Galaxy Playlist for February 27, 2006

I'm still building up to my 10th Anniversary show for next week. You can probably say that last week's theme actually covers this week's show as well. This is partially because I had intended to play the Mahler last week, but could not squeeze it in due to time restrictions. So the theme still holds, where I'm playing both new and old material. Also, I'm playing material here that would have been tempting to play during the Anniversary show. Maybe you could say that I'm stretching things out in order to make the Anniversary Show a 6-10 hour show, if you include our 4 hour show from last week, and especially when you consider that opera was once a significant part of our efforts here on the Galaxy, and will always continue to be on my mind, even when I cannot include operas in our current 2 hour format (how many operas do you know that are less than 2 hours long?).

So enjoy the show, and be sure to tune in next week. I have special plans that I am working on - it will be a very special program.

Composer's name is listed where notable (i.e. Classical Performance, Jazz Performance).

For more information on any of the rock, pop and Jazz music featured on this program, I frequently utilize AllMusic , an excellent free database holding a huge plethora of information about music and the artists that make it.

Composer	Performer	Title	Genre	Label	Notes
Gustav Mahler (1860 - 1911)	Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra , Lorin Maazel, cond., -w- Waltraud Meier (mezzo-soprano), Ben Heppner (tenor)	Das Lied Von Der Erde (The Song Of The Earth)	Classical, 20th Century, Symphonic Song Cycle for voice	RCA Victor, 2000	Written in 1908, premiered after Mahler's death in 1911, with his friend Bruno Walter conducting. This piece was written at a critical time in Mahler's life, with his daughter having recently passed away and himself having been diagnosed with a heart ailment. Mahler had a great fear of death, and as such feared the significance of writing/naming a "Ninth" Symphony, for similarly numbered pieces were the final works of Beethoven and Bruckner. This work may have started as a symphony, but Mahler hesitated in giving the "Ninth Symphony" title, and eventually changed the title to what we see here. He finished his Ninth Symphony a year later, then died while writing his 10th. This work, colored by this foreboding, is considered to be among his most personal works, and features an exquisite finale. This is a true treat for the classical music lover, or for those who appreciate sensitive, spiritual, inspired music. On this recording, the quality of both Heppner and Meier, both noted Wagnerian vocalists (Wagner's works tend to require specialists, especially for the soprano parts) should be noted.
Charles Mingus (bass), -w- Eric Dolphy (flute), Clifford Jordan (t. sax), Jaki Byard (piano), Dannie Richmond (drums)	Meditations on Integration	Jazz, Post-bop/Avant Guarde, '60s	Revenge, 1996	This would be Eric Dolphy's last concert tour, as he died just a few months later
A Flock of Seagulls	I Ran (So Far Away)	Rock, New Wave, '80s	Jive, 1982
Wayne County and the Electric Chairs	Thunder	Rock, Post-Punk, '70s	IRS, 1977	Part of the first wave of punk rock. They headlined a club tour with the Police the year this song was released, but none of their material was ever released in the United States (even though Wayne County was actually born in Georgia). Wayne County later became Jayne County, and has written an autobiography said to be a favorite of Boy George.
Modern English	I Melt With You	Rock, New Wave, '80s	4AD, 1982	Featured song in the movie Valley Girl, the first starring role for Nicholas Cage. The song did very well for the band, but they never did anything else. Funny how things happen that way!
Ratt	Round and Round	Metal, '80s	Atlantic, 1984
Guns and Roses	Paradise City	Geffen, 1987	Album released in 1987, but did not achieve any popularity for a year, until "Sweet Child of Mine" suddenly hit the top of the charts. This was the third single from that album, and was a smash hit with young American soldiers based in Germany (such as your friendly Galactic DJ)

Composer

Performer

Title

Genre

Label

Notes

Gustav Mahler
(1860 - 1911)

Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra , Lorin Maazel, cond., -w- Waltraud Meier (mezzo-soprano), Ben Heppner (tenor)

Das Lied Von Der Erde
(The Song Of The Earth)

Classical, 20th Century, Symphonic Song Cycle for voice

RCA Victor, 2000

Written in 1908, premiered after Mahler's death in 1911, with his friend Bruno Walter conducting. This piece was written at a critical time in Mahler's life, with his daughter having recently passed away and himself having been diagnosed with a heart ailment. Mahler had a great fear of death, and as such feared the significance of writing/naming a "Ninth" Symphony, for similarly numbered pieces were the final works of Beethoven and Bruckner. This work may have started as a symphony, but Mahler hesitated in giving the "Ninth Symphony" title, and eventually changed the title to what we see here. He finished his Ninth Symphony a year later, then died while writing his 10th. This work, colored by this foreboding, is considered to be among his most personal works, and features an exquisite finale. This is a true treat for the classical music lover, or for those who appreciate sensitive, spiritual, inspired music. On this recording, the quality of both Heppner and Meier, both noted Wagnerian vocalists (Wagner's works tend to require specialists, especially for the soprano parts) should be noted.

Charles Mingus (bass), -w- Eric Dolphy (flute), Clifford Jordan (t. sax), Jaki Byard (piano), Dannie Richmond (drums)

Meditations on Integration

Jazz, Post-bop/Avant Guarde, '60s

Revenge, 1996

This would be Eric Dolphy's last concert tour, as he died just a few months later

A Flock of Seagulls

I Ran (So Far Away)

Rock, New Wave, '80s

Jive, 1982

Wayne County and the Electric Chairs

Thunder

Rock, Post-Punk, '70s

IRS, 1977

Part of the first wave of punk rock. They headlined a club tour with the Police the year this song was released, but none of their material was ever released in the United States (even though Wayne County was actually born in Georgia). Wayne County later became Jayne County, and has written an autobiography said to be a favorite of Boy George.

Modern English

I Melt With You

Rock, New Wave, '80s

4AD, 1982

Featured song in the movie Valley Girl, the first starring role for Nicholas Cage. The song did very well for the band, but they never did anything else. Funny how things happen that way!

Ratt

Round and Round

Metal, '80s

Atlantic, 1984

Guns and Roses

Paradise City

Geffen, 1987

Album released in 1987, but did not achieve any popularity for a year, until "Sweet Child of Mine" suddenly hit the top of the charts. This was the third single from that album, and was a smash hit with young American soldiers based in Germany (such as your friendly Galactic DJ)

The Galaxy Playlist

February 27th, 2006

I Love It When I Can Play New Material!