/21/
/princeton, new jersey/
/organist, aspiring coach-conductor, pianist, lovemonkey/
One of my favorite Christmas albums is Sufjan Stevens’ Songs for Christmas. Admittedly, not a connoisseur of any genre other than classical music, I am drawn to music with which I can find lots of correlations to the music I listen to all the time. This album is a collection of tons of off-the-cuff, somewhat improvisatory-sounding arrangements of traditional Christmas songs and carols, as well as some originally-composed songs of varying seriousness and integrity.
The aspect I find most appealing about this album is that Sufjan takes not only the lot of carols you’d find sung at a typical Methodist Church in the United States, but also more esoteric carols that you might find in a choral book. The excerpt from the album I have posted here is Sufjan’s unique treatment of Once in Royal David’s City. This is a great example of an improvisatory arrangement using classical forms. There is a treble instrumental ostinato above the vocal line for the whole piece; furthermore, between verses one finds an appealing ritornello reminiscent of the Baroque — just with electronic instruments, banjos, and sleigh bells! An Very Merry Christmas to you all.
I am not a fan of Eric Whitacre, and I normally would not give him the time of day in a blog post but I have so many negative feelings about his comments on Gramophone’s list of the 20 Greatest Choirs in the world. Of the twenty choirs, thirteen are British. Not a single American choir made…
As you croon your favorite pop tune in the shower, you might notice your dulcet tones were delivered in an American accent - despite where you come from. Researchers might have found the reason why, with a study suggesting that people all over the world automatically use an American accent when they sing pop songs. [Click through to continue reading]
What’s new, you ask?
Hello Tumblr,
I’m looking for this one friend whom I miss. I know she’s busy and all. And in another country. But I am realizing how her not being here during the summer makes me feel lonely! Sometimes I want to call her but the only three numbers I know are 519.
If you see her, let her know I love her and have much to tell her.
Thanks, Tumblr. You’ve always been a good guy.
~Derrick
(via dailycuteboy)
No, I don’t think I will kiss you, although you need kissing, badly. That’s what’s wrong with you. You should be kissed and often, and by someone who knows how.
(via winterwinds)
my favorite are definitely fat, little, gray cats.
This is one mile from the church where I work
Tomorrow
