Results: Tchaikowsky's "Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy"

Heads up!! The Banner painting (above), was done by me! Maybe I should call it, 'The Sugar Plum Forest'?

I am dcrelief, and my battle featured  Tchaikowsky's "Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy." Any hesitation to go this battle route was quickly erased. Thank you for the many joyful compliments.

Husband and wife team,  Glass Duo, challenged William Zeitler. Their using individual glasses, was pitted against Benjamin Franklin's invention, called the Armonica. 

I have a short clip with Mr. Zeitler explaining this unique instrument. To me it's like playing a glass piano (hmm). Benjamin Franklin's Armonica

This battle might be called a 'blowout' - definitions escape me!

My vote was cast for Glass Duo, for the same reason, so many of you enjoyed them. They work beautifully together, like 'poetry in motion.'

RESULTS: Glass Duo - 15 votes/ William Zeitler - 6 votes

As always - thank you for your participation! Let's not forget... 

A very special thank you to our event hosts:

"FAE"

Stephen T. McCarthy

Your interest in joining this blogging event would be most welcomed. Please go to Stephen T. McCarthy's blog, leave your name and blog link in the comment box!

NEXT BATTLE DATE: Tuesday, December 15th.

I'm playing the winner's version again... and offer another song by them, that surprised me. If you have time, have a listen to both. See you next time. ~ Dixie

Dec. 01, 2015 BOTB ~ Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy

WELCOME TO BATTLE OF THE BANDS!! (aka, "BOTB")

I would like to thank our MUSIC event hosts ~ 

FAE

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!

Sweet Potato Pie

Today's song feature:

Sweet Potato Pie

Ray Charles & James Taylor

November Sky

No battle today! However I found a photo and a song, both titled, "November Sky". It's quite possibly my favorite month. Having just celebrated a birthday, and Thanksgiving a day or so away; it doesn't take much to excite me, (smile). Every seven years my birthday falls on Thanksgiving - that's always a real treat. I get to play, "Big Bird." Ha!

One of my favorite instrumental artists, Yanni, hails from Greece. I've never seen him perform live but it ain't over until the big bird says it is. Enjoy!

To those who celebrate, please have a safe and happy Thanksgiving. See you on December 1st.

Nov. 15th Battle Results

Welcome back to the results post. I featured the Diane Warren song, "Because You Loved Me," originally recorded by Celine Dion in 1996. Her challenger was Johnny Mathis, who recorded the song in 2004.

A couple of times I thought they might tie, but in the end... the majority went with Celine. It's okay. I like her version, but Johnny's did exactly what I wanted. I voted for him, (smile). Thank you for your participation!


Final tally: Celine Dion ~13 votes
Johnny Mathis ~ 10 votes

Now I'm going to ease into my easy chair with a good book. Oops, first I'll thank our event hosts:
FAE @ Far Away Eyes

Stephen T. McCarthy presents Battle of the Bands


Your interest in joining this blogging event would be most welcomed. Please go to Stephen T. McCarthy's blog, leave your name and blog link in the comment box!

Next battle date: Monday, December 1, 2015

Nov. 15th ~ Because You Loved me

WELCOME TO BATTLE OF THE BANDS!! aka, "BOTB".

A big shout out, and thank you to our blog hosts:

Fae

Stephen T. McCarthy

Here's our game plan:

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.

# 1- Celine Dion ~ wiki note:

"Because You Loved Me" is a song recorded by Canadian singer Celine Dion for her fourth English-language studio album, Falling into You (1996). It was released on 20 February 1996, as the first single in North America, South America and Asia. It was released as the second single from the album in Australia, on 29 April 1996, and in May 1996 in Europe. "Because You Loved Me" was written by Diane Warren and produced by David Foster, and served as the theme song from the 1996 film Up Close & Personal, starring Robert Redford and Michelle Pfeiffer.

My note: 

My Mom passed away about a year after this song came out. I decided it was the most descriptive instrument that fit our relationship perfectly. I felt that song on so many levels. And what a voice to perform it. Though I love to hear Celine sing, I dislike watching her perform. Who knows why? I'm sure many are familar with Celine's version. She is the original, but I believe Johnny might take some votes here. Have fun!

# 2 - Johnny Mathis ~ wiki note: 

In 2004, Mathis did an album of Dianne Warren songs. This one was included. 

My note: 

This version didn't have what I term, 'the heat,' but I really liked it. Also I had changed ~ the grief I felt for my Mom had been reduced, and my sight was on higher ground. Suddenly, "I was everything I am because the Creator loved me..."

Most importantly, thank you to all, for the prayers, comments, phone calls, text messages, regarding my health. It's slow going but at least it's better daily (smile).

Celine is up first with the lyrics:

Oct 21st. Results? No more battles like this!

I don't know what I was thinking when I posted this battle - in fact I might have been asleep. Yeah, that sounds good.  At least, go back to using two versions of the same song ('nuff said)  

I voted for 'Be Prepared' because I really preferred the music. I was also in the great minority as well. Here are the voting results:


Oogie Boogie - 13 votes
Be Prepared - 5 votes

Hopefully, November will hold a promise of excitement on here (smile). 

A special thank you to everyone for your comments and votes!

I'll play the winner again - take it away, Oogie!