Mozart and playing OGG files

I was just looking at the selection of Mozart media files and noticed that my web browser didn't want to run the java player.

As luck would have it, the selections are also available as downloadable OGG audio files, but neither iTunes nor Windows Media Player will play them.

If your player doesn't like OGG files, there's an easy fix. Download and install the VLC Media Player. It's available for Windows, Mac and Linux, and it will play OGGs. VLC also comes with the Portable Apps suite, if you want to go that route and install it on a thumb drive. Very cool.

Tempo and dynamics terms

As usual, Wikipedia is a fantastic source for musical terms, this time tempo and dynamics. There are even more than those listed in the book, so don't be overwhelmed. The first article has a link to a cool tempo chart at Virginia Tech.

Preserving voices of world's finest violins

There is an excellent article in the Seattle Times about an Eastside instrument collector. He has some very rare and historic violins in his collection. Make sure you also look at the "Related" links.

I also strongly recommend watching The Red Violin. This film follows a fabled fictional violin over its 300 year life. It is available from the King County Library.

Beethoven & Wagner

Wikipedia has a great selection of Beethoven media.

Since the book doesn't have a listening guide on Wagner's Lohengrin, I used this article.

Vivaldi

In additional the the Wikipedia article on Antonio Vivaldi, there is a great Creative Commons MP3 selection at http://www.valeriodistefano.com/quattrostagioni.htm. I enjoyed the alternate performance, very different than on our class CDs.

The Wikipedia article also has OGG files of his Four Seasons, and you can play them with an in browser java applet. Cool.

Online resources for Music 108

I thought it would be cool to share online resources I discover for MUS108. So, here they are.

Enjoy,
Dave