September: Songs of Change

The transitional seasons of fall and spring are often celebrated for their beauty and admired for their restraint. Usually possessed of no excessive heat and only modest snowfalls, they are times of reflection, as autumn invokes winter and springtime calls for renewal. As we approach the former season with its subtle intrigue, songs of change come to mind, finding their place alongside visual and literary depictions.  

I don’t recall when I first heard Dinah Washington’s voice and her compelling tones, as she paid homage to autumn and lamented the end of a romance. However, the strains of “September in the Rain” remain with me, always hinting at the golden age of jazz and Washington’s role as a central figure, her legendary talent—and ego—still vividly held in memory. The embellishments of her voice, reminiscent of coloratura flourishes, although far more subtle, were ideal for the theme of remembrance and sorrow. Somehow, we equate these aspects of life with fall, a somber yet glorious time of year.

As for Washington, who was born Ruth Lee Jones in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, she was a complex artist, a singer whose life resonated with the chill of autumn rain. Possessed of a vocal range uncommon in modern music, jazz, gospel, blues, and popular ballads were all within the scope of her voice. Moreover, Washington's sense of timing and drama, coupled with her clear articulation, established her as one of our finest modern vocalists. (1) Sadly, her life was rather short.

Born on August 29, 1924, Washington passed away on December 14, 1963, after taking an overdose of diet pills with alcohol. According to a number of informal sources, she grew up in poverty, had a troubled relationship with her mother, carried a gun, suffered from depression, and struggled with weight issues throughout her career.

The contrasts of glamor and tragedy that shaped Washington's astounding voice, and informed the richness of her lyrics, fit well into our theme of autumn poignance.

Now, with the ephemeral season in mind, we move to the music of visual expression, specifically, Autumn on the Seine at Argenteuil by Claude Monet.

During the second half of the nineteenth century, a great time of change and innovation, Claude Monet became a leader of the Impressionist movement, depicting natural forms with his use of light and creating soft yet defined textures. Monet studied with Eugène Boudin and Dutch painter Johan Jongkind, learning the techniques of landscape painting from two accomplished artists. As a modernist, he used the canvas to offer new perceptions of nature. (2) Monet was born in 1840, attempted suicide at least once, and passed away in 1926. Like Washington, he was known to have struggled with depression, as well as the challenges of poverty. Now, let's continue our journey by examining Autumn on the Seine at Argenteuil in light of our current theme.

Were we to view this work in person, beholding each brush stroke and the shapes of light they convey, there would be much to discuss. Even from a considerable distance, however, we can appreciate the depth of shifting colors, shades that call our attention to water, autumn foliage, and hints of twilight. The visual depiction here speaks to a fleeting brilliance, the same essence so well captured by the voice of Washington.

Now, in conclusion, we take a glance at poetry.

Beyond music and visions of light, we have the expressiveness of written words, as Robert Frost reminds us, “Nature’s first green is gold, her hardest hue to hold.” If we fail to appreciate turning leaves at their first appearance, we will likely miss them altogether, as they expire and give way to winter.

As for the story of color . . .

More than anything, I admire the way in which countless shades of green transform into palettes of crimson, yellow, orange and brown. Nothing is lost in that transition which is, on many levels, a translation of one beauty to another, reminding us to regard nature with wonder. Indeed, her first green is gold, her voice tremulous at the change of seasons, and her visions like the story of a great painting.

Click Below to Hear the Voice of Dinah Washington:

Works Cited:

1) Alabama Music Hall of Fame Website (https://www.alamhof.org/washington).

2) The Met (https://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/cmon/hd_cmon.htm)

For further Reading:

Clemenceau, Georges. Claude Monet: The Water Lillies and Other Writings on Art (Urbana, Illionois: Windsor & Downs Press) 2017.

Cugny, Laurent. Analysis of Jazz: A Comprehensive Approach (Jackson, Mississippi: University Press of Mississippi) 2019.

Todd, James G. (et al) Trading Eights: The Faces of Jazz (Petaluma, California: Mixolydian Editions, Nawakum Press) 2016.

Skea, Ralph. Impressionism (London: Thames and Hudson) 2019.

All images reproduced under the Fair Use Clause of U.S. Copyright Law for educational purposes.