Blog Post
Big Band Night: The Paul Keller Orchestra
by hillary dorwart
Monday January 7, 2013: 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm -- Downtown Library: Multi-Purpose Room
Enjoy big band music with the special performance by the Paul Keller Orchestra! This concert celebrates Performance Network's world premiere of the comedy Brill. Check out performances from January 10 - February 10.
The Paul Keller Orchestra has garnered great popular and critical acclaim winning, among other awards, the 2003 and 2007 Detroit Music Awards for Best Big Band. The Orchestra has recorded seven CDs -- check out his CDs in our catalog!
Blog Post
Maker Music for Teens and Adults: Atari Punk Circuit
by OneillT
Friday January 4, 2013: 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm -- Downtown Library: Multi-Purpose Room
This Friday, January 4, we'll be making an electronic instrument out of commonly available pieces and parts.
For this Maker Music event, the Ann Arbor Hacker-Makers of All Hands Active will be teaching people how use basic circuitry to create their own musical instrument, the Atari Punk Circuit. What's that? An Atari Punk Circuit uses an assortment of basic electronics and two knobs to allow people to create basic two-tone electronic sounds, kind of like those that used to be the soundtrack to the first video games on the Atari video game console.
Do you need to know electronics to come to this event? No, that's why we're having it! Come learn a bit about electricity, circuits, and have some fun trying out making different sounds. After you're finished, take a look at our Music Tools collection, too!
This event is for adults and teens (grade 6 and up).
Blog Post
Drummunity Comes to AADL
by Caser
Friday, January 4 "> 10 - 11 am "> Malletts Creek "> Grades K - 5
Give the drummer some! Join us for Drummunity, a unique, hands-on drumming experience at Malletts Creek on Friday, January 4th from 10 - 11 am. With her multicultural collection of drums and percussion, Lori Fithian can always get a group of strangers drumming, singing, and dancing - creating their own "Drummunity" orchestra!
"A 'Drummunity' circle is a high energy, fun and empowering activity. Lori Fithian, drum circle facilitator and workshop leader, will bring her collection of hand drums and percussion toys to the library to transform our community into a “Drummunity” – a word she invented for the community-building that happens when people come together around a circle of drums."
This event is for grades K - 5.
Blog Post
Patti Page, 1950s pop and country singer, has died
by sernabad
Patti Page, who topped the 1950s charts selling 100 million records, died yesterday in Encinitas, California.
Ms. Page was the first singer to overdub her own harmonies, with the help of Mitch Miller, musician and record producer. In 1948, she was strapped for funds so she used the overdub technique for Confess, which became her first hit single.
Her second number one hit is the beloved Tennessee Waltz . It has sold more than 15 million copies and enjoyed renewed popularity as part of the sound track for the 1983 movie, The Right Stuff, starring Glen Scott, Ed Harris, and Dennis Quaid.
Another of her signature tunes was the popular children's tune, (How Much Is That) Doggie in the Window, her fourth million-copy seller in 1953.
Until recently, Ms. Page who had maintained a busy performance career throughout the decades, gave 50 concerts a year. She was 85 years old when she died.
Blog Post
Performance Network: A Little Night Music Runs through Dec. 30
by annevm
Performance Network in Ann Arbor is showing A Little Night Music, with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. The book is by Hugh Wheeler -- and the romantic musical is a six-time Tony winner. The show is "a rollicking tour-de-force of love, lies, and liaisons," the PN website says, with "an amazing musical score, including. . . Send in the Clowns." Here is the plot summary: "Desiree Armfeldt is an enchanting Swedish actress. While on tour in a country town, she runs into former lover Fredrik, who has brought his young wife to the theatre. Reminiscing in Desiree's dressing room, their passion rekindles. The two seek to continue their affair at a gathering for several guests at Fredrik's country home, setting in motion a hilarious and flirtatious weekend for all." Ticket information is here.
Blog Post
Music: First Aid Kit
by Caser
Anthemic folk-rock has been buzzing loudly in 2012, with northern European-based bands like Mumford & Sons and Of Monsters and Men stomping their way up to the peaks of the Billboard 200 and selling out arenas worldwide. The Denver-based folk-rock band, The Lumineers, have steadily gained momentum with their self-titled debut, joining the Avett Brothers near the Billboard top-10 and at the pointy end of many listeners' and critics' best-of-the-year lists.
For those that like their folk-rock a little quieter, more introspective, and heartbreaking, give First Aid Kit a try. Their second album, The Lion's Roar, released January 2012, features the Swedish sisters' lush harmonies and gorgeous melodies, with lyrics that linger like wine, for example, the following chorus from their single, Emmylou, which speaks to the relationship between Gram Parsons and Emmylou Harris as well as Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash:
I'll be your Emmylou and I'll be your June
If you'll be my Gram and my Johnny too
No, I'm not asking much of you
Just sing little darling, sing with me
First Aid Kit would make a fine pairing with Tallest Man on Earth, Iron & Wine, and Bon Iver.
Blog Post
Mittenfest VII is coming up soon!
by prlhw
Mittenfest is an annual local music festival held in Michigan and played by Michigan bands. The festival serves as a fundraiser for 826michigan, dedicating 100% of its profits to the non-profit organization which helps tutor students ages 6-18 with writing. 826michigan is part of a nationwide network of non-profits, started in San Francisco by the acclaimed author Dave Eggers. Last year, Mittenfest raised $21,290.00 for 826michigan, bringing the total raised over the last six years to $55,000.00!
For its seventh consecutive year running strong, Mittenfest is going to run a full 5 days, over which 50 Michigan bands will perform live, including Frontier Ruckus, Starling Electric, Shigeto, Patrick Elkins, and Our Brother the Native, just to name a few! To see the other 45 bands and a complete 5-day schedule, click here.
Mittenfest VII will be held this year at Woodruff's at 36 East Cross Street in Ypsilanti, starting Friday Dec. 28th and running through Tuesday Jan. 1st. Bands will starting playing at 5:30pm and will run through 12:30am each day. Tickets are $10/day or $82.60 for the full 5-day pass. It's only 9 days away - don't forget! - head on out next weekend to hear some great live music and support a great local organization!
Blog Post
Fabulous Fiction Firsts #371
by muffy
O.K. I will admit it. When my copy of City of Dark Magic arrived in the mail, I was more intrigued by the fact that they claimed to know nothing about the author Magnus Flyte. He appeared to have operated under several identities, and may have ties to one or more intelligence organizations, including the CIA, the Mossad, and a radical group of Antarctic separatists. They also claimed that the manuscript came manually typed on Marrakesh's Hotel La Mamounia stationary, and mailed to offices of Penguin Books in New York in January 2012.
But almost immediately, I was hooked, hooked by the story, the mystery, the fantasy, the alchemy, the romance, the music, and the old world charm that is Prague - home to emperors, alchemists, astronomers, and, as it's whispered, hell portals.
When impoverish grad student Sarah Weston lands a summer job at Prague Castle cataloging Beethoven's manuscripts, she has no idea how dangerous her life is about to become. Upon arrival, she learns that her mentor, who was working at the castle, may not have committed suicide, and the cryptic notes he left could be warnings.
What reviewers called "a rom-com paranormal suspense" could simply be one of the most entertaining novels of the year. Will appeal to fans of Deborah Harkness and Beatriz Williams.
It turns out Magnus Flyte is a pseudonym for the writing duo of Meg Howrey (see FFF blog) and Christina Lynch. Howrey was with the Joffrey Ballet and winner of the Ovation Award. Lynch is a television writer and former Milan correspondent for W magazine.
Blog Post
LISTEN!! Digital Music News: Christmas is Coming!
by darla
YOU can access almost 1,000 digital music albums directly through our AADL.org catalog. Stream or download as much as you like, DRM free, on any device you choose. No waiting for a copy. No due dates. Hooray!
NEW AGE / JAZZ / CHRISTMAS
Jeff Wahl: Acoustic New Age and Jazz Guitar
"Christmas has become a pretty loud holiday. To me, Christmas is a celebration and recognition of the power of simplicity. This album is a collection of solo guitar arrangements of classic Christmas songs that reflect this belief. I believe that beauty of these songs shines forth even stronger in these simple, quiet arrangements. There are no overdubs on this album and all songs are played in standard tuning." - Jeff Wahl
CLASSICAL / CHAMBER MUSIC / CHRISTMAS
Ralph Rousseau Meulenbroeks: Virtuoso Viola Da Gamba
A wide array of traditional Christmas carols become rich, resonant poetry in the hands of Ralph Rousseau Meulenbroeks. This album of instrumental holiday music strikes just the right balance between an elegant and a rustic mood, and the burnished versions of carols like "Oh Come All Ye Faithful" ("Komt allen tezamen") and "Silent Night" ("Stille Nacht") usher you directly into the fire-lit parlor of Christmas.
ELECTRONICA / CHRISTMAS
Osamu Kitajima and Chris Mancinelli: Pan Pacific Ambient Dance Masters
With their album "Christmas Through the Gateway", Osamu Kitajima and Chris Mancinelli have created Christmas music with an electronic Asian flavor. Take a musical sleigh ride with the infectious beats, ambient stylings and Japanese influences of these holiday classics. It is an innovative and playful set of music that sounds both familiar and undeniably unique.
CHRISTMAS
Magnatune Christmas Compilation
Create a toasty, elegantly merry mood with the Magnatune Christmas Compilation featuring over 60 minutes of the most timeless and classic carols of the season as played by ten different best-selling artists from Magnatune Records. The predominantly instrumental selections range from the simple acoustic guitar of James Edwards to the rich viola de gamba of Ralph Rousseau Meulenbroeks and the snowy, sparkling harp of Cheryl Ann Fulton. A few select vocal pieces include the absolutely angelic-sounding Con Brio children's choir, as well as the renowned women's vocal ensemble, Kitka. This is one of those albums to which you'll return again and again, season after season, and it's absolutely perfect for holiday dinners.
Blog Post
Classical Bells Holiday Concert
by hillary dorwart
Saturday December 15, 2012: 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm -- Downtown Library: Multi-Purpose Room
Classical Bells returns to the Library for their annual concert! The group's primary instrument consists of 68 bronze plus 6 aluminum English handbells, a range of more than six octaves.
This eclectic programming, combined with sensitive musical interpretation, technical skill, informal choreography, and a dash of humor, gives Classical Bells the well-deserved reputation of Michigan's Premier Handbell Ensemble. Check out or place a hold on their albums!