Parsons Playlists: Ineffable

Welcome back to Parsons Playlists! Today’s playlist is curated by Music Library student manager Esther (class of 2025) and features songs that do not need words to speak to us.

Ineffable

"Words do not express thoughts very well. They always become a little different after they are expressed, a little distorted, a little foolish."

One of the many things I appreciate about music is how much it captures and conveys experiences that may be difficult to otherwise express verbally. Here are some songs that seem to speak without words.

“Two Pieces for String Octet, Op. 11” by Dmitri Shostakovich

“Rain” by Ryuichi Sakamoto

“Spring Song” by Felix Mendelssohn

“Flower Dance” by DJ Okawari

“Gymnopédie No.1” by Erik Satie

“Theme from Schindler’s List” by John Williams

“Salut d’Amour, Op. 12” by Edward Elgar

“Affections Touching Across Time” by Kaoru Wada

The Carnival of Animals: “The Swan” by Camille Saint-Saëns

“Mia and Sebastian’s Theme” (from La La Land) by Justin Hurwitz

The Planets: “Jupiter” by Gustav Holst

Here is a link to the whole playlist on YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLU94rco57Zew5oEU_taWdXjzZWRme_TGs&si=YXnKbqGAH33jptbt

Parsons Playlists: Movie Music

Welcome back to Parsons Playlists! Today’s playlist is curated by Music Library student assistant Naron (class of 2023) and features music from assorted movie soundtracks.

Movie Music

Some movie soundtracks have left a deep impression on me with their impressive music. The music in movies is usually carefully crafted by artists to match the main theme. The music often sounds even more powerful, carrying the memory of the story in the movie. Here is a short list of music from popular movies that left an impression on me:

movie music

Nick Laird-Clowes – “About Time Theme” (from About Time – 2013)

Lana Del Ray – “Young And Beautiful” (from The Great Gatsby – 2013)

Alan Silvestri – “Feather Theme” (from Forrest Gump – 1994)

John Williams – “Theme from Jurassic Park” (from Jurassic Park – 1993)

Hans Zimmer – “Why So Serious” (from The Dark Knight – 2008)

Ennio Morricone – “The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly (Main Title)” (from The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly – 1966)

Klaus Badelt – “He’s A Pirate” (from Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl – 2003)

Lin-Manuel Miranda – “You’re Welcome” (sung by Dwayne Johnson in Moana – 2016)

Joe Hisaishi – “The Name of Life” (from Spirited Away – 2001)

Maurice Jarre – “Carpe Diem” (from Dead Poets Society – 1989)

Here is a link to a version of this playlist on YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLU94rco57ZewCfuxxV4Gk3YIhi4ez0R4E

And here it is on Spotify: