Week 10 is the last week of the series! and includes elements of where we have been in the previous weeks, but the ancient instruments are blended with the newer piano, cello, bass, bass clarinet, drums...and orchestra.
It is…
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Welcome to the
"traveling with Vicki to listen to music" page!
Each week I travel to somewhere in the world and give an introduction to an instrument or musicians in that region with video links to listen to. I start with a brief video of me talking about the topic for the week, and it can include:
- interesting facts behind the music
- how you might approach listening to the music
- history of the instrument (maybe 3000 years)
- background of the development of the music
The series was designed for my piano students, however, as it evolved, I came to see that it's interesting for all of us to reflect on the vast beauty of instruments in the world and the musicians that play them.
I absolutely believe that it's good for all of us to expand the styles of music that we listen to, and that it makes us a better musician & a better person!...whether we perform, compose or listen...
Week 9 traveling with Vicki to listen to music...Armenia
The music for this week is by the traditional Armenian wind instrument the duduk, and I've chosen videos where it is played with another traditional instrument of Armenia, the oud.
For me, the duduk may be one…
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Week 8 traveling with Vicki to listen to music...Italy
Would you like early classical piano music played on fortepianos from that time?
The fortepiano had been invented by Cristofori in Italy in the year 1700.
We're going to listen to some Hayden, Mozart and Beethoven played…
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Week 7 traveling with Vicki to listen to music...Persia
This week we listen to an ancient Persian instrument, the kamencheh (kah-MANCH) and we'll listen to it being played by Kayhan Kalhor, Persian, born in Tehran to a Kurdish family. kayhankalhor.net
Following Persian tradition, he is a composer, improviser…
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Week 6 traveling with Vicki to listen to music ...Japan
We're going to look at the feisty and fiery world of Taiko, where the drum (taiko) can be as large as a small car, or as small as a snare drum. Most are about the size of a wine barrel.
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Week 5 traveling with Vicki to listen to music...Spain
The original heart of flamenco is the cante [song] and the baile [dance]
...however this week we're going to explore the rise of toque or flamenco guitar.
(Photos are of an 1860 guitar designed and built by…
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Week 4 traveling with Vicki to listen to music...China
We are going to listen to the guqin, an ancient Chinese plucked instrument that dates back more than 3000 years....possibly 5000 years, and we are going to do it by listening to Upwards to the Moon, the closing…
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Week 3 traveling with Vicki to listen to music...Brazil.
Actually, we are traveling from Brazil and landing in New York in 1945, where we will listen to a live recording of a 7 minute piece.
The piece, Bachiana Brasileira no.5, is a musically masterful confluence of artists:
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Week 2 traveling with Vicki to listen to music...Germany, 300 years ago.
The Pachelbel Canon, or Canon in D is recognized and loved by many people, with recordings by many musicians and instrument types.
Where and when does it come from? Has it always been popular?
And if you want…
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Week 1 traveling with Vicki to listen to music...India
First watch the video of me talking about the music:
and then watch the music video
The music video is of 2 incredible musicians from India performing at the Crossroads Festival in Krakow,…
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