RECORDINGS OF DECEMBER 2008 NEWSLETTER
December 17, 2008 by Lynne
This holiday season of 2008 is proving difficult for many people because of current economic hardships and fears for the future. Yet, paradoxically, it can also be a time of great opportunity,through a conscious focus on core values and deeper connections with our fellow beings.
We’re aware that those sentiments can sound overly simplistic.On the other hand, there is real virtue in simplicity, as Leonard Bernstein demonstrated in a beautiful little song he wrote for his dramatic piece, Mass: A Theatre Piece for Singers, Players and Dancers.
Mass was performed twice in New York City recently as part of a year long celebration of Bernstein’s 90th birthday (unfortunately he died at age 72). You can read an enthusiastic review here.
We think you will find “A Simple Song” as appealing and powerful as we do.
Please take a few moments to listen by clicking on one of the links below:
For Streaming Audio:
For Downloading to an mp3 Player:
Note: If you would like to buy a recording of Mass, Josh recommends the 2 CD box set on SONY (Amazon Standard Identification Number B0000029XM). Alan Titus is The Celebrant, with The Norman Scribner Choir and The Berkshire Boys Choir; Orchestra Conducted by Leonard Bernstein. He strongly recommends this over the more recent, more expensive version conducted by Kent Nagano.
RECORDINGS OF NOVEMBER 2008 NEWSLETTER
November 22, 2008 by Lynne
To access our November newsletter recording on“THE MUSIC OF SILENCE,” just click on one of the links below:
For Streaming Audio:
For Downloading to an mp3 Player:
Directions for Your Experiment With the Music of Silence:
Find a block of time when you can be undisturbed for at least 5 minutes. The particular time and location are completely up to you, but you need to be able to focus on your surroundings.
Create a listening chart by labeling a narrow column on the far left TIME LAPSE and the much wider column on the right SOUNDS HEARD. Now simply describe what you hear during 5 minutes.
For example:
TIME LAPSE SOUNDS HEARD
0:00 It’s around 10 PM on Monday evening. I’m in my kitchen making tea. The wind is whistling through a small crack in the window—high pitched, ghostly
0:10 The tea kettle starts to whistle too. A shriller pitch than the wind
0:15 I hear voices from another room. Sounds like the buzzing of bees.
__________________________________________________________
At the end of 5 minutes, write a paragraph around these questions:
1. Did the same sounds keep repeating (wind howling, dogs barking, furnace rumbling)?
2. Or did they change, evolving into something new?
3. Would you describe your environment as a hi-fi or low-fisoundscape? Why?
4. How was your mood affected by what you heard?
5. Where there any surprises from this experiment?
We’d love to hear about your experience. Leave a comment here!
RECORDINGS OF OCTOBER 2008 NEWSLETTER
November 13, 2008 by Lynne
To listen to our first audio newsletter on the ways an ascending melodic line creates a positive feeling, use one of the following links:
Leave us a comment or two here!
MUSIC PLAYED IN OUR OCTOBER NEWSLETTER
October 21, 2008 by Lynne
We like to give you, our newsletter listeners, specific information on the pieces we play and discuss each month. We choose recordings that Josh considers to be outstanding.
1. I’m a Cockeyed Optimist comes from Rogers and Hammerstein’s SOUTH PACIFIC, new Broadway cast recording on Sony BMG Entertainment 88697-30457-2.
2. Scherzo comes from Beethoven’s ARCHDUKE TRIO, from a compilation of complete piano trios on EMI 0777-763124-2.
3. Struttin’ With Some Barbecue is available as an iTunes download or as part of 1923-3The Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, 1923-34, Columbia/Legacy 57176
We think you’ll enjoy hearing these classic performances of the whole works.