In My Mind’s Zen Garden

It was a gorgeous day. The sun was shining bright and not a cloud in the sky. There was a dry warmth that simply beckoned one to go outside and enjoy the sunshine.

Anyway, I thought I would share with you my Top 10 most played songs on iTunes.

It’s just interesting what songs end up being played the most on iTunes. I never really follow this much but once-in-a-while (like now) it’s interesting to see what I ended up playing the most.

So here it is, with comments… my cream of the crop, creme de la creme, the Top 10 most played songs in my iTunes:

1. Introduction - Sense & Sensibility

One of my most favorite classical/movie pieces is the opening introduction to the movie Sense & Sensibility (starring Kate Winslet, Hugh Grant and Emma Thompson…). And because this is a short 45 seconds, it ends up being played a lot in many of my various playlists. One of my favorite movies, by the way.

2. Planet - Kitaro

One of my all-time favorite and more serious New Age composers, Japanese multi-instrumental artist Kitaro gets second simply because this is one of my favorite tunes to use during yoga routines. So, this one gets a LOT of play. (And there are more tunes that I use for yoga that I’ll simply label “for yoga”)

3. What Sweeter Music - The Cambridge Singers

The Cambridge Singers is a choral group from England under the direction of John Rutter (who has also composed and arranged many works for the group). What Sweeter Music is my favorite piece from this group. I first heard this in a Volvo commercial and thought it was such a beautiful choral work, and never knew what it was until I bought The Cambridge Singers’ Christmas Album and discovered the song was there!

4. Wave of Sand - Kitaro

Yes, “For Yoga”. As you can see I’m a big fan of New Age music (oh my, I said the “NA” word, “New Age”). Well, I like all forms of music from Classical to Jazz to Zydecho. New Age gets a bad rep because of all the bad stuff out there, but there are some great artists that have been pioneers of the genre, and Kitaro is one of them.

5. Main Theme - Enchanted April

Enchanted April is a quaint little British movie set in a villa in Italy, where four women escape the rains and dreary weather of England to enjoy the fresh, flower-blanketed countryside… and discover life-anew. The main theme is one of my all-time favorite melodies.

This slow-paced gem is about the civilizing influence of Italy on beleaguered Londoners both male and female and has it’s own civilizing influence on the viewer. It’s almost like taking a little mini-trip to Italy, a gorgeously filmed enchantment.

6. Stars & Butterflies - Pride and Prejudice

One of the musical pieces from the most recent film version Pride and Prejudice (2005) starring Keira Knightley (as Elizabeth) and Matthew Macfadyen (as Mr. Darcy). The music for the film (by Dario Marianelli) was nominated for an Academy Award for best Original Score. And I guess my favorite track from the soundtrack turned out to be this one.

7. Ghatu (April Flower) - Bharat Nepali Party

The genre of World Music has always interested me. The sounds of music from other cultures have always caught my attention for research and just for pure enjoyment. And, music from The Himalayas has specifically captured my attention in recent years. I love the entire album of Nepalese music by the Bharat Nepali Party, but this particular song has floated to the top of the heap!

8. One Melody - Belo Horizonte

Now a classic, yet rather obscure jazz-fusion album, Belo Horizonte by British jazz guitarist John McLaughlin exudes an organic, tapestry-rich sound played mostly using acoustic guitar. The drumming by Tommy Campbell is superb. Maybe that’s why I listen to this so much. But this song is particularly touching.

9. It Had To Be You - Dinah Shore

The late Dinah Shore (I remember her as a talk show host) was very popular during the 1940s and 1950s. I have an anthology album of her music and this bluesy, melancholic version of this American Standard is my personal favorite of hers.

10. September 15th - Pat Metheny & Lyle Mays

An old jazz-fusion album from 1981, As Falls Wichita, So Falls Wichita Falls, this song is primarily just acoustic guitar and acoustic piano, with an Oberheim playing a string orchestra intro at the beginning. The song is dedicated to the great jazz pianist Bill Evans, who passed away on September 15th, 1980. Beautiful melodies and an intimate and intuitive performance by Metheny and Mays. A quiet sound that I play a LOT for background music while working on the laptop.