Friday, December 25, 2015

5 on Friday -- Set 297



Spinning Friday tunes since 2010...

Merry Christmas, Everyone!

I've been taking a once-a-month look at specific instruments and showcasing five songs or tunes which place that instrument front and center.

This year's feature has been Spotlight On...

...and for our twelfth and final installment for 2015's year-long project, let's swing with woodwinds. I'm concentrating for this set mainly on flute, but there are a few recorders in these tracks. Flutes bring us full circle back to the ancient world.    

We began the year listening to the primal body instruments of hand-clappingwhistling and vocal harmonies.

Moving on, we explored percussion with April's look at drums, May's look at the vibraphone or vibes, June's look at piano, and wrapping things up with cowbell in July.

In August I trained the spotlight on a favorite of mine, the bass guitar. In September we gave the stage over to that diva of instruments -- the lead guitar.

In October, I moved from stringed guitars to orchestral strings.

For November, I focused on horn arrangements.

December wraps up this year's musical project with the mellow tones of the flute and recorder. Flutes have been played on battlefields, they've been played by shepherds on hillsides, they've been part of an orchestra or played by peasants. They generally evoke a feeling of the Everyman, as well as reaching back through time to our earliest ancestors. Flutes and recorders give a dual sense of being rooted, as well as the floating sensation suggested by the wind descriptor of woodwind.

For all of you who have enjoyed this year's Spotlight On feature, I invite you to check back next week on New Year's Day for a brand new year-long project.

I've had such fun with the three I've done so far. I love taking up creative challenges like Blogging From A to Z in April, or the NaNoWriMo writing marathon in November. Deciding on a musical challenge for my 5 on Friday feature is a way to broaden my own musical horizons.

I embarked on my first 5 on Friday challenge in 2013 with the Birthday Boys/Birthday Girls project. I alternated male and female singers each month, beginning with January Birthday Boys, to see what sort of music they bring us.

In 2014, I ran The Hit Makers feature, where I looked at different styles of music each month, five of my favorite artists in that style and what songs launched their careers. That was an amazing project, beginning with the British Invasion set.

Where will 2016's musical journey take us? Drop by on January 1st to find out.

Let's finish up 2015 with a Spotlight On flute.    



1 - Coming Home Baby - Herbie Mann - 1961







2 - The Hustle - Van McCoy -1975







3 - Fernando - ABBA - 1976







4 - Colour My World - Chicago - 1971






5 - Stairway to Heaven - Led Zeppelin - 1972




If you'd like to join in, simply choose five pieces of music and post them for other bloggers to enjoy. Then check out the set posted by the other 5 on Friday blogger -- you can sign in over at Golch Central's Rambling Stuff.

Friday, December 11, 2015

5 on Friday -- Set 296




Spinning Friday tunes since 2010...

For anyone who wants to join in, simply choose five pieces of music and post them for other bloggers to enjoy. Then check out the set posted by the other 5 on Friday blogger -- you can sign in over at Golch Central's Rambling Stuff.

As we head for my 300th set, coming up in four weeks, Christmas is coming up soon. I've always agreed with Andy Williams that it's the most wonderful time of the year.

Here's a Christmas set to listen to while you're wrapping presents, decorating or baking treats.



1Christmas All Over Again - Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers






2It Must Have Been Ol' Santa Claus - Harry Connick Jr









3Early on One Christmas Morn - Bruce Cockburn








4 - Wonderful Christmastime - Paul McCartney and Wings








5Christmas Memories - John McDermott



Friday, December 4, 2015

5 on Friday -- Set 295




Spinning Friday tunes since 2010...

For anyone who wants to join in, simply choose five pieces of music and post them for other bloggers to enjoy. Then check out the set posted by the other 5 on Friday blogger -- you can sign in over at Golch Central's Rambling Stuff.

As we head for my 300th set, coming up in five weeks, let's look back on some of the sets that have led to this milestone.

Normally, the first set of the month is given over to the year's musical project, which for 2015 has been Spotlight On. However, traditionally I also love to fill my December sets with Christmas music, so I end up delaying the final installment to the week between Christmas and New Year's.

Being a Christmas maniac from way back, I've been filling my Decembers at A Piece of My Mind with music since this blog began in 2007.





For my look back as we approach the next milestone set, with a lively set of traditional Christmas tunes, here is: