Cene’s Spring Break picks

While AU students are relaxing at the beach, we’re still hard at work at the Music Library. This week’s picks  have a little of everything from west coast jazz, to west Texas swing, to Japanese pop.

Anita O’Day - Sings for Oscar/Pick Yourself Up (CD 10012)

We recently picked up a couple Anita O’Day CDs (as well as the acclaimed documentary Anita O’Day: The Life of a Jazz Singer (Music Library DVD 331)) filling a glaring hole in our vocal jazz selection. This particular disc combines two fantastic 1957 releases. The tremendous session with Oscar Peterson’s group – featuring Herb Ellis on guitar, Ray Brown on bass, and John Poole on drums – is the highlight, but the other sessions are no small shakes; the larger ensembles feature such heavy hitters as Stan Getz, Bud Shank, Barney Kessel, Jimmy Guiffre, and Shelly Manne among others. Anita is at the very peak of her vocal powers, proving that she can hold her own with anyone in the pantheon of jazz singers.

Bob Wills & his Texas Playboys - San Antonio Rose (CD 3264)

Bear Family Records out of Germany isn’t known for doing things half way, and this massive 11-CD plus DVD box set is no exception. Containing everything Bob Wills recorded from 1932-1947, including alternate takes, air checks,  and studio chatter, and an exhaustively thorough 180+ page book, this set is not for the faint of heart. Those willing to wade in will be surprised by the remarkably consistent quality of Wills’ tunes and bands over this time period, leaving little doubt as to the appropriateness of his title “the King of Western Swing.” His bands were forward-thinking and modern, combining big band jazz with popular country and old time fiddle music, and redefining what a country dance band could be by introducing horns, reeds, and drums. The included DVD of Take Me Back to Oklahoma, however, can be safely missed.

Georges Auric - La Belle et la Bête (Complete Film Score, 1946) (CD 10070 or streaming from Naxos Music Library)

Jean Cocteau‘s 1946 film version of the Beauty and the Beast story, besides providing Disney with the source material for their animated version, was notable for its lush, dreamy atmosphere, elaborate camera work, and deliberate, poetic pacing. George Auric‘s score is the perfect complement to the film’s rich visual style, and stands on its own as a wonderful example of 20th century impressionism.

V/A - The Great 1955 Shrine Concert (CD 3250 or streaming from American Song)

One of the best live gospel recordings of the pre-multitrack era, this disc captures several golden-age groups at the peak of their powers, and in an electric atmosphere that is closer to their natural environment than any recording studio. The most recognizable group on the bill for gospel novices is the Soul Stirrers, still featuring a young Sam Cooke. In the live setting they really stretch out; two of the group’s three tracks clock in at about eight minutes. Dorothy Love Coates’ Gospel Harmonettes turn in a 19 minute medley of hits, while the Pilgrim Travelers and the Caravans both turn in impassioned performances.

Yellow Magic Orchestra - BGM (CD 9351)

Japan’s Yellow Magic Orchestra spanned a variety of styles over the course of their career together, from pure pop and crossover electronic disco to experimental, semi-ambient electro-world beat (if such a genre actually exists). Their fourth album, BGM, occupies a place somewhere in between. The songs are less concerned with the dancefloor, and present a more mature, sometimes almost sleepy sound, while remaining catchy and memorable.  The tunes “Cue” and Ryuichi Sakamoto’s “1000 Knives” are the standouts.

Carley’s Christmas Favorites

Our final round of staff-picks for 2012!

American Song provides an impressive array of streaming audio for your entertainment. Here are some of my favorite finds. Note that there are pages upon pages of albums, so I suggest you type “Christmas” in the search bar and have at it if none of these picks tickle your fancy!

20th Century Masters: The Christmas Collection: Jackson 5(!)

A real classic. Who doesn’t love Michael’s high notes in “Santa Claus is Coming to Town”?

The New Possibility: John Fahey’s Guitar Soli Christmas Album/Christmas with John Fahey, Vol. II

An all-around winner appropriate for dressing the tree, dinner and cocktail parties.

Christmas with Rosemary Clooney

and without further adieu: 

Katie LaRaye Waldren: Cold Frosty Morning, A Celebration of Christmas on Hammered & Mountain Dulcimer

Trust me, it’s really nice.

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And here are some more picks from our Christmas CD Collection Subject Guide:

A Charlie Brown Christmas – CD 5057

On a Sensual Night, performed by AU’s own On a Sensual Note, 2007 – CD 5178

What if Mozart Wrote “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus”, Hampton String Quartet – CD 426

The Ventures’ Christmas Album – CD 5062

Sing we Noel: Christmas Music from England & Early America, Boston Camerata – CD 201

Happy Holidays, all!

This weeks STAFF PICKS: Brought to You by Ella!

Radiohead – Kid A (2324)

Genre: Electronica, Experimental Rock

A departure from the punk-rocky roots of Radiohead’s earlier albums, Kid A was a little hard for me to get into at first – but it was worth the time. Full of electronic blips and Thom Yorke’s distorted vocals, the effect is a fascinating, ambient, soundscape.  Personally I think it’d be really great star-gazing music. Favorite track on the album: How to Disappear Completely

Dark Side of The Moon – Pink Floyd (3675)

Genre: Progressive Rock

I would consider Dark Side of The Moon one of the best (if not the best) rock albums out there. The album begins with just the sound of a heartbeat, and grows into an album that is a seamless, continuous piece of music. With philosophical lyrics, psychedelic guitar riffs, and some mean saxophone solos, the musicianship and experimentation present in this album blows me away every time. Favorite track on the album: Time

Elliott Smith – XO (3760)

Genre: Indie Rock

Elliott Smith’s whispery, mournful vocals and folky guitar are almost instantly recognizable. There’s something inexplicably magnetic to me about his darkly catchy and introspective music. I just started listening to Elliott Smith at the beginning of the semester, and can’t get enough (or recommend him enough)! Favorite track on the album: Waltz #2 (XO)

Unplugged – Eric Clapton (9794)

Genre: Acoustic Blues

In “Unplugged”, the emotion and soul really shines through Eric Clapton’s music. I grew up listening to this album courtesy of my parents. Recorded live in England for MTV’s unplugged project, “Unplugged” is an intimate, stripped down version of Clapton’s work. This album is bluesy and full of incredibly raw, sincere performances. Favorite track on the album: Layla

The Look of Love – Diana Krall (2873)

Genre: Vocal Jazz

Again, this is an album right out of my parent’s collection that I grew up with. Diana Krall has a breathtakingly smooth, expressive voice. This album always feels nostalgic to me. Good for relaxing after a long day, the album is full of tender love songs and lush orchestration that give the songs such a big band, romantic feel. Favorite track on the album: Cry Me A River

1878 Edison Audio Features World’s First Recorded Music

 

For 78 seconds you–a part of the modern masses–can listen to the world’s first recorded music.  The recording starts with a man’s voice reciting “Mary Had a Little Lam” and “Old Mother Hubbard.”  The recording was made on a sheet of tinfoil ( 5″ x 15″) and was placed on the cylinder of the phonograph that Thomas Edison had invented in 1877.

For more information about the tinfoil “sheet music” click here.

To listen to the actual recording of the music, click here!

[In] CAGE

[In] CAGE
September 2,  2:00 pm [Studio Theater]
September 7,  4:00 pm – 9:30 pm [Recital Hall]
September 8, 9:00 am [Recital Hall]

Join the AU Music Department in a centennial celebration of John Cage’s birthday!  In partnership with the John Cage Centennial Festival of Washington, DC, American University will be hosting three Cage-ian events!

On September 2nd at 2 pm, come to the Katzen Center Studio Theater to get a taste of Cage’s repertoire with [In] CAGE.  Bonnie Whiting Smith, Dustin Donahue and AU Music Faculty Dr. William Brent, the members of red fish blue fish will be performing.

On September 7th at 4 pm, Tom Delio will give a lecture about John Cage’s percussion work “Amores” [1941].  Following Mr. Delio’s lecture, a series of concerts will cover every decade of Cage’s work from the 1930s to the 1990s.  Steven Schick and the Percussion Group Cincinnati will give rare performances of Cage’s music.  This performance will be located in the Studio Theater at 5:30 pm [free], the Katzen Museum at 6:30 pm [free], and there will  be a feature performance in the Recital Hall at 7:30 pm [$5 with a student ID]. There will be another performance of Cage’s work at 9:30 pm in the Museum [free].

On Saturday September 8th at 9:00 am [Recital Hall], Steven Schick and Percussion group Cincinnati will lead a free masterclass on interpreting Cage and other experimental music that will be performed in the September 7th concert.

For more information about the rest of the John Cage Centennial Festival Washington, DC, visit http://www.johncage2012.com/index.html.

NEW CDs! Just in time for the new school year!

 

• Various Artists — Electronic Masters Vol. 1 — CD 9748

• Caetano Veloso — Caetano Veloso — CD 9854

• Gilberto Gil and Jorge Ben — Gil, Jorge – CD 9855

• Nikos Skalkottas — The Maiden and Death, ballet suite; Piano Concerto No. 1; Ouverture Concertante — CD 9856

• Nikos Skalkottas — 36 Greek Dances; The Return of Ulysses — CD 9857

• Robert Carl — From Japan — CD 9858

• Poul Ruders — Poul Ruders Vol. 8 — CD 9859

• Andrew Earle Simpson and Alfred Schnittke — A Crown of Stars; Requiem — CD 9860

• Stephen Sondheim — Merrily We Roll Along — CD 9861

• Various Artists — Tropicalia — CD 9862

• Joan Tower, Amy Beach, and Arthur Foote — American Flute Quintets — CD 9863

Enjoy and happy first week of classes!

New Scores!

Its a big week for those who like new scores, especially if you like them from the 20th Century. Here is a little dose of the Ligeti to start with:

György Ligeti ~ Le Grand Macabre ~ M1500 .L64 G7 2003

Camille Saint-Saëns ~ Samson et Delila ~ M1500.S18 S2 1992

Antonin Dvorak ~ Piano Trio in F Minor ~ M312 .D98 op.68 1999

Oliver Messiaen ~ Vingt Regards Sur L’enfant-Jèsus (for piano) ~ M25 .M48 V5 2011

Karlheinz Stockhausen ~ Mikrophonie II ~ M1554 .S76 M54 1974

Karlheinz Stockhausen ~ Telemusik ~ M1473 .S8 T4 1969

The Highly Anticipated Staff Picks by Johanna

I know that my last staff picks post offered some great CDs but this time around, the CDs will be even better, hopefully. Here we go!

Stokowski Encores – This recording is as exciting as it gets, just the pieces that the legendary conductor Leopold Stokowski uses for encores. Plus! Stokowski did all of the orchestrating on this CD for example pieces like Bach’s Toccata and Fugue in D Minor (my favorite piece ever and the reason I listened to this CD in the first place) and The Engulfed Cathedral by Debussy. Guaranteed to take any rocking evening to the next level! (CD  1440)

To What Strange Place: The Ottoman-American Diaspora 1916-1929 – A while back, January to be exact, I wrote a post about Ian Nagoski and his 78 78s. To summarize this amazingly interesting story, Nagoski is a collector of old 78s but not just any old old 78s, he only collects ones with foreign sounding titles. What he found was that all those seemingly foreign 78s were actually recorded in the United States during a period where record companies brought in immigrant artist to make recordings to sell back to their respective ethnic neighborhoods. Nagoski discovered this and has since been releasing albums of these 78s and To What Strange Place is one of them. My favorite track of this album is the haunting Smyrneiko minore  by Maria Papagika. (CD 9614)

Mechanical Music by Gyorgy Ligeti – Ever hear a barrel organ? If not then you need to listen to this album. If yes then you still need to listen to this album, because it isn’t just music for barrel organ, but also player piano and 100 metronomes. That’s right 100 metronomes. I can’t really say too much more about this album other than that it is so cool and you need to listen to. Seriously though, listen to it. (CD 9538)

Complete Viola Quintets Vol. 1 by Wolfgang Mozart – Is the thought of finals bringing you down bringing you down? Then this CD is your savior. It’s all you love from Mozart’s quartets with a bonus viola. How can you say no? Probably because you can’t. Even if you are having the worst day of your life, for example if what you think is your father’s ghost, but is really your rival dressed up as your dead father, is forcing you to write your own Requiem which will probably lead to your death (if you don’t know what I’m talking about get this DVD from Media Services), then this album is guaranteed to brighten even your most sturm-und-drang days. (CD 9666)

Ohm +: The Early Gurus of Electronic Music  - Finally, my final staff pick is this awesome compilation of Electronic Music. This CD is great for those of us who have never heard electronic music before and for those of us who can’t get enough of it. Featuring instruments like the telharmonium, theremin, ondes martenot, electronic sackbut, clavivox and electronium. Including performances by artists such as Clara Rockmore, John Cage, Brian Eno, Olvier Messiaen, Steve Reich, Iannis Xenakis and La Monte Young (one of my personal favorites). Plus a DVD! So good! (CD 4976)

New Stuff

New Scores to the Music Library:

First 2 very LARGE and very EXCITING scores:

Vox Balaenae For Three Masked Players  by George Crumb for electric flute, electric cello, electric piano (M 322 .C88 V6 1972)

Symphony No. 4 by Charles Ives – score and CD (M 3 .I94 S94 2011)

Others scores

Trio in G Major – for 2 flutes and basso continue - J.C. Bach (M317 .B33 T7 G major 2009)

Quintet Op. 43 – for flute, oboe, clarinet, french horn & bassoon – Carl Nielsen (M557 .N54 op. 43 2004)

Woodwind Quintet - for bassoon, oboe, horn in f, flute and clarinet in a – Gunther Schuller (M557 . S468 Q59 1968)

Concerto in C minor – for oboe, violin, strings & basso continuo – Bach (M1141 .B33 BWV 1060 2009)

Contrasts – for violin, clarinet & piano - Béla Bartók (M 322 .B3 C6 2002)

Werke fur Klavier zu vier Handen - Beethoven – Henle edition (M3 .B44 v.VII/1 Suppl.)

Kadenzen zu Klavierkonzerten – Beethoven – Henle edition (M3 .B44 v.VII/7 Suppl.)

Concerto - arranged for oboe and piano – by Cimaros, arranged by Arthur Benjamin (M 1123 .C563 C6 1995)

Trio in Eb Major, Op. 38 - for clarinet, cello & piano – Beethoven (M 322 .B4 op.38 1988)

Trio C major Op. 87 - for 2 oboes & english horn -Beethoven (M357.2 .B4 op.87 2009)

Trio in a minor, Op. 114 - for piano, clarinet, violincello – Brahms (M322 .B8 op.114 1979)

Serenade op. 25 - for flute, violin & viola – Beethoven (M362 .B4 op.25 2008)

Die kleine Kammermusik - Six Partitas for Violin & Basso Continuo – Telemann (M220 .T45 K6 2006)

Phantasy op. 2 - for oboe, violin, viola & cello - Benjamin Britten (M462 .B75 P43 1935)

Quintet - for clarinet, 2 violas and 2 cellos – David Diamond (M562 .D536 Q5 1957)

Quintette no. 1 - for flute, oboe, clarinet, basson & horn – Jean Francaix (M557 .F73 no. 1 1990)

Quintet, Op. 39 - for oboe, clarinet, violin, viola & double bass – Serge Prokofieff (M562 .P85 op.39 1990)

Trio K. 498 - for piano, clarinet, viola – Mozart (M322 .M69 K.498 2008)

Simple Little Things, All I need is Simple Little Things

Got a couple gems you might be interested in:

CD

Richard King – Chamber Music for Horn - CD 9660

The Pirates of Penzance – The Ohio Light Opera – CD 9662

Society of Composers Inc. – Student Chapter, Volue 3, School of Music University of Florida – CD 9661

DVD

Godspell – DVD 198

Carmen – Bizet – DVD 199