Hello, my name is Carolina, and I am a senior! If you don’t know already, in this column, I’ll create monthly eclectic playlists full of genres from classical to ’70s rock and R&B to pop. I want to create mixes that revolve around the time of year—for example, a fall mix or a playlist full of study favorites to get you through exam season. Maybe you’ll listen on your way to school, while you study, or just for fun! Mixed with house music and Doo Wop, my eclectic playlist may strike a chord with you, get your toes tapping, and teach you a little about what you are listening to. 

As we descend into the colder months of the year, starting with October, I wanted to share some of my summer favorites and include some songs that help welcome the changing season and the changing color of the leaves. I give you Crimson: Carolina’s October Edition Playlist. 

Listen here: Spotify & Apple Music

Most of you might be familiar with the Pas de Deux, the “step of two,” between the Sugar Plum Fairy and Prince Coqueluche in Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s ballet The Nutcracker. You also might be wondering why I included a piece usually associated with the holidays in my October mix. On a hot summer night in August, I worked a classical show at the Hollywood Bowl. Being an usher at the Bowl had already exposed me to many types of music, but this classical show was different.   

The guest pianist, Alexander Malofeev, had just finished his set, emerging again for a surprise encore. With the rest of the Los Angeles Philharmonic standing, he began to grace his fingers over the keys of his piano. 

Very delicately, he played the opening of the piece. I recognized that it was from The Nutcracker but couldn’t remember the name. As the melody progressed, his graceful playing became rawer. His fingers were heavy on the piano keys and he leaned forward, seizing the emotion and drama of the Pas de Deux. I watched in awe as he played each note, the passion vibrating out through the crowd. I was so inspired by his capturing rendition that it brought a tear to my eye. I have not stopped thinking about it since.

First performed in 1891 in St. Petersburg, Russia, The Nutcracker was not immediately deemed a success. Critics claimed the battle scene was clumsy and the costumes lackluster. Many thought all the children on stage made the production unprofessional, and Tchaikovsky himself said it was rather boring. Tchaikovsky’s score, however, was praised widely—and still is today. Once The Nutcracker premiered outside of Russia (in England in 1934 and in the United States in 1944), it began to grow into the successful and staple ballet it is today. It was reimagined with vibrant costumes, a whimsical story, and spectacular orchestration. So what is so great about this score? When composing the arrangement for The Nutcracker, Tchaikovsky included various pitches, resulting in grand melodic sequences like the Pas de Deux. Ascending notes get higher in pitch, while descending ones get lower. Tchaikovsky also used an instrument called the celesta—or bell piano—which radiates a heavenly sound similar to, yet softer than, that of a glockenspiel. 

The answer is not traceable to one facet. Aside from the variety in his composition and instrumentation, Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker is full of classic, singable melodies. Each piece is intertwined with emotion. Maybe the greatness comes from the collaborative and adaptive process between Tchaikovsky, the dancers, and the choreographers. Or maybe it’s his use of an orchestra capable of producing fantastical sounds like no other. 

Another fond summer memory of mine was listening to the album Golden Hour by Kacey Musgraves on repeat.  Though I love every song, I included “Happy and Sad” on this mix to convey how I feel about the changing seasons. Released in 2018, Golden Hour is the fourth album of singer-song

writer Kacey Musgraves. To me, the 13 songs on this album have an ethereal country-pop sound. Musgraves’ voice is like honey alongside her signature acoustic guitar melodies. Produced by Ian Fitchuk and Daniel Tashian, this album is full of surprises, with influences of disco, pop, classical, and—of course—country. The success of this record was a

 surprise to many, including Kacey herself. Her expression at the 61st Grammy Awards when she won Album of the Year, Best Country Album, Best Country song, and Best Country performance says it all. Golden Hour went platinum, launching Kasey Musgraves to global stardome, and is featured on Apple Music’s 100 best albums (#85). 

I played this album everywhere I went. Whether I was cleaning, tanning, cooking, or doing anything else, I had Golden Hour playing through my speaker. Something about the laid-back nature of this album always puts me in a calm, yet motivated, mood. And I can’t forget how easy it was to sing along. Kacey’s effortless vocals made it exciting to accompany her with harmony. 

I hope you all enjoy these musical pieces as much as I do! Here’s to the cold weather coming in and the start of the fall season. As always, happy listening!

Listen here: Spotify & Apple Music