Ave Maria

Title: Ave Maria
Performers: Vivie Doughty, Elliot Wallace, Sean Mulholland, Tamika Gorski, Adam Clark
Culture: American
Instrumentation: Voice, drums, acoustic guitar, piano, bass

This is actually a re-creation that I recently did with some friends of a song sung by Beyonce Knowles.  Ave Maria is originally a piece composed by Schubert, and Beyonce re-created the song to a point where it isn't the same song anymore at all.  It is entirely different lyrics.  The only remaining similarities are the actual "Ave Maria" and the 6/8 feel.  My friends and I then took Beyonce's version and then changed that up, adding thicker instrumentation.  Can our rendition even be remotely related to Schubert's original piece?  The concept of re-creating music in different ways is awesome, but at what point does it become something else altogether?

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Happy St. Patrick's Day, everyone!

Titles: Down the Back Lane & The Bride's Favourite

Performers: Unknown. Part of a LiveTrad.com web broadcast from the Ferryman Pub in Dublin.

Culture: Ireland

Instrumentation: Fiddle, pennywhistle, guitar, bodhran

I wanted to post this in honor of the holiday.  The atmosphere in Irish pubs is so warm - there's always live music, and it's always so informal.  I think that is what makes Irish music what it is - it's just as much the music as it is the atmosphere.

What a Wonderful World

Title: What a Wonderful World

Performer: Louis Armstrong

Culture: United States

Instrumentation: Voice, clarinet, trombone, piano, drums

I chose this song because of the cultural aspect of it.  The song was originally offered to Tony Bennett, who turned it down.  It then was offered to Louis Armstrong, who obviously accepted it.  The song was released in 1967 - a time of racial turmoil.  The song is utterly uplifting, and offers hope for a bright future.  The man for this job all along was Armstrong.  It wouldn't have the same effect on me if it was sung by Bennett.  The point I'm trying to make is that performers must be convincing, and they must feel what their music is meant to convey.  Louis undoubtedly had at least a somewhat difficult upbringing, and he has seen success in his life, and knows there is a brighter future.

Authentic Instruments

Title: Autumn Moon Over the Calm Lake

Performers: Vancouver Chinese Instrumental Music Society

Culture: Chinese

Instrumentation: Ruan, Zheng, Erhu

I picked this piece this week because it is important to expose your students to instruments from over the world that they may never see in real life.  To young students, the only instruments they know are the typical instruments you find in a string orchestra, a concert band, and a rock band.  While it's very unusual to have these instruments available to you in your classroom, the least you can do is show videos that utilize these instruments from all over.

Danny Boy

Title: Danny Boy

Performers: Switchback (vocalist - Martin McCormack)

Culture: Danny Boy was written by an English lawyer, Frederic Edward Weatherly, but has since morphed into an Irish folk tune.

Instrumentation: Solo voice and acoustic guitar.

I decided to use this song for this week's reading because Campbell writes about "Music in Context".  This is one of the most-sung songs, especially in the Irish band repertoire.  Many people enjoy this song without really thinking about what it means.  Although there is still much speculation as to the true meaning (no one really seems to know for sure), the most agreed upon meaning is a father singing this song to his son as he goes off to war.  It is in fact a very melancholy song.  When really studying the lyrics and the sadness they bring about, it truly changes the mood in which it is performed.  If teaching this song to a choir, or just a single student, it is imperative to really focus on the lyrics and what they mean.