Arachnophonia: House Music

Posted on April 22, 2025 by marmstr3

Editor’s note: Arachnophonia (“Arachno” = spider / “-phonia” = sound) is a regular feature on our blog where members of the UR community can share their thoughts about resources from the Parsons Music Library‘s collection.

All links included in these posts will take you to either the library catalog records for the items in question or to additional relevant information from around the web.

Today’s installment of Arachnophonia is by student manager Nikoloz (class of 2026) and features various electronic resources having to do with house music. Thanks, Nikoloz!

House Music

House music is a genre of electronic dance music that originated in Chicago’s underground club culture during the early to mid-1980s. Pioneered by DJs and producers like Frankie Knuckles, Ron Hardy, and Marshall Jefferson, house evolved from disco by incorporating a repetitive four-on-the-floor beat, typically at 120–130 BPM, and mechanical rhythms created using drum machines like the Roland TR-808 and TR-909. The genre is characterized by deep basslines, synthesizer riffs, and off-beat hi-hats, claps, or snares, often layered with sampled vocals or instrumental loops from disco, soul, or funk. House music gained mainstream popularity by the late 1980s, influencing pop artists like Madonna, Whitney Houston, and Lady Gaga, and producing hits such as “Pump Up the Jam” and “Show Me Love.” Its production relied on affordable electronic equipment, making it accessible to independent creators, and its structure typically features repetitive eight-bar sections, slowly building layers of sound and texture.

House music encompasses a wide range of subgenres, including acid house, defined by the squelchy sounds of the Roland TB-303 bass synthesizer. Tracks often include minimal vocals, with repeated phrases or words, and are structured around intros, choruses, and outros, with longer 12-inch mixes for clubs and shorter radio edits. The genre emphasizes the lower-pitched bass register, creating a sparse yet rhythmic texture. House music’s global influence expanded from Chicago to New York, London, and beyond, becoming a staple in both mainstream and underground scenes. Its legacy continues through its impact on dance music, its presence in clubs and on radio, and its role in shaping modern pop and electronic music.

Some of the electronic resources featuring house music that the Music Library has access to include:

Streaming albums (like this one) via Alexander Street

Encyclopedia articles with bibliographies to help you start your research (like this one on house from Grove Music Online)

If you’d like to learn more about House music, the Music Library also boasts a wide variety of books, CDs, and more! You can use OneSearch to locate our holdings.

Arachnophonia: City of God

Posted on April 16, 2025 by marmstr3

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 student manager Griffin (class of 2027) and features the 2002 film City of God. Thanks, Griffin!

City of God

Based in the favela of Rio de Janeiro, City of God is hard hitting and captivating from the first frame. Loosely based on real events, we follow the lives of a group of boys and their experience growing up in poverty and surrounded by crime.

Although the story jumps around to different perspectives, we mainly follow Rocket who has grown up alongside other boys from his slum. The film masterfully gives depth to the juveniles for their choices as they attempt to escape impoverishment from the limited options. Inevitably, their cruel and demanding childhood leads to gang activity and crime.

Filmically, we quickly are thrown into this whirlwind and quickly submerge into the setting. The world is beautifully pictured simultaneously putting Brazil on display but also having gritty, up close shots of what it takes for the characters to survive. Lively music is used throughout the film, putting their culture on full display. The editing is snappy, making the just over 2 hour movie feel half that length.

The plot points of the movie raise interesting questions, especially with Rocket I found. He is an aspiring photographer that tries to distance himself from criminal activities. But in doing so, he cannot perform as an upstanding citizen and often turns a blind eye to crime. It brings to question the morals of documentarians such as the ones creating the film who interviewed and captured real crime in their recordings. More obviously it makes the viewer think about the ever present circumstances and repeating cycles of crime.

These elements together craft a compelling film that is well deserved of its BAFTA Award for Best Editing it won in 2003. I highly recommend checking City of God out at the music library.

Arachnophonia: Coldplay “X & Y”

Posted on April 9, 2025 by marmstr3

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 student assistant Ibrahim (class of 2028) and features Coldplay’s 2005 album X & Y. Thanks, Ibrahim!

Coldplay

X & Y

Coldplay’s third studio album is titled X & Y and was released in 2005. It revealed an immense change in their musical style. This album contains some of their most popular songs, including “Speed of Sound,” “Fix You,” and “Talk.” X & Y has various genres of music in it and discusses uncertainty, hope, and love among individuals, thus making this album a favorite among fans.

What makes X & Y unique is its terrific songwriting and expansive sound. Songs such as “Talk” borrow things from other bands—its melody is borrowed from an electronic band named Kraftwerk. “Fix You” is among the top songs by Coldplay because it consoles individuals who have been through tough times and provides them with hope. Whether you have known this band forever or just recently came to hear about it, this album is fun to listen to.

The Music Library has X & Y on CD, so you can experience its rich feelings yourself. If you prefer to think about the songs, listen to pleasant music, or simply have it playing in the background, most fans just love X & Y.

Arachnophonia: Amy Beach

Posted on April 2, 2025 by marmstr3

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 student manager Esther (class of 2025) and features a biography of American composer Amy Beach (1867-1944). Thanks, Esther!

Amy Beach, Passionate Victorian by Adrienne Fried Block

Amy Beach, Passionate Victorian is a detailed biography by Adrienne Fried Block, a renowned musicologist and scholar of American classical music. Block’s work was a significant contribution to the field, especially in the study of women composers who have often been overlooked in the traditional narrative of classical music. Block’s book dives into Beach’s life, not only exploring the cultural and societal challenges Beach faced as a woman in a male-dominated field, but also highlighting her overall impressive musical achievements as an accomplished composer.

In this biography, Block traces Beach’s life from her childhood in New Hampshire, where she displayed musical talent, to her rise as a respected composer and performer in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Beach, who became the first American woman to compose a symphony, overcame many personal and professional obstacles, but her work continues to resonate today. Block’s narrative emphasizes Beach’s legacy in the context of American classical music, examining her compositions, such as the “Gaelic Symphony” and “Piano Concerto in C-sharp minor,” and situating her within broader cultural movements. The biography is not just an account of Beach’s career but a reflection on the complexities of gender, artistry, and recognition in the classical music world, offering readers a deeper understanding of Beach’s lasting impact on the music community!

Arachnophonia: Nick Drake “Pink Moon”

Posted on March 26, 2025 by marmstr3

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 student assistant Georgia (class of 2025) and features Nick Drake’s 1972 studio album Pink Moon. Thanks, Georgia!

Nick Drake
Pink Moon

As a graduating senior, my life feels full of mystery, like I’m entering a threshold into a world of possibilities. But despite all the excitement and anticipation that this should bring, it is impossible not to dwell in the anxiety of uncertainty, as I am also entering a world that is suffering and undergoing extreme changes. Nick Drake’s Pink Moon (1972) is an album that reflects on choices and individual agency through a beautiful arrangement of nature metaphors and thoughtful reflection, and stands out to me as proof that art making and nurturing creativity are our most human tools that connect us all together and to the planet.

“Which Will,” the album’s fourth song, encapsulates feelings of both opportunity and indecision, as he asks

“which will you go for, which will you love,
which will you choose from, from the stars above,
which will you answer, which will you call,
which will you take for, for your one and all?”

This song reminds me of Sylvia Plath’s The Bell Jar, when Esther reflects on her life through the metaphor of a fig tree, where she imagines her future and notices her feelings of indecision, and here she states:

“I saw my life branching out before me like the green fig tree in the story. From the tip of every branch, like a fat purple fig, a wonderful future beckoned and winked. One fig was a husband and a happy home and children, and another fig was a famous poet and another fig was a brilliant professor, and another fig was Ee Gee, the amazing editor, and another fig was Europe and Africa and South America, and another fig was Constantin and Socrates and Attila and a pack of other lovers with queer names and offbeat professions, and another fig was an Olympic lady crew champion, and beyond and above these figs were many more figs I couldn’t quite make out. I saw myself sitting in the crotch of this fig tree, starving to death, just because I couldn’t make up my mind which of the figs I would choose. I wanted each and every one of them, but choosing one meant losing all the rest, and, as I sat there, unable to decide, the figs began to wrinkle and go black, and, one by one, they plopped to the ground at my feet.”

The environment has much to reveal about our nature as human beings, and can assure us that we are part of a larger, interconnected world. The stars above, the fig tree, our imaginings and choices, are reflected everywhere. We all see the same sky, and wish just to live in peace and without regrets.

Another song that has particularly inspired my reflection on this album is “Things Behind the Sun.” This song speaks deeply to the idea of choosing to live with creativity and earnestness despite external pressures to conform and lose all sense of individuality.

“Open up the broken cup
Let goodly sin and sunshine in
Yes, that’s the day
And open wide the hymns you hide
You find renown while people frown
At thing that you say
But say what you’ll say
About the farmers and the fun
And the things behind the sun
And the people around your head
Who say everything’s been said
And the movement in your brain
Sends you out into the rain.”

Ours is a very scary time for many people, with unconstitutional and unconscionable acts being enacted from those meant to serve us. We are intentionally being overwhelmed into apathy, with unnecessary tragedies and poisonous rhetoric filling the minds and ears of people everywhere. When it feels like we have nothing to do, nothing we can do, we must not stay still. One of many ways we can resist is within our own lives, choosing to nurture our spirits, our creativity, and our individuality, and building communities that encourage the same for others. Despite what many would want you to think, we live a life full of infinite choices, and within those so many opportunities to choose empathy and self-expression. What makes us human is you and me, so why should we be any different?

Tragically, Nick Drake passed away when he was 26, overdosing on his antidepressants in his home in Warwickshire, United Kingdom. In this unfortunately short life he lived, he has filled so many with inspiration and comfort. He would have turned 77 this year.

*I recommend you read or listen to this NPR interview that discusses Drake’s life and career:
https://www.npr.org/2024/11/30/nx-s1-5206525/remembering-singer-nick-drake-50-years-on

Arachnophonia: George Gershwin’s “Piano Concerto in F”

Posted on March 19, 2025 by marmstr3

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 student assistant Alexandra (class of 2026) and features American composer George Gershwin’s “Piano Concerto in F”. Thanks, Alex!

George Gershwin

Piano Concerto in F

George Gershwin was an American composer who revolutionized the music scene in the early 1900s, merging the new jazz genre with classical. His experimental piece Rhapsody in Blue merged a classical orchestra with concert piano in a pseudo-piano concerto form to wild acclaim. Despite classical music’s rigid and highly critical tradition, Gershwin created a way for listeners to experience the new American jazz style in a concert hall setting. The rapid success of Rhapsody in Blue gave Gershwin a chance to compose a full-length concerto in 1925, his now immortal Piano Concerto in F. Gershwin’s longest work, the concerto is divided into three movements which each highlight a distinct style of jazz.

The first movement, I. Allegro moderato, uses the Charleston and features syncopation in a swing style just debuting in the US at the time. Its first climax introduces the piano into the concerto in a melancholy start, quickly dazzling listeners with key changes and pentatonic scales uncommon to classical piano concertos. A second climax features sweeping strings and huge chord progressions before descending into more syncopated rhythms that one could imagine dancing to in the 1920s.

The second movement, II. Andante con moto, is a slow section similar to an Adagio or Largo movement but uses a blues feel to characterize the emotional equivalents in typical classical movements. His alternations of instruments soloing the main theme, whether that be violin, piano, or trumpet, represent the big band jazz style growing during the concerto’s premier.

The third movement, III. Allegro agitato, starts with a flourish of woodwinds and brass to begin an exciting, fast-paced theme introduced in the first movement. Gershwin continues to experiment with jazz-inspired chords and syncopated rhythms, emblematic of his American heritage and pride in the new music genre.

Overall, Gershwin’s experimental Piano Concerto in F expands upon his work with Rhapsody in Blue and the excitement surrounding American jazz during the 1920s. Gershwin once asked another modernizing composer, Maurice Ravel, to mentor him. Ravel promptly rejected the request, stating “Why would I teach you to become a second-rate Ravel when you are already a first-rate Gershwin?” The unique output of Gershwin and his exciting Piano Concerto in F leave a lasting impression on listeners about the development of American music to rival great classical composers of Europe.

Arachnophonia: Justin Timberlake – “The 20/20 Experience”

Posted on March 17, 2025 by marmstr3

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 student manager Marissa (class of 2025) and features Justin Timberlake’s third studio album The 20/20 Experience. Thanks, Marissa!

Justin Timberlake

The 20/20 Experience

One of the “Greatest Artists of the 21st Century”, Justin Timberlake is an American pop singer, songwriter, producer, actor and dancer. He started off his career in the music industry as a featured member of the popular boy band *NSYNC in the late 90s. He can also be seen in the 2010 movie The Social Network as Napster founder Sean Parker.

His third studio album titled The 20/20 Experience dropped in 2013, debuting at number one on the US Billboard 200 and it eventually became Billboard’s best selling album of 2013. The singles on the album include “Suit and Tie” featuring Jay-Z, “Tunnel Vision,” and, my personal favorite, “Mirrors.” These songs and more can be found in the Parson’s Music Library today on The 20/20 Experience CD.

Arachnophonia: Adele – “21”

Posted on March 5, 2025 by marmstr3

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 student assistant Jillian (class of 2027) and features Adele’s 2011 studio album 21. Thanks, Jillian!

Adele

I came across this album while shelf reading and instantly was washed over by nostalgia. At the time this album was released I was 10 years old, but my mom loved Adele’s staples such as “Rumor Has It,” and “Rolling in the Deep,” so I heard these songs quite often. I remember listening to them on long car rides to my sister’s ballet classes, never really understanding the lyrics, but I liked the beat.

Adele’s 21 album was created while she was 21, therefore all of the events and feelings she went through during this time of her life are expressed in these songs. As I’m turning 21 this year, I found it comforting to listen to the music again, because now I could actually understand what she was going through and relate. I think this goes to show you that while new music is exciting, it’s always fun to revisit the music you listened to when you were young, especially when you’re feeling down.

As a college student, it’s important to ground yourself once in a while. Revisiting your old music taste can bring back memories, comfort you, and remind you of who you used to be. With pressures of due dates, presentations, and exams, it’s always good to reflect on how far you’ve come. Music is a means of transporting you to that old self so you can appreciate where you are now. So, I suggest you go back and listen to that old playlist, album or song. Because who knows, after listening maybe you’ll discover a new meaning to it.

Arachnophonia: Kendrick Lamar “To Pimp A Butterfly”

Posted on March 3, 2025 by marmstr3

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 student assistant Susanne (class of 2026) and features Kendrick Lamar’s 2015 album To Pimp A Butterfly. Thanks, Susanne!

Kendrick Lamar

To Pimp A Butterfly

Celebrating 10 Years of To Pimp A Butterfly

Released almost 10 years ago on March 15, 2015, To Pimp A Butterfly is American rapper Kendrick Lamar’s third studio album. To Pimp A Butterfly blends numerous genres rooted in African American music styles, including hip-hop, jazz, funk, and soul.

The album centers political commentary surrounding racial violence and institutional discrimination, gaining widespread recognition for the artistry and social impact of the lyricism. Lamar drew inspiration from his travels to South Africa where he was able to draw connections between their racial and social landscape and Black communities of the U.S.

To Pimp A Butterfly centers Black memory and tradition while still focusing on contemporary social issues. Lamar’s song “Alright,” for example, came to be used in the Black Lives Matter movement as a call to action. Lamar received eleven total nominations at the 2016 Grammy Awards, seven just for To Pimp A Butterfly, and won Best Rap Album of the Year.

At a time of growing Black activism throughout the country, To Pimp A Butterfly had a tremendous impact on the hip-hop and rap industry. Many artists and fans alike cite Lamar’s album as a moment of empowerment to create pieces that express their cultural experiences and speak out against critical social inequalities.

Arachnophonia: Common – “Be”

Posted on February 26, 2025 by marmstr3

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 student manager Isaac (class of 2025) and features Common’s 2005 album Be. Thanks, Isaac!

Common

Be by Common is a special album because it’s honest, inspiring, and full of heart––and also one of my favorite albums in the music library.

Released in 2005, it came at a time when Common wanted to reconnect with his roots in hip-hop and tell stories that felt real to him. Produced largely by Kanye West, the album’s beats have a warmth and depth that perfectly complement Common’s thoughtful lyrics.

Tracks like “The Corner” and “Go!” bring vivid imagery of urban life, while songs like “Love Is…” and “Faithful” explore love and spirituality with nuance and sincerity.

Common himself is known for being one of the most reflective and poetic voices in hip-hop, never missing a chance to reference his hometown of Chicago. With Be, he really focused on making music that felt authentic and meaningful, not just catchy. Songs like “The Corner” talk about life in the city, while “Faithful” and “Love Is…” explore deeper ideas about relationships and spirituality.

My personal favorite track, “The Food (Live),” is a grainy live recording of Common and Kanye West performing the song in Chicago, with the two windy city natives poetically discussing their hometown in a raw, authentic manner that’s emphasized by the live atmosphere, supported by a punchy, upbeat production in the background. The way the album was made — focused on collaboration and storytelling — makes Be a gem at the music library, and I recommend checking it out one day.

Listening In

News from Parsons Music Library at The University of Richmond

Category Archives: Arachnophonia

Arachnophonia: House Music

Arachnophonia: City of God

Arachnophonia: Coldplay “X & Y”

Arachnophonia: Amy Beach

Arachnophonia: Nick Drake “Pink Moon”

Arachnophonia: George Gershwin’s “Piano Concerto in F”

Arachnophonia: Justin Timberlake – “The 20/20 Experience”

Arachnophonia: Adele – “21”

Arachnophonia: Kendrick Lamar “To Pimp A Butterfly”

Arachnophonia: Common – “Be”