End of Semester Spring Fever!!!

Hello gentle-library folk!

The end of the semester is wrapping up, and with it, there are some exciting happenings going on.

Friday, 10am – 2pm:  outside of the Bender Arena we have the an LP bag sale. 10 – 12pm, it’s $3 a bag, 12 – 1, it’s $2 a bag, and 1-2 it’s FREE! There’s no excuse not to enjoy the weather and find some rad records to spice up your collection.

Friday, 8pm: in the recital hall the AU Symphonic Band will be performing.

Sunday, 6pm: in the recital hall, Ellen Rice’s senior cello recital, Continuum will be taking place.

Don’t miss any of these super musical events in your single-minded finals week prep.

 

Robert’s Stäff Picks!!!

Don’t forget, the Music Library is having an LP Bag Sale this Friday, April 26 from 10AM-2PM in front of Bender Library!!!

This set of Staff Picks is dedicated to currently performing string quartets and new music ensembles/composers.

CD 5290 — Six Quartets, Op. 20 — Haydn

The quartets are pretty standard Haydn works but the cool part about this CD is that this recording is played by the Daedalus Quartet.  The Daedalus Quartet is considered a leader among the newest generation of string ensembles.  The members of this string quartet hold degrees from the Julliard School, Curtis Institute, Cleveland Institute, and Harvard University.  Min-Young Kim and Matilda Kaul play violin, Jessica Thompson plays the viola, and Thomas Kraines plays the ‘cello.  This CD was released in 2009.

CD 10048 — Meanwhile — eighth blackbird

eighth blackbird “combines the finesse of a string quartet, the energy of a rock band and the audacity of a storefront theater company.” The members of the ensemble  “hail from America’s Great Lakes, Keystone, Golden and Bay States, and Australia’s Sunshine State.  There are four foodies, three beer snobs and one exercise junkie.”  It seems like it would be fun to hang with these folks. Tim Munro plays the flutes, Michael J. Maccaferri the clarinets, Yvonne Lam the violin & viola, Nicholas Photinos the ‘cello, Matthew Dunvall percussion, and Lisa Kaplan the piano.  This CD was released in 2012.

John Adams

I often reference works by John Adams in my Staff Picks, and I honestly don’t think I could ever forget to mention him.  Adams is a North American based new music composer.  Once again, the symphonic version of my favorite opera, CD 9695 — Doctor Atomic / Guide to Strange Places.  This CD was released in 2009.

CD 10053 - Adam’s Lament — Arvo Pärt

Do you like Arvo Pärt as much as Ethan Hicks? I doubt it, but you should still take a listen to this fantastic Pärt CD that explores many of his works including, but not limited to: Adam’s Lament, Beaatus Petronius, Salve Regina, and Estonian lullaby.  This CD was released in 2012.

 

Our Newest New Arrivals!

Come check them out TODAY!

CDs

• Accentus ; Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin — Les sept derniere paroles du Christ en croix — CD 9732
• The Wayne Shorter Quartet — Without a Net — CD 9733
• Christian Wolff — 8 Duos — CD 9734
• Jennifer Higdon — An Exaltation of Larks — CD 9735
• Joseph Byrd — NYC 1960-1963 — CD 9736
• Jennifer Higdon — Chamber Music of Jennifer Higdon — CD 9737

DVDs

• Whole Notes: Johannes Brahms, Keeper of the Classical Flame  – DVD 351

Scores

• Steve Reich — Six Marimbas
• Steve Reich — Electric Counterpoint
• Kurtag – …concertante…

Happy listening/viewing!

Staff Picks:

It’s been over a year since we started writing up staff picks and with over a hundred CDs have been recommended. Therefore, one might think that we would be running out of recommendations.

Not so!

For my sixth staff picks post, I have a nice collection of awesome CDs including one of my favorite recordings

of…

all…

time…

Let’s get started then!

Arvo Pärt: Tabula Rasa

CD 5948

I first took out this CD two years ago on a whim. The name was really cool, and I had heard good things about this “Arvo Pärt” person. I then promptly forgot about it. A week later I drove up to Massachusetts overnight (to avoid the traffic from a few major cities) and discovered it on the seat next to me. It was something about the desolation of Interstate 84 in Connecticut at 4 a.m. mixed with the distant lamentations of the CD that stays with me to this day.  I can’t really describe it any other way, this is one of my favorite recordings.

Arvo Pärt: Te Deum

CD 5901

There is not much I can say about this CD other than that it is worth listening to.

Seriously…

Do it…

Kronos Quartet: Uniko

CD 5887

I don’t think there is ground left to tread that the Kronos Quartet has not already stomped all over. Anyway, get ready for this; Kronos Quartet collaborates with Finnish composers Samuli Kosminen and Kimmo Pohjonen to create a studio album that blends a string quartet with electronics and accordion. Yeah, I thought so too…

Kronos Quartet Performs Philip Glass

CD 6835

Now who doesnt love some arpeggiated triads?

Copland Conducts Copland

CD 3412

This CD is worth picking up for Lincoln Portrait alone. It’s perhaps one of the most famous recordings of the work and features Henry Fonda as the narrator. However, you also throw in Billy the Kid and the original Appalachian Spring ballet edition…

and Copland conducting????

Yes.

Upcoming Performances!

It’s Spring! More recitals are popping up, the musical is running over at Greenberg theater, and ensembles are starting to perform their semester’s work. Take a break from the final projects and last month of school stress to unwind with some fabulous student-performed music.

April 4 – 6: Cabaret @ Greenberg Theater. Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 8pm, Sunday at 2pm.

April 5: Metamorphosis @ Recital Hall. Workshop Ensemble performance, Friday at 8pm.

April 6: Follow Your Heart @ Kay Spiritual Life Center. Ian Uriola’s Junior Recital, Saturday at 4pm.

April 8: The Flying Jays @ The Davenport Coffee Lounge. Monday at 7pm.

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

Weekly Staff Picks!

  

Eruptions: Orchestral Excerpts for Low Brass (CD 9444)

This CD is my new best friend, because really nothing sounds as powerfully dramatic as classical music in low brass!

Jorge Martin – Cello Music (CD 9442)

And now to throw a wrench into my low instrumental theme: country music! The music library actually has a pretty significant stash of country (also known as “the sounds of my childhood”) so I thought I would select some of my favorites to expose this collection to the light in case there are any country fans out there!

    

Jo Dee Messina – Burn (CD 2514)

Lonestar – Lonely Grill (CD 2959)

Dixie Chicks – Fly (CD 2511)