Bagpipes

1. bagpipe, 2. BagPipe Player II, 3. BagPipes, 4. Scottish Bagpipe Troupe

Writing about cellos earlier inspired me to write about my other favorite instrument, bagpipes. Bagpipe melodies range from jovial tunes that inspire dance to haunting refrains that evoke a melancholy atmosphere. I love them all. One day this is another instrument that I hope to play. Do you have a favorite bagpipe tune?

At the moment I'm watching a little television and that's keeping me alert for now. I'm thankful for HGTV's late night lineup on weekends (currently Dear Genevieve).

Cello Music

1. cello, 2. My Cello at the Cathedral, 3. Cello, 4. Cello III

I am a big fan of classical music and my favorite instrument is definitely the cello. Its rich melodies are like dark chocolate for the ears. My love affair with this beautiful instrument started in eighth grade. It was my first year in orchestra and I played the double bass. Seated as I was behind the cellos I had my first up close introduction to that beautiful sound. One of these days I want to purchase one of my very own and teach myself to play. Until then I will delight in any cello music I can find.

Do you have a favorite orchestral (or other for that matter) instrument?

Music is definitely getting me through this lull. Two years ago during my fist blogathon someone told me that getting up and dancing/jumping was the best way to wake up again and that has definitely proven true for me.

Song of the Half Hour: Zero Gravity - David Archuleta

Fun Music

1. Balloon Fun // Siren Music Fest 2008, 2. Plum's New Headphones, 3. Dance In The Rain, 4. LEGO CD Cover Photo

This has been an underlying theme in my posts this morning, but music is a big enough part of my life that it deserves its own post. In this case I'll be talking about fun music: what I listen to when I want to dance, sing along, do physical activity, or just want to relax in a good mood. For me this ranges through genres and languages. What I've been listening to today gives a pretty good indication of what I consider fun. Pop music from many cultures (though predominantly USA, Korea, Japan, and China) mixed with hip hop, classic rock, and some light classical. Not to mention soundtracks. This is the kind of music that keeps me going on a tough day. In concert form these are the concerts that keep you on your feet, clapping to the beat and singing along. Where energy is high and you can't help but grin from ear to ear. As the day goes on you'll be seeing some more links to what I think of as fun music, but I'm curious. What is your fun music? What do you listen to that never fails to bring a smile to your face?

I've spent the last half hour working through some of my web dailies and grooving along. I'm definitely starting to crave lunch now though after seeing so many delicious food posts.

Song of the Half Hour: Fly with Me - Jonas Brothers

An Evening with André Rieu

On Wednesday night I had the great pleasure to attend my second André Rieu concert. It was a night of beautiful music, fanciful gowns, and great fun. He and his orchestra have such fun with classical music (from across generations, from the music of Beethoven to the love theme from Titanic and everywhere in between) and that fun is infectious. By the end of the night we were all on our feet swaying and clapping to the music, some taking to the eisles to dance. It was magical and is certainly something I would love to experience again.

Being able to go was something of a miracle in the first place. After going to his holiday show in 2007 I've been keeping an eye on concert dates, but when this was announced I was unable to afford the ticket price. A little while later free passes were put up on a local radio station's webpage, but I didn't have the points. A few weeks later by a stroke of fate I happened back onto the page to find the tickets at a level I could afford. I snapped them up immediately, a good thing as they were soon gone from the page. The magic didn't end there either. The ticket was originally for up in the risers, towards the top. However, as the seats in the arena weren't filled an usher was handing some of us tickets to move closer. In the end I was able to sit only ten rows back from the stage. What an unforgettable experience.

For those unfamiliar with his work he tends to pop up on PBS if you're curious to see what a full concert is like. Here are a few clips off of youtube as well:







If you ever get the chance to see him live I would very much recommend the experience.