MY BRAIN'S WALKING PLAYLIST

on the way to Aubrac - Barbara, l'aigle noir

Music has always been within me wherever I am. Walking is no exception. I am sharing the playlist my brain has put together while walking to entertain me during our several hours' daily walks since the beginning of our trip.

To make the experience a bit richer l chose to describe the circumstances in which those musical pieces came through and sometimes associate an image with it to carry along the reader while listening to the music (see the link for each pieces).

I have noticed that there is a strong correlation between the emotions conveyed by music and the mood I am in when I am walking in a specific landscape.

1/ let's start with glorious mornings, those where the sun generously radiate its warmth on nature. Plants are still covered with water drops, morning dew or rain from the night before. Birds are singing pure notes, feet are getting wet from the contact with the grass and tree branches along the path. There is this secret passage between two stone walls covered with thick moss and baked in chlorophyll green created by the foliage of oaks covering the passage.

Mozart piano concerto 21 andante

https://youtu.be/EGm8e5ioJwk

glorious morning - Mozart, piano concerto 21, andante

2/ On a slightly more adventurous note still requiring sunny weather, L'après midi d'un faune from Debussy, it requires a wooden element, like a path or an opening in the forest, to convey a sense of discovery and unpredictability. It could also be in a hilly landscape with changing light and perspectives

https://youtu.be/bYyK922PsUw

Debussy, prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune

3/ I was surprised that a lot of time, either to start the day or when in a positive mood, this Trio of Schubert is setting in to support the rythm of the walking pace. There is a consciousness that we are on the road, so we are at work. The offers something martial, determined and hopeful but not completely serene that renders the progression easy. A pleasant weather should be there to enjoy moving on kilometre after the other

Schubert Trio in E bemol Op 100

https://youtu.be/8VStRc-tgik

martial walk - Schubert, Trio in E bemol Opus 100

4/ Walking is repetitive. When the mind stops paying attention to the outside of this world and goes into a meditative mode . Being in the middle of nature is mandatory. The path must be comfortable to allow automatic walking.

Tabula Rasa from Arvo Pärt

https://youtu.be/7YqF69HLkj8

meditation - Arvo Paärt, tabula rasa 

5/ When time comes to reach a milestone or in a particularly elated mood, it triggers a fast pace enthusiastic walking. Soon there, beautiful landscape and so on.

Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto #3

https://youtu.be/MOOfoW5_2iE

the city finally - Rachmaninov, piano concerto #3

6/ After reaching the mid point of a day's walk, early afternoon, when boredom sets in, when tiredness start being felt but you still have a long way to go: you've got to do what you've got to do to kill the outstanding kilometres, no matter the heat or cold rain, the weather has to be heavy and rather lastingly unpleasant for the bolero to set in motion in rhythm with our feet

Ravel Bolero

https://youtu.be/r30D3SW4OVw

straight walk - Ravel, Boléro

7/ There was a notion of danger and thrill during a steep walk down with a beautiful view. This was coming downhill from la Rhune in the Pyrenees

Pilgrims' choir in Tannhaüser from Wagner

https://youtu.be/yObMCvH3cfs

down from La Rhune - Wagner, Tannhaüser, Pilgrims' choir

8/ A storm was rumbling all along in the distance as we ascended towards the Aubrac plateau. Counting the seconds between lightnings and their sound the storm was somewhere between 10 and 20 kilometres away. The sky was dark and the horizon was clearer made isolated trees look like chinese shadows along our path. The song came through in my brain like the black eagle the song is talking about  "when suddenly, coming out of nowhere, I saw a black eagle". The setting of the song is precisely nowhere in particular, but in a remote and isolated area.

Barbara l'Aigle Noir

https://youtu.be/d9cEY13bUTo

9/ After too much classical music it is time for some fun, easy going tune when the mind and the body feel equally light and in a playful mode

Marilyn Monroe, Diamonds are the girls best friends

https://youtu.be/zCn4mTkxx2s