Friday, April 29, 2016

Fun Friday - Shake It Off - Walk off the Earth

Walk Off the Earth is a Canadian group formed about 10 years ago in Burlington Ontario.  They won top album of the year at this year's Juno Awards.  This is very typical of this amazing group.  They are all about having fun with great music.  Check out a previous post that is quite a stretch!!  Tee, hee. 

Wednesday, April 27, 2016

Wonderful Wednesday - Singing at Kerwood United Church

Sunday the Embro Thistle Singers had the privilege of singing at the Evening of Music they hold each year.

We walked into the front of the lovely old church and were surrounded by original wood pews, beautiful coloured glass windows and a spirit of love and acceptance.

We really enjoyed singing in this lovely setting.  Thanks so much to the people of Kerwood and environs who welcomed us and were so complimentary.  We shall have videos soon so stay tuned.  Our professional videographer, Norm, was on the job.  Stay tuned. 

Sunday, April 24, 2016

Musical Monday - Michael Buble and Blake Shelton - Mixing Styles

Don't you just love it when two genres of music are mixed so masterfully.  It gives this song a whole new flavour.  This is a good idea to keep in mind when we sing in choir as well.  We do have chances to mix it up.  When has it worked for you?

Friday, April 22, 2016

Fun Friday - Pharrell Williams - Happy - I Dare You NOT to Dance

It doesn't matter where I am, when this song comes on in a store, sidewalk, at kickboxing class, I dance.  Oh yeah.  Clap, hum and DANCE.  



Wednesday, April 20, 2016

Wonderful Wednesday - Poison - Your Mama Don't Dance

I think we should consider these costumes (or lack thereof) for our performances.  What do you think ETS singers?

Sunday, April 17, 2016

Musical Monday - The State Dance Ensemble of Ukraine p. Virsky "Hopak"

Oh my goodness.  Now this is a workout and a half.  Whenever I hear this music my mind dances just like this.  Yup. Just my mind and maybe my toes.

Friday, April 15, 2016

Fun Friday - Farmer Style (Gangnam Style Parody)

Thanks to Elaine for finding this wonderful salute to our amazing farm families.  Music makes this story so fun at the same time as it is informative.  

Wednesday, April 13, 2016

Sunday, April 10, 2016

Musical Monday - MERLE HAGGARD Sing Me Back Home

Notice how mellow Merle Haggard's voice sounds and what great flexibility he still has.  
These words are certainly a testament to the power of music.  Would Merle himself have been able to pull himself out of his trough of trouble had Johnny Cash not been his inspiration to become a musician?  

Friday, April 8, 2016

Fun Friday - Kentucky Vocal Union - Footloose

You know how much I love Barbershop sounds.  This group is over the top and then some.  Enjoy the energy and the sound.  

Wednesday, April 6, 2016

Wonderful Wednesday - Amazing Grace to the tune of The House of the Rising Sun

This is a very interesting sound.  The words of Amazing Grace are so beautiful that I think singing it to another tune makes the listener pay more attention.  We may want to try this one.  

Sunday, April 3, 2016

Musical Monday - Classical Music Mashup

      As a music teacher in elementary school, I taught the periods of music which of course includes the "Classical Period".  That period is between the Baroque & Romantic Periods and is more simple than either of those with mainly homophonic sounds etc.  
When people call all "serious or art" music "classical" it is confusing in my mind.  
     That said this is a mixture of many pieces of many periods.  Amazing blending of sounds.  One of the comments from YouTube has this list that may or may not be correct.  See what you think.


1. Haydn - Symphony No. 94 (Surprise) 2. Mozart - Eine kleine Nachtmusik 3. Beethoven - Symphony No. 9 4. Mendelssohn - Wedding March / Midsummer Night's Dream 5. Dvorak - Humoresque No. 7 6. Wagner - Bridal Chorus / Lohengrin 7. Tchaikovsky - Piano Concerto No. 1 8. Saint-Saens - The Swan / Carnival of the Animals 9. Bach - Prelude / The Well-Tempered Clavier 10. Tchaikovsky - 1812 Overture 11. Mendelssohn - Songs Without Words (Spring Song) 12. Bach - Cello Suite No. 1 - Prelude 13. Schubert - Ave Maria 14. Schubert - Symphony No. 8 (Unfinished) 15. Verdi - La donna e mobile / Rigoletto 16. Boccherini - Minuetto from String Quintet in E 17. Beethoven - Fur Elise 18. C.P.E. Bach - Solfeggietto 19. Paganini - Caprice No. 24 20. Mozart - Piano Sonata No. 11 / Rondo Alla Turca 21. Grieg - Piano Concerto in A Minor 22. Mozart - Requiem / Lacrimosa 23. Schubert - Standchen 24. Chopin - Prelude in C Minor / Op. 28 No. 20 25. Brahms - Lullaby (or maybe Symphony No. 2) 26. Strauss II - Die Fledermaus Overture 27. Satie - Gymnopedie No. 1 28. Debussy - Premiere Arabesque 29. Holst - Jupiter 30. Schubert - The Trout 31. Liszt - Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2 32. Mozart - 12 Variations on 'Ah vous dirai-je, Maman' 33. Schumann - The Happy Farmer 34. Schubert - Marche Miltiaire No. 1 35. Petzold/Bach - Minuet in G 36. Mozart - Piano Sonata No. 16 37. Offenbach - Orpheus in the Underworld / Can-can 38. Beethoven - Piano Sonata No. 8 (Pathetique) 39. Mozart - The Magic Flute, Overture 40. Tchaikovsky - Romeo & Juliet 41. Beethoven - Symphony No. 5 42. Rachmaninoff - Prelude in C# minor 43. Chopin - Piano Sonata No. 2 / Funeral March 44. Williams - The Imperial March 45. Tchaikovsky - Marche Slave 46. Tchaikovsky - Nutcracker / Waltz of the Flowers 47. Smetana - Ma vlast / Die Moldau 48. Borodin - Prince Igor / Polovtsian Dances 49. Strauss II - The Blue Danube 50. Vivaldi - Spring 51. Handel - Messiah / Hallelujah Chorus 52. Handel - Arrival of the Queen of Sheba / Solomon 53. Elgar - Pomp & Circumstance March No. 1 54. Pachelbel - Canon in D 55. Mozart - Symphony No. 35 (Haffner) 56. Chopin - Etude Op. 25 No. 9 (Butterfly) 57. Bach - French Suite No. 5, Gavotte

Friday, April 1, 2016

Fun Friday - Top Secret Drum Corps - Drumming, Marching, Moving & All Lit Up - Amazing!!

My socks always fall down.
I turn left when they say right.
I drop drum sticks regularly.
I am NOT in this group & they are SOOOOO glad. 
These guys are amateurs with day jobs.  Holy cow!