Moving Right Along

As I write this, it's 80 degrees in Middletown and muggy, perhaps the final day of this temperature we will see in 2018 (although nothing should or could surprise save for three beautiful Fall days in a row).

Today, we welcome a new contributor Dr. Kyle Saulnier.  Saulnier may be a familiar name to some at QU as his dad Bruce has been on the faculty since 1972 and is a Professor  of Computer Information Services.  Just this past year, Kyle earned his Doctorate in Music. He currently serves as the Ensembles Coordinator at QU.  But I first heard of him as a musician and composer who leads the Awakening Orchestra, a 19-member ensemble whose music often takes on contemporary social issues, is brash, often loud, but not without its thoughtful and gracious moments. Find out more by going to www.kylesaulnier.com.

Sarah Kirkland Snider - "The Lotus Eaters" from "Penelope" - This is a 14-movement song cycle by Sarah Kirkland Snider that’s simultaneously art song and indie rock. I love hearing modern takes on art song that are so clearly influenced by the popular music and industrial palettes I grew up with, and the minimalist wall of sound that she gets out of the ensemble is so beautifully expansive. Shout out to Shara Worden, the vocalist, who's one of the most powerful indie rock voices of my generation (she used to perform as My Brightest Diamond, and is now making music under the name Shara Nova). (K. Saulnier)

To find out more, go to penelope-music.com/#.

Tomas Luis de Victoria - excerpt from "Requiem Mass" (1605) - I've been sketching out a new painting and needed calming, meditative music. (T. Williams)

de Victoria, born c. 1548, near Avila, Spain—died Aug. 27, 1611, Madrid), Spanish composer who ranks with Palestrina and Orlando di Lasso among the greatest composers of the 16th century.  Find out more at www.britannica.com/biography/Tomas-Luis-de-Victoria.

Don Henley - "Not Enough Love in the World" -  A classic 80s song on a terrific album. The song is wistful and fun with great lyrics. It’s rare to find a song that is a love song that is also honest. (C. Hakala)

Don Henley’s band the Eagles had two top 10 singles—"Take It Easy" and "Witchy Woman"—with their first album. The Eagles then became one of the most popular bands of the 1970s. Their next three albums—Desperado, On the Border and One of These Nights—were all huge hits. Henley went on to a huge solo career after the Eagles broke up, with singles such as “Dirty Laundry” and “Boys of Summer.” (Biography.com)

The original videos for the song have been removed due to the singer's "bad blood" against Geffen Records. You can hear excerpts on iTunes on on Spotify.

Half Alive - "Still Feel" - I recently discovered Half Alive and was surprised to find that they have only released 4 songs. Each song has a surprisingly unique sound, intriguing me where the group is going to continue to move in the future. Still Feel is their most recent song and was the first one I found (as well as my favorite) which is why I chose it. (M. Winslow)

New alternative rock band, half•alive, is a product of a 50 song challenge that was carried out by band's frontman, Josh Taylor in 2016.  half•alive consists of frontman Josh Taylor, drummer Brett Kramer, and GRAMMY nominated producer James Krausse, who came together in 2016 to help with Josh's challenge. (spinorbinmusic.com)

Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper - "Shallow" - The newly released remake of "A Star is Born" stars Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga. The trailers are very enticing and places the movie as a ‘must see’ on anyone’s list, mine included. Coincidentally, one of the previous remakes was on television this Sunday morning starring Judy Garland and James Mason, which also is a must see. Here is the synopsis of the movie.
The gist of the movie, just released this week on October 5, 2018, is that a seasoned musician, Jackson Maine, discovers -- and falls in love with -- struggling artist Ally. She has just about given up on her dream to make it big as a singer until Jackson coaxes her into the spotlight. But even as Ally's career takes off, the personal side of their relationship is breaking down, as Jackson fights an ongoing battle with his own internal demons. (J Gaffney)

Roger Miller - "Chug-a-lug" and "England Swings" - I may be the last person you'd expect to like Country Music but, heck, Roger Miller was a true original.  Born in Oklahoma in 1936, he started out as a writer in Nashville, Tennessee, in the late 1950s and had a few Top Country singles. In the midst of The Beatles Invasion, Miller decided he want to be a movie actor, recorded a pair of tunes for SMASH Records and, while he was in Hollywood auditioning and playing bit parts, both songs - "Dang Me" and "Chug-a-lug" - became huge hits on the pop charts.  For the next two years, everything he recorded turned to gold including "King of the Road" and "England Swings".  Top Forty geek that I was in those days, I loved the fact you could sing along with these short yet sweet tunes. Not much to them but, sometimes, they just need silly and loopy tunes. (RBK)