#1 - Respighi's "The Pines of Rome" and "The Fountains of Rome"

Conducted by Antal Dorati, recorded 1953. Music premiered in 1924.

Category: Classical - Tone Poem

This was the first record I pulled to test the stereo, and it's a great one! The Pines of Rome starts pretty light, and slowly builds to an epic crescendo and deep, thunderous bass. I don't love the beginning, but I sure do love the final section, "Pines of the Appian Way"; that final build is epic.

I have a soft spot for this piece because we played it in high school band. Or rather, we attempted, and had a lot of fun doing so. It's always grabbed my imagination, conjuring images of Roman legions marching through the hills in all of their grandeur. The music swells as Rome rises and conquers vast territories to become an empire.

As a history enthusiast, my view of Imperialism is much less romantic now than that of my teenage self, but the music still takes me there just the same.

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#32 Prokofieff, Strauss - Peter and the Wolf, Till Eulenspiegel's Merry Pranks

Camden, year unknown Genre: Classical Performed by the Boston Symphony conducted by Serge Koussevitzky, narrated by Richard Hale This lp is in terrible condition---even after cleaning, it's crackling and hiccoughing, even skipping. It's tough, because I LOVE this recording, but this one will have to be purged. Let it be known, however, that this lp has been loved. It was a formative education piece for me, teaching me both about music and about narrative. It also taught me that you should always watch you back in unfamiliar places, and not underestimate the unknowns in your surroundings. It also taught me that representing animals with instruments is hilarious. Dad listened to it when he was a kid, and played it for us when we were kids. Maybe I'll make some kind of art with this one.

#59 Geoff Berner - Victory Party

Mint Records, 2011 Canadiana Klezmer Punk I bought this record, along with Berner's book "Festival Man", when he played at the Company House (RIP) on Gottingen Street. That's another show/artist I was made aware of thanks to Peter, so thanks pal! This show was wicked awesome, and "Victory Party" is equally so. It's barely contained, but perfectly contained, klezmer infused chaos; each song a story that pulls your strings like a puppet. Geoff Berner is a Canadian gem. Oh, and Festival Man is a great read.

Shout Out to Jampy

I got this sweet record stand for Christmas from Stu. Created by Jampy (my excellent birthday twin) and featuring Dartmouth's own Three Sisters (Tuft's Cove smokestacks), it helps me display whatever wicked wax I'm spinning. Very cool.

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