Orren's musical ramblings

 Bibliography       Pentatonix is a Cappella group from Texas(Wikipedia). They are well known for their covers of a variety of songs from a variety of genres. The group began in 2012 with their debut album EP PTX, Volume 1. They formed because of a program called a sing-off, which is presumably a big singing talent show. They ended up winning and then created their band. After the competition, the group's bread and butter were catchy songs like Christmas music. They also released many songs on their youtube channel, which one them many rewards. In 2023, they were given a star on Hollywood's walk of fame. For this, we will look at their song radioactive, including the highly talented Lindsey Stirling. The second one is titled Hallelujah.     This is a Cover of the Hit song radioactive by Imagine dragons. In this song, Lindsey Stirling plays the violin while dancing. Pentatonix all sing and make different vocal sounds. This song is played at 134 Bea...

Geisha playing the Shamisen.      Tsugaru-Jamisen is a style of playing the Shamisen dating to the early 20th century. The Shamisen is an import of the Chinese Sanxian. This instrument arrived in Japan in the 16th century. It was popular in the court, with geisha, and as a folk instrument throughout history. During the early 20th century, various blind and not blind musicians created a new playing style based on folk music (Wikipedia). This play style was Tsugaru-Jamisen style. It's played very quickly and with flashy finger-work. It can be played solo, in pairs, or more. This is a modern style of playing Shamisen, and it is generally meant to entertain. It is also the style of music that brought Shamisen into global prominence.       The Shamisen is very banjo-like. It can be disassembled, as shown above. The bottom square or body, called a "do" 胴 is drum-like. The neck is fretless. The top has three pegs, traditionally made of ivory but now ofte...

From Bach to Country Rock History and comparison of violin music Intro The violin is an instrument that originated in the 16th century, Though other string relatives predate this. The violin's shape was first pioneered in Italy with modifications in the 17th and 18th centuries (www.britannica.com). The violin, sometimes called the fiddle, is widely spread and still used for modern music. This post will compare a Bach concerto to a famous contemporary country rock song, paying particular attention to the differences and similarities in the music. Below is the song from Charlie Danials Band, The Devil Went Down to Georgia . It was made in America in 1979. Feel free to listen while you read. History Violins in the 16th century were made by famous crafters and are still in high demand today. Well-known crafters like Amarti created instruments that have sounds that some say are mysterious and have never been replicated; others disagree. Either way, the instruments are beautiful. Below i...