My final staff picks of the semester!

Ladies and Gents,

There is good news on the horizon…in 3 days SUMMER will officially begin! To celebrate, I have assembled a list of some of my favorite tunes. This is my last staff pick blog of the semester so I hope you enjoy!

Dreamgirls - Original Broadway Recording (CD 10032): Everyone knows the movie version (if you don’t…go see it NOW) but did you know Dreamgirls is originally a musical? The soundtrack is one of the best with classics such as “And I am Telling You” and “One Night Only”. The voices on this CD are stunning and the songs are so catchy they will be stuck in your head for days.

Joni Mitchell – Both Sides Now (CD 9711): Miss Mitchell has always had a soft spot in my heart because I was raised listening to her albums over and over again due to my mother’s slight obsession with her. Her songs are timeless and have the ability to completely relax you. Just listen and see for yourself!

Afro-sambas – Baden Powell & Vinícius de Moraes (CD 3353): My two favorite world music genres are African and Brazilian so this CD combines the best of both worlds. Afro-samba is Brazilian music inspired by African beats and rhythms. The songs will immediately make you want to get up and dance even if you are incredibly uncoordinated like yours truly.

Beastie Boys – Hello Nasty (CD 2391): The Beastie Boys are the longest-lived hip hop act in the world and their music never seizes to amaze me. Hello Nasty is filled with amazing creativity and depth, which has made it one of my favorite albums ever made. The death of MCA last year showed how loved the Beastie Boys are and always will be. They are pioneers in the rap world and their legacy will live forever.

Woodstock – 3 Days of Peace & Music 25th Anniversary Collection (CD 1268): This semester I took a class on the 1960′s and one of the main topics throughout the class was the power of music. The entire counterculture of the Sixties was expressed through music and the biggest gathering of this expression was of course…Woodstock. This anniversary collection includes all of the legends such as Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, Country Joe and the Fish and more.

That’s all for now!

Have a great summer and don’t forget to swing by the Music Library because we will be open all break!

Cheers,

Eva

New NEW New Arrivals!

Cherry Blossom Season is swiftly approaching so let’s celebrate with these NEW ARRIVALS!

CDs

Florian Hecker – Acid in The Style of David Hunter (CD 10170)

Average White Band – Cut The Cake (CD 10169)

George Whitefield Chadwick – Songs (CD 10171)

Garrick Ohlsson – Close Connections (CD 10172)

Pictures on Silence – Voyage (CD 10168)

The Count Basie Orchestra – Basically Basie:

• A The Orchestra (CD 10164)
• B The Arrangers (CD 10165)
• C The Singers (CD 10166)
• D The Small Groups (CD 10167)

Scores:

The Complete Beatles (v1&2) – Arranged by Todd Lowry (M1741.18.B36 C66 1988)

Once Upon A Mattress – Music by Mary Rodgers (M1503.R682 O53 1995)

Have a great weekend!

Eva

YAY: snow & new arrivals!

I know we were all hoping for a snow day (come on AU, you close for rain but not actual snow?!) BUT you know what is almost as exciting as a snow day….NEW ARRIVALS!

CDs
Remembranza – Remembrance of Latin Sounds (CD 10161)

Latvian Winterfest – Cantatas of the Christmas season (CD 10162)

Almeda Trio (CD 10163)

ScoresDartmoor, 1912 – War Horse/ John Williams (M1527.2.W554 D37 2011)

Pan Penseroso for solo flute and orchestra – Martin Bresnick ( M1020.B73 P362 2012)

The Blue Bamboula Piano Solo – Charles Wuorinen (M25.W867 B68 1982)

Perpetual Tango – John Cage ( M25.C34 P47 1984)

Four Psalms for Baritone Voice and Strings – Howard Hanson (M2103.3.H36 P87 2012)

Now go frolic in the snow and forget that school is actually open….ENJOY!
Eva

New 2012 National Recording Registry!

Exciting news!!!! The Librarian of Congress, James H. Billington, today announced the selection of 25 sound recordings to the registry, marked for preservation because of their cultural, artistic and historic importance to the nation’s aural legacy.

“Congress created the National Recording Registry to celebrate the richness and variety of our audio heritage and to underscore our responsibility for long-term preservation, to assure that legacy can be appreciated and studied for generations,” said Billington. “Our challenge, however, continues to be finding collaborative and innovative ways to protect and make available this unmatched legacy to the public.”

Here is the list of the 25 recordings and links to CD’s/YouTube clips and streaming clips! Enjoy:

1. “After You’ve Gone,” Marion Harris (1918)
   Stream it here!
2. “Bacon, Beans and Limousines,” Will Rogers (Oct. 18, 1931)
   Listen to it here!
3. “Begin the Beguine,” Artie Shaw (1938)
   We have it here:  CD 3175
4. “You Are My Sunshine,” Jimmie Davis (1940)
   Stream it here!
5. D-Day Radio Broadcast, George Hicks (June 5-6, 1944)
   Listen to it here!
6. “Just Because,” Frank Yankovic & His Yanks (1947)
   Stream it here!
7. “South Pacific,” Original Cast Album (1949)
   We have it here: CD 1573
8. “Descargas: Cuban Jam Session in Miniature,” Cachao Y Su Ritmo Caliente (1957)
   Listen to it here!
9. Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1, Van Cliburn (April 11, 1958)
   We have it here: CD 5894
10. President’s Message Relayed from Atlas Satellite, Dwight D. Eisenhower (Dec. 19, 1958)
11. “A Program of Song,” Leontyne Price (1959)
12. “The Shape of Jazz to Come,” Ornette Coleman (1959)
    Listen to it here!
13. “Crossing Chilly Jordan,” The Blackwood Brothers (1960)
    Listen to it here!
14. “The Twist,” Chubby Checker (1960)
    We have it here: CD 3139
15. “Old Time Music at Clarence Ashley’s,” Clarence Ashley, Doc Watson, et al. (1960-1962)
    Stream it here!
16. “Hoodoo Man Blues,” Junior Wells (1965)
    Listen to it here!
17. “Sounds of Silence,” Simon and Garfunkel (1966)
    Stream it here!
18. “Cheap Thrills,” Big Brother and the Holding Company (1968)
    We have it here: CD 9426
19. “The Dark Side of the Moon,” Pink Floyd (1973)
    We have it here: CD 3675
20. “Music Time in Africa,” Leo Sarkisian, host (July 29, 1973)
21. “Wild Tchoupitoulas,” The Wild Tchoupitoulas (1976)
    Listen it it here!
22. “Ramones,” The Ramones (1976)
    We have it here: CD 2909
23. “Saturday Night Fever,” The Bee Gees, et al (1977)
    We have it here: CD 3246
24. “Einstein on the Beach,” Philip Glass and Robert Wilson (1979)
    We have it here: CD 9615
25. “The Audience with Betty Carter,” Betty Carter (1980)
    Listen to it here!

Have a great weekend everyone!

Eva

Eva’s Staff Picks of the Week!

Hello friends of the Music Library! I hope you had a relaxing (or exciting?!) spring break and are ready for this final stretch of the semester. It feels like we just had midterms yet finals are already looming on the horizon although that does mean summer is finally approaching!

Here are some of my favorite tunes to help you recover from the post-spring break blues, enjoy!

- Jacques Brel- Infinement (CD 5130) : Although frequently mistaken as a French singer (even by our music connoisseur Cene Ketcham), this gem of an artist is actually Belgian! I am always eager to correct this unfortunate mistake because I myself am Belgian and grew up listening to his unique smokey voice. Brel is a legend in my eyes and his theatrical songs tell stories that will never leave you.

- Edith Piaf (CD 5309) : I figured I should continue with this Chanson theme and pick one of my favorite ladies Edith Piaf (who yes is French). Miss Piaf still blows me away every time I listen to her. La Vie en rose will always remain one of the most beautiful songs written.

- Fela! – Broadway Recording (CD 5286) : Shifting drastically away from Piaf and Brel, this pick is one that I keep coming back to. I first saw Fela! The Musical in London 4 or 5 years ago and the music was so unique and compelling that I immediately purchased the CD. Ever since, it has became my go-to in times of low energy or inspiration. The African beats and catchy lyrics will happily be stuck in your head for days.

- The Essential Elvis Presley (CD 10001): I don’t think this needs much explanation but just to reiterate…Elvis is and always will be the King of Rock & Roll. This CD highlights his most famous songs and makes you regret that you weren’t alive in the fifties.

- The Beach Boys – Good Vibrations 30 years of the Beach Boys (CD 9992) : I am finishing this list with the ultimate feel-good/no-stress music ever invented. This seriously impressive collection of 5 CD’s are perfection. Just listen and tune out the world.

That’s all for now. Have a great week and be sure to drop by the library for some new music!

Eva

Brand New Scores

Happy Thursday folks,

We just got a HUGE stack of shiny new scores for you to check out in the Music Library!

Scores

Sinfonietta – Leoš Janáček M1001.J36 S56 2010

Complete songs for voice and piano – Clara Schumann M1620.S388 S37 1990

D minor for piano and orchestra – Johannes Brahms M1011.B81 op.15 2010

Accompaniment for a second piano to W.A. Mozart’s Fantasia and Sonata no. XVIII in C minor – Edvard Grieg M214.M689 K.457 1921

Commedia dell’arte : for solo violin and string orchestra- Ellen Taaffe Zwilich M1112.Z95 C66 2012

The Complete Works of William G. Street : 39 studies, solos, and duets for snare drum and timpani by an American master – MT655.5 .S77 1990

Beatles Greatest Hits – M1741.18.B36 B37 1991

Donna Che in Ciel – George Friedrich Handel M2021.H36 D66 1980

Technique for The Virtuoso Tympanist – Fred D. Hinger MT660.2.H56 T42 1981

Douze études pour caisse-claire (Twelve studies for the drum) -  Jacques Delécluse MT662.3.D45 D6 1964

Impromptu For Harp op. 86 – Gabriel Fauré M117.F28 op. 86 2004

Harp Concerto, op. 25 : harp and piano – Alberto Ginastera M1037.G56 op.25 2000

Trois Morceaux pour Harpe Seule – Carlos Salzedo M117.S35 V37 2000

Suite for harp, op. 83 – Benjamin Britten M117.B75 op. 83 1970

Brass Trio : Trumpet, Horn, Trombone – Pinkham M357.4.P56 B73 1970

16 Songs: High – Fanny Mendelssohn Hensel M1620.H46 P3 High 1995

Exercices Progressifs : für Klavier zu zwei Händen – Pischna MT225.P67 E94 2000

4’33″ – John Cage M1470.C34 F66 2012

Tubafest : Celebration fanfare : for four tubas (or two euphoniums and two tubas) – Karel Husa M457.4.H87 T92 2012

Serenade in D major : op. 77a for flute, violin and viola – Max Reger M362.R33 op.77a 1979

Terzetto, for flute, oboe and viola – Gustav Holst M362.H76 T4 1980

Quintett für Flöte, Oboe, Klarinette in B, Horn in F und Fagott – Hans Werner Henze M557.H45 Q56 2000

Hungarian dances : for violin and piano (v1 and 2) – Johannes Brahms M223.B724 U5 1995

Pastorale for oboe, clarinet and bassoon – Darius Milhaud M357.2.M54 op.147 1990

Trio for B♭ clarinet, F horn and piano – George Rochberg M317.R63 T75 1981

Quintet for clarinet, two violins, viola, and violoncello, B flat major – Carl Maria von Weber M562.W43 op. 34 1989

Suite for viola and piano, opus 5 – Karel Husa M226.H87 S95 2012

Duo Concertant : violin and piano -Igor Stravinsky M221.S78 D86 2000

Duo Sonata No. 4 for Violin and Viola – Robert Baksa M287.B296 D88 2012

Sonata no. 4, op. 108 : for violoncello and piano – Lowell Liebermann M231.L54 op.108 2012

Sonata for violin and piano – Robert Beaser M219.B38 S66 2008

Have a great weekend!

Eva’s Eclectic Picks

Hello dear friends of the Music Library and happy first day of class!

The last 5 months I have been studying at Trinity College in Dublin, which has been an absolutely wonderful experience. Ireland eats, sleeps and breathes music and you can find live singers and musicians at any time on any day in any pub. I am very excited to be joining the Music Library team again and can’t wait for all of the new music this semester!

Here is a crazy eclectic mix to satisfy whatever mood you are in this first week of school…thrilled/anxious/exhausted and so on (I’m a combination of all three):

• Les Misérables (CD 5356) ~ The film version just won 3 Golden Globes awards last night…enough said.

• Mumford & Sons – Babel (CD 9963) ~ One of my all-time favorite bands and this CD never gets old.

• Acoustic Brazil (CD 5027) ~ I traveled around Brazil this past summer and fell in love with their vibrant folklore music.

• Bob Dylan – The Bootleg Series (CD 9058) ~ I’m a firm believer that a little Bob Dylan can fix anything. This is the most recent addition to the Music Library’s extremely thorough Dylan collection.

• Wicked Musical Soundtrack (CD 3128) ~ Seeing Wicked has been on my musical to-do list for years and I was finally able to see it this winter. It was amazing and I ended up having the entire soundtrack stuck in my head for a week. This CD features the original cast members Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth who are Musical Theater legends.

• Frank Sinatra in Hollywood (CD 5222) ~All of Frank’s movie gems in one CD…what could be better?

I warned you it would be eclectic….!

Have a great first week of school and be sure to swing by the Music Library to stock up on new musical goodies.

Thrillcall: you aid for live shows in DC

There are so many concerts going on in the Metro DC area that it’s hard to keep track of everything. Thrillcall is an online calendar resource where you can find information about all the music events in DC. You can search for specific bands, genres and venues.

Sign up and make you life a lot easier!

http://thrillcall.com/live-music/washington-dc?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=Washington%2BBaltimore&utm_campaign=washington_tdroot&gclid=CNmRy86Xy64CFaYQNAodRjuKDQ

 

Mardi Gras Tunes!

Happy Mardi Gras Y’ALL! To put you in the mood, the Music Library has found some excellent tunes for you to listen to. They are all available on:
The American Song database.

Here are some of our favorites:

Alan Lomax Haiti Collection, Vol. 46: Mardi Gras Bands performed by Mardi Gras Band

Music of New Orleans, Vol. 1: Music of the Streets: Music of Mardi Gras

The Big Easy performed by Henry Roeland Byrd.

Louisiana Creole Music Mardi Gras! performed by Queen Ida

Have a marvelous day!

Mid-Atlantic Jazz Festival this weekend w/ our very own AU musicians

Nothing exciting to do this weekend? Go check out the Mid-Atlantic Jazz Festival in Rockville February 17-20! The exquisite American University Big Band and The American University Faculty featuring Josh Bayer, Jon Ozment with Special Guest Dominic Smith will be performing Sunday in the Atrium.

For more information go to: www.midatlanticjazzfestival.org