Arachnophonia: Barry Manilow

Posted on April 10, 2024 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 record for the item in question or to additional relevant information from around the web.

Today’s installment of Arachnophonia is by student manager Eli (class of 2024) and features a vinyl LP of Barry Manilow hits. Thanks, Eli!

Barry Manilow

While perhaps somewhat unknown among younger generations, Barry Manilow’s music career has spanned seven decades and has produced 51 top 40 singles and 13 platinum albums. He is most known for his hits “Copacabana,” “Mandy,” and “Could it be Magic,” but my far and away favorite Manilow masterpiece is “I Write the Songs.”

Manilow’s soft and sentimental ballad reached the top spot of Billboard charts upon release in 1977. Except, the song is not Barry Manilow’s. Written in 1975 by Beach Boys member Bruce Johnston, the song was first released by teen sensation David Cassidy in 1975. Cassidy’s version peaked at number 11 on the UK singles chart but has been far outshone by Manilow’s recording, which has tens of millions of plays on Spotify today. Manilow originally refused to record his own version of the song, as he felt that the public would not carefully listen to the lyrics and would think Manilow was singing about himself, instead of another, mysterious “I.” Following the massive success of his version, Manilow wrote and released another song called “I Really Do Write the Songs” as a bonus track of his 2006 reissue of This One’s for You.

If you would like to take a listen to Manilow’s version of the song, as well as his other greatest hits, pay a visit to our vinyl LP collection.

Arachnophonia: Spartacus

Posted on March 27, 2024 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 Eli (class of 2024) and features Aram Khachaturi͡an’s ballet Spartacus. Thanks, Eli!

Spartacus – Aram Khachaturi͡an

Spartacus, a gladiator turned revolutionary from present-day Bulgaria, lived for only thirty-two years before dying in battle against Roman legions in 71 BC. Yet, his name and infamy remain today, due to his initial success in leading a slave revolt against the might of the Roman Republic.

Spartacus’ story is the subject of countless pieces of media, from Stanley Kubrick’s film 1960 Spartacus to numerous novels and poems. Musicians have been equally inspired by the gladiator’s exploits. In 1863, Camille Saint-Saëns composed the “Spartacus Overture,” an often looked-over piece that won him first prize in a French music competition. For the 1960 film version, Alex North composed “Love Theme from ‘Spartacus,’” a beautiful ballad that has become a well-known jazz standard. Spartacus was even the subject of the Phantom Regiment’s 2008 Drum Corps International championship-winning show.

What receives the most attention, however, is Aram Khachaturi͡an’s score for his 1956 ballet Spartacus. Upon its first composition two years earlier, Khachaturian was awarded a Lenin Prize, one of the Soviet Union’s most prestigious awards for contributions to science, literature, the arts, and more. Khachaturi͡an’s score is considered a masterpiece and has been greatly used in popular culture, from references in the movie Ice Age: The Meltdown to gold-medal figure skating performances. The adagio of act three is absolutely a must-listen, pulling at heartstrings and inspiring the listener in the same breath. If you would like to give the ballet a listen, Parsons Music Library has several versions, including one conducted by Khachaturian himself in 1962.

Parsons Playlists: Mt. Joy

Posted on March 8, 2024 by marmstr3

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.

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

Parsons Playlists: Loud Noisy Music in Times of Stress

Posted on February 23, 2024 by marmstr3

Welcome back to Parsons Playlists! Today’s playlist is curated by Music Library student manager Eli (class of 2024) which features noisy music for stressful times.

Loud, Noisy Music in Times of Stress

In the chaos of life, sometimes it’s best to block out all the noise with some noise of your own. If you also like loud, noisy music in times of stress, here are some recommendations:

Air Formation – “I Can’t Remeber Waking Up”

The KVB – “Always Then”

Vivienne Eastwood – “Messy”

No Somos Marineros – “D’Arcy”

flyingfish – “wonder if u care”

Nuclear Daisies – “Heaven in Your Hand”

bdrmm – “Pulling Stitches”

Blue Smiley – “spin”

Here is a link to the whole playlist on YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLU94rco57ZewvW_rEwYb_YVAUvSoVuYMI&si=O3yU6OZUs4CF9ckq

Parsons Playlists: Ambient

Posted on November 6, 2023 by marmstr3

Welcome back to Parsons Playlists! Today’s playlist is curated by Music Library student manager Eli (class of 2024) and features some relaxing ambient music.

Ambient

It can be important at times to check out, to calm the constant stimulation and sensory overload that is college life. When I am looking for some tranquility, I often casually listen to ambient, easy-listening music, letting my brain focus and unfocus on the song as it chooses. Here are some of my favorites.

Brokeback – “Returns to the Orange Grove”

Gia Margaret – “Lakes”

Daniel Lopatin – “Uncut Gems”

Valium Aggelein – “The Clouds Will Drop Ladders”

Blithe Field – “RD1”

Tom Misch – “The Wilhelm Scream (Quarantine Sessions)”

Will Van Horn – “Pleasure Is All Mine”

The Putbacks – “Little Flower”

Florist – “Instrumental 3”

h hunt – “Wrong II”

Lomelda – “M for Magic”

Here is a link to the whole playlist on YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLU94rco57ZewAlrAzdeV9vNIkrUu-nLHc&si=bY3rLLn_CKx8U0Gp

Arachnophonia: Nilsson

Posted on October 11, 2023 by marmstr3

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 manager Eli (class of 2024) and features a couple of albums by and a biography of American singer-songwriter Harry Nilsson (1941-1994). Thanks, Eli!

Harry Nilsson

This Arachnophonia post is centered around Harry Nilsson, an underrated and somewhat forgotten artist, at least by younger generations. Known for his “pioneering vocal overdub…, returns to the Great American Songbook, and fusions of Caribbean sounds,” Nilsson was an international phenomenon in the early 1970s. Sometimes referred to as the “American Beatle,” Nilsson is best known today for his songs “Without You” and “Everybody’s Talkin’,” both of which have over 100 million plays on Spotify.

Aerial Ballet

I find Nilsson to be somewhat of an outlier in his stardom. He achieved great success, winning Grammy awards for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance & Best Male Contemporary Vocal Performance and produced three international top 10 singles. Yet, Nilsson rarely performed live and never took regular tours. He instead remained relevant through his consistent innovation and unique role within the music industry. Music historians credit Nilsson as the inventor of the “mashup,” thanks to his 1967 cover of the Beatles’ song “You Can’t Do That,” which Nilsson overlaid with vocals from over a dozen other Beatles songs.

Nilsson Schmilsson

Nilsson existed during a transient musical space, providing a smooth link between the psychedelic music of the 60s and the classic singer-songwriter era of the 70s. Rolling Stone lists Nilsson as number 62 on the “100 Greatest Songwriters of All Time,” and The Beatles themselves once revealed that Nilsson was their favorite American artist. In a musical world so dominated by The Beatles, Nilsson managed to differentiate his sound while collaborating with the superstars. He became friends with John Lennon and Ringo Starr and became a strong gun control advocate after Lennon was assassinated in 1980. Nilsson died in 1994 from a heart attack while recording his final album Lost and Founnd, which was posthumously released in 2019.

Nilsson: The Life of a Singer-Songwriter by Alyn Shipton

My personal favorite Nilsson album is Aerial Ballet, released in 1968, while his most popular album is Nilsson Schmilsson, released in 1971. Both are available on CD at Parsons Music Library as is the leading biographical work on Nilsson, Nilsson: The Life of a Singer-Songwriter, by Alyn Shipton.

Arachnophonia: Staatskapelle Dresden

Posted on September 6, 2023 by marmstr3

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 Eli (class of 2024) and features several recordings made by the Staatskapelle Dresden orchestra. Thanks, Eli!

Staatskapelle Dresden Orchestra

Staatskapelle Dresden orchestra

While studying abroad, I was lucky enough to be able to attend a concert from the Staatskapelle Dresden, one of the world’s finest and most historic orchestras. Founded in 1548 by the Duke of Saxony, the Staatskapelle is now celebrating its 475th anniversary. The Staatskapelle plays in the famed Semperoper opera house, first built in 1841 in Baroque and Neo-Renaissance styles. Numerous composers have been linked with the orchestra throughout the years (most notably Strauss and Wagner), and the orchestra has held countless world premieres.

Sempoper - Home of the Staatskapelle

In 2009, the orchestra announced that Christian Thielemann would take on the role of chief conductor, a position he still holds. Thielemann, winner of the Richard Wagner Award and recipient of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany, is renowned for his balance between technical precision and expressive interpretation. Under his leadership, the orchestra continues to shape classical music and fascinate its audiences.

If you, too, would like to enjoy the Staatskapelle’s signature sound, the Parsons Music Library has quite the collection of their recordings. I highly recommend Strauss’ Alpine Symphony (M1002.S91 op.64 2007 DVD), Eugen Onegin by Tchaikovsky (RM1500.T35 E8 1988), or Mozart’s Requiem Mass (RM2010.M89 1991).

Parsons Playlists: Summer

Posted on September 1, 2023 by marmstr3

Welcome back to Parsons Playlists! Today’s playlist is curated by Music Library student manager Eli (class of 2024) and features some summer-y music.

Summer

Although Summer is rapidly leaving us behind, you can still feel the heat with this Summer-themed playlist! Perfect for driving through town with the windows down or relaxing at the beach, kick back and enjoy some light-hearted and care-free tunes.

Hall & Oates – “When the Morning Comes”

Black Eyed Peas – “Where Is the Love?”

Calvin Harris (feat. Pharrell Williams, Katy Perry & Big Sean) – “Feels”

Drake – “Passionfruit”

Mac Miller – “The Spins”

Phony Ppl – “Why iii Love The Moon”

The Avalanches – “Since I Left You” (Prince Paul remix)

Childish Gambino – “Feels Like Summer”

Bill Withers – “Lovely Day”

Scarlet Pleasure – “What A Life”

Field of sunflowers

Here is a link to the whole playlist on YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLU94rco57ZewnC6wGNQ0-v2_6T1HXLe4N&si=haJ-nAA4CkF8EPpB

Arachnophonia: Modern Method for Tympani

Posted on November 28, 2022 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 Eli (class of 2024) and features insert title info here. Thanks, Eli!

Modern Method for Tympani by Saul Goodman

Set of 4 timpani (kettledrums)

While performing my duties as music library student assistant, I discovered a thin workbook titled Modern Method for Tympani. I come across hundreds of books, scores, and instruction manuals in my job, but it was the name of the author of the workbook that caught my attention: Saul Goodman, the namesake of one my favorite TV shows, Better Call Saul.

Further research showed Saul Goodman (the percussionist & author of Modern Method for Tympani) has a fascinating history. Born in Brooklyn in 1907, by the time he was 20, Goodman was the principal timpanist of the New York Philharmonic. He played with this premier orchestra for 46 years and taught at Juilliard, the premier U.S. music school, for 41 years.

Goodman was instrumental in innovating the timpani, introducing both new techniques and inventions such as replaceable-ball timpani sticks and chain-tuned timpanis. He also remains one of the most renowned and influential percussion teachers in history. To add to his long list of accolades, Goodman played the first performance of a timpani concert to be broadcast on air. When he died in 1996, the New York Times credited him with over 6,000 concerts and a place as the longest-held principal Philharmonic position in history. If you would like to try to follow in Saul Goodman’s steps, take a look at Modern Method for Tympani, found at library call number MT660.2. G6, or ask a Music Library student assistant for help.

Parsons Playlists: Tchaikovsky

Posted on November 18, 2022 by marmstr3

Welcome back to Parsons Playlists! Today’s playlist is curated by Music Library student assistant Eli (class of 2024) and features music by Russian composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893).

Tchaikovsky

Pyotr Tchaikovsky was unquestionably one of the greatest composers to walk the Earth. Even those who turn up their nose at ‘boring’ classical music can find something in Tchaikovsky’s massive repertoire. Here is a sampling of some of his less mainstream (but still masterpiece) works.

Portrait of composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky