#MorningMusic with Cenovia Cummins

Our concertmaster Cenovia Cummins shared some of the songs she turns to for inspiration. You can listen to her playlist here and read her thoughts on her selections below!

Listen

Song: “Hyperballad” (Björk)

Performers: Marcin Wasilewski Trio

Album: Trios

“This is from one of my most listened to albums. The song starts out slow and introspective. It blossoms into a beautifully reimagined version of this Björk classic. It never fails to make me swoon.”

Piece: Edvard Grieg: Holberg Suite, Op.40 1st movement (Allegro vivace)

Performers: Sir Neville Marriner, Academy of St. Martin in the Fields

Album: Grieg, Sibelius, Nielsen, Wirén

“This short opening movement is bubbling over with joy and excitement. I can’t listen to it without tearing up. I had a chance to perform this recently, and everyone, both listening and playing, had a smile on their face.”

Song: “Come to the Meadow”

Performers: The Roger Kellaway Cello Quartet

Album: Come to the Meadow

“Some of you might remember that NPR used this as a theme for years. Despite its popularity, this classic album was never released in a digital format. The title track sounds like a musical depiction of springtime. Here’s the link: https://youtu.be/d78YGN4VEcA.”

Song: “Almost Frozen”

Performer: Cenovia Cummins

Album: Solo Piano

“Need to unwind, meditate, or just have some soothing music on in the background? Many of the songs on this album create an atmospheric landscape, or sonic endorphins as I like to call them. This particular tune, ‘Almost Frozen’, has a minimalistic, meditative quality. The constant use of the piano’s sustain pedal creates a swirling and spacious sonic landscape.”

Piece: In Trutina from Carmina Burana by Carl Orff

Performer: Barbra Streisand, Claus Ogerman

Album: Classical Barbra

“Many of us in The New York Pops Orchestra had the ultimate honor of touring with Barbra Streisand and her 57 piece orchestra - myself, Belinda Whitney, Louise Owen, Jeffrey Carney, Bill Ellison, Dave Romano (frequent sub), Veronica Salas, Zoe Hassman, Debbie Assael, Mark Patterson, and Norm Freeman. Barbra recording an entirely classical album took a lot of hutzpah (it created waves in the classical world when it was released in 1976). Hearing that incredible voice and her unmistakable stamp on this classical song is totally inspiring and uplifting.”