Arachnophonia: Hip Hop Dance

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 Luis (class of 2025) and features a book about hip hop dance and a CD of early hip hop music. Thanks, Luis!

Hip Hop Dance

Beginning Hip Hop Dance

Boombox 1: Early Independent Hip Hop, Electro and Disco Rap 1979-1982

This semester, I am taking “Introduction to Hip Hop Dance” with Professor Deandra Clarke. Throughout the course, we have been learning about the origins of Hip-Hop, specifically the dancing aspect of Hip Hop, and how it has evolved over the years. Since emerging in the 1970s, hip-hop has evolved into a worldwide dance sensation. In the book Beginning Hip-Hop Dance, you establish a solid groundwork and grasp the essentials of hip-hop techniques. Crafted by a dance educator and historian, this manual offers you the opportunity to delve into the history of hip-hop and explore its notable works and artists. Additionally, you may learn to comprehend the styles and artistic principles of hip-hop as both a performance and cultural expression. The guide also provides insights into various forms of hip-hop dance, encompassing locking, waacking, popping, boogaloo, and house.

Boombox 1

In addition, if you feel like exploring some songs released in the early years of Hip Hop, the music library also has discs available such as Boombox. 1, Early independent hip hop, electro and disco rap 1979-1982. This CD was released in 2016 and is a collection of various artists from the early 1980s.

Parsons Playlists: Rainy Day Jazz

Welcome back to Parsons Playlists! Today’s playlist is curated by Music Library student manager Xipeng (class of 2024) featuring some jazz tracks for a rainy day.

Rainy Day Jazz

6th Street Jazz – “It Rained All Night”

Benjamine Leroy Quartet = “Making History”

Trio Del Norte – “Nothing Like A Spring”

Alec Taylor Trio – “Weary Whispers”

Bridgerton Vail – “Not Nice at All”

Snorre Kirk & Stephen Riley – “Unsentimental”

Reed Stricklers – “Still”

Midnight Trio – “All of the Little Things I Know”

Eddie Harper – “Grey Mornings”

Here is a link to the whole playlist on YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLU94rco57Zeyvhdnk1cOerC40Y7VJPpVN&si=C9NkvSmDy8io4Z1R

And here is an extended version on Spotify:

Parsons Playlists: Songs for your “Sea-D”

Welcome back to Parsons Playlists! Today’s playlist is curated by Music Library student assistant Isaac (class of 2025) and features some seafaring songs.

Songs for your “Sea-D”

I was able to go fishing several times recently, so I decided to do a quick search into seafaring music. This playlist spans across decades and genres, from rock and pop to indie and folk, showcasing the sea’s influence on musical storytelling––and hopefully you’ll add one to your ‘Sea’-D (CD).

Van Morrison – “Into the Mystic”

Rod Stewart – “Sailing”

Looking Glass – “Brandy (You’re A Fine Girl)”

The Honeydrippers – “Sea of Love”

Billie Eilish – “Ocean Eyes”

The Decemberists – “The Mariner’s Revenge Song”

Bobby Darin – “Beyond the Sea”

Florence + the Machine – “Ship to Wreck”

Here is a link to the whole playlist on YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLU94rco57ZezOTQIhuAdiqrgswMWc303I&si=P09I4bDjVbzQ0Lsp

WDCE Charts 3-20-24

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 March 20, 2024 (click the image to see a larger version):

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

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

Arachnophonia: Young Bach

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 Nikoloz (class of 2026) and features a book on the life, times, and influence of German composer Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750). Thanks, Nikoloz!

Young Bach

Johann Sebastian Bach: Life, Times, Influence edited by Barbara Schwendowius and Wolfganng Domling

Johann Sebastian Bach is one of the most influential and well-known composers in the world. But some don’t know about the roots of his musical career. Young Bach, orphaned at 10 years old, moved in to live with his oldest brother, Johann Christoph Bach. The older brother was an organist at the Church and thus cared for many musical scores, tucked away in one of his cabinets. Not only was manuscript paper expensive back then, but also the writings were to be kept secret from the general public.

It follows, that young Bach was forbidden from reading and copying this music. However, young Bach was captivated by music, and could not resist. Disobeying his brother, he would wake up late at night, unlock the locked cabinet, and take a couple of manuscripts out. Then he would sit at a high place in the house, where the moonlight would shine upon some surface he used for writing. He would copy the scores for hours at night, and stash them somewhere. Eventually, his brother caught him, but upon seeing the limit that young Bach was willing to go to, he finally agreed to teach his younger brother more. That decision gave the world J. S. Bach as we know him today.

JS Bach organist

Arachnophonia: Ariana Grande “Sweetener”

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 Marissa (class of 2025) and features Ariana Grande’s 2018 album Sweetener. Thanks, Marissa!

Ariana Grande

Sweetener

Ariana Grande - Sweetener

Ariana Grande‘s fourth studio album Sweetener was released in the summer of 2018. Collaborating with other artists like Pharrell Williams, Nicki Minaj, and Missy Elliott, this album is loved by many different audiences. It won Best Pop Vocal Album of the Year in 2019, giving Grande her first Grammy award.

This pop and R&B styled album includes themes of womanhood, romance, and hope in the face of tragedy and loss. The three singles on the album are “No Tears Left to Cry,” “God Is a Woman,” and “Breathin‘,” each charting on the US Billboard Hot 100.

The last track, “Get Well Soon,” is a tribute to the lives lost at the Manchester Arena bombing during her previous tour. There are 40 seconds of silence at the end of this song to commemorate the 22 victims who passed away, bringing the runtime to 5:22 (the date of the concert).

If you’d like to listen to these songs mentioned and more, you can check this CD out from the Parsons Music Library today. You won’t regret it!

Parsons Playlists: Victoria Monét

Welcome back to Parsons Playlists! Today’s playlist is curated by Music Library student manager Amy (class of 2025) and features music by American R&B artist and songwriter Victoria Monét.

Victoria Monét

Victoria Monét

Victoria Monét, a talented R&B artist and songwriter, secured three well-deserved Grammy Awards at the 2024 ceremony, including the coveted title of Best New Artist. Witnessing her triumph filled me with absolute joy, as her musical creations, both as a songwriter and a vocalist, are nothing short of extraordinary. Recognizing that not everyone may be familiar with Victoria’s incredible talent, I decided to curate a playlist featuring some of my favorite songs penned by this exceptional artist.

Victoria Monét – “We Might Even Be Falling In Love (Interlude)”

Victoria Monét – “On My Mama”

Victoria Monét – “Coastin’”

Ariana Grande (with Victoria Monét)- “MONOPOLY”

Victoria Monét – “Moment”

Chole x Halle – “Do It”

Ariana Grande – “love language”

Victoria Monét – “Jaguar”

Victoria Monét (feat. Kehlani) – “Touch Me”

Victoria Monét – “Dive”

Victoria Monét – “Ass Like That”

Victoria Monét – “Alright”

Victoria Monét – “Go There With You”

Here is a link to the whole playlist on Youtube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLSwAwMtTLDwj_Kf7CeJxvFP8fYXe6OQw3&si=jQAtNl3RU1Dw-lNE

And here it is on Spotify:

WDCE Charts 3-13-24

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 March 13, 2024 (click the image to see a larger version):

WDCE 3-13-24

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

NACC 3-13-24

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

WDCE 3-13-24

Parsons Playlists: Mt. Joy

Welcome back to Parsons Playlists! Today’s playlist is curated by Music Library student manager Eli (class of 2024) and features tracks by the indie folk/rock band Mt. Joy.

Mt. Joy

Indie rock band Mt. Joy is both an international sensation and an underrated group. If you are a fan of alternative, indie, or rock music, give the group a listen. Here are some of their greatest hits.

“Julia”

“Astrovan”

“Ruins”

“Orange Blood”

“Evergreen”

“Silver Lining”

“I’m Your Wreck”

“Dirty Love”

Here is a link to the whole playlist on YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLU94rco57Zey88BMrlbiuc9VzjZZV3Zjr&si=BqBNAuEwUFdD_ayY

WDCE Charts 3-6-24

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 March 6, 2024 (click the image to see a larger version):

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

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