Arachnophonia: The Commodification of Music at the Dawn of the Era of “Mechanical Music”

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 scholarly essay on the commodification of music. Thanks, Esther!

“The Commodification of Music at the Dawn of the Era of ‘Mechanical Music'” by Timothy D. Taylor (published in a collection called Music in the World and online)

Player Piano illustration

Dr. Timothy D. Taylor’s essay on “The Commodification of Music at the Dawn of the Era of ‘Mechanical Music'” delves into the evolving nature of music commodities and their commercialization influenced by surrounding circumstances. As a respected musicologist specializing in global issues, particularly the interplay between consumerism, technology, and music, Dr. Taylor, a professor at the University of California, Los Angeles Herb Alpert School of Music, demonstrates his expertise throughout this article.

Using player pianos as a case study, Taylor examines, from an ethnomusicological perspective, how the means of reproducing music impact its dissemination. Building on Karl Marx’s concept of commodities, Taylor argues that the success of player pianos as the first commercially mass-produced products can be attributed to effective advertising strategies tailored to the societal norms of the time.

Taylor highlights the democratization of music access and the role of advertising in the reification of music. He observes the historical evolution of marketing tactics from the late 1880s to the early 1930s, a period considered the rise of popular culture, noting certain enduring strategies still relevant today. The ongoing commodification of music adapts to contemporary dynamics, influenced by the rise of artificial intelligence and online platforms. I highly recommend this article to anyone interested in learning about one of the many significant roles music plays in our lives!

Parsons Playlists: My Favorite Memory of All

Welcome back to Parsons Playlists! Today’s playlist is curated by Music Library student manager Esther (class of 2025) and features some songs she associates with a favorite memory.

My Favorite Memory of All

Ode to eating Wawa Dippin’ Dots in a library parking lot on a warm spring night.

Floor Cry (feat. Vansire) – “Next Best Thing”

Delights – “1989”

Yot Club – “mr. rager”

Tommy Newport – “Bad Choice My Boy”

Hotplug – “Simple Things”

Kid Bloom – “Parents’ House”

Tipling Rock – “Staring”

Butter Bath – “Anchor in the Clouds”

The Happy Fits – “So Alright, Cool, Whatever”

Arctic Monkeys – “There’d Better Be A Mirrorball”

Dirty Nice – “This Is Gonna Hurt”

Flat Pop – “Another Chance”

Almond Milk – “You, Me, Dance”

Here is a link to the whole playlist on YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLU94rco57ZezAmKGj-ywPKKnTF6LuQIWC&si=yZM9pgbOFqdXv8oJ

Arachnophonia: Instruments in the History of Western Music

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: Sonnet 18

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

Arachnophonia: Practice Makes Perfect?

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 effective music practice. Thanks, Esther!

Practice Makes Perfect?

Deliberate Practice

If you’ve tried improving or mastering any type of skill, whether it be academic, athletic, or musical, you’ve probably heard the phrase “practice makes perfect.” However, this quote may eventually lead one to discouragement. How could you possibly become better if you aren’t practicing as much as you want to?

Elizabeth A.H. Green delves into the structure and logic behind intentional, productive practicing through her book Practicing Successfully: A Masterclass in the Musical Art.

Practicing Successfully: A Masterclass in the Musical Art by Elizabeth A. H. Green.

Professor Green was a highly esteemed teacher who taught with a focus on violin and stringed instruments. In the Practicing Successfully, she writes,” Ultimate success depends upon one immutable, inescapable, and well-publicized fact: the musician has to practice successfully or not.” When you see famous athletes or musicians, the one thing they mention is the continual efforts they’ve put in to reach the point they’re at. So, what makes them different from the others? One section of the book Professor Green points to is the physiological principle of practice and how we can adjust so that we can maximize the productivity of the session.

I have this book checked out personally to myself right now, but I recommend all musicians to take a look at it! Even if you are not a musician, these principles of practice can be applied to other aspects of life.

Parsons Playlists: Tactile Illusions

Welcome back to Parsons Playlists! Today’s playlist is curated by Music Library student manager Esther (class of 2025) which explores musical textures.

Tactile Illusions

A jar of Skippy creamy peanut butter

Are you team creamy peanut butter or crunchy peanut butter? Just as food is textured, music is too! Here are some songs that I think are smoother than a fresh jar of Skippy.

D’Angelo – “Really Love”

Ari Lennox – “Backwood”

Raveena Aurora – “Salt Water”

Kaz Moon – “Furious”

Charlie Burg – “Avalanche”

Toro y Moi – “Ordinary Pleasure”

Dre’es – “Warm”

Health Club – “Way Too Long”

Lake Street Drive – “Hypotheticals”

Grover Washington – “Just the Two of Us”

Here is a link to the whole playlist on YouTube:https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLU94rco57ZewxuotwTk4zuXJny119Yp9v&si=PQkxwYb1FNVuJd9g

Arachnophonia: For the Audiophiles

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 manager Esther (class of 2025) and features our new portable record player and an opera LP to go with it. Thanks, Esther!

For the Audiophiles

Vinyl LPs

I love exploring different mediums of storage when it comes to art. I initially became interested in physical art forms because of film photography; as a musician, it was inevitable for me to stumble into the world of sound storage mediums. From VHS tapes to 8-track cartridges to cassette tapes to vinyl records, there were so many different forms of music over the years I did not know about. There seems to be controversy over what form sounds best, but we can respect all the different presentations!

LP stands for “Long Playing” due to the extended playing time (around 22 minutes per side) that resulted from the larger discs spinning at 33 ⅓ rpm. (As compared to EPs which are smaller and held about 10-15 minutes of material per side.) They are also referred to as vinyl records because of the material the physical discs are made of. These discs can transmit sound waves when placed on a turntable because the stylus placed on top of the disc moves through the small grooves along the record. As the stylus is reading, the tip of it vibrates and the microscopic bounces are transmitted along the bar. Ultimately, an electrical signal is generated and is played through the stereo speakers!

I appreciate the history of music storage forms, especially because of the wide availability we have for any song nowadays that significantly contributed to the relationship between the listeners and producers. Though I prefer the pros of digital music over analog with the technology we have today, the nostalgia of LP records is appealing as well. One of my fondest memories of growing up was listening to opera on the cassette tape player with my mother.

So, when I found out about a new addition to the music library — a portable record player — I had to recommend this LP to go with it!

Ten Tenors, Ten Arias

Ten Tenors Ten Arias LP cover

Though you are welcome to play it on your turntable, and in addition to the record player that lives in one of our study rooms, the Music Library also has a portable vinyl player available for anyone to check out for a week at a time!

Record Player

Parsons Playlists: Ineffable

Welcome back to Parsons Playlists! Today’s playlist is curated by Music Library student manager Esther (class of 2025) and features songs that do not need words to speak to us.

Ineffable

"Words do not express thoughts very well. They always become a little different after they are expressed, a little distorted, a little foolish."

One of the many things I appreciate about music is how much it captures and conveys experiences that may be difficult to otherwise express verbally. Here are some songs that seem to speak without words.

“Two Pieces for String Octet, Op. 11” by Dmitri Shostakovich

“Rain” by Ryuichi Sakamoto

“Spring Song” by Felix Mendelssohn

“Flower Dance” by DJ Okawari

“Gymnopédie No.1” by Erik Satie

“Theme from Schindler’s List” by John Williams

“Salut d’Amour, Op. 12” by Edward Elgar

“Affections Touching Across Time” by Kaoru Wada

The Carnival of Animals: “The Swan” by Camille Saint-Saëns

“Mia and Sebastian’s Theme” (from La La Land) by Justin Hurwitz

The Planets: “Jupiter” by Gustav Holst

Here is a link to the whole playlist on YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLU94rco57Zew5oEU_taWdXjzZWRme_TGs&si=YXnKbqGAH33jptbt

Parsons Playlists: Dhall

Welcome back to Parsons Playlists! Today’s playlist is curated by Music Library student manager Esther (class of 2025) and features songs for waiting in the UR dining hall affectionately known as Dhall.

Dhall

Songs I don’t understand but keep me happy while I wait for my panini.

D-hall UofR

TRANG x KHOA VŨ – “Ngã Tư Không Đèn”

Jill Barber – “Entre Nous”

Fujii Kaze – “Shinunoga E-Wa”

Emilie-Claire Barlow – “C’est si bon”

Maye – “Tú”

Fujii Kaze – “Matsuri”

Sebastian Romero – “¿A Qué Te Sabe el Café?”

Here is a link to the whole playlist on YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLU94rco57ZezBkCEsCXsYg4GBbbWqGSHq

Arachnophonia: Music as Biology

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 connections between music and biology. Thanks, Esther!

Music As Biology: The Tones We Like and Why by Dale Purves

Music As Biology: The Tones We Like and Why by Dale Purves

The innate attraction we have towards music as humans have always fascinated me. Nicknamed the “universal language,” music seems to be so deeply embedded into society. The way it evokes certain emotions within us feels like a concept too abstract to be explained. Why do we enjoy certain combinations of tones over others? How does music remain the same or change over time and cultures? Why do different scales induce different emotions? Music as Biology by Dale Purves was an interesting read that helped me formulate concrete ideas about some of these questions through a biological perspective. 

Dale Purves is a highly accomplished neuroscientist who is currently a professor at Duke University. His lab studies the neurobiological underpinnings of our perception to different stimuli, including sound.  Dr. Purves takes an empirical approach to music, incorporating data and research from biology to support his arguments on how we react to music. He provides additional links to more information on certain questions throughout the book if you were interested in further research as well. Overlapping music theory and biology offered a refreshing insight into how we perceive music. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in music or science!