Parsons Playlists: A Mini Collection of Mozart

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Welcome back to Parsons Playlists! Today’s playlist is curated by Music Library student assistant Xipeng (class of 2024) and features works by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

A Mini Collection of Mozart

I have to say that my childhood was accompanied with Mozart’s music, and today’s playlist is all about Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart!

violin solo with orchestra

Mozart – Piano Concerto No.21 in C Major, K.467 “Elvira Madigan”: I. Allegro maestoso
Artist: Rudolf Buchbinder

Mozart – Piano Concerto No. 27 in B-Flat Major, Op. 17, K. 595: I. Allegro
Artist: Rudolf Buchbinder

Mozart – Piano Concerto No. 13 in C Major, K. 415 – 1. Allegro
Artist: Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli

Mozart – Piano Sonata in C major, K. 330- 3rd mov. Allegretto
Artist: Mitsuko Uchida

Mozart – Piano Sonata in A minor, K. 310- 3rd mov. Presto
Artist: Mitsuko Uchida

Mozart – Flute Concerto No. 1 in G major (K. 313)
Artist: Sharon Bezaly, Ostrobothnian Chamber Orchestra

Mozart – La Flute Enchantee – Der hölle Rache
Artist: Sabine Devieilhe

Mozart – Violin Concerto No.3 in G major, K216: I Allegro
Artist: Hilary Hahn

Mozart – Violin Concerto No. 5 in A Major, KV 219 “Turkish”: III. Rondeau
Artist: Bomsori Kim

Mozart – Piano Trio in G Major, K. 496
Artist: Clara Trio

Mozart – Piano Trio No. 1 (Divertimento), K. 254 in B-flat Major
Artist: Sean Cavanaugh, Nathaniel Shapiro, Kelly Knox

Mozart – Fantasia in D minor K. 397
Artist: Mieczyslaw Horszowski

Mozart – Flute Quartet No.1 in D Major, K.285
Artist: Ensemble Connect

Here is a link to the whole playlist on YouTube:
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLU94rco57Zexyj2fQfwVMgM2RqB25FRkP

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)

Arachnophonia: Edward Elgar’s “Enigma Variations”

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

Today’s installment of Arachnophonia is by student assistant Eli (class of 2024) and features Elgar’s Enigma Variations. Thanks, Eli!

Edward Elgar

Enigma Variations

Sir Edward Elgar 1857-1934

Sir Edward Elgar 1857-1934

Edward Elgar, a classical English composer who gained prominence around the turn of the 20th century, is perhaps best known for his Pomp and Circumstance Marches, a key part of any graduation ceremony today.

Yet his most intriguing work is undoubtedly Variations on an Original Theme, better known as the Enigma Variations. These fourteen variations are each dedicated to important people in Elgar’s life, including his wife and his students. Each variation shares similar phrases, but the attitude and voices vary widely. Significant moments in Elgar’s relationship with these people are written into the variations, as well as their key personality traits.

The “Nimrod” variation, dedicated to his mentor Augustus J. Jaeger, is widely considered one of Elgar’s finest works and is frequently reproduced. Most notably, it was played at Princess Diana’s funeral and at the opening ceremony of the 2012 London Olympics.

The “enigma” within these variations has yet to be solved, but is believed to be a secret melody hidden across the variations. I highly encourage listening to these variations as it is one of my favorite orchestral works. You can read more about the Enigma Variations by checking out Julian Rushton’s book Elgar, ‘Enigma’ Variations or you can listen to both Pomp and Circumstance and the Enigma Variations on CD.

Arachnophonia: Guillaume Dufay “Chansons – Forty-Five Settings in Original Notation”

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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 Brianna (class of 2023) and features music by the early Renaissance composer Guillaume Dufay (1397-1474). Thanks, Brianna!

Guillaume Dufay
Chansons: Forty-Five Settings in Original Notation

Dufay and Binchois

Guillaume Du Fay (left), with Gilles Binchois (right) in a c. 1440 Illuminated manuscript copy of Martin le Franc’s Le champion des dames (source: Wikipedia)

One of the most fascinating aspects of music history to me is the way that musical notation and writing has evolved. A prime example of this is the madrigal. A madrigal is a part-song for several voices most commonly found in the Renaissance period. While this style of music was most popular in Italy and England, there are several noteworthy French composers who wrote madrigals.

One such composer is Guillaume Dufay. The music library is lucky to have a score of a selection of 45 of his pieces, all in original notation. Flipping through the pages shows a style of notation that has since lost popularity, but it is still incredibly interesting to look at.

Learning to transpose such music is a vast field of study that is very active to this day. I find it to be a sort of puzzle, as there are some notes and articulations that were assumed to be inferred by performers in the period it was written, but that are generally explicitly written out in modern music. Finding these hidden clues and listening to your transcription is a rewarding and fun experience. If you get a chance, be sure to check out this music!

Parsons Playlists: The Ultimate Drum Playlist

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Welcome back to Parsons Playlists! Today’s playlist is curated by Music Library student manager Christian (class of 2023) and features some iconic drum performances.

The Ultimate Drum Playlist

This playlist features some of the most captivating and complex drum grooves, from jazz to heavy rock.

drum kit labeled

Red Hot Chili Peppers – “Charlie”

Vulfpeck – “Adrienne & Adrianne”

The Arctic Monkeys – “Brainstorm”

Red Hot Chili Peppers – “Around the World”

Vulfpeck – “Daddy, He Got A Tesla”

The Fearless Flyers – “Introducing the Fearless Flyers”

Red Hot Chili Peppers – “We Believe”

The Arctic Monkeys – “Old Yellow Bricks”

PJ Morton – “Sticking To My Guns”

Chon – “Can’t Wait”

The Arctic Monkeys – “D Is For Dangerous”

Jimi Hendrix – “Fire”

Red Hot Chili Peppers – “Torture Me”

The Backseat Lovers – “Kilby Girl”

Franz Ferdinand – “Take Me Out”

Jaco Pastorious – “The Chicken”

Victor Wooten – “Funky D”

Here is a link to the whole playlist on YouTube:
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLU94rco57ZexHjyQgt-nruhgr2JrYwoS5

Parsons Playlists: Dark Academia

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Welcome back to Parsons Playlists! Today’s playlist is curated by Music Library student manager Deisy (class of 2024) and features music for your next study session.

Dark Academia

Looking for some dark academia themed music? Look no further as this playlist transports you to a darker yet magical ambience, perfect for studying!

da3

Takefumi Haketa – “Social Ball” (from Vampire Knight ost)

Herold Lavrentievich Kittler – “Expectation Waltz”

Max Kyuss – “Amur Waves”

Evgeniĭ Mikhaĭlovich Dreĭzin – “Forest Tale”

Dmitri Shostakovich – “The Second Waltz” (from Suite for Jazz Orchestra No. 2)

Takefumi Haketa – “Inner Turmoil” (from Vampire Knight: Guilty)

Eugen Doga – “Gramophone”

Ilya Shatrov – “On The Hills of Manchuria Waltz”

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky – Swan Lake Op. 20, Act 2

Vladimir Fedoseyev – “The Snowstorm: II. Waltz”

Takefumi Haketa – “Forbidden Act” (from Vampire Knight ost)

Stephen Flaherty – “Once Upon A December”

Iosif Ivanovici – “Waves of the Danube Waltz”

Petr Gapon – “Broken Strings Waltz”

Frank Wildhorn – “Prologue to The Count of Monte Cristo“

Takefumi Haketa – “Main Theme” (from Vampire Knight: Guilty)

Piero Piccioni – “Amore Mio Aiutami (Main Theme)”

Here is a link to the whole playlist on YouTube:
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLU94rco57ZezPYHKDU_Cqq_d14hU5aOlX

Arachnophonia: The Beach Boys “Smile”

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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 assistant Amy (class of 2025) and features The Beach Boys’ unfinished album Smile. Thanks, Amy!

The Beach Boys

Smile

The Beach Boys - Smile

Referred to as the most renowned unreleased album in pop music history, Smile was supposed to be the 12th studio album by the American band the Beach Boys, projected to be released after their album Pet Sounds. However, they did not officially release the album, potentially because of legality issues with Capitol Records and the producer and composer of the album – Brian Wilson’s – rocky emotional state.

The album had fully completed musical tracks, but only a few of the songs have vocal recordings. Potentially because of his fear of ridicule, Brian Wilson refused to finish the album, but when bootleg versions of the album became popular among the Beach Boys’ audience in the 80s, Capitol Records released a portion of the album to the public in the 90s.

Wilson drew inspiration from astrology, numerology, and the occult when composing Smile. He also became fascinated with religion, even adopting meditation and vegetarianism. Wilson wanted this album to be a “teenage symphony to God.” The group named the album Smile because it focused on good thought and happiness.

You can find the Beach Boys Smile album at the Parsons Music Library. The box set includes 40 tracks, many of which are unfinished but include parts of the structure of the original Smile album. The box also includes a small book of notes from Wilson and photos from the recording sessions.

Parsons Playlists: Best Campground Music

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Welcome back to Parsons Playlists! Today’s playlist is curated by Music Library student manager Brianna (class of 2023) and features music for your next outdoor adventure.

Best Campground Music

This playlist includes my favorite songs to listen to when I’m camping, hiking, or even just driving through the woods. I hope listening to this playlist brings back your favorite camping memories, or completes the atmosphere at your next camping adventure.

The Wood Brothers – “Wastin’ My Mind”

The California Honeydrops – “Don’t Let The Green Grass Fool You”

Guantanamo Bay Surf Club – “Halves and Quarters”

Mipso – “Louise”

The Lumineers – “Walls”

Eddie Vedder – “Hard Sun”

Old Crow Medicine Show – “Wagon Wheel”

The Brothers Comatose – “Valerie”

Oliver Hazard – “Dandelion”

Mandolin Orange – “Wildfire”

Here is a link to the whole playlist on YouTube:
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLU94rco57ZezOBK8PCe7Fnb8Tw_gz3VTu

Arachnophonia: “La flor de la canela” by Chabuca Granda

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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 assistant Nicole (class of 2024) and features popular song from Peru called “La flor de la canela”. Thanks, Nicole!

“La flor de la canela” – Chabuca Granda

La Flor de la Canela

“La flor de la Canela,” which translates to: “ The Cinnamon flower” in English, is a vals criollo song first recorded by the group Los Morochucos in 1950, and later popularized by the singer and composer Chabuca Granda in the same year. Chabuca is a symbol of música criolla in Peru, a genre that exhibits influences from European, African, and Andean music.

Chabuca Cantando

Chabuca Grande singing on a Peruvian TV show circa 1960

I have grown up hearing this popular song on the radio since it has become the unofficial anthem of the citizens of Lima, the capital of Peru. The song also conveys a beautiful meaning. The expression itself, “to be a cinnamon flower” means to be proud and far from reach.

Chabuca was inspired to write the song because of a friend who would always come to her performances, an African Peruvian woman named Victoria Angulo Castillo. During their meetings, Victoria would tell Chabuca about her journey home after the shows, crossing an old wooden bridge: “el Viejo Puente de Palo”. The lyrics tell the story of a young beautiful woman on her journey home. This woman is described as “the cinnamon flower.”

A CD with Chabuca’s greatest hits, including “La flor de la Canela,” is available to check out at the Parsons Music Library!

Arachnophonia: In The Heights

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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 the musical In The Heights. Thanks, Eliana!

In The Heights

In The Heights

Before the critically acclaimed film of the same name, In the Heights had a 3-year run on Broadway. In that time, it was nominated for 13 Tony Awards and won 4.

The musical, written by and starring Lin-Manuel Miranda, centers on a group of Dominican American young adults living in Washington Heights, NYC.

The story centers around Usnavi, a young bodega owner with the dream of returning home to the Dominican Republic. It’s summertime, so his neighbor Nina comes back from Stanford University with the unsettling news that she’s feeling out of place and wants to drop out, in turn disappointing her family. To make things even worse, things aren’t going great with Vanessa, the object of Usnavi’s affection. When there’s a city-wide blackout, chaos ensues.

The score features upbeat, energetic songs like “96,000,” “Blackout,” and “In the Heights” and slower, emotional numbers like “Breathe” and “It Won’t Be Long Now,” providing a myriad of entertainment for all types of listeners.

You can check out both the score and original Broadway cast recording here at Parsons Music Library!

Parsons Playlists: Stan Getz

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Welcome back to Parsons Playlists! Today’s playlist is curated by Music Library student assistant Eli (class of 2024) and features jazz/samba music from the great saxophonist Stan Getz.

One of the greatest jazz saxophonists of all time, many know “The Sound” Stan Getz from “The Girl From Ipanema”. Here are more of his greatest works to expand your jazz and samba repertoire.

Stan Getz

“Saudade Vem Correndo” (Stan Getz, Luiz Bonfá, Maria Toledo)

“Só Danço Samba” (Stan Getz, Luiz Bonfá)

“Vivo Sonhando” (Stan Getz, João Gilberto, Antônio Carlos Jobim)

“Para Machuchar Meu Coracao” (Stan Getz, João Gilberto, Antônio Carlos Jobim)

“Corcovado” (Stan Getz, João Gilberto)

“Águas de Março” (Stan Getz, João Gilberto)

“Retrato Em Branco E Preto” (Stan Getz, João Gilberto)

“Samba da Minha Terra” (Stan Getz, João Gilberto)

“The Peacocks” – Live (Bill Evans Trio, Stan Getz)

Here is a link to the whole playlist on YouTube:
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLU94rco57ZewWYyrz6QGgmwzPw5yjl-CL