Loreena's beautiful voice. She seemed to have even more musicians for this performance, including a different hurdy gurdy player altogether. The Alhambra also included some of the introductions to the songs. I can understand not including them on tour. If she introduced every song with appropriate footnotes and travelogues, we'd be lucky to get out of there in four hours, rather than two!

Washington Post did an article about classical violinist Joshua Bell busking at a busy Metro station at A.M. rush hour and lamented the unfeeling audience's reaction. Loreena started her music career as a busker, learning to record and market her own tapes and cds. I sometimes wonder if I'd noticed Bell or McKennitt zipping past to work. With Bell, it was an unfair test really, picking that hour and that location and not even allowing him to perform more recognizable pieces. Much as I grumble about the horn player or electric guitarist I see everywhere, I know those songs. Or at least reasonably recognize them. *wince* I do recall fondly a string quartet that used to play at one of the Metro stations at lunch hour. I loved listening to them. So obviously there's more to it than just showing up and playing. There's getting people to listen. Loreena has come a long way from those days, for good or bad. Sometimes I miss the sparser arrangements and sometimes it adds a richness.

( Which Loreena McKennitt song am I? )