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KlezMormons bring Yiddish music to campus

By Paige Guthrie

- Tue, 03/09/2010 - 20:09
Photo courtesy of Brian Watson. The KlezMormons pose after a recent performance in Pocatello, Idaho. The group performs tonight.

Have a craving for some Yiddish music? Look no further than The KlezMormons, a unique band that plays klezmer music, a genre primarily found within the Jewish culture.

The group began about three years ago as part of BYU’s Folk Ensemble. Group members play clarinet, accordion, mandolin, guitar, bass, flute, violin and percussion.

What is klezmer music?

“Klezmer music in one sentence: Easter European Jewish music,” said group director Brian Watson. “It has its own feel; it’s dance music. It’s not music you hear on the radio today.”
Think “Fiddler on the Roof,” he said.

“You can’t listen to klezmer music and not tap your foot,” Watson said.

Drummer Aaron Stewart is on his third semester playing with the group.

“The music is just so different than wh

Sequel to 'Phantom of the Opera' opens in London

By Associated Press

- Tue, 03/09/2010 - 19:50
AP Photo. The Phantom, played by Ramin Karimloo, right, performs a scene with Christine, played by Sierra Boggess.

Will the magic of the Phantom strike twice for Andrew Lloyd Webber?

The professional critics' reviews haven't yet come in, but audiences at Tuesday's world premiere in London of "Love Never Dies" _ the sequel to Lloyd Webber's global hit "Phantom of the Opera" _ gave the show a standing ovation.

The star-studded audience, including actors Michael Caine, Rowan Atkinson and musical singer Elaine Paige, rose to their feet and cheered as the show ended, while Lloyd Webber bowed and blew a kiss to the audience.

"Phantom" is a tale of gothic romance set in the Paris Opera that has been seen by 100 million people around the world since it opened in 1986. It is still playing in London and New York, where it is the longest running show in Broadway history.

Students play piano from the inside out

By Paige Guthrie

- Mon, 03/08/2010 - 21:36
Photo by Paige Guthrie. Students play the piano with supplemental pieces made from things like fishing wire and eraser heads.

People walk past the south foyer of the de Jong concert hall in awe. A group of students stand over a lidless piano; it looks like they are taking the instrument apart.

“What is this?” an onlooker asks.

The pianists respond enthusiastically: “Bowed piano!”

Students of Scott Holden, department chair of piano and organ studies, embarked on a challenge a few weeks ago to create and play a bowed piano, which is a piano played from the inside.

Two students play the traditional way — the black and white keys — while others use fishing wire bows, mallets or tongue depressors to play the strings.

“I teach a contemporary music class for piano,” Holden said. “We talk about bowed piano, and the students are always so mesmerized, and I thought, ‘Why don’t we do it?’”

What we're listening to: The “Valentine’s Day” film soundtrack

Mon, 03/08/2010 - 20:44

By CHARLOTTE LARCABAL

Thanks to the “Valentine’s Day” film soundtrack, spring has come early this year.

While critics say you should probably skip the film itself, the soundtrack is an 18-track cheery, love-happy must-have for students looking for some audible sunshine.

Like the movie, the soundtrack features a wide variety of big names, but for the soundtrack, the star-heavy approach actually works.

Released on Feb. 9, the album is perhaps a little heavy on contemporary country singers, featuring “Today Was a Fairytale” and “Jump Then Fall” by Taylor Swift and “Stay Here Forever” by Jewel and “Keep On Lovin’ You” by Steel Magnolia. When combined with Michael Frenti’s gotta-groove reggae “Say Hey (I Love You)” and Diane Birch’s soul/pop piece “Valentino,” the overall effect is charming.

A touch of Burton

By Chase Larson

- Thu, 03/04/2010 - 21:49

It’s time again to take a trip down the rabbit hole to visit with a tardy hare, an eccentric man in a top hat and a well-known grinning feline.

Originally published more than a century ago, the latest adaptation of Lewis Carroll’s “Alice’s Adventures In Wonderland” is again hitting the big screen today, bringing back the charismatic characters many have come to recognize. With Tim Burton at the helm, the new 3D Disney film promises to be unique.

According to the movie’s official Web site, a 19-year-old Alice returns to the world she first encountered as a young girl. Reuniting with familiar faces such as the Cheshire Cat and the Mad Hatter, Alice sets out to end the Red Queen’s reign of terror.

Children create, display ‘expressions in oil’

Thu, 03/04/2010 - 21:06
Photo courtesy of the Covey Center for the Arts. “Madelyn” is by Madelyn Black, an 8-year-old student in second grade.

 By Courtney Henderson and Kofi Friar

Students at Reagan Academy have made their mark in the expressionism world after learning a line isn’t just a line — boring and black.

The Covey Center for the Arts, located at 425 W. Center Street in Provo, is showcasing artwork created by the students from Reagan Academy, a charter school in Springville, for their March exhibit.

The exhibit’s opening reception is associated with Provo’s Gallery Stroll a monthly event in downtown Provo where artwork can be viewed and music can be heard after normal business hours at no cost.

“Expressions in Oil: A Reagan Academy Student Art Exhibit” will be on display at the Covey Center for the Arts today through March 29 and can be viewed Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

BYU’s band, Synthesis, jazzing things up

By Michelle Bisson

- Thu, 03/04/2010 - 20:37
Photo by Christine Armbruster. Synthesis has accompanied BYU’s Men’s Chorus in the past and will perform two this weekend.

If they had iPods back in the ’30s and ’40s, they would have been loaded with jazz songs by Glenn Miller and Count Basie, songs that BYU’s jazz band, Synthesis, will be playing this weekend. Jazz was their rock n’ roll, said Charlie Carr, a member of Synthesis.

Synthesis is going to jump ’n jive like the old days as they play classic big band songs in BYU Jazz Festival’s crowning concert tonight and on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. in the de Jong Concert Hall.

“It’s going to be an awesome two concerts,” Carr said. “What really separates us is that … we play great music and that we have a lot of fun doing it.”

Eight minus one still equals Octappella

By Ashley Sulzen

- Thu, 03/04/2010 - 20:18
Photo courtesy of Octapella.

A group of eight men — including a recording engineer, a professional tennis player and an LDS seminary teacher — came together 10 years ago to create Octappella, an a cappella singing group. Now with only seven members, they continue to perform songs and instrumental noises with only their voices.

Octappella will perform tonight at 7 at the SCERA Center for the Arts — a nonprofit organization that has been doing plays, musicals, concerts, movies and special events for 76 years — located at 745 S. State Street in Orem.

“We’ve got the vocal percussion and the instruments and everything but it’s all done with the human voice,” said Matt Cropper, director and performer of Octappella. “A lot of times people call it more of a vocal band.”

Orem film school set to open

By Kofi Friar

- Wed, 03/03/2010 - 20:23
Photo by Kofi Friar. Danny James and Liv Frye are the co-founders of Muse Studios, a film school in Orem set to open next week.

Starting anything in the current economic state can be a struggle. But a film school in Orem?  That may be border-line insanity. But don’t tell that to Liv Frye. It’s that exact kind of opposition that is turning her dream into a strong reality.

Muse Studios will hold its grand opening on March 10. Located at 560 S. State Street in Orem, it is the only film school of its kind in Utah Valley.

Frye decided to open Muse Studios in response to schools getting rid of art programs.

“We need to keep art alive,” Frye said. “We would love to have BYU students come in and show their talents. There is a lot of talent in Utah County.”

Hulu's free days could be ending

By Associated Press

- Wed, 03/03/2010 - 20:10
AP Photo. In this Nov. 11, 2009 screen grab, the home page of Hulu.com is shown. Hulu's free days could be ending.

Hulu's days as a free online video site could be ending soon.

Comedy Central's decision to yank two of the most popular shows on Hulu — "The Daily Show" and "The Colbert Report" — in a dispute over splitting ad revenue is the latest blow to the entertainment industry's attempts to make money off ads that run with free video.

Yet Hulu's most viable alternative — charging for access to some videos — could turn off viewers and crimp the site's explosive growth. Ultimately, the remedy to Hulu's current troubles could leave the site even worse off, a poor shadow of its former self.

Many viewers are drawn to Hulu because of its ease of use, not because they couldn't get much of the same content elsewhere. Hulu's videos simply aren't exclusive enough — compared with, say, Time Warner Inc.'s premium HBO cable channel.

Film documents singer's tour

By Everett Shell

- Wed, 03/03/2010 - 16:35

Celine Dion’s voice is recognized in many parts of the world where she is considered an icon. Stephane Laporte, director of “Celine: Through the Eyes of the World,” documented Dion’s journey on tour.

This film shows not only her many performances to various areas around the world, but goes behind the scenes of what is happening during her costume changes and rehearsals. It shows a side of Dion that most people wouldn’t know, with exclusive behind the scenes footage, and the companionship of her husband, son and mother during her tour. Dion also gets involved with charity events through visiting the poor and sick.

Some fans, however, weren’t too sure what to anticipate of Dion’s new movie.

Take 5 with QMG

By Ashley Sulzen

- Wed, 03/03/2010 - 09:30
Photo by Taylor Cameron.

What bands have influenced yours? Who do you sound like?
“We like to think we have a unique sound that draws from elements of many styles of music and many influences. The electronic and synth side of the band is similar to Matt & Kim, The Faint and Chromeo, but the guitar follows various Latin and American jazz styles, as well as Bloc Party and Vampire weekend-style riffs,” said QMG guitarist Jordan Cameron.

Do you ever incorporate other sounds into your songs?
“From time to time, I use a digital drum kit that allows us to incorporate a number of digital and electronic sounds,” said QMG drummer Jay Deher.

How would you describe your band’s style?

BYU Jazz Voices set to share at music festival

By Michelle Bisson

- Tue, 03/02/2010 - 21:48
Photo by Adam Grimshaw. Members of Jazz Voices rehearse “Honeysuckle Rose” on Monday.

Music tells a story straight from the musician’s heart, and tonight audience members can expect emotional and unpredictable tales articulated by tantalizing voices as each note flows from the 16 hearts belonging to members of Jazz Voices. 

Tonight’s concert is part of BYU’s “Jazz Festival” going on this week. Jazz Voices will perform at 7:30 p.m. in the Madsen Recital Hall of the Harris Fine Arts Center.

Jazz Voices is known far and wide for its air-tight harmonies, rhythmic accuracy and improvisation.

The concert will feature all of these elements a cappella as well as accompaniments on piano, guitar, bass and drum.

“Often we imitate instrumental jazz and manipulate our voices to sound like the instruments,” said Kimberly Knighton, a senior in the choir, from Woodbridge, Va.

Musicians’ success product of networking sites

By Jordan Carroll

- Tue, 03/02/2010 - 20:42
Photo courtesy of Bryan Grover. Members of the band Thirty100 enjoy a party after one of their performances.

Just three months ago, Thirty100, a hip hop group of BYU freshmen living on the 3100 floor of Merrill Hall, posted their own music video to YouTube. Their video, the “Miley Cyrus Virus Rap” racked up over 155,000 views in three months. According to the group, Miley Cyrus was one of those views.

But the “Miley Cyrus Virus Rap” isn’t even their most popular music video. Thirty100’s first music video, “Farmville Rap,” amassed more than 171,000 views since September. For a Provo-based group, these numbers aren’t bad. Actually, they are impressive.

The transition into the music world for new talent is changing with YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Ustream and other social networking sites. These sites have the ability to be the driving force in discovery and popularity for upcoming bands and singers.

Event ratings soar, and social media takes credit

By Associated Press

- Mon, 03/01/2010 - 21:50

NEW YORK — During January's Grammy telecast, hip-hop drummer Questlove tweeted that "watching twitter tweets are better than watching the actual event."

As someone who has won a Grammy with the Roots, attended the ceremony and performed on the show, he should know. And, of course, Questlove, who is an avid tweeter, was doing both: simultaneously watching the show and reading real-time commentary from friends and other connections.

During a big televised event such as the Grammys, it's nearly impossible to be on Twitter or Facebook and not be aware that the event is happening. At the water cooler that is social networks, big shows like the Grammys and Oscars can dominate the conversation and galvanize an audience.