http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8QxWxsK8_3s

If this video is as advertised, it's fascinating to listen to.  It's got schmaltz dripping from it in ways that many would find truly cringe-worthy, especially given the way that people tend to hear this work played today.

Just how serious a work is this to be considered?  Almost a symphonic composition, almost a piano concerto, almost a jazz work.  But a fantastic part of the American canon nonetheless.

Oh, you're such a beautiful doll!  This 1911 hit was a wartime favorite that shows how Barbershop harmony, ragtime, and popular music overlapped.

This is sung by Bill Murray and The American Quartet in 1912.  Fantastic stuff here, very vintage.  It's hard to imagine this being the height of popular music, but here you have it.

Now, for a more modern extension by some very talented ladies:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qEdvb64w_Ys

While we're listening, you SSAA arrangers out there should take note of the general low tessitura of everything here, and the overwhelming strength of the lower voices -- this is such an exercise in the beauty of chest... especially in the masterful placement of the sustained tonic note in the tag.  For these ladies, a chest-heavy belt works much better than a high soprano might.  Bravo!

Your SmarterMusic Thought Of The Day:

This is a classic short film which won the Academy Award, and has a very interesting soundtrack to say the least:

The creator and composer is Norman McLaren, who apparently cut little wedges and nicks into the side of the film to create the score!  I would be curious to know how he managed to do that and still create something as cohesive as this is.  In any case, enjoy a bit of strangeness from 1952 -- I suppose his pioneering pitch-generation technique was revolutionary at the time.

Pretty stellar stuff here -- gospel with Elvis.  His roots were deep in the gospel tradition, and his success was largely due to his ability to sing in "black" styles while being socially acceptable to the white audience of the day.  Race has defined America in so many ways; this recording is well-suited to meditate on.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B3XdXEJEI4E

Also, take a listen to all the unison used, and the way things are arranged.  The piano licks are also quite perfectly suited.  Listen for the bass voice occasionally peeking out!  Good stylistic lessons here.

A rather excellent YouTube video, detailing the dangers of the "isms" and the wonders of American Freedom!  The music within is pretty classic soundtrack music of the era -- very influenced by the art music of the period, but also much more likely to be enjoyable to the ears of the audience.  Have we lost our musical heritage's tonality to these lost reels?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JI_RlkKAogE

Quite ridiculous are the comments made by YouTube viewers -- even with the audio preview feature implemented, comments tend to be somewhat inane.  Please enjoy this art project of a video, of Leonard Bernstein conducting Shostakovich's Symphony No. 5.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MODNcU4Xf4k

Hilarity, of course, ensues.

(via Animal New York)

This one has been making the rounds recently and is not to be missed:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_mwsDFm7bQ

What a fantastically talented guy -- comedian, singer, author, asshole.  And now, Senator!

If you were to imagine the simplest arrangement possible for an accompaniment to a soloist, what would you think of? Well, let's say it's one other person -- that's simple. What would they sing? Harmony? Backup vocals? Some combination of all of these? What if you lived in a world such as ours where chords rule the harmonic day? Probably you'd do what my inclination is: Write a bassline (You might have guessed this based on the article's title as well. If so, you are an outside-the-box thinker).

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Here's a great site to browse: OddMusic.com.  In it, there's a fantastic collection of strange, rare, and experimental musical instruments!  Try out the moodswinger:

Strange and interesting stuff here!