WDCE Charts 2-21-24

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WDCE 90.1 Logo

WDCE 90.1: UR Radio is the voice of independent radio in Richmond, VA and has been student-run and operated since 1960.
Students have used it as a launching pad for careers in radio or other mass communications, and also as an engaging extra-curricular activity. Community members and UR alumni also continue to play an important role in the station.

We’re sharing chart information from WDCE as reported to the North American College and Community (NACC) Radio Chart.

Here’s the WDCE Top 30 from February 21, 2024 (click the image to see a larger version):

WDCE 2-21-24

For comparison, here is this week’s national NACC chart (click the image to see a larger version):

NACC 2-21-24

You can stream WDCE live here: https://live365.com/station/WDCE-90-1-FM-a39711

WDCE Charts 2-21-24

Arachnophonia: Instruments in the History of Western Music

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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 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 book about the history of musical instruments. Thanks, Esther!

Instruments in the History of Western Music by Karl Geiringer

Instruments in the History of Western Music

We have often affectionately labeled music as the “universal language” throughout the years, though our reference is typically rooted in Western notation, which is familiar to the majority. During my time at the University of Richmond, I discovered that while music shares many characteristics with languages, it isn’t truly universal. Even within the Western music domain, the evolution of music has taken diverse and transformative paths.

In Karl Geiringer‘s book, Instruments in the History of Western Music, he delves into the history of musical instruments spanning about 25,000 years. My interest in this book was piqued after discussions about the distinct standards composers adhered to in the Baroque, Romantic, and Classical Eras. After understanding how these standards influenced compositional styles, audience perspectives, and society’s notions of a musical “genius,” it became apparent that the evolution of instruments was also inevitable.

Dr. Geiringer’s book stood out to me for his approach to illuminating the cultural and historical contexts of the instruments. This methodology provides readers with a solid foundation, enabling a deeper understanding of how instruments have genuinely evolved, mirroring the values held during each era.

Parsons Playlists: Black History Month Celebration

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Welcome back to Parsons Playlists! Today’s playlist is curated by Music Library student assistant Susanne (class of 2026) and features a playlist in honor of Black History Month.

Black History Month Celebration

Black History Month

In honor of Black History Month, this playlist features songs by some amazing, influential Black artists. There’s a variety of genres and styles on this playlist and no shortage of hits – so enjoy and continue to support Black musicians this February and every month!

Whitney Houston – “How Will I Know”

Rihanna – “Love on the Brain”

Childish Gambino – “Redbone”

Ms. Lauryn Hill – “Doo Wop (That Thing)”

Aretha Franklin – “Respect”

Kendrick Lamar – “Alright”

Beyoncé feat. Kendrick Lamar – “Freedom”

Leon Bridges – “River”

Janelle Monáe – “Make Me Feel”

Jon Batiste – “I Need You”

SZA – “Good Days”

Victoria Monét & JAGUAR II – “On My Mama”

Here is a link to the whole playlist on YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLU94rco57ZezF78M_SQxgWVnVqrfP6uvF&si=pSPJzGUHFEQs3E5Q

Parsons Playlists: Coming-of-Age Movie Soundtrack

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Welcome back to Parsons Playlists! Today’s playlist is curated by Music Library student assistant Nicole (class of 2024) and features

Coming-of-Age Movie Soundtrack

With Commencement coming up and only a couple of months until Summer, one can’t help but ponder on how far they’ve come and think about how uncertain the future is. Here is a playlist with songs to help you romanticize academic life and think of it as if you were the main character of a coming-of-age film!

BØRNS – “Electric Love”

Florence + The Machine – “Dogs Days Are Over”

GROUPLOVE – “Tongue Tied”

Harry Styles – “Keep Driving”

Harry Styles – “Matilda”

Indigo De Souza – “Younger & Dumber”

Keane – “Somewhere Only We Know”

MGMT – “Time to Pretend”

Of Monsters and Men – “Little Talks”

Royel Otis – “Oysters in My Pocket”

Tame Impala – “Yes I’m Changing”

Taylor Swift – “You’re On Your Own, Kid”

Tears for Fears – “Everybody Wants To Rule The World”

The 1975 – “Robbers”

The Script – “For the First Time”

The Strokes – “Hard to Explain”

Vacations – “No Place Like Home”

Here is a link to the whole playlist on YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLU94rco57ZezPBKdTCZPVYTGk1TkN7DeZ&si=YIkZOpxp2ukj5kY9

WDCE Charts 2-14-24

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WDCE 90.1 Logo

WDCE 90.1: UR Radio is the voice of independent radio in Richmond, VA and has been student-run and operated since 1960.
Students have used it as a launching pad for careers in radio or other mass communications, and also as an engaging extra-curricular activity. Community members and UR alumni also continue to play an important role in the station.

We’re sharing chart information from WDCE as reported to the North American College and Community (NACC) Radio Chart.

Here’s the WDCE Top 30 from February 14, 2024 (click the image to see a larger version):

WDCE 2-14-24

For comparison, here is this week’s national NACC chart (click the image to see a larger version):

NACC 2-14-24

You can stream WDCE live here: https://live365.com/station/WDCE-90-1-FM-a39711

WDCE 2-14-24

Arachnophonia: Back to Band

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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 record(s) for the item(s) in question or to additional relevant information from around the web.

Today’s installment of Arachnophonia is by student manager Eliana (class of 2024) and features books on musical technique for clarinet, oboe and flute. Thanks, Eliana!

Back to Band

Were you a band kid in high school that hasn’t picked up your instrument since you arrived at Richmond? If so, here’s your chance to get back into the swing of things! I played the clarinet – so I’m partial to upper woodwinds – but here’s a few books for late beginner/intermediate woodwind players that might help reinvigorate your love for your former instrument.

A Tune A Day For Clarinet

A Tune A Day For Clarinet

This book offers some initial lessons on tonguing, finger placement, and scales and also has accompanying pieces to work through that utilize the skills practiced. If you finish it and feel like a pro, volume two (also available at Parsons Music Library) has some more difficult songs and arrangements for even more growth.

Belwin’s Oboe Method

Belwin's Oboe Method

Also divided into multiple books, Belwin’s Oboe Method is a great way to return to the basics of oboe playing. It divides songs into keys, has some necessary scales and talks musical terms. If you move on to volume two, the songs get a little more complex and you learn all about syncopation.

Foundation to Flute Playing

foundation to flute playing

Foundation to Flute Playing takes a lesson-based approach; the book is divided into 59 lessons that get progressively more challenging, and the back is filled with some fun songs to try your hand at after making your way through the lessons. From the chromatic scale to cadenzas, this book doesn’t leave anything out!

If you played a different instrument and wanted to check out some books or scores for it, just ask any associate at Parsons Music Library and they’d be happy to help you find what you’re looking for!

Parsons Playlists: “Peach Fuzz”

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Welcome back to Parsons Playlists! Today’s playlist is curated by Music Library student manager Amy (class of 2025) and features songs inspired by Pantone’s 2024 Color of the Year.

Peach Fuzz

Pantone Peach Fuzz

Another year, another Pantone color playlist! This is my third annual Pantone playlist, and this playlist might be my favorite. 2024’s color of the year is Peach Fuzz, which Pantone’s website describes as a color that “captures our desire to nurture ourselves and others. It’s a velvety gentle peach tone whose all-embracing spirit enriches mind, body, and soul. Pantone collaborated with multiple companies this year, including Cariuma Sneakers, a ripe peach flavored tea from TEALEAVES’, Peach Fuzz colored Polaroid film, and a peach-colored lip oil from Shades by Shan.

Here are 15 songs that I think are reminiscent of the color peach fuzz:

Kacey Musgraves – “Velvet Elvis”

Edison Lighthouse – “Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes)”

Florence + The Machine – “Delilah”

Stevie Wonder – “You Are the Sunshine of My Life”

Bobby Hebb – “Sunny”

Etta James – “A Sunday Kind of Love”

Billy Joel – “Vienna”

Norah Jones – “Come Away With Me”

The Supremes – “Baby Love”

Lenny Kravitz – “It Ain’t Over Till It’s Over”

Frank Sinatra, Nancy Sinatra – “Somethin’ Stupid”

Aretha Franklin – “I Say A Little Prayer”

Carole King – “It’s Too Late”

Aretha Franklin – “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman”

Katrina & the Waves – “Walking on Sunshine”

Here is a link to the whole playlist on YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLSwAwMtTLDwhKis3qIiq2CkYiFLjXwZif&si=A_motAXuYrJyrxO-

And here it is on Spotify:

Parsons Playlists: Sonnet 18

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Welcome back to Parsons Playlists! Today’s playlist is curated by Music Library student manager Esther (class of 2025) which features some music for your Valentine’s Day enjoyment.

Sonnet 18

For the lovers and the dreamers! Happy Valentine’s Day!

Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 21 Andante

Schumann: Romance in F-sharp Major

Mahler: Symphony No. 5 Adagietto

Chopin: Nocturne in C-sharp minor, Op. 27, No. 1

Liszt: Liebestraum No. 3

Sibelius: Four Pieces for Violin and Piano, Op. 78

Tchaikovsky: Romeo and Juliet, “Fantasy Overture”

Puccini: La bohème “O soave fanciulla”

Wagner: Tristan und Isolde, “Prelude and Liebestod”

Mascagni: Intermezzo Sinfonica

Fauré: Après un Rêve

Bellini: I Puritani “A te, o cara”

Rachmaninov: Piano Concerto No. 2, Adagio sostenuto

Beethoven: Piano Concerto No.3, Largo

Strauss: Ariadne auf Naxos

Here is a link to the whole playlist on YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLU94rco57ZeyPRn_axqEthrkKs-1nckTU&si=I68XVX-RPvJ38CF0

WDCE Charts 2-7-24

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WDCE 90.1 Logo

WDCE 90.1: UR Radio is the voice of independent radio in Richmond, VA and has been student-run and operated since 1960.
Students have used it as a launching pad for careers in radio or other mass communications, and also as an engaging extra-curricular activity. Community members and UR alumni also continue to play an important role in the station.

We’re sharing chart information from WDCE as reported to the North American College and Community (NACC) Radio Chart.

Here’s the WDCE Top 30 from February 7, 2024 (click the image to see a larger version):

WDCE chart 2-7-24

For comparison, here is this week’s national NACC chart (click the image to see a larger version):

NACC chart 2-7-24

You can stream WDCE live here: https://live365.com/station/WDCE-90-1-FM-a39711

WDCE chart 2-7-24

Arachnophonia: Camille Saint-Saëns “The Carnival of the Animals”

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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 record for the item in question or to additional relevant information from around the web.

Today’s installment of Arachnophonia is by student manager Xipeng (class of 2024) and features Camille Saint-Saëns’s “The Carnival of the Animals”. Thanks, Xipeng!

Camille Saint-Saëns – “The Carnival of the Animals”

Carnaval des Animaux

Camille Saint-Saëns, born in Paris in 1835, was a prominent French composer of the Romantic era who displayed extraordinary musical talent from a young age. He was a versatile musician, excelling in various genres, including symphonies, operas, and chamber music. His compositions often reflected a blend of traditional forms with modern influences, contributing to his reputation as a forward-thinking composer of his time. “The Carnival of the Animals” is one of Saint-Saëns’ most famous masterpieces that showcases his playful imagination.

French composer Camille Saint-Saëns (1835-1921)

“The Carnival of the Animals” was composed in 1886, a lighthearted and whimsical suite of fourteen movements for chamber ensemble. The piece was originally a private work and the composer requested not to be published during his lifetime, fearing that its playful nature would detract from his more serious reputation. It was published after his death and became one of Saint-Saëns’ most beloved compositions. Each movement in the suite represents a different animal, and each is characterized by distinct melodies, rhythms, and instrumental colors that vividly portray the featured animals.

Here is a performance of “The Carnival of the Animals” by Zagreb Music Academy Chamber Orchestra:

Feel free to check out recordings, scores and biographies at Parsons Music Library!