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!

Upcoming Live Performance Events!

As we dive deeper into the Holiday season live music events continue to ramp up throughout the city. Here are some awesome events in the coming days (free & very cheap) that you shouldn’t miss!

American University Chorus: Sing a New Song

with Laura M. Petravage, conductor

Dana Scott, piano

Friday November 30th and Saturday December, 8 pm

Abramson Family Recital Hall, Katzen Arts Center, American University

$10 for AU Community, seniors; $15 general admission

The AU Chorus will give you a guided tour of American choral literature with their eclectic and nostalgic Fall program. It includes arrangements of folk-favorites “Bile them cabbage down” and “Cindy”, spirituals, classic Copland settings and more.

The highlight of the program is Samuel Barber’s Reincarnations for a capella chorus.The Reincarnations are rarely performed in their entirety as they are both complex and demanding. In their rendition the AU Chorus proves their remarkable musicianship and attention to detail under Laura Petravage’s brave leadership. Their enthusiasm is a rare treat and this weekend’s performances will not disappoint!

Jake Shimabukoro, ukulele virtuoso

Screening of “Life on Four Strings” and personal appearance by Mr. Shimabukoro

Monday December 3, 6:30 – 8:30 pm * FREE

Rasmuson Theater, National Museum of the American Indian

4th Street and Independence Ave SW, Washington DC 20024

This FREE event is presented by the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center and promises to be a great time. “Life on four strings” is a documentary about Jake Shimabukoro, a ukulele-virtuoso who was recently declared a musical “hero” by Rolling Stone. Shimabukoro is truly an amazing musician.

Check out his website and watch his YouTube videos for more info!

Carley’s Staff Picks!

The theme for my staff picks? Music that sings.

 

Folksongs: Dvořák, Grainger, Larsson, Hahn, Kodály, Britten / Anne Sofie von Otter, Bengt Forsberg. CD7893

I have been surrounded by folk-songs lately as the AU Chorus and Chamber Singers are preparing two very nostalgic programs for the fall concert series’ featuring folk music arrangements from all over the place .

 

Beethoven: String Quartet in Bb Major, Op. 130
This is my favorite of Beethoven’s late string quartets. The contrasts, the Cavatina, the Grosse Fugue, what’s not to love?

 

 

 

 

 

Lully: The Tragedy of Armide   CD5031

I was so excited to find  Armide performed by Opera Lafayette with our very own Nancy Snider! If you don’t know about Opera Lafayette, a D.C.-based period instrument ensemble focused on French baroque opera, be sure check out their website & current season!

The King’s Singers: Chanson D’amour  CD 868

These are just fun! Gotta love the great sound and smart arrangements that the King’s Singers present.

Gorecki: Symphonie no. 3, Op. 36 “Symphony of Sorrowful Songs”  CD 6037

In my opinion this is one of the most astonishing and beautiful works of our time. Written in 1976, the “Symphony of Sorrowful Songs” is a wonderful listen, especially in this recording with Dawn Upshaw wailing away.

Cene’s end-of-summer staff picks

As we begin the long slide from the bright optimism of summer towards the brutal gloom of winter, here are some CDs to extend that summer feeling as long as possible, or to bring on an early onset of winter. Pick your poison.

André Toussaint – Bahamian Ballads (CD 3106 or streaming from Naxos Music Library)

Haitian singer and guitarist, André Toussaint, performed in the Bahamas for most of his career, singing for tourists in French, Haitian, English, Italian, and Spanish. This CD features his laid-back, light and breezy calypso, just perfect for laying around in the sun, not doing whatever it is that you’re supposed to be doing. If there was a genre called ‘hammock music’ this disc would be a shining example.

Lightning Hopkins – Texas Blues (CD 9756 of streaming from American Song)

Hound Dog Taylor and the HouseRockers – Natural Boogie (CD 6820)

As far as I know, they have not yet outlawed cookouts after Labor Day, so there’s still time to break out the coals, throw on some weenies, grab an orange Crush and relax with some friends and some of the rawest, roughest, good-time blues ever set down on tape.

Southern Journey Vo. 9: Harp of a Thousand Strings – All Day Singing from the Sacred Harp (CD 1909)

There’s something about these shape note singing field recordings (made by Alan Lomax during a trip to the 1959 United Sacred Harp Musical Convention in Flyffe, Alabama) that always seems autumnal to me. It’s easy to imagine these Southern congregations gathered outside as the leaves turn, singing all dang day. And if you want to check out a shape note hymnal, we have those too.

Eduard Tubin – Requiem for Fallen Soldiers / Symphony No. 10 (CD 4869)

It doesn’t get much wintrier than this requiem by Eduard Tubin of icy Estonia. I think you’re actually required to put on a heavy, ankle-length winter coat before the disc will even play. This is the premiere recording of the piece, which was begun in 1950, and not completed until nineteen years later. You can hear from the first movement below that the instrumentation is spare – a choir accompanied only by an organ and tympani – the mood is funerary, and the effect is intense. Perfect for those frozen nights when your blinds are drawn, snow mutes any sounds of life outdoors, and you feel like you may be the only person left in the world.

New Scores!

Steve Reich ~ Drumming ~ M985 R45 D78 2011

Steve Reich ~ Vermont Counterpoint ~ M298 .R45 v47 1982

Karlheinz Stockhausen ~ Plus Minus Nr. 14 ~ M1470 .S76 P58 2004

Gyorgy Ligeti ~ Concerto for Cello and Orchestra ~ M1016 .L54 C6 1969

Arvo Pärt ~ Fratres for String Orchestra and Percussion ~M1138 .P37 F7 2002

Reynaldo Hahn ~ 12 Songs for Voice and Piano ~ M1138 .P37 F7 2002

Sam Morgan’s Jazz Band ~ Complete Recorded Works in Transcription ~ M2 .R2375 v.73

Elliot Carter ~ Three Occasions for Orchestra ~ M1003 .C325 O3 1992

Gèrard Grisey ~ Talea ~ M522 .G74 T3 2009

Gèrard Grisey ~ Vortex Temporum I, II, III ~ M622 .G75 V6 1985

Morton Feldman ~ Bass Clarinet and Percussion ~ M385 .F45 B37 2004

Milton Babbit ~ Concerti for Orchestra ~ M1042 .B12 C6 2004

Luciano Berio ~ Folk Songs for Seven Instruments ~ M1613 .B53 F65 1068

Upcoming events to check out!

Hello World!!

Here are some interesting events that are happening @ AU and around DC. You might find some new music you like!

Linden String Quartet

Join the Department of Performing Arts and the Linden String Quartet for a concert featuring works by Beethoven, Bartók, and Dvorák. Founded in spring 2008, the Quartet has enjoyed remarkable success in three short years, also winning the Gold Medal and Grand Prize of the 2009 Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition, the Coleman-Barstow Prize at the 2009 Coleman National Chamber Ensemble Competition, First Prize at the 2010 Hugo Kauder Competition, and most recently, the ProQuartet Prize at the 9th Borciani International String Quartet Competition. The Linden Quartet is currently the Graduate String-Quartet-in-Residence at Yale University, where the ensemble is mentored by the Tokyo String Quartet.

Time & Place: Monday April 26th @ 8pm – AU Recital Hall

Price: $5

School of Seven Bells

Time & Place: Thursday April 5th @ 8pm – The Black Cat

Price: $ 15

Not in Kansas Anymore cabaret

Time & Place:  Friday April 6th @ 8pm – Capital Hill Arts Workshop

Price: $15

Video Games Live

Time & Place:  Saturday April 7th @ [unknown, check website]-  The Music Center at Strathmore

Price: $25-$75

The Ting Tings

Time & Place: Thursday April 12th @ 7pm – 9:30 Club

Price: $25

U.S. Army Blues Big Band

Time & Place: Thursday April 12th @ 12:30pm – Howard University Bookstore

Price:  FREE FREE FREE

Classical Japanese music concert

Time & Place: Friday April 13th @ 12:10 – National Gallery of Art

Price:  FREE FREE FREE

Alison Krauss and Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas

Time & Place:  Saturday April 14th @ 7pm – Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall

Price: $55

Robert’s Staff Picks!

 

 

 

 

Mowtown 1960s
Compact Disc 3137
I heard it through the grapevine that this Mowtown special features The Supremes, The Temptations, Marvin Gaye, Four Tops, and Gladys Knight & the Pips!  Listening to Mowtown in the morning is highly recommended if one wants to start the day off the right way; it’ll have you dancing in the street!

Arias for Male Soprano
Compact Disc 5125
The quintessential compact disc for anyone who enjoys listening to Mozart.  Michael Maniaci’s larynx did not develop which caused his voice not to “break” in the usual manner for most men.  He is considered to have a voice that is “300 years old” and unique among all of today’s modern countertenors.

Její pastorkyňa Jenůfa
Compact Disc 8234
Who doesn’t love a good Czech Opera?  The opera is based upon the play Její pastorkyňa by Gabriela Preissová. The plot revolves around lots of family deaths and who will inherit the family mill.  Wouldn’t you, as the eldest child, want to inherit the family mill?

Over the sea to skye, the Celtic connection
Compact Disc 643
If listening to Mowtown in the mornings is not for you, then make the Celtic connection and give Irish Folk-songs a try!

Carmen
Compact Disc 8261
This performance of Carmen features the world-renowned soloist Maria Callas.  Carmen is also notable for its memorable arias including Carmen’s L’amour est un oiseau rebelle and the Toreador’s aria Votre toast, je peux vous le rendre. This recording is great for both beginners and opera experts!

If you act now, all of these CDs can be yours if you just hand your AU ID over to the Music Library staff and we’ll check it out for FREE!

SCORES! GALORE!

Musical Theatre

Memphis – M 1508 .B885 M46 2009

Grey Gardens – M 1508 .F69 G7 2007

Voice

The French Song Anthology (High Voice) – M 1619 .F85 2001

Berio – Un Re in Ascolto (Ein Konig Horcht) – M 1503 .B48 R4 1983 v. 1

Berio – Un Re in Ascolto (Ein Konig Horcht) – M 1503 .B48 R4 1983 v. 2

Instrumental

Raph – Solo for Trombone – M 262 .R37 2010

Shostakovich – Symphonies No. 9 & 10 – M 1001 .S554 op. 70 1995

Shapey – For Lucy, for Cello and Piano – M 233 . S527 F67 2011

Shapey – Two Short Pieces, for Flute and Piano – M 242 .S529 T9 2011

Taffanel – 17 big daily finger exercises for the flute – MT 345 .T33 G7 1958

Rutter – Suite Lyrique, suite for harp and strings in six movements – M 1136 .R8 S8 2010

Bach/Bruggen – Suites I-III, for violin solo, arranged for recorder solo – M 110 .R4 B3 BWV 1007-1009 1973

Schlossberg – Daily Drills and Technical Studies for Trombone – MT 465 .S3 D3 1947

Rochut – Melodious Etudes for Trombone – MT 465 .B6 1928 v. 3 <3

Creston – Fantasy, for trombone and Orchestra - M 1033 .C8 op. 42 1951

Martin – Ballade, pour trombone (ou saxophone ténor) et piano (1940) – M 263 .M37 B35 2006

Hindemith – Sonate – M 263 .H585 S8 1942

Sulek – Sonata, for Tombone and Piano – M 263 .S85 S6 1975

Salzédo – Pièce concertante, for Trombone and Piano – M 263 .S32 P5 1958

Casterede – Sonatine, for Trombone and Piano – M 263 .C342 S66 2006

Larsson – Concertino, op. 45 no. 7, for Trombone and String Orchestra – M 1133 .L32 op. 45 no. 7 1957

Corigliano - Chiaroscuro, for two pianos, two playing scores – M 214 .C76 C48 2011

Tomasi – Concerto, for Trombone and Orchestra – M 1033 .T6 C62 2000

Rufus Reid – Evolving Upward, and aid in developing thumb position technique for the double bass – MT 330 .R42 1977

Dempster – The Modern Trombone, and definition of its idioms – ML 965 .D45 1994

Wagner – Concerto, for Trombone and Orchestra – M 1032 .W346 2007

Martín – Mel Bay presents play solo flamenco guitar with Juan Martín – MT 580 .M37 M4 2001

Other

Simplified Arrangements of Popular Jewish Music – M 1850 .M64 S5 1960

The CDs You’ve Waited for are Finally Here!

Israeli Music

28 Most Famous Israeli Folk Songs, (CD 9343)

“Kulam Sharim Naomi Shemer” (Everybody Sings Naomi Shemer), (CD 9346)

Anne La Berge– Speak, (CD 9342)

Newton, James– Sacred Works, (CD 9339)

Liang, Lei– Milou, (CD 9340)

Hirsch, Louis A.– Midnight Frolic: The Broadway Theater Music of Louis A. Hirsch– The Paragon Ragtime Orchestra, (CD 9338)

Sondheim, Stephen– Company– Raul Esparaza, (CD 9345)

Bach, Johann Sebastian– The Leipzig Chorales, (CD 9344)

Restless, Endless, Tactlass: Johanna Beyer and the Birth of American Percussion Music– Meehan/Perkins Duo,  Baylor Percussion Group, (CD 9341)

Johnston, Ben– String Quartets Nos. 1, 5, & 10– Kepler Quartet, (CD 9337)

Gringy, Bach, Mozart– Jean Jaquenod (Organ), (CD 9347)

More New Things

Scores

Messiaen – Oiseaux Exotiques (M101 .M608 04 2009)

Mozart – Titus (M1503 .M93 C55 1970)

Wagner – Tristan und Isolde (M1503 .W14 T8 1990)

Mozart – Trios (M312 .M84 H4 1960)

CDs

Requiem - the Clerk’s Group – Edward Wickham (CD 9123)

Lutoslawski – Symphony No. 2 – Los Angeles Philharmonic (CD 9124)

Lutoslawski – Symphonies Nos. 3 & 4 - Los Angeles Philharmonic (CD 9125)

Brahms & Dvorak - Concertos for Violin and Orchestra - the USSR Radio Symphony Orhcestra conducted by Kirill Kondrashin with David Oistrakh, violin (CD 9126)

Schubert – The Improptus Moments Musicaux - András Schiff (CD 9127)

Dvorák – The Golden Spinning-Wheel Symphony No. 8 - BBC Philharmonic conducted Gianadrea Noseda (CD 9128)

The Music of Karl Jenkins - a CD sampler (CD 9129)

John Dowland – Complete Lute Works Vols. 1, 2, 3, 5 and booklet (CD 9130, 9131, 9132, 9133)

Liszt – Fantasie und Fuge and Sonata in b minor – Garrick Ohlsson, piano (CD 5780)

Ethan Wickman – Portals and Passages - Nocholas Phillips, piano (CD 5779)

Gernot Wolfgang – Short Stories - More Groove-oriented Chamber Music (CD 5778)

The Esterhazy Quartet – James Willey - String Quartets Nos. 3, 7, 8 (CD 5777)

David S. Lefkowitz – Music of Contradictions (CD 5776)

Scott Joplin - The Red Back Book - New England Conservatory Ragtime Ensemble (CD 9107)

Ottmar Lieber – Nouveau Flamenco (CD 9108)

Narcisco Yepes – Guitarra Española (CD 9110)

Nomades Du Désert (CD 9111)

Van Cliburn - My Favorite Encores (CD 9112)

Mark O’Connor – The Fiddle Concerto - The Concordia Orchestra conducted by Marin Alsop (CD 9114)

Paata Burchuladze – Arias from Operas and Russian Folk Music (CD 9115)

Rachmaninov – Suite Nos. 1 and 2 & Symphonic Dances - Howard Shelley and Hilary Macnamara, pianos (CD 9116)

Shostakovich – Symphony No. 11 “The Year 1905″ – Jena Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by David Montgomery (CD 9117)

International Tchaikovsky Competition - The Rostov Philharmonic Society Symphony Orchestra conducted by Semyon Kogan (CD 9118 piano and CD 9119 cello)

Scriabin – The Poem of Ecstasy – Chitose Okashiro, piano (CD 9120)

Samuel Barber - Piano Concerto - Royal Scottish National Orchestra conducted by Marin Alsop with Stephen Prutsman, piano (CD 9121)

Schnittke and Denisov - Chamber Symphony conducted by A. Lazarev (CD 9122)