Monday, October 2, 2017

Music Moves Me - Patterns and Rhythms


Music is full of patterns.  We love the rhythms our culture teaches us should be part of music, too.

Today, the first day of the Write Tribe Problgger October 2017 Blogging Challenge (held every Monday and Friday in October), the prompt is "patterns".  Since this a week in Music Moves Me (a blog hop that takes place every Monday), I thought, why not feature songs about patterns?

 I couldn't find many, so I expanded the topic to include songs mentioning rhythm. And I was immediately transported to my youth - the 1950's and 1960's

Today I made a You Tube Playlist for the first time.    That's the wonderful thing about blog challenges - I hope this works.


The playlist includes:
1.  Patterns, by Simon and Garfunkel (1965).  I owned the Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme album, and probably drove my father crazy by playing it over and over. 

2.  The Syncopated Clock, composed by Leroy Anderson, which features a clock with a syncopated rhythm. This piece was written for The Boston Pops and first performed by them on May 28, 1945.  This brings back memories of growing up in New York City, where, every weekday at 4:30, WCBS-TV would show The Early Show, featuring a movie.  My Mom loved the Early Show - it was her time to rest after her housewifely duties were completed. I understand this was used for the Early Show in other cities.

3.  The Typewriter, by Leroy Anderson (again).  Is there a, um, pattern here?  Well, this one dates from 1950 and was also written to be performed by The Boston Pops.  I should ask here "does anyone remember typewriters?"  If you don't, you may especially enjoy this video, because a pops orchestra can't perform this piece without a typewriter.

4.  I've Got Rhythm, with music by another fave (I can't believe I've never included his music in one of my music posts) George Gershwin, with lyrics by his brother Ira Gershwin.  This piece was written for a Broadway show called Girl Crazy.  There is a lot to this song - I will defer to the true musicians in Music Moves Me to talk about how much this song influenced jazz music.

5.  And finally, from a more modern era, Janet Jackson's classic Rhythm Nation, from 1989.  I have to admit, I am not a great fan of Janet Jackson, but there is no denying the talent showcased in this song and video.  The lyrics still have great relevance today.

If you have any problems with the playlist, could you let me know?  This is a learning experience for me, done in hopes that my music posts will load faster for mobile fans. 

I hope you enjoyed this little musical journey.  Come back again next Monday, same time, same place, for more music.

Day 2 in the Ultimate Blog Challenge, a 30 day challenge this month #blogboost.

I am taking part in The Write Tribe Problogger October 2017 Blogging Challenge .

And last, but not least: Join this #MusicMovesMe blog hop every Monday - here are the people responsible for it:
X mas Dolly is the Conductor of this trip, and the other Conductors are her fellow bloggers Callie of JAmerican Spice, ♥Stacy of Stacy Uncorked♥  and Cathy from Curious as a Cathy.



 

24 comments:

  1. So, LeRoy Anderson was among my favorite composers. I learned jazz guitar by studying (and practicing and practicing) his compositions.
    I, too, played PSRT repeatedly. And, LeRoy's the Syncopated Clock (which still plays on my computers at random times.) And, I loved the way (one of my four favorite conductors, along with Seijii Ozawa, Leonard Bernstein, & Michael Tilson Thomas) Marvin Hamlisch did the Typewriter!

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  2. Alana,

    Cool blog challenge! I enjoyed your playlist. No problems playing here. Good job! The typewriter makes me think of Jerry Lewis. Have you seen that clip? Janet Jackson always has the moves like brother, Michael. Her mewsic sure makes me wanna dance. Great to have you on the dance floor this morning, my friend. Have a dancetastic week! ;)

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  3. Oh, Alana, this is FUN! I've always enjoyed Typewriter, and am a Simon & Garfunkel fan, and I love ... well, let's say you hit a home run with your selections!

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  4. Your music Mondays always tell me so much about the music on your side. I listen to Hindi songs but I am happy to try new genres :)

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  5. Wonderful tunes you names. Also, not a great fan of Janet Jackson but that album was wonderful.

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  6. Seeing the guy in a tuxedo typing is fabulous!! What about Miami sound machine, rhythm got to move you?

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  7. That was a unique take on the prompt, Alana. I must admit that I haven't heard any of the songs in the playlist. :) And yes, the playlist worked fine. :)

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  8. What a very interesting musical journey you took us on! Loved it my friend. YOU DEFINITELY ROCK! Also, thanks for the introduction to the Simon & Garfunkel song. Believe it or not I've never heard it before & it so fit with your theme! Great work my friend! hugs & have a great week.

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  9. I liked these, except for the Simon and Garfunkel one. Just don't like those two.

    One night, on "Evening At Pops," the subject was the music of Leroy Anderson, and I remember Arthur Fiedler arguing with Anderson that he wanted to play the typewriter. Leroy Anderson also wrote "Holiday For Strings," another fun-loving tune.

    The "Rhythm changes" (the chord progression in "I Got Rhythm") form the basis for a lot of jazz tunes. Every jazz musician knows (or needs to know) how to improvise over the blues changes and the "Rhythm" changes. The theme song from "The Flintstones" is written over the Rhythm changes...

    I have Janet Jackson's "Rhythm Nation" album, believe it or not.

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  10. Great job on the playlist! I have always liked the Syncopated Clock, and The Typewriter is fun to listen to. Well done!

    ~Mary

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  11. It all worked perfectly! And brought back so many memories . . . Thank you!

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  12. So neat. I love Simon and Garfunkel! ~Jeanine

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  13. Hey Alana,
    Great job on the playlist! And what a fun concept! LOVE LOVE LOVE the typewriter piece. Brilliant! And for sure I remember typewriters. And carbon paper! :)
    Love Simon & Garfunkel too. They remind me of my early years in college.
    Janet Jackson has some talent in dance and choreography.
    The clock song was fun too. And a great clip from the film. I'm not much of a musical movie fan but that was cute.

    Very neat compilation on patterns and rhythms!

    Michele at Angels Bark

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  14. I remember that typewriter piece. So fun.
    Music is patterns. 12 notes. 7 rhythms.

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  15. We had the same LP growing up and I can't tell you how often I've heard it. Know all the lyrics by heart.
    Great blog hop. Might join in one of these days.

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  16. I haven't heard some of these songs but I like Simon and Garfunkel - Mrs Robinson and Cecelia are some of my favourites.

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  17. This is a great playlist. Yes patterns and rhythms go together.

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  18. What a great playlist! I especially liked that typewriter song and I've got rhythm. Patterns and rhythm are so interesting and enjoyable, a connection between music and visual art.

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  19. Love your take with the patterns - great job on the playlist! Thanks for the dance! :)

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  20. Sounds like a nice playlist though I hadn't heard any of the songs before!

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  21. A great playlist. I had not heard of many of these songs, but I have heard the Janet Jackson song.

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  22. It's rough when I can't find many choices for a theme, so I just go with the flow. Less stress :)

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