Freedom Friday: Ghostbusters -Ray Parker Jr.

Happy Halloween (tomorrow!)

Throwback Thursday: Give Up the Funk -Parliament

If you've never listened to Parliament you should. Funk makes me feel good!

What's New Wednesday: Everybody -5 Seconds of Summer

Fun song, thanks Jimmy Fallon for having them on The Tonight Show. I hadn't heard of this band before.

Enjoy!

Traditional Tuesday: Mozart Horn Concerto no. 4, II and III -Radek Baborák

This post is a continuation of last Tuesday (10/20/15)

Movement II: Romance (through 4:20)
Opening with horn followed by orchestra imitation.
Beautiful slow and lyrical melody the horn is well written for and played throughout.

Movement III: Rondo (4:25-8:40, the final movement of the piece)
A Rondo is a form that with and A theme that continues to return while other themes are added throughout. A typical pattern is ABACADA. Coda means ending and often builds off of the main theme in a grand way. Mozart used a lot of imitation throughout this movement. As is typical in a concerto the two groups (horn vs. orchestra) play against each other. I love Rondo's and, not surprisingly, this movement is my favorite.

Form:
A (horn) A (orchestra)
B horn and orchestra back and forth)
A returns 5:42
C 5:58
A 6:35
D 6:50
Cadenza 7:33
A 7:36
Coda

I'm really looking forward to seeing/hearing this entire concerto live next month as played by my horn teacher Dr. Liz Dunning and the NW Orchestra.

My Monday: Who Do You Love, I Hope -Annie Get You Gun

This song has been going through my head all weekend. It's a bit Sesame Street-ish, no problem with that!

Freedom Friday: Singing In The Rain -Gene Kelly

I'm enjoying the beginning of my day off by listening to the rain outside my window.
Here's a favorite song from a wonderful and amusing musical:

Throwback Thursday: Margaritaville -Jimmy Buffett (language)

Love these lyrics so well put together in rhyme, rhythm, and message.

What's New Wednesday: Sing -Pentatonix

Perfect song for this mostly acapella group.  This very upbeat song is one that makes you want to sing along.

https://www.youtube.com/user/PTXofficial

Traditional Tuesday: Mozart Horn Concerto IV movement I -Radek Baborák

My horn teacher is preparing this full concerto to perform with the NW Orchestra on November 15th. She suggested I listen to two horn players: Dennis Brain and Radek Baborák. Today as I listened and watched Radek I was amazed at how he also conducted the ensemble. My teacher warned me that he takes some liberties outside of the Classical Era for the cadenza. I am not one to know or care about such protocols and I rather enjoyed his virtuoso approach. A true master of the instrument and one that plays with such joy is a pleasure to behold. Look for further movements in upcoming Tuesday posts.

My Monday: Monday Monday -The Mamas & The Papas

Great song and one that I need today as it's been a long one with still lots on the to do list.
Thanks for reading everyone!

Freedom Friday: Celebration -Kool & The Gang

Great news came to me that the School Board where I've been working the last month approved me as a full time teacher. I couldn't be happier or more thankful! This is the perfect song for the occasion, complete with brass and saxophones.

Throwback Thursday: Hold Me -Fleetwood Mac (1982)

As a kid my husband's strategy for figuring out lyrics was to go to Harmony Hut and hope the album included the lyrics on the back. In the summer of 1982 I corrected my sister after I caught her mistakenly (and with gusto!) singing,"all over me, all over me" with the chorus of today's song. We've been laughing about it ever since. I admit I'm not an album connoisseur, this week I listened to Fleetwood Mac's green Greatest Hits CD and enjoyed each track.

I'm including a video with lyrics (of course), notice the first line admits, "can you understand me?"

What's New Wednesday: Style -Taylor Swift

I recently noticed this song title in one of those silly social media personality tests. I'm so thankful to have set aside certain days of the week to listen to music. Three cheers for Blogger!

Traditional Tuesday: Syrinx -Debussy (Galway)

This piece is a must  in the flute repertoire and one that I included in my senior recital. It is unaccompanied and therefore memorization is expected. I have seen James Galway perform twice about 20 years apart. He is not only a master flutist he is also a passionate music educator who uses humor and story to engage all types of people in the audience.

The embedding is disabled, here is the URL:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_ZSSkMzS5E

My Monday: Fly Like an Eagle -Steve Miller Band

I listened to this album over and over the summer of my 14th year and it never gets old. I especially like the play on words "house the people livin' in the street"

It's been a long day of figuring out flights home for my son who missed his early morning departure out of Pittsburgh. For a while we thought we were heading to an airport 4 hours away to pick him up at 10:30 pm. Thankfully we eventually found a flight that arrives at 9:14 pm at an airport less than 2 hours away.

Freedom Friday: Sesame Street -Percussion 'Duet'

Tomorrow's going to be especially busy so tonight I'm getting a jump on the day by sharing this fun clip from a favorite kid's show:

Throwback Thursday: Low Rider -War

I listened to the Best of War on my way to work Monday and realized that every track is pure musical genius. I love the lyrics, every hook, the vocals, and the instrumentation.
I wanted to post Livin' in the Red but came up short this morning on finding a worthy video.
Best Cowbell intro in history? (do any others exist?)




 

What's New Wednesday: Mirrors -Justin Timberlake (2013)

I wonderful tribute to JT's wife and grandparents:

Aren’t you somethin’ to admire
Cause your shine is somethin’ like a mirror
And I can’t help but notice
You reflect in this heart of mine
If you ever feel alone and
The glare makes me hard to find
Just know that I’m always
Parallel on the other side

Cause with your hand in my hand and a pocket full of soul
I can tell you there’s no place we couldn’t go
Just put your hand on the past
I’m here tryin’ to pull you through
You just gotta be strong

Cause I don’t wanna lose you now
I’m lookin’ right at the other half of me
The vacancy that sat in my heart
Is a space that now you hold
Show me how to fight for now
And I’ll tell you, baby, it was easy
Comin’ back into you once I figured it out
You were right here all along
It’s like you’re my mirror
My mirror staring back at me
I couldn’t get any bigger
With anyone else beside me
And now it’s clear as this promise
That we’re making
Two reflections into one
Cause it’s like you’re my mirror
My mirror staring back at me, staring back at me

Aren’t you somethin’, an original
Cause it doesn’t seem really as simple
And I can’t help but stare, cause
I see truth somewhere in your eyes
I can’t ever change without you
You reflect me, I love that about you
And if I could, I
Would look at us all the time

[Bridge]

[Chorus]

Yesterday is history
Tomorrow’s a mystery
I can see you lookin’ back at me
Keep your eyes on me
Baby, keep your eyes on me

[Chorus 2x]

You are, you are the love of my life

Baby, you’re the inspiration of this precious song
And I just wanna see your face light up since you put me on
So now I say goodbye to the old me, it’s already gone
And I can’t wait wait wait wait wait to get you home
Just to let you know, you are

[Chorus]

Girl you’re my reflection, all I see is you
My reflection, in everything I do
You’re my reflection and all I see is you
My reflection, in everything I do

[Chorus

Traditional Tuesday: Rachmaninoff's Isle of the Dead (horn perspective)

My horn teacher excitedly shared about this piece at my lesson last week which led to me listening to it over the weekend. The piece is based on a portrait by Arnold Bocklin, both are dark in nature and appropriate for laying the mood as we head towards Halloween.

Here are some horn highlights:

Horn solo at 1:06 has wild leaps, I like the facial expressions this soloist uses. The smallest change in embouchure can drastically effect the pitch.

Tutti horn just before 3:00 into english horn

Brass sounds including horn around 4:20

[so much building]

about 4:50 a nice horn 'yawn'

at 6:05 or so the horn responds to the woodwind calls, so mellow the perfect echo

around 9:10 more brass, including horn as things are building with tympani accenting the phrases

by 9:44 horns are ascending into a climax that lands on the flute and pizzacato strings and other high woodwinds

10:20 more horn yawns

at 10:55 the brass play a dark reverent chorale with string responding

the orchestra is working things out together

I spot on the video the horns and then I notice an arpeggio-ic line about 13:25

13:50ish we see trombones on the video and also hear horns with a bit of a fanfare featurette

just before 15:00 the horns help with the ascending of  the orchestra offering some counter tension

17:40 horns enter after a quieter section (that was after a climatic moment) with a lovely horn filled chord, church organ like, continue-ing to build with entrances/exits somewhat like their Wolf persona in Peter and the Wolf 

21:40 the horns lay down long foundational sounds

the final horn chord begin the final quiet sounds of the orchestra

My Monday: War Horse -John Williams

In this video John Williams is conducting the Young Musicians Foundation Debut Orchestra. Mira Magrill narrates with enthusiasm the aesthetic experience she had as she performed on her flute under John Williams' baton.

Freedom Friday: The Girl that I Marry -Annie Get Your Gun

Frank sings to Annie and bring her disappointment and discouragement.

Throwback Thursday: Down on the Corner -CCR

I've always enjoyed this song. I have to admit I had no idea what they were saying until I looked up the lyrics this morning. Now I like it even more:


Early in the evenin' just about supper time,
Over by the courthouse they're starting to unwind.
Four kids on the corner trying to bring you up.
Willy picks a tune out and he blows it on the harp.

Down on the corner, out in the street
Willy and the Poorboys are playin'
Bring a nickel; tap your feet.

Rooster hits the washboard and people just got to smile,
Blinky, thumps the gut bass and solos for a while.
Poorboy twangs the rhythm out on his kalamazoo.
Willy goes into a dance and doubles on kazoo.

Down on the corner, out in the street
Willy and the Poorboys are playin'
Bring a nickel; tap your feet.

Down on the corner, out in the street,
Willy and the Poorboys are playin'
Bring a nickel; tap your feet.

You don't need a penny just to hang around,
But if you've got a nickel, won't you lay your money down?
Over on the corner there's a happy noise.
People come from all around to watch the magic boy.

Down on the corner, out in the street,
Willy and the Poorboys are playin';
Bring a nickel; tap your feet.

Down on the corner, out in the street
Willy and the Poorboys are playin'
Bring a nickel; tap your feet.

Down on the corner, out in the street
Willy and the Poorboys are playin'
Bring a nickel; tap your feet.