Down By The Sally Gardens
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Down By The Sally Gardens

I was trying to think of a good Irish tune to play today. Last time round I played Danny Boy, She Moved Through The Fair, Carrickfergus, plus a few other Irish-linked songs from Riverdance etc. I decided to play this lovely, simply tune for St Patrick’s Day and I hope you enjoy it. I’ve discovered that the Sally gardens (from the Gaelic saillaeach) were gardens of willows kept for medicinal purposes, and were traditionally a place for lovers’ trysts. You learn something new every day!

First time on the site? Find out more about the 365 Songs project or see all of my March songs here.

https://soundcloud.com/mark-pentleton/down-by-the-sally-gardens/s-24TfB

Strangers in the Night
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Strangers in the Night

Made famous in 1966 by Frank Sinatra, Strangers in the Night was originally written by Bert Kaempfert … or not! There are claims that the song was actually called Stranci u Noći and was written by Croatian singer Ivo Robić. And in 1967 French composer Michel Philippe-Gérard claimed that the song was strikingly similar to his piece Magic Tango, and the royalties to Kaempfert were frozen until a Paris court in ruled against plagiarism in 1971. I hope you enjoy my version!

First time on the site? Find out more about the 365 Songs project or see all of my March songs here.

https://soundcloud.com/mark-pentleton/strangers-in-the-night/s-Sqk8R

Tango in D
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Tango in D

This is my version of Tango in D by Isaac Albéniz. It’s a beautiful piece of music which was originally written as part of the España suite for piano, and then later transcribed for guitar. I’m dedicating this song today to my mum as it’s Mother’s Day and I know she loves this piece of music!

First time on the site? Find out more about the 365 Songs project or see all of my March songs here.

https://soundcloud.com/mark-pentleton/tango/s-i7coT

Like An Angel Passing Through My Room
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Like An Angel Passing Through My Room

Like An Angel Passing Through My Room is a fascinating Abba song. It went through a variety of styles and lyrics from nursery rhyme, through piano ballad to disco anthem, before it ended up as the haunting version on The Visitors album. Benny apparently feels it is one of the best songs he and Björn wrote in their Abba years. You can hear a special remix of these different versions on the remaster of The Visitors album. It’s interesting to note just how produced all of these demos versions were, and how much experimentation went into finding the right sound. It’s also another example of how a good melody can work in many different styles. Anyway, here’s my version which is more in the style of the version we know.

First time on the site? Find out more about the 365 Songs project or see all of my March songs here.

 

https://soundcloud.com/mark-pentleton/like-an-angel-passing-through

Firework
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Firework

Here’s my take on Katy Perry’s Firework from 2010. It’s a cracking pop song and today’s random fact is that this song featured in the animated films Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked (yes, really!) and Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted. I’m sure you’ll sleep better now knowing that…

If animated films and Katy Perry pop songs are not your thing, you can see all of my March songs here or find out more about the 365 Songs project.

https://soundcloud.com/mark-pentleton/firework

Theme from Playschool
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Theme from Playschool

A house, with a door, 1 2 3 4, ready to play, what’s the day? It’s Thursday!

Something a bit daft today. This is the theme from the BBC Children’s TV series Playschool which I grew up watching in the 70s. Here’s one example of the opening sequence if you can’t remember what I’m talking about, if you’re not old enough to remember, or if you’re from anywhere other than the UK! The theme changed around 1980 I think, and I’ve put a bit of the new theme into my performance for the younger members of the audience…

If this is your first time here, it’s not all obscure children’s TV themes from the 70s! Find out more about the 365 Songs project or see all of my March songs here.

https://soundcloud.com/mark-pentleton/theme-from-playschool

Theme from Cinema Paradiso
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Theme from Cinema Paradiso

I adore this piece! Back in February I played the Love Theme from the film Cinema Paradiso, but today I’ve recorded the main theme which is a stunning piece of music. Written by Ennio and Andrea Morricone, it won the 1991 BAFTA for best soundtrack. I hope you enjoy this today – sit down, turn up the volume and close your eyes!

First time on the site? Find out more about the 365 Songs project or see all of my March songs here.

https://soundcloud.com/mark-pentleton/theme-from-cinema-paradiso

Chess
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Chess

Today I’ve decided to play the instrumental from the second act of the 1984 musical Chess by Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvæus and Tim Rice. The themes are reused in the Endgame of the original concept album and in other songs in the subsequent stage versions of the show. I think the melody of the last section is beautiful – the part which uses the following lyrics in Endgame:

Is there no-one in my life
who will not claim
the right to steal
my work, my name,
my success, my fame,
and my freedom?”

https://soundcloud.com/mark-pentleton/chess

Follow Your Arrow
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Follow Your Arrow

I was trying to come up with something appropriate for me to play on International Women’s Day. I turned to a Spotify playlist for inspiration and found Kacey Musgrave’s Follow Your Arrow. It’s a great song and hope it’s right for today!

First time on the site? Find out more about the 365 Songs project or see all of my March songs here.

https://soundcloud.com/mark-pentleton/follow-your-arrow

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