Winter Break!

It's that time again... the much anticipated winter break is here!

The Herklotz Music Library (and our blog) will be closed for winter break, but we'll be back in the spring. We will be open regular hours until Friday, 12/17.

Until then, read a review of the record above here and come check it out at the Music Library! Call # M2085 M3 BT 13

Headphones!

I recently acquired a pair of headphones with subwoofers in them and I was a little unhappy with the sound quality, so I started looking up reviews of better headphones. I stumbled across this website head-fi.org which is really interesting, it has about everything you could ever want to know about headphones and sound systems. I especially enjoyed this post by a headphone aficionado about his 20 favorite pairs of headphones (I know, WHO has that many headphones?!). It really makes you think about the different aspects of sound and how music can change based on how it's delivered. Enjoy.

Holiday Party at the Music Library!

And just like that, the semester is almost over. A crazy realization for some of my friends who are only here for a semester and now need to pack up their bags again and leave... it makes me very happy to know I will be staying for another semester but that doesn't mean I am not immensely looking forward to a bit of Hoidays! American finals are stressful, that's for sure, and the library seems to be jam-packed with people racing against the clock to get their work done on time.

In my case - being quite the last minute type o' girl - this meant working through many a night and handing in essays 2 minutes before the deadline. The RA's have been organizing 'study breaks' to anti-stress continuously, which although I haven't been to one of them yet, I think is an excellent idea.

Instead, Herklotz Music Library hosted an event for employees from the Music Library, CDLR, Agora, and Visual Resources Department. The festivity was organized by no other than our supervisors and they did a truly excellent job. Not only were there gingerbread houses to be decorated and cookies and pizza, there was also a photo booth for those who wanted to put this very enjoyable and relaxing day into hard copy memories. The library was beautifully decorated, exhibiting creative work of a variety of people, and it was a great opportunity to get to know other people who work in related departments to us. Oh.. and I got to taste ginger bread for the first time.... I approve!

All in all it was a fantastic day with fantastic people.

VYMA Winter Concert

Verdugo Young Musicians Association
Samuel Chilingarian, Director

Featuring:
Verdugo String Orchestra
Verdugo Youth Orchestra
Chamber Ensembles
Verdugo Esnamble

presents
Winter Concert

Featuring Vivaldi, Tchaikovsky, Smith, and More!

Saturday, December 11
3:00pm
Thorne Hall
Free!

LA Chamber Orchestra Concert This Weekend!

Tango and jazz music by the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra!

See it Saturday Dec 11 in Glendale at 8 or Sunday Dec 12 at 7 at UCLA.

For details about the performance go to the Spotlight on LACO performance page

Order tickets through their website or by calling 213 622 7001 × 215

Students can get discounted tickets for

*$10* and a season pass for *$25*.

Take a friend as a holiday gift!

Oxy Jazz Tuesday Dec. 7!

Faculty Music Recital at 12:30!

My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy

Kanye West's newest album "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy" is kind of mind-blowingly awesome. Released on Nov. 22 (the anniversary of the Kennedy assassination), the album shot straight to number one and sold 496,000 upon its debut. I was lucky enough to receive a pair of subwoofer "skullcrusher" headphones for my birthday and the first thing I did was sit down to listen to the culmination of Kanye's career. And I have to say, it is incredible. I don't normally listen to entire rap albums in a single sitting just for funsies, but I found that I really could not tear my focus away. Track favorites: "Lost in the World" which samples Bon Iver's "Woods" (a song I fall asleep to...it's not quite as soothing in this light); opening track "Dark Fantasy" which begins with Nicki Minaj reciting Roald Dahl's reworking of Cinderella in a weird faux-British accent; and "All of the Lights" which features 11 different artists but the only distinguishable voice is Rihanna's, who sings the hook. Matthew Cole of Slant Magazine can say it a lot better than I can.

Winter Playlist

Somehow its winter again. To cope with my innate San Diegan dislike of coldness I have turned to this cozy compilation of tunes which, to me, are reminders of the warmest parts of this season. So here it is, my Surviving Winter Play-list ready to warm the cockles of your heart. And there is nothing like warm cockles.

Quequ'un M'a Dit by Carla Bruni- With softly strummed guitar and Bruni's sultry whispered vocals this song is for days meant to be spent inside doing absolutely nothing.

Winter Winds by Mumford & Sons- Your first thought might be that this song only made the list because it has the word winter in the title, and ok you would be a little bit right but title aside Mumford & Sons, though fantastic anytime of year, are particularly worth listening to on cold December days. The chorus of 'Winter Winds' is reminiscent of a friends singing and swaying along to favorite pub songs- a jolly scene that anyone would want to be a part of.

All My Friends by LCD Soundsystem- The driving, electronic, and extremely danceable beat of this song deserves a solid spot on any holiday party play list- not to mention its potential for general rocking out.

Winter '05 by Ra Ra Riot- I don't know how much this song sounds like 2005, but Ra Ra Riot got the winter part spot on. A soft tribal drumming and haunting melody in the strings- close your eyes and you can almost see snow covered scenery passing by through the frosted windows of a train. On your way home this holiday, listen to this song and think of the lovely people in your life.

One Night One Kiss by The Russian Futurists- This song begins with a piano groove that seems like the intro to a jazzy take on a traditional Christmas song, but then the lead vocal duet drops and, as it falls into a poppy chorus, it becomes clear this song is as fresh as it is adorable. Totally heart warming, you can't help but feel happy listening to this catchy boy-meets-girl duet.

One Love by Bob Marley- When you are totally over winter, but still stuck in the middle of it I recommend a healthy dose of reggae. Jam out to Bob and think of the warmer times that are not so far way, really.

Three Upcoming Concerts!

The Occidental College Music Department Presents:

Friday, December 3, 2010
Music On A Friday Afternoon
Bird Studio 4:30 p.m.
Featuring
Vocalists: Adriel Henrikson, Michael Kuten, Noah Tovares, Alison Pentland, Daniel Strychacz
Instrumentalists: Sarah Doyel, Nina Paus-Weiler, Ben Toney, Emma La Fleur, Emma Crow Willard, Shelby King, Beverly Miras, Joanna Kang and Christopher Neff

FREE!

Saturday, December 4, 2010

Student Composers in Concert
Under the direction of Andre Myers
Bird Studio 7:30pm
Free
Featuring Music by Andrew Chang, Jeffrey Leblow, Daniel Strychacz and The Music Libraries' Own AISLING BROUWER


Sunday, December 5, 2010

Holiday Concert
Occidental Glee Club and College Chorus
Directed by Desiree LaVertu
Herrick Chapel 3:30pm
Featuring Music by Handel, Vivaldi, and Grieg as well as traditional Chanukah and Christmas favorites
$10 General Admission Free with Oxy ID