The Galaxy Playlist

May 8, 2006

Even more new stuff

It's nice to play new stuff when I can get it. As with last week, we have tonight some recently composed classical music, a demonstration that classical music isn't just comprised of material that we hear in music appreciation classrooms. Classical music can be vibrant and massive, and it can also have a delicacy that speaks to our very innermost soul (both of these qualities can be found in tonight's leadoff piece, Pärt's Lamentate). Really, classical music sets the stage for the art form which is music, defines it, and lays the groundwork that other forms of music follow.

Of course, we also have thrilling new music from Kate Bush (I liked the p song myself - you know, we just love those endless numbers!), a new acquisition from the combined forces of Tito Puente and Woody Herman, and a recent acquisition from Arthur Rubenstein. I love playing new music!

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
Arvo Pärt
Alexei Lubimov, piano, -w- the SWR Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra, Andrey Boreyko, cond.
Lamentate
Classical, 21st Century, solo piano with orchestra
ECM, 2005
Pärt is an Estonian composer who specializes in minimalist compositions, many of which demonstrate a significant Russian Orthodox influence. This work is a 2002 composition inspired by a massive sculpture by Anish Kapoor that sits in the Turbine Hall of Tate Modern in London.
Kate Bush
How To Be Invisible
Pop/Rock, Progressive, Adult Alternative
Columbia, 2005
New material from Kate Bush! We are selecting three songs from the 1st disc of this double disc album, and will probably play the 2nd disc in its entirety at a later date. BTW, Pi is 3.14159265358979323846 ....
p (Pi)
Mrs. Bartolozzi
Cheap Trick
Dream Police
Pop/Rock, 70s/80s
Epic, 1979
Band from Rockford, IL
Tonight Its You
Epic, 1985
REO Speedwagon
Take It On The Run
Epic, 1980
Band from Champaign, IL
Styx
The Best of Times
A&M, 1980
These guys were/are from Chicago
Fooling Yourself
A&M, 1977
Chicago
Happy Man
Johannes Brahms
Arthur Rubenstein
Cappriccio, Op. 76, no.2, in B minor
Classical, Romantic Era, solo piano
RCA Victor, 1928
The first piece is among Rubenstein's first recordings for the RCA (then referred to by its tag line, His Majesty's Voice, or HMV) label, and probably rank among music's great "early" recordings. Rubenstein was 10 when Brahms died, and had multiple notable Brahms peers as contacts, including Joseph Joachim,
Rhapsody, Op. 79, no. 2, in G minor
RCA Victor, 1937
Tito Puente/Woody Herman
Latin Flight
Big Band, Afro Cuban
RCA/Legacy, 1958
1992 reissue of an excellent 1958 recording.
Mambo Herd
Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
Electricity
Rock, New Wave, '80s
Dindisc/Virgin, 1980
1980 remix of a 1979 single

 

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Last Update: May 8, 2006

Email: saxman@siu.edu

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