Without the shade, the sun would lose its poetry
From the palm-lined coasts of Senegal and Cuba to the shadowy depths of Hades’ underworld, this playlist embodies the true meaning of “made in the shade—and the sun” in both its literal and metaphorical forms.
‘Suit No. 1 from Peer Gynt, Op 46: I. Morning Mood’ by Edvard Grieg
The playlist opens with “Morning Mood” an iconic and widely recognised orchestral piece that has become almost universally associated with the image of a rising sun. Opening with a delicate flute and oboe melody, it gradually builds in brightness and intensity, evoking the awakening of the day. Though originally written to depict a desert sunrise in Ibsen’s Peer Gynt, it has since taken on a life of its own as a timeless musical symbol of morning.
‘Canto de Xangô’ by Baden Powell, Vinícius de Moraes
Canto de Xangô explores Afro-Brazilian identity by intertwining religious devotion with a call for both social and spiritual renewal. Through rhythmic, chant-like language that echoes African religious rituals, the song celebrates pride in Black skin while acknowledging the enduring pain of historical displacement.
A tribute to Xangô, the Yoruba deity of justice and thunder, the song honours his continued reverence in Brazil’s Candomblé tradition. Inspired by their visit to Salvador, Bahia, Powell and de Moraes capture the duality of Afro-Brazilian experience—both pride and suffering. The poignant line, “But to love is to suffer / But to love is to die of pain,” encapsulates the complex relationship between cultural love and the deep wounds of history.
‘L’Orfeo, Atto quarto: III. O dolcissimi lumi’ by Claudio Monteverdi
In “O dolcissimi lumi”, the hero Orfeo mourns the final loss of his beloved Euridice, addressing her with sorrow as he laments, “Oh sweetest lights.” This emotionally charged piece comes just after Orfeo breaks the one condition set by the gods of the underworld: he must not look back at Euridice as he leads her out of Hades.
The wider myth, drawn from ancient Greek legend, tells of Orpheus, a gifted musician whose music could charm even the gods. When Euridice dies, he descends into the underworld to plead for her return, however his fatal glance back condemns her to the realm of the dead forever. In this moment, Monteverdi captures the crushing weight of love, loss, and human frailty through Orfeo’s grief-stricken voice.
‘Everybody loves the sunshine’ by Roy Ayers Ubiquity
Everybody Loves the Sunshine is a timeless piece that effortlessly captures the feeling of sunshine through its laid-back rhythm, smooth vocal delivery, and atmospheric synths.
The music itself evokes a sense of warmth, ease, and carefree joy— a perfect summers day. Released in 1976, the song blends smooth jazz, soul, and funk with mellow vocals, evoking an atmosphere of positivity and escapism.
Over the decades, its soulful simplicity and uplifting energy have cemented it as a beloved classic, sampled and celebrated across generations and genres.
Hey Jukebox
Listen to a playlist of the songs discussed in this blog on Spotify, or in the Museum on Tuesday afternoons from 2.30pm.
Lead image: Aaron Burden via Unsplash.