Erich Kunzel – 1935-2009

Erich Kunzel, the award-winning conductor who headed the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra since it was founded three decades ago, died Tuesday at the age of 74.  His distinguished career is personified by his 2006 National Medal of Arts, presented by President and Mrs. Bush in a ceremony in the Oval Office at The White House.  He had led the National Symphony on the Capitol lawn in nationally televised Memorial Day and Independence Day concerts since 1991, most recently this year in a July 4th concert featuring Aretha Franklin.

Born in New York City to German-American immigrant parents, Kunzel was educated at Dartmouth, Harvard and Brown universities, and he studied with the great French conductor Pierre Monteux.  He began his conducting career with the Santa Fe Opera Company, followed by the Rhode Island Philharmonic and the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra before his appointment to the newly-formed Cincinnati Pops Orchestra in 1977.

Kunzel is possibly best-known for his award-winning recordings.  Beginning in 1977, he recorded over 85 albums on the Telarc label with the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra.  More than 55 of these albums have appeared on the Top 10 Billboard Charts.  Several Grammy Awards, the distinguished Grand Prix du Disque, and the Sony Tiffany Walkman Award for “visionary recording activities” highlight his fantastic recording career of over 125 albums.  In May 2009 he was inducted into the American Classical Music Hall of Fame.

His career-long support for music education was unwavering.  As Chairman of the Greater Cincinnati Arts and Education Center, he helped the organization to build a new School for the Creative and Performing Arts adjacent to Music Hall, home of the Cincinnati Symphony and Pops Orchestras, which will be complete in 2010.

Stanton’s Sheet Music is proud to call Ohio our home, and we salute Erich Kunzel for his inspiring musical career and the way he brought Ohio musicians to the world stage.

Pink Floyd: The Wall

On July 21^st 1990, Pink Floyd resurrected their highly successful Wall Tour of the 1980’s and staged a spectacular show on the ruins of the Berlin Wall.  The tenured rock group performed for an estimated 400,000 people.  Also, the show was broadcast in 35 countries where an additional 500 million people were estimated to have watched the groundbreaking event. 

 

Pink Floyd is a British progressive rock band who began their career in 1965.  The albums “Dark Side of the Moon” and “The Wall” have remained among the most highly praised and top selling presses of all time by critics and fans alike.

Here at Stanton’s Sheet Music, you are able to purchase much of the explosive and innovative music that this astounding band has given to the world of music.  Guitar Tab and Piano/vocal editions of “Dark Side of the Moon” are available for order, as are several other sheet music editions of Pink Floyd’s music.  The Pink Floyd Anthology includes some of the greatest songs written over the long and prosperous career of perhaps one of the greatest musical ensembles of the 20^th century.

For more information about music from Pink Floyd or any other items, please contact Stanton’s Sheet Music at 1-800-42-MUSIC.

Columbus Jazz and Rib Fest

The annual Columbus Jazz and Rib Fest is just around the corner and promises to be as exciting as ever! Taking place for the second year in the Arena District, it will feature national and local talent alike. It runs for 3 days from July 24 – July 26. The schedule can be found at the website for the Jazz & Rib Fest.

While you’re in town, stop in and cool off at Stanton’s Sheet Music. You’ll find all of the latest jazz artist transcription folios as well as big band music and Jamey Aebersold Play Alongs.

Have a great summer!

The Musical Legacy of Michael Jackson

The music industry lost a giant last Thursday with the death of Michael Jackson, “The King of Pop.”  His unexpected passing came as a shock to his fans across the globe.  From his early years as part of the Jackson 5 to his domination of the music scene as a solo artist in the 1980’s, his imprint on the world of popular music is unparalleled.  Throughout his solo career, Jackson’s versatility allowed him to experiment with various themes and musical genres, including Motown, rock, funk, techno, and (of course) pop.  His influence on the development of the music video is also remarkable, turning it into not only a promotional tool for musicians but also an art form and means of artistic expression.  One of his most significant contributions is his unique blend of music and dance – his songs may have climbed the charts, but his dancing is what made him a superstar.  The Moonwalk completely rewrote the book on dance in pop music, and the choreography from his “Thriller” video is iconic. 

Early in his solo career, Jackson battled to receive coverage on MTV because he was African-American.  His victory in this struggle led to a lengthy partnership with the network, while simultaneously paving the way for other black artists to gain recognition.  Released in 1982, Thriller is the best-selling album of all time.  Seven of the album’s nine songs placed in the Billboard Top 10, including the huge hit songs “Billie Jean,” “Beat It,” and “Thriller.”  One of the few artists to have been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice (first in 1997 as a member of the Jackson 5, and again in 2001 as a solo artist), other career achievements include 13 Grammy Awards, 13 number one singles, and the sale of a staggering 750 million records worldwide. 

If you want to pay musical tribute to Michael, check out some of these arrangements:

The vocal folio from the blockbuster album Thriller contains the lyrics along with piano and chord arrangements for all of the songs on the record. 

Your marching band can honor the Jackson 5 with arrangements of I Want You Back, A B C and I’ll Be There.  Remembering Michael as a young boy will remind your audience of their own carefree youth.

MJ’s Man in the Mirror is a great feature for choral groups.  With its uplifting and hopeful lyrics, it’s perfect for encouraging young singers to contribute to the world around them. 

Jackson is mourned by fans worldwide, and will always be remembered for his passionate contributions to the world of music.  If we take nothing else from Jackson’s influential, high-profile and often controversial life, it should be this: “If you wanna make the world a better place, take a look at yourself, then make a change…”