WELCOME TO BATTLE OF THE BANDS!! (aka, "BOTB")
I would like to thank our MUSIC event hosts ~
Stephen T. McCarthy
How we Battle:
We feature two different recordings of the same song. Listen to both, and then vote for the song version you like the best. Feel free to leave me a comment, along with your vote.
Our battles take place twice a month ~ on the 1st and 15th. The results come six days later ~ on the 7th and 21st. That's when I return, add all of the votes, including mine, and announce the winner. Feel free to return and see if your choice won!
If you would like to listen, and vote in other battles, please see the participant list in the right hand margin. If you would like to join this bi-monthly blog-event, visit the blog host, Stephen T. McCarthy. Leave him a message, and your blog address. We would love to have you participate.
It's December, and the Battle of the Bands participants will present 'themed' music for our enjoyment. This first contest, I chose to present a secular song. One of my favorites since early childhood. A favorite ballet that is considered a part of this season. I love to watch the elementary age perform it; they are so cute. One of them might get tired in the middle of the song to rest. No problem - everyone else takes their rest when they're ready, (smile). This ballet is the much loved, "The Nutcracker." (You knew, right?) The photo of the plate (above) is one from my collection. (Firing date: 10-13-81). Today I bring you the 'glassic' interpretation of a classic.
The featured song for today is: "Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy," from "The Nutcracker," written by Russian composer, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky in 1862.
Background of the challengers:
1- GlassDuo was founded by Anna and Arkadiusz Szafraniec. They are the only glass harp music group in Poland, one of few professional ensembles worldwide. They perform both solo concerts and concerts with additional musicians.
2- William Zeitler was one of the few professional players in the world on the ‘glass armonica’ — an instrument invented by Benjamin Franklin in 1761 (it works on the ‘wet finger around the wine glass’ idea). William has performed on the glass armonica internationally, including at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, and with the Blue Man Group at the Hollywood Bowl. He is accompanied by a harp and a bass clarinet. (I'll post a clip about Ben Franklin on the battle result page.)
Ready, set, go. Vote for the one you like, and let me hear from ya!
