Reverbiage: Stories from NPR tagged 'harmony'

Climate Changing Walden Pond's Flowers

Tue, 28 Oct 2008 09:32:00 EDT

Henry David Thoreau is perhaps best known for his book Walden, about living a simple life in harmony with nature. But Thoreau didn't just love nature — he studied it and kept meticulous notes. Now, scientists are using Thoreau's records to look at how the landscape has changed over the last 150 years.

Dissonance Is The New Harmony

Thu, 16 Oct 2008 12:42:00 EDT

Jangling collages of sound, atonal melodies and jumbled percussion, avant-garde music has gone through a lot of bizarre phases. And now "noise music" is picking up young fans through easy digital access. In the birthplace of R.E.M., members of the underground scene push the boundaries of sound.

The Rescues On Mountain Stage

Fri, 10 Oct 2008 15:51:00 EDT

In The Rescues, three singer-songwriters' voices converge in a wash of harmony that's most commonly compared to the vocal prowess of The Eagles and Fleetwood Mac. Here, they showcase their pop harmonies on Mountain Stage.

Cherryholmes: Sweet Family Harmony

Tue, 30 Sep 2008 14:04:00 EDT

For the Cherryholmes family, bluegrass is more than just a pastime that morphed into a career. It was cathartic for dealing with the death of their oldest child, Shelley. On the band's third CD, Don't Believe, the Cherryholmes still deal with the profound emotions triggered by that loss.

The Subdudes On Mountain Stage

Thu, 25 Sep 2008 11:33:00 EDT

Making its fifth appearance on Mountain Stage is the New Orleans band The Subdudes, playing music from 2007's Street Symphony. Founded in 1987, the band draws from Louisiana's melting pot to create a rootsy, harmony-soaked sound.

The High Kings: Irish Balladeers In Studio 4A

Sun, 14 Sep 2008 05:38:00 EDT

The all-male vocal quartet, which draws its name from the supreme rulers of yore, has been selling out Irish stadiums with harmony-drenched folk songs. Now on tour in North America, the group visits NPR for a studio performance and interview.

Puppini Sisters' Lament In Three-Part Harmony

Thu, 14 Aug 2008 11:02:00 EDT

The Puppini Sisters' shtick is to take the style of The Andrews Sisters and add postmodern zing. In the group's outstanding original tune "Jilted," the result sounds like a confessional column from a Swing Era edition of Cosmo.

In Concert, A Moment Of Sudanese Solidarity

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 14:28:00 EDT

At a time of outright genocide in Darfur, and civil unrest throughout the Sudan, an unprecedented gathering of musicians from across the war-torn country presented a contrasting picture — one of harmony and unity — at the Sudanese Festival of Music and Dance in Chicago.

The Birth of Bossa Nova

Mon, 02 Jun 2008 16:13:00 EDT

The summer of 1958 was the season of bossa nova. Fifty years ago, a movement of melody, harmony, lyrics, and rhythm sent a fresh wave of sound throughout Brazil. In the years to follow, a small group of idealistic musicians would write some of the most enduring melodies in music history.

The Licks: 'Salazar'

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 17:18:00 EDT

The Licks are a rock trio with unusually defined roles. Frontman Matt Berger says he provides the songs while Grace McLean sings harmony and Marian Kelly offers "thoughts." "I work with Marian, and we talk about music a lot" says Berger. "She doesn't play any instruments, or sing, but I thought we could operate like the postpunk group Scritti Politti, wherein I would write the music under her guidance (and excellent musical taste) and then record it."

China's Provinces Feel Crush of Tibet Crackdown

Fri, 28 Mar 2008 00:01:00 EDT

A lockdown following anti-government protests in Tibet spreads to China's provinces, where monks say they are confined to monasteries and forced to denounce the Dalai Lama. The unrest has undermined Beijing's ideal of ethnic harmony.

'Future Shock' Music Gets Brilliant and Bonkers

Mon, 01 Oct 2007 09:43:00 EDT

A Baltimore musician helping to revitalize and reinvent his city's music scene, Dan Deacon plays an all-out assault of Dadaist electronic cacophony and harmony, driven by steady pulses and looping beds of analog and early digital synthesizers.

Erroll Garner: 'The Joy of a Genius'

Wed, 19 Sep 2007 09:00:00 EDT

He is best remembered as the composer of the standard "Misty." But he also remains one of the greatest improvisers ever, a self-taught pianist whose unique approaches to melody, harmony and rhythm made him a star.

Case of 'Jena Six' Tears at Small Town's Harmony

Fri, 07 Sep 2007 12:11:00 EDT

The town of Jena, La., is coping with a case of racially motivated violence, even as court proceedings against those involved move forward. The case, centering on a tree at a high school campus that was a favorite meeting place for white students, has exposed racial tensions in the small town.

Chris and Thomas: Drenched in Harmony

Mon, 06 Aug 2007 19:01:00 EDT

The Los Angeles folk-pop duo Chris and Thomas just released Land of Sea, which showcases remarkable new songs, gorgeous harmonies (think Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young) and crisp production by renowned producer/engineer Mark Howard.

'Take These Thoughts,' Drenched in Harmony

Tue, 17 Jul 2007 10:03:00 EDT

From its name to its stripped-down acoustic Americana, the L.A.-based duo Chris & Thomas revels in straightforward simplicity. But make no mistake: There's nothing easy about writing songs as purely infectious as "Take These Thoughts."

Birth of a Phenomenon: 'Two Sevens Clash'

Thu, 12 Jul 2007 18:39:00 EDT

Culture was one of the seminal reggae harmony groups and the 1977 single, "Two Sevens Clash," was huge in Jamaica. The title refers to apocalyptic prophecies by Marcus Garvey. The song was so influential that on 7/7/77, the city of Kingston shut down. The full album was just reissued -- on 7/7/07.

Mother-Son Duo Makes Perfect Harmony

Sun, 13 May 2007 19:13:00 EDT

When jazz pianist Bill Charlap and his mother, singer Sandy Stewart, get together in a studio, their harmony is as easy as their affection for each other. The album of 11 jazz standards they recorded together documents their love for each other, and the American songbook.

Delayed but Not Denied, a Lost Soul Classic

Fri, 13 Apr 2007 17:11:00 EDT

In the mid-'60s, Bob & Gene began to record sweet, harmony-drenched soul tunes for a small New York label. However, despite amassing a dozen or so tracks by the early '70s, the duo's album never made it to market. Now, more than three decades later, it's finally been released.

The British Invasion Meets the Everlys' Elegance

Wed, 03 Jan 2007 16:13:00 EST

Nearly 10 years after The Everly Brothers' "Bye Bye Love" expanded the possibilities of harmony singing in rock 'n' roll, Don and Phil Everly were still plugging away, though with less commercial success. This spry 1966 collaboration with The Hollies finds the duo attempting a more assertive, "British" rock sound.

James McMurtry: Harmony and Empathy

Fri, 14 Jul 2006 15:36:00 EDT

The singer-songwriter has a repertoire that ranges from soft ballads to tough rock songs to political anthems. A remarkable, empathetic songwriter, McMurtry has released seven enormously acclaimed albums in his nearly 20-year career.

Interracial Choir Becomes Lifeline After Katrina

Sat, 04 Mar 2006 11:27:07 EST

Shades of Praise is an interracial gospel choir in New Orleans that has become locally famous as a symbol of racial harmony. The group was a common sight at stages and churches around town. Then came Hurricane Katrina, and suddenly this choir has found itself thrust into a new role.

Barbershop Chorus Masters of Harmony

Mon, 11 Jul 2005 00:00:00 EDT

The Masters of Harmony are a barbershop chorus (not a quartet) from southern California who hold six international singing titles.

The Rise and Fall of 'The Harmony Silk Factory'

Mon, 23 May 2005 00:00:00 EDT

The Rise and Fall of 'The Harmony Silk Factory' May 23, 2005 · Tash Aw's The Harmony Silk Factory chronicles the rise and fall of a Chinese businessman, told from the point of view of three narrators.

Early Music of the Church

Mon, 06 Dec 2004 00:00:00 EST

When European musical notation began in the 8th and 9th centuries, the Western world was already filled with music. Sacred chants and secular songs were rich with melody, rhythm and harmony. Richard Taruskin begins our chronicle with the early music of the church.