Time for the Phantom Fireworks!

Independence Day this year is annoying. It rains on and off, and when it's off, it's fiendishly hot and humid. But thankfully, a friend has a place with a good view, so we can seal ourselves inside, have a drink, and watch the fireworks in air-conditioned comfort.

And hey, why not put a little music on while enjoying the show? Our host peruses his collection and pulls out a few pieces, including this delightful piece from Debussy.



This is the second of a three-part piece; the first is "Nuages" (Clouds), and the third is "Sirens." The series was inspired by Whistler's "Nocturne" series of paintings.

I suspect this one inspired the "Fetes" nocturne...

I'm posting this one because I like it. I once had the idle thought of having this reproduced on a huge scale on a bedroom wall. It still tempts me.

The fireworks are over, but we linger for a while, waiting for the traffic to ease, enjoying a last drink and some more music. Another Independence Day come and gone.....

Musical Interlude for the September Mists

Here's a little Debussy, one of his Preludes. "Brouillards," which illustrates a rising mist...and perhaps, suggests what lies within?



I remember the mists of September mornings, and also doing a late-night drive on side roads between Winchester, VA, and Washington, and seeing the low-lying mists in hollows and meadows, and being thrilled by the sight and the mystery it evoked. Consider this a gearing-up for the autumn days ahead.