The Music Banter Members' Journals Monthly Update Thread

[Trollheart]

Like to just express my delight at how quickly all my journal posts are getting approved in recent days. I mean literally, lightning speed! Thanks to whomever is doing this, if one person, or you all if that's the case. Really appreciated. I'm quick to moan when there's a delay so think it's only fair I should give credit when and where it's due.

Great job, guys!

[Trollheart]

Jesus Holy ****ing Christ on a unicycle going backwards down the Jersey Tunnel whistling Dixie while reading aloud from Marx's “Das Kapital” in heavily-accented Greek and juggling live porcupines! Hospital AGAIN! I am so sick of that place! Gaaahhhh!

Anyway, having got that off my chest, taken my pills and calmed down a little now, this did happen on Thursday so I had some time to put up a few updates of my own. Let's see what everyone else has been up to here, shall we?

Anteater is talking about some of my favourite artistes, including the late Dan Fogelberg and The Alan Parsons Project, as well as a lot more music from his childhood in http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...n-dollars.html

Briks, meanwhile, has been skiing (well, not really, but he is Norwegian!) but still found time to review albums by Green Day, Pantera and Mercyful Fate. Oh, and ... Coldplay?

Butthead is a little more interested in talking about women, strippers and, er, women strippers than music this week in http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...therapy-s.html. Hey man! Need some good emo recs, y'know?

http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...ening-log.html has the likes of Food For Animals, Thou, Teenage Jesus and the Jerks and that Babymetal album in it. And he's also giving a good listen to Junkyard Donner's band's new single, of which more shortly.

Like now. Yeah, her band have released their first single, with more tracks from their debut album to follow. Not my thing but well executed and everyone except me seems to like it. Catch the sample at http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...-tripping.html then head to their Bandcamp page and download it. If you like it. Which you probably will. Since everyone seems to. Except me. I'm weird.

Ki has been giving Owl City a good listen in http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...nal-music.html

Another new journal opens as Pet Sounds introduces us to http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...ly-review.html --- now this one sounds interesting!

As promised last week, the mighty Powerstars is back and he's looking at the Killers' “Sam's Town”, in http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...sicalness.html

Queen of the unfeasibly large image as she's becoming, Roxy has reviews of music from Pomegranates and Lower Dens in http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...doras-box.html

Silenzio, on the other hand, is getting all cultured and classical with cello music by Bach as played by Yo-Yo Ma and, er, Avro Part? Big in Estonia, apparently. Read all about it in http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...mix-music.html. She's also looking at Wild Nothing...

So what have I been up to, you say, other than watching the world from the back of an ambulance and getting a sore behind from sitting on hospital waiting room seats, watching a clock tick off the hours from night time to morning to afternoon to evening and back to night ....? Well, there's a review of the Alan Parsons Project's “The turn of a friendly card” in http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...d-journal.html, as well as The French Revolution revisited in “Great moments in history set to music”, while http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...-emporium.html has the return of Alan B'Stard as The New Statesman as well as more Babylon 5, and we draw close to the end of the first season of Les Revenants. Don't expect any answers though. And did someone say “Edgar Allan Poe”? Watch this space! Oh yeah: preview of the coverage of the BBC version of “The Hitch-hiker's guide to the Galaxy” too...

Having thoroughly pounded 1980, Unknown Soldier moves on from the initial rush of the NWOBHM into a slightly more settled 1981, with albums first up from Cirith Ungol and UFO.

I haven't had the time until now to read http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...who-thing.html this week, but hell, who needs to read it really, to know it's going to be great? Everything this guy writes turns to gold. Now that I do look at it, It's only a tiny entry (ooeer!) this week but once again it's comedy paydirt, so go on and treat yourself. He says he's working on the TV movie: can't wait to see the result of that one! And let's not forget http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...nal-stuff.html where he has another “WTF?” moment in music.

YorkeDaddy plays us out this week with a chance to listen to some of his own ambient music --- and by that I mean composed and played by him, not his favourite by another artiste --- which certainly fulfils the brief of http://www.musicbanter.com/members-j...-personal.html, so get on there and have a listen!

The older members may grumble (us older people always do; there's so much to grumble about these days!) that I'm awarding best post in the last few weeks to the young whippersnappers, but firstly I think they deserve to be exterminated, sorry encouraged (still working on my Doctor Who entries) and secondly, they're coming up with some really good, insightful and thoughtful posts. So I hope all you crusty old journal authors out there will forgive me if I throw down the red carpet and award the bouquet of flowers to the lovely Silenzio, who is this week's

The main reason is that I think she's stepping beyond the usual boundaries here. I know I've featured the odd classical album and have even got an occasional section on the genre, but this entry brings a real sense of personal love and interest to classical music, and I think it deserves to be read. As does her entire journal, so far.

Originally Posted by Silenzio

One of the most famous composers of the Baroque era is Johann Sebastian Bach. He is well-known for his revolutionary compositions.
Works like the Brandenburg Concertos, the The Well-Tempered Clavier and a loads of cantatas are still very popular in the 21st century.
I wonder if any of our Pop-stars will be appreciated the same way in 400 years from now!

The Cello Suites: Inspired By Bach - Yo-Yo Ma



In my opinion, the Six suites for unaccompanied cello are one of the most interesting chamber compositions of Bach. I personally like them a lot, since the cello has such a warm sound.
I as well enjoyed the rich tone that Yo-Yo Ma creates, although I don't know extremely much about chello playing techniques, I think he does that really well. The arpeggiated patterns sound at least perfect!
The album was released in 1997, quite some time back.

Track list

Suite No. 1 in G Major -- BWV 1007
(Prelude, Allemande, Courante, Sarabande, Menuett, Gigue)

Suite No. 2 in D Minor -- BWV 1008
(Prelude, Allemande, Courante, Sarabande, Menuett, Gigue)

Suite No. 3 in C Major -- BWV 1009
(Prelude, Allemande, Courante, Sarabande, Bourrée, Gigue)

Suite No. 4 in E-flat Major -- BWV 1010
(Prelude, Allemande, Courante, Sarabande, Bourrée, Gigue)

Suite No. 5 in C Minor -- BWV 1011
(Prelude, Allemande, Courante, Sarabande, Gavotte, Gigue)

Suite No. 6 in D Major -- BWV 1012
(Prelude, Allemande, Courante, Sarabande, Gavotte, Gigue)

Structure of the suites
Basically, all have 6 movements:

Prelude: most literal it means introduction, a brief yet improvisatory piece of music
Allemande: In French it means "German", must-have of a suite, a serious dance
Courante: literally means running, it's a passionate piece with a clear melody
Sarabande: A dance in triple metre, originally a slow, stately Spanish dance
Galanteries: movements that initiate a change of style, after that follow mostly non-familiar pieces;
(Bach used Minuets, Bourrées and Gavottes in his chello suites)
Gigue: Final dance of a suite. It seems a bit lively since it often has accents on the third beats in the bar.

To me it was important to listen to the full work to inhale the complete flair of the baroque style. Usually I just listen to a prelude and the melody gets stuck in my head.
As I know from practicing baroque pieces, it's maybe even better to be considerate and keep an overview. Although, it's really lovely to get lost in music!
Luckily I convinced myself to listen to the other suites. I must admit - I actually only ever heard the first one.
I'm sure you all know the prelude of the first suite very well. It's used for many TV ads!

(Video removed as per: check her journal for the YouTube)

The 1st prelude is a reminder of the Prelude in C major of the Well-Tempered Clavier. That is the technique characterizes Bach! To tell the truth, I never expected the other suites to be that interesting.
The highlight of the 2nd suite is maybe the Sarabande, it's deep. In contrast, the following suite seems to be really sunny. The 4th suite sounds pretty complex in general. The 5th seems to rely on feelings.
Last but not least - the 6th suite to be so dramatic and ambitious. The final Gigue is a duo for a solo instrument. Incredible!

I can imagine it must takes months to be able to play any of these suites, stunning! Truly it is admirable, with what kind of ambition and feeling people play their instrument and create such wonderful sounds.
It may sounds funny, but it's worth taking time, sitting down and just listen closely.

Thanks for that, Silenzio! Nice way to end this week's update, and cross your fingers that this is the last we've seen of Beaumont Hospital! If things go to plan (do they ever?) I hope to have a lot of new material for my two main journals next week, and maybe even squeeze in an update or two on the ones that have been neglected for most of this year. We'll see. Either way, those of you who are writing, keep up the good work. Those of you who are reading, hope you're continuing to enjoy it. Those of you who are thinking of trying this, come and have a go if you think you're hard enough! Seriously, just try it: I won't say it's easy but it sure is fun.

Till next week, Journalads and Journalettes,
Toodles!

[Urban Hat€monger ?]

Don't worry I got this weeks covered.


This week in Urban's Doctor Who Thing I did an awesome review of Warriors Of The Deep and also looked at a Doctor Who / Monty Python crossover, as well as posting some other rather cool videos to watch.
You can read such awesome content HERE

Oh and some other people updated theirs too.

[The Batlord]

Originally Posted by Urban Hat€monger ?

Don't worry I got this weeks covered.


This week in Urban's Doctor Who Thing I did an awesome review of Warriors Of The Deep and also looked at a Doctor Who / Monty Python crossover, as well as posting some other rather cool videos to watch.
You can read such awesome content HERE

Oh and some other people updated theirs too.

Like anyone gives a ****.

[Unknown Soldier]

Originally Posted by Urban Hat€monger ?

Don't worry I got this weeks covered.
This week in Urban's Doctor Who Thing I did an awesome review of Warriors Of The Deep and also looked at a Doctor Who / Monty Python crossover, as well as posting some other rather cool videos to watch.
You can read such awesome content HERE
Oh and some other people updated theirs too.

Yer Urban treated us to the gem known as "Warriors of the Deep" and on mine there was some hot stuff by Black Sabbath and Iron Maiden.

Originally Posted by The Batlord

Like anyone gives a ****.

They certainly do batty boy.

[Isbjørn]

[Isbjørn]

Originally Posted by Trollheart

Briks, meanwhile, has been skiing (well, not really, but he is Norwegian!) but still found time to review albums by Green Day, Pantera and Mercyful Fate. Oh, and ... Coldplay?

Actually, I have been skiing. And Coldplay will always have a place in my heart, even though Mylo Xyloto sucked.

[Trollheart]

Originally Posted by Silenzio

Thanks so much, Trollheart. I would have never expected anything like this!
I consider it an honor to get lauded for my journal entry, I really appreciate your encouraging words and hope to keep up the work.
Thanks so much, you've made my day!

and you're quite welcome. It was a great piece.

Originally Posted by Briks

Actually, I have been skiing. And Coldplay will always have a place in my heart, even though Mylo Xyloto sucked.

Yep, I like 'em too. Parachutes, Rush of blood and X&Y are all great albums, though I really haven't listened to anything after X&Y...

[Isbjørn]

Originally Posted by Trollheart

Yep, I like 'em too. Parachutes, Rush of blood and X&Y are all great albums, though I really haven't listened to anything after X&Y...

I like Viva la Vida, but the title track gets boring after the millionth time hearing it. Avoid Mylo Xyloto altogether, unless you want to relive JB week.

[butthead aka 216]

Trollheart I'm talkin bout pornstars n whores, nnot strippers. Gawd get it right!!

Excellent update as always