What A Beautiful Day For A Walk

This week's recording What A Beautiful Day For A Walk is a full scene that includes a song in two parts. In the story, Nancy is just getting organised to dig up the gold she believes is buried in the playground, then leave the town a rich woman. Golly doesn't know of her plans, and thinks she is back in town to get to know his family better. Nancy is developing feelings for Golly, but her feelings are tempered by her knowledge that she is going to leave; Golly is falling headlong in love with her.

The first part of What A Beautiful Day For A Walk is a quick, happy little ditty. You can hear the point where I think a song should start; the underscoring suddenly comes in to focus as accompaniment, and Tristan and Amy dive right in.

I really enjoy some of the interplay that happens in between the songs. The bit about Nancy's parents in particular makes me smile.

The second part is a bit of a freeform ballad, where Golly exposes his feelings, and Nancy replies. You can hear the disappointment in Golly's voice towards the end. Then Tristan, in a flash of brilliance, brings back the chorus from the first song again, and Amy follows him, jumping in with both feet. The music is noticably changed from the first time around; it has gone from optimism and energy to something bittersweet.

There is one moment in particular I desperately love in the second song. When Tristan sings "filled with smiles", the music has moved to a somewhat risky chord. It would have been easy for Tristan to have gone to a note that didn't fit, but it happens that he landed on something that suited it perfectly.

I had one member of the audience, a fellow improviser, tell me after the show how impressed he was with that reprise. I agree :)