Arachnophonia: Carmina Burana

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 Music Library Associate Melanie A. and features a recording of and score for Carl Orff’s secular cantata Carmina Burana.

Carmina Burana by Carl Orff

Carmina Burana score

Carmina Burana is a secular cantata composed in 1936 by German composer Carl Orff (1895-1982).

Orff set 24 medieval texts from a longer manuscript dating to approximately the 12th century CE for his work – which he intended to be both a musical and theatrical piece. Carmina Burana is often performed as a concert work, but it has also become part of the ballet repertoire (productions have been mounted by the Alvin Ailey Dance Theater and Richmond Ballet, among others.

Said manuscript (containing 254 poems) is also known as Carmina Burana. These poems were written by young students/clergy in training known as Goliards, who were known for satirizing the church and society through their poems.

Orff’s Carmina Burana covers a wide variety of topics including the fickleness of fortune and wealth, the ephemeral nature of life, appreciation of spring, the pleasures and perils of drinking, and courtly love. There is even a movement (“Olim lacus colueram“) that is told from the perspective of a swan roasting on a spit over an open fire! (It’s also a metaphor regarding life and perceptions of change, beauty, and freedom.)

Carmina Burana recording - Chicago Symphony Chorus & Orchestra  (1985)

I was lucky enough to get to perform Carmina Burana as an undergraduate as part of my university’s choir and became very interested in it, partly because the music is so vital and evocative and partly because I minored in Medieval & Renaissance studies(!), so it resonated on several levels.
As a college student, I also perceived a few parallels between the interests of medieval and contemporary university students. For example, the joys and woes of young love, enjoyment of being outside on a spring day, or the vicissitudes of good vs. bad fortune!

Highlights for me include:

* “O Fortuna” – Starts and ends the cantata and has appeared in all manner of pop culture media from movies to TV to commercials, so you may find you are a bit familiar with it already!

* “In Taberna Quando Sumus” – An ode to the pleasures and perils of drinking, which switches about midway through to an almost musical theater-y style where I picture people swinging frothy pint glasses around.

* “Amor Volat Undique” – A rather gentler piece about love, featuring some nice woodwind lines, a treble choir representing mischievous cupids flitting in and out and a gorgeous soprano solo.

But you don’t have to take my word for it, come to the music library and check out scores, recordings, and more of Carmina Burana and explore it for yourself!

Parsons Playlists: Cartoon Classical

Welcome back to Parsons Playlists! Today’s playlist is curated by Music Library Associate Melanie A. and features some classical music which can be found in classic cartoons!

Cartoon Classical

What's Opera Doc still

It seems that sometimes folks can feel a bit intimidated by “classical” music. What if I told you that you are probably familiar with a lot more classical pieces than you think because they often show up in the soundtracks of classic cartoons?

During the 1930s and 1940s, many practices from silent film scoring (often performed on piano or organ in movie theaters), which often made use of classical pieces, made their way into cartoon shorts. Use of this music was economical for the movie studios because much of it was public domain and therefore free of copyright restrictions. Moreover, the use of “serious” classical music in silly cartoons often (literally & figuratively) the humor of the cartoons.

Here are a few a few “greatest hits” pieces which found their way into a variety of cartoons. Enjoy! – MAA

Gioachino Rossini – William Tell Overture
The most famous bit of Rossini’s William Tell overture is the finale (aka the “Lone Ranger Theme“) — you’ll see it in scenarios featuring horseback riding among other things.
Animated shorts featuring the finale include: Disney’s “The Band Concert” (1935) and Warner Brothers’ “Bugs Bunny Rides Again” (1948)

Section 2 “The Storm” and Section 3 “Call to the Cows” regularly show up as well
For example, Disney’s The Band Concert (again!) for a cartoon take on “The Storm” and both “The Storm” and “Call to the Cows” feature in Disney’s “The Old Mill” (1937)

Franz Liszt – “Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2”
Animated shorts featuring Hungarian Rhapsody include Tom & Jerry in “The Cat Concerto” (1947) & Bugs Bunny in “Rhapsody Rabbit” (1946), for example

Franz Von Suppé – “Light Cavalry Overture”
Features in animated shorts like Disney’s “Symphony Hour” (1942)

Franz Von Suppé – “Poet and Peasant Overture”
Used, for example, in the Popeye short “The Spinach Overture” (1935)

Popeye at the Piano

Johann Strauss II – Frühlingsstimmen op. 410
Tends to show up in cartoons where someone frolics in a field or similar, for example, “The Stupid Cupid” (1944) or “From A To Z-z-z-z” (1954)

Johann Strauss II – “An der schönen blauen Donau, Waltz, Op. 314”
Strauss’s “Blue Danube Waltz” also appears frequently for example in “A Corny Concerto” (1943) or “Johann Mouse” (1953)

Frédéric Chopin – “Marche Funèbre (Funeral March)” (from Piano Sonata No. 2)
Chopin’s funeral march is a bit morbid and will be instantly recognizable, cartoon examples include “Scaredy Cat” (1948) and “Convict Concerto” (1954)

Richard Wagner – “Ride of the Valkyries”
This one is used in one of my all-time favorite cartoons the 1957 classic “What’s Opera, Doc?” starring Bugs Bunny & Elmer Fudd

and here is a link all of the above (and more) on Youtube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLU94rco57ZeyTST0VCx3NOQgyB_9o4ueq&si=v08TGVoC6bD3Y-LZ

P.S. If you’d like to learn a bit more about classical music as used in cartoons, check out this great thread with lots of video examples compiled by animator Vincent Alexander: https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1366449816042102787.html

Parsons Playlists: Take Me To The River

Welcome back to Parsons Playlists! Today’s playlist is curated by Music Library associate Melanie and features some music having to do with rivers.

Take Me To The River

This is a playlist with lots of songs about rivers – both literal and metaphorical – around the world. Enjoy!

Al Green – “Take Me To The River”

Madness – “Night Boat To Cairo”

Creedence Clearwater Revival – “Green River”

Mavis Staples – “In The Mississippi River”

Alison Krauss (from O Brother, Where Art Thou?-2000) – “Down to the River to Pray”

Lefty Frizzell – “James River”

Original Broadway cast of Big River – “River in the Rain”

Joni Mitchell – “River”

Memphis Minnie & Kansas Joe McCoy – “When the Levee Breaks”

Old Crow Medicine Show – “James River Blues”

Hemant Kumar (from Kabuliwala – 1961) – “Ganga Aaye Kahan Se”

Gerry and the Pacemakers – “Ferry Cross the Mersey”

Billy Joel – “River of Dreams”

Pete Seeger – “Waist Deep in the Big Muddy”

Paul Williams (from Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas – 1977) – “When the River Meets the Sea”

Neil Young – “Down By The River”

R.E.M. – “Cuyahoga”

Enya – “Orinoco Flow”

The Melodians – “Rivers of Babylon”

Elvis Costello and Allen Toussaint – “The River in Reverse”

Pixies – “River Euphrates”

Ike and Tina Turner – “Proud Mary”

Randy Newman – “Burn On”

Jimmy Cliff – “Many Rivers To Cross”

Bruce Springsteen – “The River”

Zitany Neil/Soukous Stars – “Marcory Gasoil”

Talking Heads – “Take Me To The River”

Here is a link to the whole playlist on YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLU94rco57ZeyX1sWqgssBjMJjTw11gEgh&si=pluZcqQHX3VZYmVi

And here is a version of it on Spotify:

Parsons Playlists: Autumnal Mellow

Welcome back to Parsons Playlists! Today’s playlist is curated by Music Library associate Melanie and features some autumnal music.

Autumnal Mellow

It’s the autumnal equinox, which means that fall is officially upon us, so here is a playlist of some mellow tunes that make me think of the fall season.

Justin Hayward – “Forever Autumn”

Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong – “Autumn in New York”

Ben Folds Five – “Don’t Change Your Plans”

Harry Nilsson – “Everybody’s Talkin'”

Nat King Cole – “Autumn Leaves”

John Coltrane & Johnny Hartman – “Autumn Serenade”

The Neighbourhood – “Sweater Weather”

The White Stripes – “We’re Going To Be Friends”

Vince Guaraldi Trio – “Great Pumpkin Waltz”

girl in red – “We Fell in Love in October”

Billy Joel – “Vienna”

Bob Dylan – “Don’t Think Twice, It’s Alright”

Neil Young – “Harvest Moon”

The Moldy Peaches – “Anyone Else But You”

Carole King – “It’s Too Late”

Sting – “La Belle Dame Sans Regrets”

Paul McCartney – “Calico Skies”

King Harvest – “Dancing in the Moonlight”

Lindisfarne – “Lady Eleanor”

Dee Clark – “Raindrops”

Vince Guaraldi Trio – “Thanksgiving Theme”

Sting – “Soul Cake”

Van Morrison – “Moondance”

The Zombies – “Time of the Season”

Here is a link to the whole playlist on YouTube:

And here it is on Spotify:

Arachnophonia: Writing in 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 Music Library associate Melanie and features a guide to writing about music.

Writing in Music: A Brief Guide by Lynne Rogers, Karen Bottge & Sara Haefeli

Writing in Music: A Brief Guide book cover

A new school year is upon us and everyone is getting back into the rhythms of classes and activities.

You’re excited about the new music class you’re taking this term, but feeling a bit trepidatious because the syllabus says you have to write a research paper/review/analysis as a big part of your grade. How on earth do you approach even picking a topic, much less writing a paper about it?

Worry not! The Music Library has useful resources like Writing in Music: A Brief Guide to get you started.

This pocket-sized style guide offers a practical introduction to many aspects of writing about music in an academic context. It offers useful tips and tricks for all stages of the writing process from choosing a topic and creating a thesis to the nitty gritty of researching and drafting a research paper.

Writing in Music will help you explore writing about music from a historical and cultural context and/or writing from a musical analysis point of view (or both!). This comprehensive intro will get you on your way to creating a great paper, thus making your professor happy and making the class a more enriching learning experience for you!

Writing in Music and many more helpful resources are available in the Parsons Music Library – just ask our friendly staff for help.

Parsons Playlists: RVA All Day

Welcome back to Parsons Playlists! Today’s playlist is curated by Music Library associate Melanie and features some music by artists in (and from) Richmond, Virginia (aka RVA).

RVA All Day

An utterly non-comprehensive utterly Richmond-y sort of playlist. Featuring music old and new in MANY genres.

Photo of Richmond, Virginia with James River in foreground

No BS! Brass – “RVA All Day”

Prabir Trio – “Light Up in the Name of Love”

Lucy Dacus – “Brando”

Carbon Leaf – “For Your Violin”

Angelica Garcia – “Karma the Knife”

McKinley Dixon – “Twist My Hair” (feat. Deau Eyes)

Mad Skillz – “VA. in the House”

Strike Anywhere – “I’m Your Opposite Number”

Avail – “Simple Song”

GWAR – “Sick of You”

A New Dawn Fades – “No Experts on Big Things”

Rikki Rakki – “Breaking Skin”

Fighting Gravity – “Mission Bells”

Mighty Joshua – “Rastafari Reign”

Deau Eyes – “Some Do”

Bio Ritmo – “La Verdad”

J. Plunky Branch – “A Revolutionary”

Strawberry Moon – “Down in the Dirt”

Mackenzie Roark – “Rollin’ High, Feelin’ Low”

Butcher Brown – “Lawd Why”

Kenneka Cook – “Don’t Ask Me”

Butcher Brown – “VA Noir”

Here is the whole playlist on YouTube:

And here it is on Spotify:

Parsons Playlists: Riot Grrrl

Welcome back to Parsons Playlists! To day we feature a collection of Riot Grrrl music curated by Music Library Associate Melanie.

Riot Grrrl

Riot grrrl began in the early 1990s as a DIY, feminist punk movement. Riot grrrl saw girls as a “revolutionary soul force” with the power to disrupt the status quo; rejecting social constructs of how women were supposed to look and behave; and zeroing in on personal and political discussions of sexism, sexuality, sexual violence, female empowerment, racism, ageism, homophobia, fat shaming, and able-bodiedism.

The riot grrrl movement allowed women their own space to create music and make political statements about the issues they were facing in the punk rock community and in society.

This playlist is inspired by the Music Library’s current exhibit: “Girls to the Front: The Riot Grrrl Revolution” which you should come to the library to take a look at should you have the time or inclination.
It features riot grrrl music from the 1990s(ish), and tracks by fellow travelers, antecedents and descendants.

Riot Grrrl

Bikini Kill – “Rebel Girl”

Sleater-Kinney – “Call The Doctor”

Bratmobile – “Cool Schmool”

Excuse 17 – “Watchmaker”

7 Year Bitch – “Dead Men Don’t Rape”

The Runaways – “Cherry Bomb”

Screaming Females – “Glass House”

Bikini Kill – “Double Dare Ya”

Sleater-Kinney – “Be Yr Mama”

Tribe 8 – “Neanderthal Dyke”

Babes In Toyland – “Sweet ’69”

Le Tigre – “Hot Topic”

Slant 6 – “Poison Arrows Shot At Heroes”

Mary Lou Lord – “Some Jingle Jangle Morning”

Emily’s Sassy Lime – “Mr. Moneybag$”

Autoclave – “Go Far”

Bratmobile – “Bitch Theme”

X-Ray Spex – “Art-I-Ficial”

Babes In Toyland – “He’s My Thing”

Lunachicks – “Bad Ass Bitch”

riot covers

PJ Harvey – “50ft Queenie”

Gossip – “Where The Girls Are”

Heavens To Betsy – “Me & Her”

Team Dresch – “Uncle Phranc”

Bratmobile – “Gimme Brains”

Sleater-Kinney – “I Wanna Be Your Joey Ramone”

Bikini Kill – “Suck My Left One”

Sleater-Kinney – “Dig Me Out”

Bacchae – “Read”

Wet Leg – “Wet Dream”

Riot Grrrl Sessions – “I Eat Boys Like You For Breakfast”

Maya Jupiter – “Never Said Yes”

Lady Parts – “Bashir With The Good Beard”

The Linda Lindas – “Racist Sexist Boy”

Honeyblood – “You’re Standing On My Neck”

Tacocat – “Men Explain Things To Me”

BABYMETAL – “Headbangeeeeerrrrr!!!!!”

Kate Nash – “Fri-End?”

7 Year Bitch – “Kiss My Ass Goodbye”

The Linda Lindas – “Oh!”

Here is a link to the whole playlist on YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLU94rco57ZezIt5ZNJHN15UP-GdKW3huz

And here it is on Spotify:

Māori Music

The Māori are the indigenous people of New Zealand. Their folk music traditions are often integrated with poetry and dance. Here’s a brief overview of Māori music culture past and present:

Taonga pūoro

A_selection_of_Taonga_pūoro_from_the_collection_of_Horomona_Horo

This picture displays several traditional Maori instruments belonging to master practitioner, Horomona Horo. The instruments are from bone, wood ,shell and gourd. Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taonga_p%C5%ABoro

Taonga pūoro are the traditional musical instruments of the Māori and consist of a variety of blown, struck and twirled instruments made from hollowed-out wood, stone, whale ivory, and bone.

The sounds of the instruments were intended to mimic the sounds of the natural environment such as insects, birds, water, trees and wind and were connected with religious practice. According to Wikipedia, the Māori viewed music related to their creation story where “The Gods sang the Universe into Existence.”

Here is a short video on taonga pūoro featuring Māori instrumentalist Richard Nunns:

Today, taonga pūoro are most frequently used at Māori ceremonies and also by New Zealand composers, such as Gillian Whitehead.

***

Haka

The Te Aka Māori Dictionary defines haka as a general term for “vigorous dances with actions and rhythmically shouted words” and/or the performance of these dances. Haka are sometimes described as challenges. They are used to make a point, honor someone/something, tell a story or express an emotion. They are performed by both men and women.

Kapa haka is a term for Māori action songs like haka and groups that perform them.

Here is a short video on kapa haka produced by NPR:

And here are a few song styles performed by kapa haka groups:
Waiata are songs are sung solo or in unison, usually lullabies, love songs or laments. Waiata is also a Māori verb which means “to sing.”

Poi are (usually) women’s dances involving the swinging of balls, about the size of tennis balls, attached to cords and its accompanying music.

A karanga is a formal, ceremonial call and response at the start of a pōwhiri (welcome ceremony). Karanga are carried out almost exclusively by women and in the Māori language.

***
Contemporary Māori Music

Māori musical heritage continues to have an impact on New Zealand music and culture. Western instruments like guitars are frequently employed with traditional instruments today and indigenous sounds are melded with many different styles of music such as pop, jazz, classical and hip hop. Māori traditional instruments are sometimes used by contemporary composers, musicians and artists.

Here are a couple of fun video examples of Māori music melding with western forms for your enjoyment:
* “Poi E” by Pātea Māori Club was a NZ hit single in 1984 and is still beloved today. (Note that poi as described above are featured in the video!):

* Here is a classical piece featuring taonga pūoro written by contemporary Māori composer Gillian Whitehead:

* And for contrast, here is a thrash metal song released in 2019 by the group Alien Weaponry:

***

Paeta Maori "Poi E" single artwork

Here are some items from our collection that will give you more information on Māori music:

* Maori Music by Mervyn McLean (Book)

* Kahurangi : Music of the New Zealand Māori (Streaming Audio)

* Taonga Puoro: A Gift of Sound (Streaming Video)

* Shadows Crossing Water by Gillian Whitehead (Streaming Audio)

nz-week-promo

Parsons Playlists: KiwiSonic

Welcome back to Parsons Playlists! Today we feature a collection of songs from New Zealand curated by Music Library Associate Melanie.

KiwiSonic

A playlist of popular music from New Zealand – crowdsourced with a little help from friends on the other side of the world!

Dancing Kiwi bird with headphones

Supergroove – “Can’t Get Enough”

Flight of the Conchords – “Hiphopopotamus vs. Rhymenoceros”

stellar* – “Violent”

Patea Maori Club – “Poi E”

Lorde – “Royals”

The Beths – “When You Know You Know”

Split Enz – “I Got You”

The Mint Chicks – “Crazy? Yes! Dumb? No!”

Troy Kingi – “Paparazzo”

Fur Patrol – “Lydia”

Fat Freddy’s Drop – “Wandering Eye”

Dave Dobbyn – “Slice of Heaven”

Ladyhawke – “My Delirium”

Shihad – “Pacifier”

Alien Weaponry – “Ahi Kā”

Headless Chickens – “George”

OMC – “How Bizarre”

Laser Kiwi Flag!

For more info on Laser Kiwi, visit: https://nzhistory.govt.nz/media/photo/fire-lazar

Savage – “Swing”

The Black Seeds – “Cool Me Down”

Tiki Taane – “Always On My Mind”

Lorde – “Te Ao Mārama / Solar Power”

Blerta – “Dance All Around The World”

Hello Sailor – “Gutter Black”

Th’Dudes – “Be Mine Tonight”

Goodshirt – “Sophie”

Evermore – “It’s Too Late”

The Mutton Birds – “Dominion Road”

The Chills – “Heavenly Pop Hit”

Darcy Clay – “Jesus I Was Evil”

Bic Runga – “Sway”

Steriogram – “Walkie Talkie Man”

Flight of the Conchords – “Carol Brown”

The Beths – “Future Me Hates Me”

Here is a link to the whole playlist on YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLU94rco57ZeyVIZyFBnZ8Ch-COXBHOLw6

And here it is on Spotify:

Parsons Playlists: Quirky Macca

Welcome back to Parsons Playlists! Today’s playlist is curated by Music Library Associate Melanie and features some Paul McCartney tracks.

This playlist was inspired by Paul McCartney (sometimes known to British fans as “Macca”) and the delightful quirky streak evident throughout his music career. His odder tracks also highlight the startling versatility of his voice and his interest in experimental recording techniques.

Let’s start with 2 versions of the same song. “Coming Up” was the opening track on the 1980 album McCartney II. The song makes use of synthesizers and sped-up vocals using a vari-speed tape machine.

The video for this version actually premiered on Saturday Night Live on May 17, 1980 and features multiple McCartneys and a couple of Linda McCartneys as a (fictional) band called the Plastic Macs.

This version peaked at number 2 on the UK singles chart, while in the U.S. and Canada a live version of the song recorded in Glasgow in 1979 was released and became the hit version peaking at number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.

McCartney’s old bandmate John Lennon really liked the album version of the song, saying “I thought that ‘Coming Up’ was great, … And I like the freak version that he made in his barn better than that live Glasgow one.” So herewith, a playlist highlighting Macca’s “freaky side”. I might have gotten a bit carried away with this list, but there’s so much fun stuff out there, I couldn’t resist! – MAA

“Coming Up” (McCartney II version, released 1980)

“Coming Up” (Live in Glasgow, December 17, 1979)

“Pretty Little Head” (Dreamy and atmospheric. From Press To Play, released 1986)

“Monkberry Moon Delight” (A scream-y stomper with some of the oddest lyrics you’ll come across. From Ram, released 1971)

“Check My Machine” (Quite literally created as an exercise to check his home recording machine. From McCartney II, released 1980)

“Nod Your Head” (From Memory Almost Full, released 2007)

“Why Don’t We Do It In The Road?” (Short, simple and … lusty. From The Beatles – aka The White Album, released 1968)

“Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey” (Playful and inventive. From Ram, released 1971)

“We All Stand Together” (Billed as Paul McCartney and the Frog Chorus – appears in the 1984 animated cartoon “Rupert & the Frog Song”. The song was a top 10 hit in the UK.)

“Free Now” (A little musique concrète in collaboration with Youth and Super Furry Animals. From Liverpool Sound Collage, released 2000)

“Où est le Soleil?” (A synth-y electronic vibe en français. The lyrics translate as “Where is the sun? In the head. Work.” From Flowers in the Dirt, released 1989)

“Smile Away” (From Ram, released 1971)

“Wild Honey Pie” (A snippet in the key of F# major (that’s 6 sharps!). From The Beatles’ White Album, released in 1968)

“Kreen-Akrore” (A lo-fi instrumental jam session. From McCartney, released 1970)

“Mary Had A Little Lamb” (Not a rocker at all, it’s a cute little children’s song based on the nursery rhyme. A non-album single, released in 1972.)

“Hi, Hi, Hi” (Quite a fun little rocker. Banned by the BBC for sexually suggestive lyrics and drug references. A staple of Wings live shows in the 1970s. Non-album single, released 1972)

“Nothing Too Much Just Out of Sight” (A track by The Fireman – a collaboration between McCartney and Youth. From Electric Arguments, released in 2008)

“Magneto and Titanium Man” (A comic book inspired song featuring Marvel characters. Endorsed by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. From the Wings album Venus & Mars released in 1975.)

“Temporary Secretary” (Another 1980 track from McCartney II. Described in Rolling Stone as an “oddly catchy electro-pop nugget, about a slightly creepy-sounding guy looking to hire a temp.” Can’t argue with that assessment, really.)

“Step Inside Love/Los Paranoias” (This track from the Beatles Anthology 3 begins as a demo of a song for Cilla Black and morphs into an amusing jam session. Recorded in 1968. Released in 1996.)

“Oo You” (From McCartney, released 1970)

“Old Siam Sir” (From the seventh and final Wings studio album Back to the Egg, released in 1979)

“Flaming Pie” (A track from the 1997 album also entitled Flaming Pie.)

“You Know My Name (Look Up The Number)” (A rather nutty music hall comedy number recorded between 1967 and 1969 and released as the B-Side to “Let It Be” in 1970. Listen for McCartney’s sleazy lounge singer character!)

Here is the whole playlist on YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLU94rco57Zey6hqfXCEL9s9O3V6ZfkYRk

And here’s a (slightly longer) version of the playlist on Spotify: