Mark Pentleton
A place for my music, photos and videos
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Down By The Sally Gardens
17 Mar 2015 2015, Music D major, Irish, March, traditional 0

Down By The Sally Gardens

Mark

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
16 Mar 2015 2015, Music 1960s, F major, Frank Sinatra, March 0

Strangers in the Night

Mark

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
15 Mar 2015 2015, Music classical, D major, March, Spanish 0

Tango in D

Mark

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
14 Mar 2015 2015, Music 1980s, Abba, F major, March 0

Like An Angel Passing Through My Room

Mark

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
13 Mar 2015 2015, Music 2010s, D major, Katy Perry, pop 0

Firework

Mark

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
12 Mar 2015 2015, Music 1970s, C major, children's programmes, daft, TV Themes 0

Theme from Playschool

Mark

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
11 Mar 2015 2015, Music B flat major, Cinema Paradiso, film songs, March 0

Theme from Cinema Paradiso

Mark

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

Just The Way You Are
10 Mar 2015 2015, Music 2010s, Bruno Mars, D major, March, pop 0

Just The Way You Are

Mark

Tonight I’ve recorded Bruno Mars’ Just The Way You Are from the 2010 album Doo-Wops and Hooligans. I hope you enjoy my version of this classic song.

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/just-the-way-you-are-1

Chess
9 Mar 2015 2015, Music 1980s, Chess, musicals, show songs 0

Chess

Mark

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
8 Mar 2015 2015, Music 2010s, country, F major, Kacey Musgraves, March 0

Follow Your Arrow

Mark

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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