Tag Archives: Xipeng

Arachnophonia: Les Misérables

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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 Xipeng (class of 2024) and features the musical Les Misérables. Thanks, Xipeng!

Les Misérables

The musical Les Misérables is the stage adaptation of Victor Hugo’s novel of the same name. The musical was initially written in French and first performed in 1980. After a short performance in Paris, Cameron Mackintosh produced an English-language version for British audiences. The DVD edition we have in our library is a copy of the recording on October 8th, 1995, the 10th anniversary of the musical Les Mis at Royal Albert Hall.

The story takes place in France in the early 19th century, about a French peasant’s desire for redemption. Jean Valjean was in jail for 19 years for stealing a loaf of bread and was released in 1815. Inspired by the Bishop, Valjean decided to break his parole and start his new life; however, a policeman named Javert refused to let him escape from justice but continued to hunt him for years. To avoid the wrath of Javert, Valjean found him in Paris on the eve of the 1832 Paris Uprising.

The release of the musical Les Misérables was overwhelmed by positive and negative comments, and some condemned the decision to convert classic literature into the musical. Nevertheless, the song “Do You Hear The People Sing?” is still on my playlist, and I will never forget the feeling when I first heard it.

Parsons Playlists: Serenaded by the Moon

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Welcome back to Parsons Playlists! Today’s playlist is curated by Music Library student manager Xipeng (class of 2024) which can be enjoyed by moonlight.

Serenaded by the Moon

This is the one of my favorite playlists to have at midnight, either when I am with friends or just enjoy the time to be alone. Turn off the lights, and enjoy this beautiful night!

Miles Davis, John Coltrane & Bill Evans – “Stella By Starlight”

Diana Krall – “Almost Blue”

Bill Evans, Eddie Gomez & Marty Morell – “Turn Out The Stars”

Miles Davis – “Pharaoh’s Dance”

Miles Davis – “Moon Dreams”

George Michael – “Roxanne”

Gerry Mulligan Quartet with Chet Baker – “Stardust”

Chet Baker – “That Old Feeling”

Chet Baker – “My Ideal”

Ahmad Jamal – “Wave”

Julie London – “Cry Me A River”

Frank Sinatra – “Summer Wind”

Here is a link to the whole playlist on YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLU94rco57ZezhlEHCXrPBloetPCJLJpsC

And here is a version on Spotify:

Parsons Playlists: Music from Tom & Jerry

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Welcome back to Parsons Playlists! Today’s playlist is curated by Music Library student manager Xipeng (class of 2024) and features music used in the soundtracks of Tom & Jerry cartoons.

Music from Tom and Jerry

The Tom & Jerry cartoons provided me with so much inspiration for my piano practice when I was a kid, and this playlist of a small collection of the original soundtracks, reminds me of my childhood memories.

Tom and Jerry

Johan Pachelbel – “Canon in D” (London Symphony Orchestra)

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart – Symphony No.41 in C Major “Jupitar” K.551 (English Baroque Soloists, John Eliot Gardiner)

Johannes Brahms – 21 Hungarian Dances No.5 in G Minor: Allegro (Wiener Philharmoniker)

Ludwig van Beethoven – Bagatelle No. 25 in A Minor, “Für Elise”, WoO 59 (Lang Lang)

Anonymous – “Sari Galin” (Farid Farjad)

Francois-Joseph Gossec – Gavotte in D Major, “Rosine” (arr. for violin and piano) (Takako Nishizaki)

Stephen Foster – “Old Folks At Home” (Tom Roush)

Anonymous – “Go Tell Aunt Rhody” (Woody Guthrie)

Gerardo Hernán Matos Rodríguez – La Cumparsita, tango (Ensemble Contraste)

Frédéric Chopin – Grande Valse Brillante, Op. 18, No.1 in E-Flat Major (Lang Lang)

Anonymous – “Deck The Halls” (The Ames Brothers)

Eduardo di Capua – “Maria, Marì” (Luciano Pavarotti, Orchestra del Teatro Comunale di Bologna)

Anonymous – “Froggie Went A-Courtin'” (Woody Guthrie)

Here is a link to the whole playlist on YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLU94rco57ZewM9r0M6kQyxNW8PbpHUKWW

[Editor’s note: And here is a fun piece about classical music in cartoons from Classic FM: https://www.classicfm.com/composers/liszt/cartoonist-how-generation-learned-classical-music-bugs-bunny/ ]

Arachnophonia: Chopin’s Letters

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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 Xipeng (class of 2024) and features book of letters by the composer Frederic Chopin (1810-1849). Thanks, Xipeng!

Chopin’s Letters

Chopin's Letters - book cover

I started working on Chopin’s G Minor Ballade last December, and it was the piece with the heaviest emotions I have ever studied before. By chance, I read several sections of this book, a collection of Chopin’s letters, and the texts have such a strong power that I was immersed in the intensity and great sorrow reading through the lines.

Here is what Chopin recorded in his Stuttgart diary in this book when the Battle of Warsaw took place in September 1831: “Sometimes I can only groan, and suffer, and pour out my despair at the piano! … Is a corpse any worse than I? … A corpse is as colorless as I, as cold, as I am cold to everything now” (Chopin, 149).

When studying a new piece, I found it extremely helpful to better interpret the narrative and emotions behind the composition by reading different versions of the score and the composer’s diary or other written documents. The book Chopin’s Letters will give you a brand-new insight into this patriotic composer if you love his music! The call number is ML410.C54 A4 1988.

Arachnophonia: The Nutcracker

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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 Xipeng (class of 2024) and features Tchaikovsky’s ballet “The Nutcracker”. Thanks, Xipeng!

The Nutcracker

nutcracker2

People might argue that it’s hard to understand ballet, but the stunning production of The Nutcracker by The Royal Ballet available on DVD in the Music Library will provide the audience with a different and impressive experience. The story behind the dancing scene evokes the inner feeling of everyone, and the music from Tchaikovsky endows dramatic, mysterious, and dreamy colors to the performance.

This recording from a performance in 1968 was performed by Merle Park, who was known for the brilliance of execution and virtuoso technique. The stage arrangement and design are relatively simple than in present days; however, the costumes and performers’ techniques were outstanding. My favorite part has always been the second act, where integration of international dance performance takes place: Spanish dancers represent chocolate, Arabian dancers are coffee, Chinese dancers are tea, while Russian dancers represent sugar canes.

As Christmas is approaching, check this DVD out in the Parsons Music Library! You can borrow a DVD drive from the front desk or use the equipment in the study rooms to watch the entire performance!

Nutcracker DVD cover

Parsons Playlists: Music for Two Pianos from Martha Argerich

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Welcome back to Parsons Playlists! Today’s playlist is curated by Music Library student manager Xipeng (class of 2024) and features works for two pianos performed by Argentinian classical concert pianist Martha Argerich and friends.

Music for Two Pianos from Martha Argerich

Martha Argerich has always been one of my favorite pianists, and it’s amazing how two pianos can produce the sound of an entire orchestra. Enjoy this exhilarating complete performance!

martha argerich two pianos

Tchaikovsky: Suite from the Nutcracker, Op. 71a Arranged for two pianos by Nicolas Economou (Martha Argerich/ Lilya Zilberstein)

Rachmaninov: Suite No.2 in C Major, Op.17 (Martha Argerich / Gabriela Montero)

Rachmaninov: 6 Morceaux, Op.11 (Martha Argerich / Lilya Zilberstein)

Brahms: Sonata for 2 Pianos in F minor, Op. 34b (Martha Argerich / Lilya Zilberstein)

Brahms: Variations on a Theme by Haydn for 2 Pianos, Op. 56b “St. Antoni Chorale” (Martha Argerich / Polina Leschenko)

Prokofiev / Symphony No.1 in D Major, Op. 25 “Classical” Arr. Rikuya Terashima (Martha Argerich / Nelson Freire)

Mozart Sonata for Two Pianos, K. 448 (Martha Argerich / Daniel Barenboim)

Here is a link to the whole playlist on YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLU94rco57Zeyn2KswGm9bpnTmsPUH3n_z

Parsons Playlists: A Mini Collection of Mozart

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Welcome back to Parsons Playlists! Today’s playlist is curated by Music Library student assistant Xipeng (class of 2024) and features works by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

A Mini Collection of Mozart

I have to say that my childhood was accompanied with Mozart’s music, and today’s playlist is all about Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart!

violin solo with orchestra

Mozart – Piano Concerto No.21 in C Major, K.467 “Elvira Madigan”: I. Allegro maestoso
Artist: Rudolf Buchbinder

Mozart – Piano Concerto No. 27 in B-Flat Major, Op. 17, K. 595: I. Allegro
Artist: Rudolf Buchbinder

Mozart – Piano Concerto No. 13 in C Major, K. 415 – 1. Allegro
Artist: Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli

Mozart – Piano Sonata in C major, K. 330- 3rd mov. Allegretto
Artist: Mitsuko Uchida

Mozart – Piano Sonata in A minor, K. 310- 3rd mov. Presto
Artist: Mitsuko Uchida

Mozart – Flute Concerto No. 1 in G major (K. 313)
Artist: Sharon Bezaly, Ostrobothnian Chamber Orchestra

Mozart – La Flute Enchantee – Der hölle Rache
Artist: Sabine Devieilhe

Mozart – Violin Concerto No.3 in G major, K216: I Allegro
Artist: Hilary Hahn

Mozart – Violin Concerto No. 5 in A Major, KV 219 “Turkish”: III. Rondeau
Artist: Bomsori Kim

Mozart – Piano Trio in G Major, K. 496
Artist: Clara Trio

Mozart – Piano Trio No. 1 (Divertimento), K. 254 in B-flat Major
Artist: Sean Cavanaugh, Nathaniel Shapiro, Kelly Knox

Mozart – Fantasia in D minor K. 397
Artist: Mieczyslaw Horszowski

Mozart – Flute Quartet No.1 in D Major, K.285
Artist: Ensemble Connect

Here is a link to the whole playlist on YouTube:
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLU94rco57Zexyj2fQfwVMgM2RqB25FRkP

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)

Arachnophonia: Don Quixote

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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 Xipeng (class of 2024) and features a DVD performance of the ballet Don Quixote. Thanks, Xipeng!

Don Quixote

Don Quixote ballet DVD case

Don Quixote, a dramatic love story on tiptoe

Don Quixote de la Mancha is a Spanish novel written by Miguel de Cervantes. The main character of this novel is named Alonso Quixano, who read many chivalric romances and lost in his dream of becoming as a knight. He recruited Sancho Panza, a farmer, as his squire and started his journey.

The theme of the ballet is adapted from the original novel but only focuses on two chapters. Taking place in Spain, the dancing language expresses enthusiastic, strong and powerful cultural characteristics with various dance types, including Romani dance and Flamenco. The dancing techniques require high standard with daring balance, twisting leaps and 32 fouettés, which is one of the most classic whipping turns.

The music composed by Ludwig Minkus also contributes to this spectacular showcase. One thing to note is that the choreography was first created by Marius Petipa, and even thought his creation has been through several revivals, it still serves as the most important foundation for Don Quixote ballet productions. The video available in the Music Library was choreographed by Mikhail Baryshnikov, and is located in the DVDs section.

A quote from Royal Opera House said that “It is one of the few Petipa ballets to be named for the hero rather than the heroine. It is a comic ballet in a sea of danced melodramas, and contains more character dancing than any other Petipa work on view today.” I am sure you will definitely enjoy the showcase even with only one act!