Apple Foot

Old forgotten words or ancient melodies

I just think this is a lot of fun. I don't think I much liked Toto the first time around, but I've grown very fond of this tune a capella (via Metafilter).

Bohemian Rhapsody

Fooling around, I discovered the NYU N'Harmonics excellent cover of Bohemian Rhapsody.

Christmas Music

This is kinda cool. Back in December, I was one of the millions of people who discovered Straight No Chaser's 1998 rendition of the 12 Days of Christmas. Seems getting 6 million hits on YouTube in less than a month can get you a record contract for Christmas music.

I've mentioned that I became a fan of collegiate a capella back when I had friends in the Wellesley College Tupelos (I know, I'm a nerd), so I actually want to buy this!

Overdue

It's been a great year in Boston sports. Maybe this is the year the Boston Crusaders finish on top of DCI?

Evelyn Rothwell

I hadn't even realized she was still alive.

So, of course, I'm listening to the Barbirolli Society's Oboe Concertos (vol 2).

I wish I'd known more oboe music my first time around, back in high school. I think the only famous oboist I'd heard of back then was Heinz Holliger, and I didn't particularly care for his style. I'd've especially been interested in a lady who made her name in classical music so many years ago, when the few females in orchestras tended to be harpists. And I like her tone. Wish I'd had her recording of the Marcello concerto when I was trying to prep the hideous thing for regional try-outs.

Beer Bottle in C

In my continuing effort to bring forth many posts which say "Cool!" and link to a YouTube video, I bring you (via Minnesota Public Radio) the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra playing a beer jingle, on bottles. Only in Australia.

A cappella

One of the (un)fortunate effects of having broadband is that I can now view YouTube with impunity. Faithful readers of my on-again, off-again blog will now be forced to suffer through numerous embedded videos with "Gee, cool!" posts.

Back at school, several friends were in an a cappella group (Wellesley College Tupelos), and I really enjoyed listening to them. Some of the other groups I saw perform with them were pretty cool, too (notably, the Tufts Beelzebubs--I think they have their own cult). Having rediscovered this world online, I'll spend the next several days digging through sites like Acapella U, The Collegiate A Cappella Podcast. Anyway, here's Indiana University's own Straight No Chaser performing a Christmas medley (I'm not sure the Hanukkah joke is totally cool, but the rest is funny) (via Metafilter).

Musical equipment for sale

The consignment shop in town often has musical instruments in the window (mostly guitars), and I always look, because someday they're going to be selling a professional grade oboe for pennies, and I don't want to miss out. Anyway, this week I see a clarinet in the window. It's got two reeds fanned out on the black velvet, and when I look closer I see a reed still attached to the mouthpiece. The display of the reeds suggests they're considered a selling point: act now, and you get--not one--not two--but THREE reeds of unknown provenance! Ick.

Drum Corps On Hiatus

One of the delights of living here is that every summer there's a Drum Corps International Div II & III show right down the street. When I tried to find out when this year's would be, I learned that it wouldn't happen. Local Division II corps the East Coast Jazz is taking some time away from competition for financial reasons.

Drum corps is a terrific activity for kids, and every time I hear that a corps is in trouble, I mourn a little. I'll really miss that Drum Corps show down the street.

Use it or lose it: Music edition

Friday night at Reunion we indulged in the Wellesley tradition of stepsinging. Actually, with such a large group and a rainy evening, we sang the school songs while seated inside the chapel rather than standing on its steps, but no matter. Over on the side of the chapel were '91 and '86, and we tolerated and occasionally enjoyed several of the old songs, but we cheered when the song leader directed us to the "Wellesley Composite". Lottie Evelyn Bates 1901 wrote some lyrics that have really stood up well, and "Finiculi, Finicula" is such a bouncy little tune it lifts my spirits every time.

Once upon a time, back in high school, I had a very nice singing voice. The choir teacher told me I had a textbook mezzo-soprano range, and I wasn't even in the choir. I was, however, a band nerd.  Band nerds don't generally pass a joint at parties: they sing songs and play the piano.

Unfortunately, I haven't done much singing since, and my voice is really dreadful. I was sitting next to someone who probably sings at church and sings to her daughter, and I was terribly embarassed by my uneven pitch. I wonder if I've gained anything to offset that loss?

During the parade, a brass band played Sousa. A classmate got excited during the bass line of "Thunderer" and admitted that she really wanted her bari sax-- turned out she'd also played bassoon, once upon a time, and still had the instruments, gathering dust. So at least I've been playing my oboe, even if I haven't been singing.