Once upon a time . . . actually, when I started my job as Music History Professor at Southern Methodist University in 1985, I had to face facts: even with my fancy new Ph.D. in musicology, my musical education was filled with holes. There wasn’t … Read more
We live in a visual world. We constantly analyze what we see on a sophisticated level, but most of us are not nearly as skilled in listening. That’s why many of us prefer music in styles that are already familiar. Opening our ears and mind … Read more
What is the most famous four-note melody in the world? One where three of the four pitches repeat the same note? Now that’s a toss-up: either the opening of Beethoven’s 5th Symphony, a.k.a. “Fate Knocking at the Door” (dah-dah-dah dum) or . . . ready?. … Read more
For weeks, our little vocal ensemble here in Bowie has been rehearsing for our upcoming Festival of Lessons & Carols. In music, we talk so much about “ancient” traditions, meaning traditions at least a few centuries old. By that standard, the Festival of Nine Lessons … Read more
This chart is included in the workbook for Discovering Music: 300 Years of Interaction in Western Music, Arts, History, and Culture. Watch for more reference guides like this one in the near future. Eighteenth Century Enlightenment Nineteenth Century Romanticism Music is an expression of balance … Read more
Do you Tweet? Recently I’ve been exploring Twitter. And while the 140-character-limit is frustrating, and the anonymity and pace are daunting, I’m intrigued by what one can observe. What are people tweeting about Classical Music, for example. And not just the words “classical music,” but … Read more
What happens when you take a wind ensemble and add the most overpowering wind instrument of all, the pipe organ? You get my new podcast about the pipe organ, along with some other interesting information on “the king of instruments.” It includes some interesting excerpts … Read more
What happens when you take a wind ensemble and add the most overpowering wind instrument of all, the pipe organ?On Tuesday, November 17, the Dallas Wind Symphony, the Greater Dallas Youth Orchestra Wind Ensemble, and organist Mary Preston join forces. http://traffic.libsyn.com/professorcarol/king_of_winds.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Tomorrow, a work from pages of your Discovering Music course will leap onto the stage! Puccini’s opulent final opera Turandot will be simulcast live in HD satellite transmission from The Metropolitan Opera in New York City to movie theaters across the US and the world. Where does Turandot fit in our course? … Read more
It’s terrific to open my email and find your questions and comments about the course Discovering Music: 300 Years of Interaction in Western Music, Arts, History, and Culture. I especially welcome questions from people who are considering the course. There’s one question that comes up … Read more