Music After Midnight

Flight of The Bumblebee

2015-01-06T02:06:00.001-08:00

Known for its lightning-fast 16th note runs and association with cartoons, Flight of the Bumblebee is one of Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov's most famous musical compositions. Written in 1899-1900 as an interlude for the opera The Tale of Tsar Saltan, this piece closes the third act scene 1 where the Tsar's son, Prince Gvidon Saltanovich gets changed into a bumblebee. This change, initiated by the magical Swan Bird, helps him fly over the sea as a stowaway on the Sultan's ship to meet with his father who is in Tmutarakan.

Flight of the Bumble is performed numerous times as a stand-alone piece in popular culture as well as orchestral and solo compositions. Among its uses include the fictional 1947 biopic Song of Scheherazade, Walt Disney's Fantasia, and the radio program, The Green Hornet.

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Flight Of The Bumblebee (Intermediate Piano Solo). Composed by Nikolay Andreyevich Rimsky-Korsakov (1844-1908). Arranged by H.S. Krouse. For Piano. Piano Solo. Classical Period. Difficulty: medium. Single piece. 5 pages. Edward B. Marks Music #MS75. Published by Edward B. Marks Music (HL.9510).

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Flight of the Bumblebee (Piano). Composed by Nikolay Andreyevich Rimsky-Korsakov (1844-1908). Arranged by S. Rachmaninow. For Piano. EMB. 8 pages. Editio Musica Budapest #Z643. Published by Editio Musica Budapest (HL.50511472).

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101 Popular Songs for Flute * Solos & Duets * with 3 CDs Composed by Various. Arranged by Jonathon Robbins. For flute. This edition: Paperback. Collection. Popular, Play Along. Collection and 3 CDs. Text Language: English. 160 pages. Published by Santorella Publications (SP.TS402).

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101 Popular Songs for Trombone * Solos & Duets * with 3 CDs Composed by Various. Arranged by Jonathon Robbins. For trombone. This edition: Paperback. Collection. Popular, Play Along. Collection and 3 CDs. Text Language: English. 160 pages. Published by Santorella Publications (SP.TS404).

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Flight Of The Bumblebee Composed by Nikolay Andreyevich Rimsky-Korsakov (1844-1908). Arranged by Arranged by Igor Zugrov. For Trumpet, Concert Band, Marching Band. Classical Period, Pop, Children's Music, Fairy Tales. Advanced Intermediate. Score, Set of Parts. Published by Igor Zugrov (S0.23694).

Tunes To Ring In The New Year: Happy New Year by ABBA

2014-12-29T19:05:00.001-08:00

Released in 1980 from their Super Trouper album, Happy New Year by the Swedish group ABBA was released as a single in 1999 under the Universal Music Group label. Since 1999, this song consistently made the Top 100 charts worldwide with Number 75 in Germany, Number 34 in Sweden and 15 in the Netherlands. The Spanish language version called Felicidad ranked in the Top 5 in Argentina along with the South American versions of the Super Trouper album. In 2008 Happy New Year was released with charting number 25 in Denmark, 11 in Norway and 4 in Sweden and became number 5 on the Sweden and Norwegian charts the following year. In 2011, the song made the Dutch Top 10 charts.

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Happy new year Composed by Andersson / Ulvaeus. Arranged by Robert Sund. For SATB choir, piano. En av de kanda ABBA-sangerna i arr av Robert Sund. Language: English. 12 pages. Published by Gehrmans Musikforlag (GH.GE-12065).

Songs of Christmas Past Part 7: Feliz Navidad

2014-12-23T02:09:00.002-08:00

One of the most downloaded and aired Christmas song in the United States and Canada, Feliz Navidad is a simple and fun song that wishes you Marry Christmas in both English and Spanish. The tune, written by Puerto Rican singer-songwriter José Feliciano consists of only two lines of the lyrics. One line contains the lyrics Feliz Navidad, próspero año y Felicidad meaning "Merry Christmas, a prosperous year and happiness" in Spanish. The other line contains the words "I wanna wish you a Merry Christmas from the bottom of my heart" in English. Written and recorded in 1970 under the RCA record label, Feliciano recorded his version of the work on acoustic guitar and a Puerto Rican Cuatro with the help of drummer Paulinho Magalhaes and producer Rick Jarrard.

Numerous artists have covered Feliz Navidad since its release in 1970, and the tune is one of the top 25 most played recorded Christmas songs internationally according to ASCAP.

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Feliz Navidad For Piano/Vocal/Guitar. Piano Vocal. 4 pages. Published by Hal Leonard (HL.351885).

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Alfred's Basic Piano Course - Top Hits! Christmas - Complete Levels 2 & 3 (For the Later Beginner). Edited by E. L. Lancaster and Morton Manus. Arranged by Various. For easy solo piano. Method/Instruction; Piano - Alfred's Basic Piano Course. Alfred's Basic Piano Library. Instructional and Christmas. SMP Level 2 (Late Elementary). Instructional songbook. Easy piano notation, fingerings and lyrics (does not include words to the songs). 31 pages. Published by Alfred Music (AP.17204).

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The Most Requested Christmas Songs Composed by Various. For Piano/Vocal/Guitar. Piano/Vocal/Guitar Songbook. Softcover. 256 pages. Published by Cherry Lane Music (HL.1563).

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Michael Buble - Christmas By Michael Buble. For Vocal. Vocal Piano. Softcover. 114 pages. Published by Hal Leonard (HL.307364).

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Popular Performer -- A Christmas Just for You (10 Popular Songs of the Season). Arranged by Dennis Alexander. For Piano. Book; Piano Collection; Piano Supplemental. Popular Performer Series. Christmas; Secular; Winter. Advanced. 40 pages. Published by Alfred Music (AP.39044).

Songs of Christmas Past Part 6: Sleigh Ride

2014-12-20T02:12:00.000-08:00

Composed by Leroy Anderson, Sleigh Ride has become a standard Christmas tune with concert bands and orchestras worldwide. This beloved piece conceived by Anderson in July of 1946 was finished in February of 1948 and recorded by the Boston Pops Orchestra under the baton of Arthur Fiedler in 1949. Sleigh Ride became an instant hit and became the orchestra's signature tune. In 1950, Mitchell Parish wrote the lyrics to the piece about a person who excitedly invites another to ride a sleigh with them on a winter's day. In that same year, Anderson recorded his version of Sleigh Ride, and it hit Cashbox magazine's best sellers chart and re-released in 1952. The first known vocal performance of the tune was recorded by The Andrews Sisters in 1950.

Sleigh Ride consistently ranks in the top 10 most performed songs according to the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers.

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Sleigh Ride Arranged by Michael Story. Concert Band. Concert Band. Belwin Young Band. Christmas; Winter. Grade 2. Conductor Score & Parts. 256 pages. Duration 2:27. Published by Belwin Music (AP.BD9942).

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Sleigh Ride Composed by Leroy Anderson (1908-1975). Orchestra. Full Orchestra. Leroy Anderson Classic Full Orchestra (Concert Level). Christmas; Winter. Grade 3.5. Conductor Score & Parts. 144 pages. Duration 3:01. Published by Belwin Music (AP.81261).

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Sleigh Ride Composed by Leroy Anderson (1908-1975). Concert Band. Concert Band; SmartMusic. Leroy Anderson Classics. Christmas; Winter. Grade 4. Conductor Score & Parts. 258 pages. Duration 3:09. Published by Belwin Music (AP.84181).

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Sleigh Ride By Mitchell Parish. For piano, voice and guitar (chords). Christmas; Winter. Piano/Vocal/Guitar. 6 pages. Published by Hal Leonard - Digital Sheet Music (HX.244540).

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Accent on Performance Holiday Collection (22 Full Band Arrangements Correlated to Accent on Achievement (Piano)). Arranged by John O'Reilly and Mark Williams. Concert Band. For Piano. Band Supplement; Book. Accent on Performance. Chanukah; Christmas; Winter. 48 pages. Published by Alfred Music (AP.41323).

Songs of Christmas Past Part 5: The Christmas Song

2014-12-19T02:34:00.001-08:00

The Christmas Song, also known as Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire, is one of the most popular classic Christmas tunes composed by Mel Tormé and Bob Wells in 1944. Written during a hot summer this song originally named Merry Christmas To You, was an attempt to stay cool by thinking about the cold weather of the holidays.

The Nat King Cole Trio, with singer and pianist Nat King Cole, bassist Johnny Miller and guitarist Oscar Moore recorded The Christmas Song on June 14, 1946 at WMCA Radio Studios, New York City. On August 19th that same year, a second recording was made along with the first record issue. Cole went on to make two more recordings of The Christmas Song, and Mel Torme made several recordings of the piece as well.

Since its first recording in 1946, The Christmas Song became the most performed Christmas song according to BMI.

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The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire) (Piano/Vocal/Guitar). For Piano/Vocal/Guitar. Piano Vocal. Christmas and Standards. Difficulty: medium. Single. Vocal melody, piano accompaniment, lyrics, chord names and guitar chord diagrams. 2 pages. Published by Hal Leonard (HL.380381).

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The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire) By Mel Torme and Frank Sinatra. For piano, voice, and guitar (chords only). Christmas; Jazz; Standards. Piano/Vocal/Guitar. 3 pages. Published by Hal Leonard - Digital Sheet Music (HX.38459).

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The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire) By Mel Torme and Nat "King" Cole. For piano and voice. Christmas; Jazz; Love; Standards. PV. 6 pages. Published by Hal Leonard - Digital Sheet Music (HX.189580).

Songs Of Christmas Past Part 4: It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

2014-12-18T04:59:00.001-08:00

It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year is a happy tune about the activities associated with the Christmas season and getting together with relatives and friends. Among the activities is the old Victorian Christmas tradition of telling scary ghost stories. One of the stories that survived since that period was the Charles Dickens classic A Christmas Carol.

Composed by Edward Pola and George Wyle in 1963, this song recorded and released by singer Andy Williams later that year and included in Williams first Christmas album. Over the years, it became a Holiday standard with it being one of Billboard's Top 10 Holiday Songs since 2001. Since its first release in 1963, numerous artists covered It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year as well as used in several commercials and movies.

Need some sheet music or recordings for your holiday party or to match your holiday mood? Click on the links below.

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It's Christmas! (for Advanced Piano). Arranged by Dan Coates. For solo piano. Piano - Intermediate / Advanced Collection; Piano Supplemental. Dan Coates Piano Favorites. Christmas. SMP Level 8 (Early Advanced). Collection. Standard notation (does not include words to the songs). 44 pages. Published by Alfred Music (AP.AFM0211A).

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The Complete Christmas Music Collection For voice, piano and guitar (chords only). This edition: Piano/Vocal/Chords. P/V/C Mixed Folio; Piano/Vocal/Chords. The Complete Collection Series. Sacred. SMP Level 5 (Intermediate). Songbook. Vocal melody, piano accompaniment, lyrics, chord names and guitar chord diagrams. 264 pages. Published by Alfred Music (AP.F3350SMD).

Songs Of Christmas Past Part 3: Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer.

2014-12-16T03:38:00.002-08:00

One of the most popular songs and holiday television specials associated with childhood is the perineal classic Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. Over the years, this song about a lovable reindeer, once ostracized for his red nose, has worked its way into the hearts of millions. However, Rudolph did not get his start in a song or a Christmas special; he debuted in a book.

In 1939 creator Robert May was assigned to Chicago based department store Montgomery Ward. The shop, which previously bought and handed out coloring books, decided to create their book in order to save money. The story idea of Rudolph, initially rejected by the management due to the significance of a red nose being associated with alcoholism, needed the help of illustrator Denver Gillen to prove its innocence. Gillen, using zoo deer as models to draw the cute characters to the story. The management supported the idea after seeing his illustrations. In its first year of publication, Montgomery Ward distributed 2.5 million copies of Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer.

In 1949, May's brother in law Johnny Marks composed the well-known song based on the story of Rudolph with the first recording done by Gene Autry. Autry was reluctant to record the piece until his wife talked him into it which resulted in an excellent decision. Autry's performance of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer sold 2 million copies in 1949 and became the second biggest-selling Christmas song of all time.

If you would like sheet music or a recording of Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, click on any of the links below.

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120 Best Known Christmas Songs (Piano/Vocal/Guitar). For voice, piano and guitar chords. This edition: Piano/Vocal/Guitar. P/V/C Mixed Folio; Piano/Vocal/Chords. Sacred. SMP Level 5 (Intermediate). Songbook. Vocal melody, piano accompaniment, lyrics, chord names and guitar chord diagrams. 192 pages. Published by Alfred Music (AP.VF1854A).

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At the Christmas Ball: Just Tracks (Karaoke CDG) Christmas. Karaoke CDG. Published by Pocket Songs (PS.JTG112).

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Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer & Other Carols (For 3 Recorders). Composed by Various. Standard notation. Published by Universal Edition (PR.UE031474).

Songs of Christmas Past Part 2: Home For The Holidays

2014-12-13T04:23:00.002-08:00

There's No Place Like Home for the Holidays is a beloved Christmas song that tells of those who are heading to their relatives homes to spend the holidays with them. It is a song often associated with the Christmas season.

Written by Robert Allen and lyricist Al Stillman, There's No Place Like Home for the Holidays was published in 1954 and recorded twice by singer Perry Como. The first recording was on November 16, 1954 at RCA Records as a single for Christmas with the flip side being the tune Silk Stockings. This single reached number 8 the Billboard magazine chart in the United States. Home for the Holidays was released again the following Christmas along with the flip side being the carol God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen. The second recording was done on July 15, 1959 in stereo with a different musical arrangement and released as a 33 1/3 single with the flip side being Winter Wonderland.

Many artists have performed a cover of Home for the Holidays including the Carpenters, Barry Manilow, as well as a duet by Cyndi Lauper and Norah Jones.

If you would like to have sheet music to Home for the Holidays or recordings of this fine piece, click on any of the links below.

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Home for the Holidays (A Medley). Arranged by Teena Chinn. Choir Secular. SATB choir. Choral Octavo. Christmas Pop Choral Series. Christmas; Secular; Winter. Grade 3. Choral Octavo. 16 pages. Published by Alfred Music (AP.C0272C1X).

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Home for the Holidays Composed by Robert Allen. Arranged by Larry Clark. String ensemble. For String Orchestra. Carl Fischer Young String Orchestra Series. Classical. Grade 2-2.5. Full Score. Standard notation. 8 pages. Published by Carl Fischer (CF.YAS18F).

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Piano Christmas - Keepsake Edition (The Complete Christmas Collection). Edited by Carol Tornquist. Arranged by Bill Wolaver, Bob Krogstad, Bruce Greer, Carol Tornquist, Mark Hayes, Phil Perkins, Richard Huggins, and Teresa Wilhelmi. For Piano. P/V/C. Christmas. Songbook. Vocal melody, lyrics, piano accompaniment, chord names and guitar chord diagrams. 248 pages. Word Music #080689434389. Published by Word Music (HL.311707).

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(There's No Place Like) Home For The Holidays By Perry Como. For piano, voice, and guitar (chords only). Christmas; Love; Standards. 5 pages. Published by Hal Leonard - Digital Sheet Music (HX.12609).

Songs of Christmas Past Part 1: White Christmas

2014-12-11T22:54:00.001-08:00

One of the most beloved Christmas songs of all time is White Christmas. The tune, written by composer Irving Berlin, tells of a reminiscent tale of the magic of a snowy Christmas Day and the beauty it gives the outdoors. Even though the song talks about a wintery cold day, White Christmas was composed when Berlin when he was staying at the La Quinta Hotel in warm, sunny La Quinta, California in 1940. However, it took someone who was familiar with white Christmases to hurl it into a big hit that it was. Bing Crosby, who grew up in Spokane, Washington, debuted the song on Christmas day in 1941 on the NBC radio show The Kraft Music Hall. On May 29, 1942, Crosby recorded the White Christmas with the John Scott Trotter Orchestra and the Ken Darby Singers for Decca Records. The song, released on July 30th of that year was a part of an album of songs from the film Holiday Inn. By the end of October of 1942, White Christmas topped the "Your Hit Parade" chart and maintained its position the following year. During the holiday seasons of 1945 and 1946, it was re-released by Decca and was once again at the top of the charts. In 1954, White Christmas was used in the movie, "White Christmas" starring Crosby. The song became the biggest-selling single worldwide of all time and used as a secret, pre-arranged signal launching the U.S. evacuation from Saigon on April 30, 1975 at the end of the Vietnam War.

Buy the sheet music or recordings by clicking on the ads below!

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White Christmas (Piano/Vocal/Guitar). Composed by Irving Berlin. For Piano/Vocal/Guitar. Piano Vocal. Christmas and Standards. Difficulty: easy-medium. Single. Vocal melody, piano accompaniment, lyrics, chord names and guitar chord diagrams. 6 pages. Published by Hal Leonard (HL.5256).

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White Christmas (from the Motion Picture Irving Berlin's Holiday Inn Score and Parts). By The Canadian Brass. By Irving Berlin. Arranged by Luther Henderson. Brass quintet. For Brass, Percussion, Piano, Trombone, Trumpet, Tuba, Horn. Brass Ensemble. Published by Canadian Brass (HL.50483594).

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Christmas Portrait By The Carpenters. For Piano/Vocal/Guitar. Piano/Vocal/Guitar Artist Songbook. Soft Rock. SMP Level 5 (Intermediate). Songbook. Vocal melody, piano accompaniment, lyrics, chord names and guitar chord diagrams. 144 pages. Published by Hal Leonard (HL.306430).

Billie Holiday "Lady Day"

2014-12-06T01:35:00.001-08:00

Billie Holiday is one of the most famous female vocalists of all time and was influential in both jazz and pop singing. Although she was among the most prominent jazz musicians, she leads a very troubled life t plagued by poverty, drugs, and abuse.

Born Eleanora Fagan on April 7, 1915, she took the stage name Billie Holiday after an actress by the name of Billie Dove and her father Clarence Holiday. Clarence was a jazz guitarist who never married Billie's mother and hated to admit that he was her father prior to her fame. Billie's mom, Sadie Fagan, was thrown out of her parent's home and moved to Philadelphia, Billie's birthplace. Billie and her mother later settled in an impoverished neighborhood in Baltimore. Sadie married Philip Gough in 1920 when Billie was three but divorced three years later. As a result, Billie was raised only by her mother and several relatives. At age 10 Billie was molested and, as a consequence, along with a lengthy truancy record, she was sent to a Catholic reform school called The House of the Good Shepherd in 1925. Two years later, she was released with the assistance of a family friend. In 1928, Billie and her mother moved to New York City. A year later Billie's mom discovered a neighbor by the name of Wilbert Rich in the act of raping her daughter. As a result, Rich was sentenced to three months in jail.

In 1930, Billie was recruited by a brothel, worked as a prostitute and was imprisoned for a short time for solicitation. By the early 1930s, she started her singing career in various nightclubs in Harlem for tips. Penniless and facing eviction, she reduced the audience to tears when she sang "Travelin All Alone" in a local club. She continued to sing at various clubs and ended up at a very well known Harlem jazz club called Pod's and Jerry's. In 1933, she was discovered by a talent scout by the name of John Hammond while singing at another club called Monette's. In that same year, Hammond got her to record with Benny Goodman.

Throughout the 1930s, Billie worked with such jazz greats as Benny Goodman, Duke Ellington, Ben Webster, Teddy Wilson, Artie Shaw, Count Basie and Lester Young. Young and Holiday were close friends and created some of the greatest jazz recordings of all time. Young also created the nickname "Lady Day" for Billie while she created the name "Prez" for him.

When Billie was on the Columbia label in 1939, she was introduced to a very powerful and haunting song about lynching called "Strange Fruit." Reminding her of her father's death, she performed the song. However, she was disappointed with many people's misunderstanding of it. Talking about the song, Billie would state that the people will ask her to "sing that sexy song about the people swinging." Although Columbia did not record the song, Commodore Records did, and she continued to sing the song for twenty years.

As Billie's use of hard drugs started in the 1940s, she not only married Jimmy Monroe, a trombonist in 1941, she also hooked up with trumpeter Joe Guy. Joe was her drug dealer and common law husband. In 1947, she divorced Monroe, broke up with Guy and was jailed on drug charges. She served time at the Alderson Federal Correctional Institution for Women in West Virginia. Due to her jail time, her New York City Cabaret Card was subsequently revoked, and she was unable to perform any clubs there for the rest of her life. However, she did sing at the Ebony club in 1948 with the permission of John Levy.

Despite her arrest and jail time, she continued to be addicted to drugs into the 1950s as well as having relationships with abusive men and a drinking problem. These destructive behaviors contributed to her declining health. In 1952, she married a mafia enforcer by the name of Louis McKay. Even though he was abusive, McKay did try to get Billie off of drugs. On November 10, 1956, she performed at Carnegie Hall before a packed audience. Her final performance was on May 25, 1959 when she sang at the Phoenix Theater in New York's Greenwich Village. Due to her failing health, she was only able to perform two songs. Six days later, she was admitted to Metropolitan Hospital in New York suffering from liver and heart disease. She was then placed under house arrest in the hospital due to drug possession on July 12 and later died of cirrhosis of the liver on July 17,1959. The only money she had left was $0.70 in the bank plus a tabloid fee of $750. She was progressively swindled out of her earnings in her final years. She was buried at Saint Raymond's Cemetery in The Bronx, New York.

Despite her tragic life, she influenced many artists in the pop and jazz genres. There are also many references and tributes to her. Among those include the 1972 movie that was loosely based on her life named after her autobiography called Lady Sings the Blues. In 1987, she was posthumously awarded the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. She later graced a postage stamp in 1994 thanks to the United States Postal Service as well as ranking number 6 on VH1's 100 Greatest Women in Rock n' Roll in 1999. Billie Holiday was also inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000. Other memorable tributes also include a 1959 poem by Frank O'Hara called "The Day Lady Died", and a song by the group U2 called "Angel Of Harlem" in 1988.

Buy recordings of Lady Day by clicking on the links below.

2014-12-04T01:01:00.004-08:00

Attention!!

The Coeur d’Alene Symphony has added a new ticket price level designed to encourage young musicians to attend our concerts.

Effective immediately, High School students who are actively participating in their school music program, and all members of the Coeur d’Alene Youth Orchestra may purchase tickets to the Symphony’s regular season concerts for just $10.00.

Our upcoming concert is "Christmas at the Kroc" on December 5th at 7:30 pm at the Kroc Center in Coeur d' Alene, Idaho and December 6th at 2pm the Kroc Center in Coeur d' Alene, Idaho.

Hi All, I am Back!!

2014-12-04T00:50:00.001-08:00

Hi all, I am back!!

I know it has been awhile since I worked on this blog. I have been out of commission due to medical reasons for some time as well as a few other distractions. It is great to be back and I am looking forward to doing more posts for you! :)

The Renaissance Era

2013-11-08T16:20:00.001-08:00

From the 14th to the 17th century, Europe had undergone a change that was culturally prolific as compared to the Middle Ages. The Renaissance era started in Italy and worked its way throughout the rest of Europe. It marked the rebirth of humanism as well as the revival of all forms of art, music and science.

Musicians and artists of the Renaissance period displayed works that expressed more individualism and artistic freedom. Unlike the previous time which was bound to stricter rules.

In the world of music, new musical ideas, printing techniques and music were more accessible to people as well as it being preserved. While sacred music remained significant, secular music began to grow in popularity and become common. The sounds that were being produced in the Renaissance era were comprised of a smooth, imitative, polyphonic style. The Renaissance Era also saw the growth of instrumental music with the invention of two instruments; the virginal and the clavichord. The lute was also used as a popular instrument among families in the 16th century.

Popular Renaissance era composers include Byrd, Gibbons, Palestrina, Lassus and Gabrieli.

Hildegard von Bingen part 5: The Later Years

2013-08-28T20:59:00.000-07:00

In 1171 Hildegard completed her last preaching tour when she was 73 years old and two years later her long-time secretary died. However, she continued to write despite all of her monastery work. Unfortunately, Hildegard was briefly in trouble with her church during her last year for providing a Christian burial for a man who was excommunicated. However, she stated that the man repented on his deathbed and received sacraments. She also protested eloquently when her convent was subject for indictment. This indictment was later revoked. Hildegard von Bingen died on September 17, 1179 at the age of 81.

Support the Coeur d'Alene Symphony Orchestra: Sponsor A Chair! :)

2013-08-16T17:40:00.000-07:00

I play the Horn in the Coeur d'Alene Symphony Orchestra in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. We are a small orchestra with professional level musicians; however, we also have a small budget. As an effort to raise money for the orchestra so everyone in it could get paid, we have decided to give our fans an opportunity to sponsor a chair. If you are interested in sponsoring a chair, please contact the symphony office at 208-765-3833, email at csosymphony@frontier.net. or donate online at http://cdasymphony.org

Hildegard von Bingen part 4: Preachings and Writings

2013-08-12T23:00:00.000-07:00

Hildegard lead a very active life of preaching and writing as well as being a nurse-physician in the infirmary at Mount St. Dusubide. Often prolific in her writing, she would often write about the duty of seeing to it that every person has the opportunity to use the talents that God has given them and to realize their God-given potential. She would also write about social justice and freeing the downtrodden as well as writing several medical texts. She also wrote more than 72 songs, including a morality play set to music. Being one of the largest repertoires of the medieval composers, 80 of Hidegard's works have survived. Among her best known works is the Ordo Virtutum ("Order of the Virtues" or "Play of the Virtues"), a type of early oratorio for women's voices, with one male part, that of the Devil.

Unlike so many women of her time, Hildegard von Bingen was often asked by abbots and abbesses for prayers and opinions on various matters as well as traveling widely during her four preaching tours, the only woman to have done so during the Middle Ages. She also communicated with various Popes which included Anastasius IV and Eugene III as well as various emperors and statesmen. Hildegard traveled and preached throughout southern Germany, Switzerland and even Paris. Deeply moved by her sermons, people asked her to provide written copies of them for their own readings. Her use of metaphor, as well as non verbal means in communication and visual imagery helped reach out to those that were hard of hearing or totally deaf.

Hildegard von Bingen part 3: Hildegard's Visions and Writings

2013-08-05T22:55:00.001-07:00

Hidegard was 38 years old when Jutta died, leaving her as head of the convent while living within the cramped walls of the anchorage. She later moved the community to a new monastery on the Rupertsberg at Bingen on the Rhine. Five years after her election as magistra in 1141, Hildegard received a prophetic call from God telling her to write down everything she would observe in her visions. This vision gave her instant understanding of the meaning of the religious texts.

"And it came to pass ... when I was 42 years and 7 months old, that the heavens were opened and a blinding light of exceptional brilliance flowed through my entire brain. And so it kindled my whole heart and breast like a flame, not burning but warming... and suddenly I understood of the meaning of expositions of the book"

However, feeling of inadequacy overwhelmed her as well:

"But although I heard and saw these things,because of doubt and low opinion of myself and because of diverse sayings of men, I refused for a long time a call to write, not out of stubbornness but out of humility, until weighed down by a scourge of God, I fell onto a bed of sickness."

Hildegard von Bingen part 2: The Early Years

2013-08-02T14:27:00.002-07:00

Hildegard von Bingen was born at Rheinhesse in Germany on September 16, 1098 to Hildebert and Mechthild von Bermersheim. They were a family of nobles in the service of the counts of Sponheim; close relatives of the Hohenstaufen emperors. Hildegard was also the youngest daughter of 10 children and was dedicated to the church at birth.

She started to see visions of luminous objects at a very early age and continued to have these visions throughout her life; however, she kept those visions to herself with the exception of telling a couple of her instructors. At the age of 8, Hildegard was sent to a monastery in Germany called Disibodenberg to receive religious training from instructors Jutta and Volmar who found out about her visions. Jutta, the sister of Count Meinhard of Sponheim, also served as an anchoress. An anchor or anchoress was a monk or a nun who spent their lives in complete solitude devoting their lives to God through prayer,contemplation, or hand working activities. Volmar was a St. Disibod monk who acted as prior and father confessor for the nuns

at Disibodenberg.

Hildegard von Bingen part 1

2013-07-30T21:52:00.000-07:00

Throughout the Middle Ages, women had a life that was totally dominated by the male members of the family. They were expected to be very submissive and instantly obey not only their fathers and husbands, but other male members as well. Any kind of "disobedience" was seen as a crime against the church and domestic violence was accepted as a way of beating an unruly girl into submission. Not only were they expected to be obedient, they were also expected to marry very young and to have large families. The exception of this life was one of a nun; who was given to a church at an early age to devote her life totally to God. One such prolific nun, writer and composer of the Middle Ages was Hildegard von Bingen who, despite the heavy patriarchal times, became very respected and well known by many.

What Influenced Music In The Middle Ages?

2013-03-12T22:16:00.000-07:00

In the Middle Ages, the church served as an important patron to the arts and music was an integral part of Christian worship. Daily liturgy provided innumerable texts, all set to music in the style we call Gregorian chant and many composers were associated with the church. By the 12th century, the Notre Dame cathedral in Paris performed what is called organum; which is a polyphonic music that sacred music slowly developed into. Polyphonic music also began around this time with earlier examples through improvisation and singing and is a distinctive feature of Western music. Musical notation also had it's start in the 9th century and only in the cathedrals and monasteries on a regular basis due to the time consuming and and difficult process involved. Because of this,nearly all the music preserved was written for the church until the 12th century. One of the features of Western musical culture was the advent of musical notation which produced a markedly stable body of music.

Secular music also saw the birth of the polyphonic style in the 14th century as well as the rise of Courtly culture. An elaborate society that centered on the court started with the nobility of southern France. This society became widespread over Europe and music was an important activity among it's people. Compositions of secular works and the performances of these works were done by the aristocracy. Music of the troubadours and trouvères from the 12th century on are surviving examples of this secular music.

Are you looking for a piece of music from the middle ages for a recital or just to work on? Click on the link below to purchase some at a great price!

Machaut: Complete Works in 5 Volumes By Guillaume de Machaut (1300-1377). For voice. Choral or Vocal Music. Published by L'Oiseau Lyre (MM.OLCS021)
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Nine Ballads a 2 - Score By Guillaume de Machaut (1300-1377). For 2 recorders; or 2 viola da gambas. Recorder Duets, String Duets. Score. Published by Loux Music Co (MM.LMP0186)
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La Messe de Nostre Dame By Guillaume de Machaut (1300-1377) and Guillaume de Machaut (1300-1377). Arranged by Daniel Leech-Wilkinson. For AATT choir, a cappella. Male Voices. Classic Choral Works. Standard Choral Works. Vocal score. 40 pages. Duration 14'. Published by Oxford University Press (OU.9780193373976)
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Contrepoint A 4 By Guillaume de Machaut (1300-1377) and Guillaume de Machaut (1300-1377). For French Horn, 2 Trumpet, Trombone. Standard notation. Published by Gerard Billaudot Editeur (PR.534013250)
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What Does Coeur d' Alene Idaho and Young Artists Have In Common?

2013-02-26T19:26:00.000-08:00

Every year in January, young artists from all over the world descend on the small picturesque city of Coeur d' Alene, Idaho. You might ask yourself what these artists are doing in Coeur d' Alene. This North Idaho town holds many treasures and one of it's best kept secrets is the Coeur d' Alene Symphony Orchestra and it's annual Young Artists Competition. This competition encourages young talent and the first place winners have the opportunity to no only win scholarship money, but to perform with the Symphony in their March program. Come hear the Coeur d' Alene Symphony and the winners of this Competition in concert Friday, March 8 at 7:30 PM and Saturday, March 9 at 2:00 PM at the Salvation Army Kroc Center in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. Click Here for ticket information!

Ladies and Gentlemen, The Winners of the 2013 Young Artist Competition:

In the High School Division:

Hana Cohon, age 16, Cello, from Seattle, Washington

Felicity James, age 16, Violin, from Seattle, Washington

In the College Division:

Ashley Hoe, age 19, Piano, from Lake Forest, California, a student at USC

Seula Lee, age 21, Violin, from Carrollton, Texas, a student at University of North Texas

Colin McCall, age 22, Marimba, from Rochester, New York, a student at Eastman School of Music

Courtney Ruckman, age 25, Soprano, Mount Vernon, Washington, a student at University of Maryland

The Professional Division:

Catherine Daniel, Mezzo Soprano, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

What Is A Crumhorn?

2013-01-29T19:41:00.000-08:00

The Crumhorn is a woodwind instrument that peaked in popularity during the Renaissance and was revised in modern times. It is a double reed instrument that is J shaped with a cylinder bore.

The origin of the Crumhorn dates back to the 1300's to the 1600's in Europe. This said to originate from the bladder pipe and the chanter from bagpipes. King Henry the VIII of England had 25 pieces of the instrument and it could be assumed that they were played in his court.

It is also noted that the Crumhorn in modern times was used by Richard Harvey and Brian Gulland from the rock group named Gryphon.

Jazz Legend Lionel Hampton

2013-01-11T19:13:00.001-08:00

One of the best-known jazz musicians the history of music is a vibraphonist, bandleader, percussionist and actor by the name of Lionel Hampton. He was born in 1908 Louisville, Kentucky and was raised by his grandmother. Soon after he was born his mother decided to move both him and herself to her hometown in Birmingham, Alabama. In 1916 his family decided to move to Chicago Illinois.

By the 1920s, Lionel started playing the xylophone and drums and his music career began when he started to play drums for the Chicago Defender Newsboys Band. In 1927, he moved to California and started playing drums for the Dixieland Blues Blowsers. His recording debut was with the Quality Serenaders led by Paul Howard. He later went on to play for Les Hite band at Sebastian's Cotton Club in Culver City.

While he was in Culver City, Lionel began saying the vibraphone and Louis Armstrong asked him to play the vibraphone on two songs. Because of this, the vibraphone became a popular instrument. While he was in the Les Hite band while he was studying music the University of California. Lionel also worked with the Nat Shilkrer orchestra and in 1936 he was in the film called "Pennies From Heaven" starring Bing Crosby.

It was also in 1936 when Benny Goodman came to watch Lionel perform. Pleased with his performance, Benny asked Lionel to join his trio which consisted of Gene Krupa, Teddy Wilson and of course, Benny himself. Before joining the trio, which became a quartet after, Lionel worked with Billie Holiday along with Benny's orchestra. Because of this there were known as one of the first integrated music groups the performed openly in society.

While playing for Benny Goodman, Lionel also recorded with other groups and in 1940 he left to create his own band; which became popular in the 40s and 50s. One of his popular hits was a rhythm and blues style number called "Flying Home". The song became so popular that another version of the tune was made called "Flying Home, Number Two". Lionel's music was often a mixture of rhythm and blues and jazz and while having his band, he worked with even more jazz greats such is Dizzy Gillespie, Charles Mingus, Johnny Griffin and Dinah Washington.

In the 1970s, recorded with the Who's Who record label. One could say that his success was due to his college education. Lionel Hampton and his band would regularly perform jazz concerts at the University of Idaho and in 1985, the annual music festival in which Hampton played at took the name The Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival. In 1987,the music department at University of Idaho decided to name themselves The Lionel Hampton School of Music. Lionel continued to play until he suffered a stroke while he was in Paris in 1991. After his stroke, he didn't perform as much as he used to; but he continued to perform and therefore he did a performance at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History in 2001 shortly before his death.

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The History Of Audio Recording

2013-01-03T17:56:00.000-08:00

With the capabilities of technology and the understanding of how sounds are used within a recording studio, you may think that recording music is a recent thing. However, recording audio has a much longer history than you think.

Recording sound started back in 1890s when most of recording was done through acoustic means. The process included the use of a tape that would allow the audio to be documented on. After the documentation, it would go through a horn which would record the sound frequencies that were being played. Then it would be documented by putting grooves into the recording itself through the waves and how they were translated.

This early recording process included limitations on how the sound was recorded as well as the sound rooms themselves. The recording studios that were more upscale usually consisted of only a soundproof wall so that the sound would not bounce around. Abilities such as master, edit, or mix was not available at the time. A second popular means of recording is for the person recording to take the records outside of the studio and into the field where the sounds of nature were to be placed into the recording.

Different equipment and options for recording sound started in the 1930s. The use of amplifiers and microphones were added in order to record more certain frequencies. By that time the sounds could be manipulated and changed while recording by use of a mixing board and loudspeakers. As a result more accurate recordings could be done.

These combined methods was a popular way of recording among the studios until the 1970s. Acoustic rooms combined with microphones and were recorded live to the mixing board and straight into the disk or recording tape. Unfortunately this left very little room to record or edit. The majority of the recording was done by complete orchestra's bands are groups that would place everything onto the disc at one time.

During the late 1960s and into the 70s, analog recording moved into the field. This would allow for more complex machinery to be at the forefront of recording. This kind of recording consisted of a magnetic tape that would carry the sound waves and read them back through the recording. This could then be written over and revised according to what was recorded.

This time period created experimentation with new equipment, sounds and effects that became popular for recording studios as well as allow advancement within recording. Those who were working within the industry found not only new technologies for recording, but also developed sounds that were unique because of the ability to process the mixing and mastering in a different way.

The movement into analog recording changed recording into an electronic and digital set of capabilities as well as industry standards that are now accepted as the normal setting among all recording studios. Due to new technology and experimentation, certain conclusions about what worked better with recording and how production could be effective can be made by those who work in the recording industry.

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Happy 2013 Everyone!!

2013-01-02T22:59:00.001-08:00

Well, here we are at the beginning of another year. 2012 brought many challenges to me and my family in so many different ways. Even though there were so many challenges, though some good things that happened too. Not only did we moved out to the Spokane Valley, where I grew up last fall, I also had the wonderful opportunity of returning back to my birthplace; the San Francisco Bay Area California. I looking forward to what 2013 will bring. I have many goals in mind and I'm anticipating many good things.

I hope that 2013 will bring you lots of good things; love, joy, peace and prosperity. Happy new year everybody!! :-)