Arachnophonia: Queen Greatest Hits

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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 Deisy (class of 2024) and features insert title info here. Thanks, Deisy!

Queen – Greatest Hits

Queen Greatest Hits

I am ashamed to say that I did not know of Queen until after the movie Bohemian Rhapsody came out in 2018. But it was one of the best decisions I ever made when I decided to do my research and listen to their songs.

My favorite Queen song has to be “Love of My Life” which was released in 1975, beginning with the soft piano music, adding Mercury’s vocals, and finishing off with some electric guitar allowing the listeners to feel the emotions of the singer. The Parsons Music Library has access to all of the band’s greatest hits in a CD form which contains hits such as “Bohemian Rhapsody“, “Somebody to Love“, “Another One Bites the Dust“, and much more.

Queen is the type of band that gets you in the mood to take over the world. Listening to these songs first thing in the morning will allow you to finish the day with a sense of accomplishment. Perfect to get you pumped up for the day or before an exam, it is the type of music you must give a try!

Queen Greatest Hits + logo

Parsons Playlists: Apricity

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Welcome back to Parsons Playlists! Today’s playlist features a selection of wintry songs curated by Music Library student assistant Esther (class of 2025).

Apricity

The term “apricity” is defined as the warmth of the sun during winter. We may feel lethargic and burned out during the cold months, but I hope this playlist can provide some warmth and positivity to cheer us on!

Apricity - Winter landscape

David Hugo – “Die Right Here”

Bren Joy – “Henny in the Hamptons”

Nicky Youre & dazy – “Sunroof”

Surfaces – “Come With Me”

Besphrenz – “Tired Eyes”

Lui Joseph – “Strawberry”

Kuwada feat. Paul Russell – “Facetime (4g LTE)”

Camilo and Evaluna – “Índigo”

Cannon – “Water Glass”

Here is a link to the whole playlist on YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLU94rco57ZexFA7_D14ItQzo5YRIluQak

Arachnophonia: Live Aid

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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 Eliana (class of 2024) and features the Live Aid concert film. Thanks, Eliana!

Live Aid on DVD

Live Aid concert film still

Deemed by many “the greatest show on earth,” Live Aid was, and is still to this day, the largest benefit concert of all time. On July 13th, 1985, the biggest names in Pop and Rock music joined together at both Wembley Stadium in London and JFK Stadium in Philadelphia to raise money for the famine that left ⅕ of Ethiopia’s total population without food.

Huge stars including, but not limited to, Queen, Elton John, David Bowie, Stevie Wonder, Billy Joel, and Sting were all present across the two locations. In total, they raised more than $127 million towards famine relief – almost $330 million by today’s standards.

The four-disc DVD set of the event is available at Parsons Music library. In its case, you’ll see photographs from the concert, as well as a pamphlet that contains the first draft of “Do They Know It’s Christmas?,” two pages from the original Live Aid program, and various facts about the significance of the event.

Don’t have a DVD player? Have no fear! At Parsons Music Library, you can check out portable disc drives or visit study spaces with DVD players inside. If you have any questions, someone behind the front desk will always be available to help.

Live Aid dvd set

Parsons Playlists: Remembering the 2010s

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Welcome back to Parsons Playlists! Today’s playlist features music from the 2010s curated by Music Library student manager Deisy (class of 2024).

Remembering the 2010’s

As you drive down the road listening to the radio, all of a sudden that one song comes on! As it plays, memories of the past flood into you as you smile from the past nostalgia. Well this playlist will transport you back to the decade of the 2010’s, what are some good memories that will come up for you?

Adele – “Rolling in the Deep”

Lorde – “Royals”

Rihanna – “We Found Love”

Carly Rae Jepsen – “Call Me Maybe”

Beyoncé – “Formation”

Lil Nas X – “Old Town Road”

Billie Eilish – “bad guy”

The 1975 – “Love It If We Made It”

Ariana Grande – “thank u, next”

2010s playlist

Frank Ocean – “Thinkin Bout You”

Cardi B – “I Like It”

Frank Ocean – “Pyramids”

Mark Ronson – “Uptown Funk”

Cardi B – “Bodak Yellow”

Miley Cyrus – “Wrecking Ball”

Luis Fonsi – “Despacito”

Fetty Wap – “Trap Queen”

BTS – “Dynamite”

Here is a link to the full playlist on YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLU94rco57ZezafAB3OZuJtyVQF1lSvTNS

New CDs added: January 2022

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New CDs for January 2022

Orchestral, Concertos and Chamber Music

Eighth Blackbird – Singing in the Dead of Night
Henry Hadley – Afterglow: The Forgotten Works for Cello and Piano

Eighth Blackbird - Singing in the dead of night

Jazz

Wayne Shorter – Emanon
William Sweatman’s Original Jazz Band – Jazzin’ Straight Thru’ Paradise

Wayne Shorter - Emanon

Opera, Opera Excerpts, Choral Music and Art Songs

William Grant Still – The American Scene
William Grant Still – Highway One, USA

William Grant Still - Highway One USA

Popular Music

Angels vs. Aliens – Eleven Shades of Crimson
A New Dawn Fades – I See the Nightbirds
Emile Berliner – Etching the Voice: Emile Berliner and the First Commercial Gramophone Discs, 1889-1895

A New Dawn Fades

Kids Techno – The Harmony of Spheres
Various artists – Before Radio: Comedy, Drama, & Sound Sketches, 1897-1923

Before Radio

Parsons Playlists: Broadway’s Finest

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Welcome back to Parsons Playlists! Today’s playlist features a selection of Broadway tunes curated by Music Library student manager Danny (class of 2023).

Broadway’s Finest

On Broadway

“Santa Fe” from Newsies

“Defying Gravity” from Wicked

“I’m Not A Loser” from Spongebob Squarepants: The Musical

“I’d Rather Be Me” from Mean Girls

“Freeze Your Brain” from Heathers

“Tonight At Eight” from She Loves Me (2016)

“I Dreamed A Dream” from Les Miserables

“The Music of the Night” from The Phantom of the Opera

“More Than Survive” from Be More Chill

“Prologue/The Day I Got Expelled” from The Lightning Thief

Cast album covers

“What Baking Can Do” from Waitress

“Waving Through A Window” from Dear Evan Hansen

“Dust and Ashes” from Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812

“One Fine Day” from Beautiful: The Carole King Musical

“Dear Theodosia” from Hamilton

“Just Another Day” from Next To Normal

“Say My Name” from Beetlejuice

“Tonight Belongs to You” from The Prom: A New Musical

“Welcome to the Renaissance” from Something Rotten!

“That Face” from Dogfight

“Grow For Me” from Little Shop of Horrors

Here’s the whole playlist on YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLU94rco57ZewGPd58vomkfAoKzV0YQyw2

And here is an extended edition on Spotify:

Arachnophonia: Karelia Overture Op. 10 Jean Sibelius

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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 Allison (class of 2022) and features a streaming audio version of the “Karelia Overture” by Finnish composer Jean Sibelius. Thanks, Allison!

Jean Sibelius – Karelia Overture Op. 10

Sibelius Tone Poems Songs

Karelia Overture Op. 10 was the first piece in the Karelia Suite written by Jean Sibelius in 1893. The suite was premiered by the Viipuri Students’ association at the Imperial Alexander University in Finland during the same year. The Karelia Suite is one of Sibelius’ most popular works.

Jean Sibelius (1865-1957) was a very well-known Finnish composer and violinist. In fact, his music is often credited for helping develop Finland‘s national identity whilst the country struggled for independence from Russia. Sibelius began playing violin at age ten and soon became a very successful violinist. Despite his success in the instrumental realm, he decided he would rather become a composer. He studied music at the Helsinki Music Institute and then in various cities across Europe while launching his own career in composition. Fun fact: the Helsinki Music Institute is now known as the Sibelius Academy.

Jean Sibelius

Finnish composer Jean Sibelius (1865-1957)

I was first introduced to Sibelius my junior year of high school when I played Karelia Overture Op. 10 with my youth orchestra. I was very drawn to the piece because of its grandiosity and utilization of brass instruments. While I have since played other Sibelius pieces in youth orchestra and here at Richmond, Karelia Overture Op. 10 is my all-time favorite.

Parsons Playlists: Sounds of Bedroom Pop

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Welcome back to Parsons Playlists! Today’s playlist features a selection of bedroom pop tunes curated by Music Library student manager Christian (class of 2023).

This playlist features popular and obscure artists with a unique do-it-yourself sound.

Dayglow – “Can I Call You Tonight?”

MyKey – “Kneepads”

Still Woozy – “Kenny”

Yot Club – “YKWIM?”

Cavetown – “Boys Will Be Bugs”

Wallows featuring Clairo – “Are You Bored Yet?”

Sunflower – “Rex Orange County”

Boy Pablo – “Sick Feeling”

again&again – “eighty-five”

Bedroom Pop collage

khai dreams – “Lost in You”

NASAYA & Floyd Fuji – “JUNE”

Danny Dwyer – “Chinatown Market”

Abhi the Nomad – “Somebody to Love”

Sarcastic Sounds – “say goodbye”

Forrest. – “Backwards”

Grace Lee – “Heat Lightning”

Charlie Burg (feat. Bluets) – “Lovesong (The Way)”

khai dreams feat. Atwood – “All I Need”

MacLaine – “ALICE”

Here’s a link to the full playlist on YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLU94rco57ZeyS3iWm8EQNgM_TJuJdBATT

Arachnophonia: The Last 5 Years

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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 vocal selections from the musical The Last 5 Years. Thanks, Nicole!

The Last 5 Years

The Last 5 Years

The musical The Last 5 Years, written by Jason Robert Brown, is not the typical musical theatre love story. The story is about the failed marriage of a young actress named Cathy (played by Anna Kendrick in the 2014 movie version) and a young writer named Jamie (played by Jeremy Jordan in the movie version) who, in trying to find a balance between a successful career and a healthy relationship, end up hurting each other. However, the story is being told by both parts of the relationship that are living the same story in different timelines: Cathy starts singing about the end of her marriage in “Still Hurting”, but the following song, “Shiksa Goddess” is sung by Jamie five years before when he had just met Cathy. The Last 5 Years conveys these two different timelines with distinct chord progressions and instrumentation for the songs of each character respective to their timeline, representing how a story should be looked at from different perspectives before taking a stance.

This score includes most of the songs in the musical, such as “Still Hurting,” “Shiksa Goddess,” “Moving Too Fast,” and more. The scores are useful for any beginner-intermediate piano player or musical theatre singer who loves this heartbreaking musical.

The Last Five Years movie poster (2014)

Arachnophonia: Enrique Granados “Goyescas”

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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 Eli (class of 2024) and features Goyescas, a piano suite by Spanish composer Enrique Granados. Thanks, Eli!

Enrique Granados

Goyescas

Granados - Goyescas cd cover

Enrique Granados is undoubtedly one of the great ‘what-ifs?’ of classical music. Born in Lleida, Spain in 1867, Pantaleón Enrique Joaquín Granados y Campiñabegan studied music as a teenager, but was unable to attend a formal conservatory. Instead, Granados relied on private lessons and individual practice, eventually exploring composition.

His first real success was the 1898 opera Maria del Carmen, receiving critical acclaim for his composition and conducting. The Spanish King, Alfonso XIII, even attended a performance.

Granados continued composing and performing at a small scale for the next decade, but found his career take off with his piano suite Goyescas which premiered in 1911. Based on the paintings of Fransisco Goya, the works were incredibly popular, leading Granados to compose an opera based on the same themes. This opera became world-renowned after it opened in New York City (the European premiere was canceled due to the outbreak of World War One), and Granados was invited to perform for President Woodrow Wilson.

A walk in Andalusia - Francisco Goya (1777)

“A walk in Andalusia” – Francisco Goya (1777)

Unfortunately, Granados perished shortly afterwards, drowning when his boat back to Europe was sunk by a German U-boat. Had Granados stayed in his cabin (half of the ship was untouched) or turned down the New York premiere, his name could have become household in the world of classical music. I highly recommend listening to the Goyescas suite, especially “Quejas o la Maja y el Ruiseñor”, or “Laments, Or the Maiden and the Nightingale.”

Granados and canine friend

Enrique Granados poses with a canine friend