Parsons Playlists: Music from Tom & Jerry

Welcome back to Parsons Playlists! Today’s playlist is curated by Music Library student manager Xipeng (class of 2024) and features music used in the soundtracks of Tom & Jerry cartoons.

Music from Tom and Jerry

The Tom & Jerry cartoons provided me with so much inspiration for my piano practice when I was a kid, and this playlist of a small collection of the original soundtracks, reminds me of my childhood memories.

Tom and Jerry

Johan Pachelbel – “Canon in D” (London Symphony Orchestra)

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart – Symphony No.41 in C Major “Jupitar” K.551 (English Baroque Soloists, John Eliot Gardiner)

Johannes Brahms – 21 Hungarian Dances No.5 in G Minor: Allegro (Wiener Philharmoniker)

Ludwig van Beethoven – Bagatelle No. 25 in A Minor, “Für Elise”, WoO 59 (Lang Lang)

Anonymous – “Sari Galin” (Farid Farjad)

Francois-Joseph Gossec – Gavotte in D Major, “Rosine” (arr. for violin and piano) (Takako Nishizaki)

Stephen Foster – “Old Folks At Home” (Tom Roush)

Anonymous – “Go Tell Aunt Rhody” (Woody Guthrie)

Gerardo Hernán Matos Rodríguez – La Cumparsita, tango (Ensemble Contraste)

Frédéric Chopin – Grande Valse Brillante, Op. 18, No.1 in E-Flat Major (Lang Lang)

Anonymous – “Deck The Halls” (The Ames Brothers)

Eduardo di Capua – “Maria, Marì” (Luciano Pavarotti, Orchestra del Teatro Comunale di Bologna)

Anonymous – “Froggie Went A-Courtin'” (Woody Guthrie)

Here is a link to the whole playlist on YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLU94rco57ZewM9r0M6kQyxNW8PbpHUKWW

[Editor’s note: And here is a fun piece about classical music in cartoons from Classic FM: https://www.classicfm.com/composers/liszt/cartoonist-how-generation-learned-classical-music-bugs-bunny/ ]

Parsons Playlists: Music for Two Pianos from Martha Argerich

Welcome back to Parsons Playlists! Today’s playlist is curated by Music Library student manager Xipeng (class of 2024) and features works for two pianos performed by Argentinian classical concert pianist Martha Argerich and friends.

Music for Two Pianos from Martha Argerich

Martha Argerich has always been one of my favorite pianists, and it’s amazing how two pianos can produce the sound of an entire orchestra. Enjoy this exhilarating complete performance!

martha argerich two pianos

Tchaikovsky: Suite from the Nutcracker, Op. 71a Arranged for two pianos by Nicolas Economou (Martha Argerich/ Lilya Zilberstein)

Rachmaninov: Suite No.2 in C Major, Op.17 (Martha Argerich / Gabriela Montero)

Rachmaninov: 6 Morceaux, Op.11 (Martha Argerich / Lilya Zilberstein)

Brahms: Sonata for 2 Pianos in F minor, Op. 34b (Martha Argerich / Lilya Zilberstein)

Brahms: Variations on a Theme by Haydn for 2 Pianos, Op. 56b “St. Antoni Chorale” (Martha Argerich / Polina Leschenko)

Prokofiev / Symphony No.1 in D Major, Op. 25 “Classical” Arr. Rikuya Terashima (Martha Argerich / Nelson Freire)

Mozart Sonata for Two Pianos, K. 448 (Martha Argerich / Daniel Barenboim)

Here is a link to the whole playlist on YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLU94rco57Zeyn2KswGm9bpnTmsPUH3n_z

New CDs added – September 2019

New CDs for September 2019

Concertos and Chamber Music

Johannes Brahms – Violinkonzert Op. 77 / Schumann Fantasie Op. 131 / Anne-Sophie Mutter

Brahms - Anne-Sophie Mutter

Opera, Opera Excerpts and Art Songs

Franz Schubert – Die Schone Mullerin / Thomas Meglioranza, Baritone / Reiko Uchida, Fortepiano

Schubert - Die Schone Mullerin

Cabaret and Theatre Songs

Theo Bleckmann – Berlin: Songs of Love and War, Peace and Exile

Treasures of Devotion

Cantatas and Sacred Songs

Mason Bates – Children of Adam
The Boston Camerata – Treasures of Devotion: European Spiritual Song ca. 1500

Bates - Children of Adam

Arachnophonia : Brahms “Ein deutsches Requiem”

Editor’s note: Arachnophonia is a regular feature on our blog where members of the UR community can share their thoughts about items in the Parsons Music Library‘s collection. All links included in these posts will take you to either the library catalog record for the item in question or to additional relevant information from around the web.

Today’s installment of Arachnophonia is by Music Library student worker, Emma R. (class of 2021) and features Johannes Brahms’ “Ein deutsches Requiem” which was composed between 1857 and 1868. Thanks, Emma!

Johannes Brahms

Ein Deutsches Requiem

Brahms Ein Deutsches Requiem

For some strange reason, ever since I was a child I was drawn to classical music. It wasn’t forced on me by my parents through piano lessons or anything similar – in fact, my dad used to, and occasionally still does bemoan my lack of interest in his “oldies” (considering mine are centuries older, I question the use of this term) and acoustic singer-songwriter favorites. A memorable (and embarrassing) moment when I was entering sixth grade illustrates this complete disconnect from reality and a lack of common sense – I asked the 20-something DJ at the 6th grade ice-cream social/dance party to “please play some Mozart so I could hear myself think.” Yes, this actually happened, and no, it did not go over very well (clearly). I’ve grown somewhat over the years; my Spotify account tells me that in 2017, Sia’s “Chandelier” edged out the “Dies Irae” from Mozart’s Requiem, coming in at 46 and 47 most commonly played, respectively, but there’s still something about a good “Kyrie” or a sumptuous aria or an intriguing overture that synthesizers just can’t match.

Richmond Symphony Chorus

In recent months, I’ve been listening to the Brahms Requiem more than any other album or song (I fully expect to find each movement on Spotify’s analysis of my 2018 habits). I walk across campus humming the key motives and it plays on my speakers as I do my hair or study for an exam. I’m sad to say I hadn’t discovered this piece before this year. The reason for this sudden infatuation? This piece will be the first I will perform as a member of the Richmond Symphony Chorus, with performances in the middle of November. From the night of the first rehearsal – a complete read through of the piece – cover to cover – in August, I was hooked.

Brahms score

Unlike the typical Latin text of the classical requiem, Brahms wrote entirely in German, and as such was free to abandon the standard movements and sections dictated by the traditional text. While I might bemoan the loss of a Brahmsian rendition of the “Dies Irae,” this gave him the ability to craft a framework of his own. My personal favorite moment of the Brahms is the second, though after a particularly intense rehearsal on the sixth I was about ready to shift my allegiances. I’m still loyal to the second though, for the reason of a specific 20 second section occurring at 9:34 – 9:54 of the second track of this recording. This moment, for me, captures the glorious beauty of wonderful music that truly stands the test of time, and let’s be honest, that soprano part is just so fun to sing!

Johannes Brahms c. 1866

Johannes Brahms c. 1866

New CDs added in January!

New CDs for January 2017

Blues

Alan Lomax – Parchman Farm: Photographs and Field Recordings: 1947-1959

John Adams - Scheherazade.2

Classical

John Adams – Scheherazade.2
Franz Berwald – 4 Symphonies
Johannes Brahms – Piano Concertos Nos. 1 & 2, Variations and Fugue on a Theme by Handel, Op. 24, Waltzes, Op. 39
Bartolomeo Campagnoli – Six String Quartets

Campagnoli - Six String Quatets

Electronic Music

Mason Bates – Works for Orchestra

Mason Bates - Works for Orchestra

Jazz

Andy Gonzalez –Entre Colegas
Bob Mintzer – All L.A. Band
Ted Nash Big Band – Presidential Suite: Eight Variations on Freedom

Bob Mintzer - All L.A. Band

Musical Theatre

Steve Martin & Edie Brickell – Bright Star: Original Broadway Cast Recording

Bright Star

Opera

Jennifer Higdon – Cold Mountain

Cold Mountain

Vocal Music

Christian Gerhaher – Ferne Geliebte
Christian Gerhaher – Mahler Lieder
Christian Gerhaher – Franz Schubert: Die schone Mullerin
Craig Hella Johnson – Considering Matthew Shepard
Anna Netrebko – Verismo

Anna Netrebko - Verismo

World Music

Anoushka Shankar – Land of Gold

Anoushka Shankar - Land of Gold