David Byrne

Ok, this requires a bit of maths. You know that bit in the middle where the two circles intersect? I forget what's called, but it's A int B or something like that.

ANYWAY let's imagine that the circle on the left is my dad's taste in music, and the circle on the right is mine. I am increasingly surprised by how large this intersect-y bit is growing.

Latest addition to the middle bit is Talking Heads - obviously, I'm the one who came a bit late to this rather fabbo band, but that's ok. It's gone on my "safe to put on in the car when driving with dad because he likes it" list, and it's fun and a bit nuts and is good.

ANYWAY ONCE AGAIN the lovely gentleman above is David Byrne, a rather important member of said fantastic band.

And he's the alternative musician who just keeps on giving - from skinny gravity defying man in high waisted white pants to artsy scarf to distinguished silver fox (you're welcome for the extra Thom Yorke, by the way).

OH WAIT you need his composer credentials. He composed stuff for Big Love (squee!), and lots of other things I don't care for.

FACTS STOLEN FROM IMDB:

+ listed under Trademark - "edgy persona". Please put that on my gravestone.

+ Talking Heads has a rather wonderful song called "Psycho Killer" (of which Kate Miller-Heidke does a great operatic cover). Dear David's friend Barbara Conway used that phrase to describe things she thought were cool. In the 80s, Conway was murdered by a female stalker. AWKWARD AND UNFUNNY IRONY.

Cécile Chaminade

Probably best known for her run-tastic Concertino for flute - typical French composer: lures you into a false sense of security with a pretty, achievable melody then BAM SEMIQUAVER SEPTUPLETS! - Cécile represents the vast majority of under-appreciated lady composers.

Even though almost all of her nearly 400 compositions were published, her profile actually took a dive throughout the 20th century, as everyone went nuts for modernism and dismissed late-Romantic French music (but it's so pretty!). According to The Norton/Grove Dictionary of Women Composers (that's right, I own this book), Cécile's fall from the popular table is also due to the socio-aesthetic conditions affecting women and their music.

AND THEY'D KNOW.


I also particularly like her range: she can do haughty AND ennui-filled.