Media Madness

A Tribute to Sir Paul McCartney

Many of you may have watched the PBS special on July 28 honoring Sir Paul McCartney as the newest recipient of the Library of Congress’ Gershwin Prize for Popular Music.  I was inspired by that special to look into some of Sir Paul’s classical works owned by the library.

One of the highlights of the Gershwin Prize broadcast was the piano performance by Lang Lang of McCartney’s piece “Celebration” from his orchestral work Standing Stone. This evocative piece comes near the end of the composition filled with melodic harmonies which we have come to expect from McCartney’s pop songs. The work begins however with a discordant clash of energy with extra percussion depicting the beginning of Earth. The piece consists of four parts and also includes a huge choral element. McCartney’s interest in his “Celtic” roots inspired this work which was sung to a colleague and then digitally transferred into musical notation!   As the choir sings accapella the essence of the work and its theme of love is indeed “the oldest secret of the universe”. 

Sir Paul McCartney’s first major classical work is the more grim and autobiographical, Liverpool Oratorio.  This work was commissioned for the 150th anniversary of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Society with classical composer Carl Davis collaborating with McCartney. This work begins with the birth of a young boy, Shanty, in WWII Liverpool and his subsequent life to find meaning and love. Again McCartney’s self-claimed orchestral primitivism utilizes a large orchestra, chorus and four soloists.

The RPL/ Bausch and Lomb Library’s  art division downtown carries the third major classical CD by McCartney; aptly named Working Classical. This work contains familiar melodies in new arrangements from McCartney’s years with the Beatles, “My Love”, “Junk” and “Maybe I’m Amazed” as well as short and long compositions for orchestra and string quartets.

As always be sure to stop in the library and “check us out!”