*Live* - NML iPhone App - Version 2.0

I'm such a geek for updates. Really. I am guilty of hitting that "Refresh" button on just about every page, hoping for something new. The good news, is that we actually have a VERY cool update to share with everyone!

The NML iPhone App has been so well received (and we THANK YOU!!!), that we couldn't just stop there. There was so much more that could be done! Well, see below for some great screenshots of the new NML iPhone App 2.0.

** Version 2.0 is now Live! Visit the App Store, or click the link below to update your version!**

That shouldn't stop us from updating you though? Right? :) If you don't have the current NML iPhone app, click the link below to download it now!

Download the current NML iPhone App!

Version 2.0 of the app will still allow you to view your custom, individual playlists, as well as the professor/administrator created ones. Those menu's received a slight "Texture" update. I'm a fan of the new buttons!


Not sure about what to listen to? Soon , there will be some "Naxos" created playlists too! These will also start to appear on the "Web-Based" NML pages too, so keep your eyes peeled!

Who knows, we may even hold contests for our readers to submit playlists! Thinks like composer or period specific playlists are always great!

If you're following us on Twitter or Facebook, you may have seen my love for Steve Reich. Ever since my Musicology research paper in college, I've had a soft spot in my musical heart for his music. Hence my 4 differnet Steve Reich compilation playlists.

The same goes for my hopeful inclusion of a "Marimba" playlist. (being a percussionist)

Quick! How many drummers does it take to screw in a lightbulb?
Answer: Five. One to screw the bulb in, and four to talk about how much better Neil Peart could have done it.

Har Har Har - now back to the Updates!

Thanks to DrumJokes.com for the Friday Funny.
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The next "button" on our stop, is the Catalog button. This menu brings up a simple search bar. Essentially, it performs a keyword search within the Naxos Music Library and displays the results on your iPhone/iPod Touch!

Searching for "Brahms" brings up this window ----------------->

The next window brings up a track listing, as well as the album description. See below for another side-by-side set of screenshots.

<------- This appears at the Top of an Album Page

This appears at the bottom of a Album's Page -------->
(simply scroll down to the bottom of the track listing)






The player window remains unchanged, except for the fact that you can now hit the "Back" button, navigate to a new piece, scroll, browse..etc... all while the music plays!
If you couldn't tell, we're really excited about this new version! If you have any questions, need help creating playlists, or simply want to chat, feel free to call or write anytime!

Happy Updates!
Nick

Nick D'Angiolillo
615.465.3836
Nick@NaxosUSA.com

Naxos Music Library
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I’ve found myself listening to a lot of Hugo Alfven and Hakon Borresen this week. Their symphonies captivated me, thanks to #symphonyaday on Twitter, and I quickly looked for as many recordings of their respective works as I could find. When I noticed the two men were born within a few years of one another, I decided to find music by a few of their contemporaries as well. This week’s pieces were all composed by men born in the 1870s. Enjoy!


1. Hugo Alfven (1872-1960) –“Dalarapsodi” (Dalecarlian Rhapsody), Op. 47, “Swedish Rhapsody No. 3” (8.553729) This beautiful programmatic piece depicts a young sheppard girl’s dream. Alfven wrote, "I imagine a shepherd-girl sitting on the grass at her mountain farm in the quiet and deserted woodlands, blowing her horn. I want to depict her dreams, her longing. In the distance she hears a bridal procession pass by and in her dreams she is once more among her friends down in the village. She remembers merry dances in the evenings and church on Sundays and the exalted solemn hymns. She shivers as she remembers the night when a strange man appeared among them, seized a fiddle and played wild and strange tunes that made the people go mad. It was the Devil himself. The shepherd-girl starts up with a cry of fear, then she wakes from her horrible dream and looks around in confusion. Quietly she takes up her horn again. I hear the same melody as in the beginning. And the woods answer her, sighing deeply."
2. Guillaume Lekeu (1870-1894) –Violin Sonata in G major (AR-0012-2)
3. Hakon Borresen (1876-1954) –Symphony No. 1 in c minor (8.554950)
4. Ludolf Nielson (1876-1939) –Babelstarnet (The Tower of Bable), Op. 35 and Skovvandring (Forest Walk), Op. 40 (8.224157
5. Hugo Alfven –Vaggvisa (Lullaby) (BIS-CD-633)
6. Paul Jeanjean (1875-1929) –Prelude et Scherzo (MM1024) Piece for bassoon and piano; short and sweet with a fun, bouncy scherzo
7. Henri Zagwijn (1878-1954) –“Zeergedragen” (CC72166) This little-known Dutch composer was entirely self-taught with a small body of work. This is the only piece we have in the NML, and it’s a great piece for solo harmonium.
8. Hakon Borresen –Violin Concerto in G Major, Op. 11 (DACOCD465-466)
9. Roger Quitter (1877-1953) –Country Pieces (8.223444) Great English composer—His pieces are childlike, light and just plain fun.
10. Henry Hadley (1871-1937) –Piano Trio No. 2, Op. 132 (TROY305)

Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA) Recap!

Hi Friends,

We at Naxos wanted to give a big shout-out to all of our friends from TMEA! Nick and Randall attended the show, and had a wonderful time. It was great to see so many friendly faces! We thought it would be an awesome idea to take some pictures of the various booths - sort of a photo journal of our trip!

Enjoy!


University of Miami (Go Canes!)



Arizona State University!



Butler University


BYU - An Aloha to the BYU folks in Hawaii too!


Kansas State University


Oklahoma State University


Southeastern Oklahoma State University


Southwestern College, Kansas


University of Oklahoma


VanderCook College of Music


Vanderbilt University (Right in our own backyard!)


A very special Thank You, and we're glad you're enjoying the NML!

Questions? Comments? Feel free to call or write anytime!

Nick D'Angiolillo
615.465.3836
Nick@NaxosUSA.com

www.NaxosMusicLibrary.com

www.NaxosVideoLibrary.com

Check it out!

Week of February 8th-12th

I discovered several of this week’s pieces because of my New Year’s resolution, which is to read all my books that have until now just occupied space on my bookshelf. It’s proving to be a fun challenge! I’ve always enjoyed reading and seem to acquire books faster than I read them. Anywho, just for kicks I performed keyword searches for a few random authors, characters, themes, etc and was pleasantly surprised with what I found. The rest are random pieces or recordings that were new to me. Hope you enjoy!

1. Lord Berners (Gerald Hugh Tyrwhitt-Wilson) –Cupid and Psyche Suite (8.223780) I am currently reading C.S. Lewis’ Till We Have Faces, which is a retelling of the Cupid-Psyche myth. I think I enjoyed this ballet suite more than the book.

2. Joseph Holbrook –The Children of Don, Op. 56 (8.223721)

3. Various –Flute a l’Opera (ACD22186) I thought these arrangements were a lot of fun! This might only appeal to flute-enthusiasts.

4. Deon Nielson Price –To the Children of War (CAMCD-1056) Lyricist: Maya Angelou

5. Joaquin Nin –Piano Music (NI5851) Joaquin Nin was the father of Anaïs Nin. Her Henry and June was a recent read that prompted a bit of biographical research. When I learned that her father was a composer, I immediately looked to see if any of his works were in the NML. Sure enough, they were. I enjoyed the piano music best, especially track 3 “cadenza de valses.”

6. Daniel Gregory Mason –Prelude and Fugue for Piano and Orchestra, Op. 20 (3037100282)

7. Cesar Frank –Psyche, M. 47 (PH08040)

8. Giacomo Puccini –Capriccio Sinfonico (HCD31399)

9. Avner Dorman –Piccolo Concerto (8.559620) This is a relatively new release, but it deserves recognition. It’s a phenomenal recording.

10. Luigi Nono –“3 epifaffi per Federico Garcia Lorca” (0021412BC) This piece interested me because it was one of the pieces Nono composed for Nuria Schoenberg before their wedding and sounds more like the work of Schoenberg than Webern, Berg or Eisler.

Naxos Spoken Word Library Writeup

Hello Friends,

Our colleague across the pond Nicolas Soams has written a fabulous article about the Naxos Spoken Word Library!

Nicolas works with our wonderful collection of Naxos Audio Books - and has some great things to say about all of the new changes and features of the NSWL.

The bookmarking ability is especially exciting! Head on over to the NAB Blog, and have a read!

As they say in England - Cheers!
Nick

Nick@NaxosUSA.com

www.NaxosSpokenWordLibrary.com

Check it out!

Great flute music in the Naxos Music Library!

Well, despite good intentions to start a weekly blog in January, it appears I will be starting it in February. The New Year brought more updates and work than expected, and through it all I enjoyed listening to (predominantly) flute music. I was a flautist in college and always seem to gravitate to flute and piccolo music in the Naxos Music Library. The following suggestions include some of my more-recent discoveries. I hope some of you will also find a few new pieces to enjoy!


1. Egil Hovland – Piccolo Concerto, Op. 117 (ACD5004) I enjoyed this piece not only for the fabulous piccolo-writing, but for the beautifully-executed cadenza at the end!

2. Bartolomeo Campagnoli –Flute Concerto in D major, Op. 3, No. 2 (CDS214)

3. Walter Gieseking –Flute Sonata (AV2076) This CD has become one of my favorites. All pieces are truly beautiful, but Gieseking’s Flute Sonata gets my vote for “the piece to listen to” on this album.

4. Gary Schocker –Flute Quartet No. 1, “Nymphs” (INNOVA556) I’ve admired Schocker’s playing for a while. His first quartet was playful and fun to hear!

5. Antonio Vivaldi –Piccolo Concerto in C major, RV 443 (BIS-CD-21)

6. Kenji Bunch “Velocity” and Eve Beglarian “I will not be sad in this world” (8.559629) Great modern pieces that use a great deal of extended technique and electronics respectively—

7. Philippe Gaubert –Fantasie (LVC1071)

8. Cesare Ciardi –Works for Flute and Piano (CDS78) I had never heard Ciardi’s works for flute, and I especially enjoyed his works in theme and variation.

9. W.A. Mozart’s Violin Sonatas arr. for flute and Francois-Bernard Mache’s “Sopiana” (ACD22108) This CD had a lovely mix of all types of flute music; from Classical to Modern. The Mozart flute concertos are lovely, but it was nice hearing a flautist play Mozart works that I hadn’t heard or played a dozen times. The Mache piece was new to me, as was the orchestration (tape and flute), which I enjoyed.

10. Sean Hickey –Flute Sonata (8.559279)

Naxos Video Library Development Updates

Hello Friends!

We wanted to take a few moments and update you on some of the exciting new features implemented into the Naxos Video Library over the past few weeks!

• Mouse-over, DVD Highlights!

Now, when you mouse over any work in the NVL, a small "box" will appear with a work synopsis, and any other noteable features of the DVD. In the case of Carmen below, you can see that included in the NVL, are the Bonus Features!

• Skip By Chapter!

Just like a standard DVD, you're now able to skip ahead through a video by chapter. Mousing over the "Play" button, will allow you to view the Skip buttons. Move your mouse off of the "Play" button, and the skip buttons disappear into the abyss (leaving you more room for wonderful Opera and Ballet of course!)

• Where am I?

No more confusion about what chapter you're in, or where in the Opera you just "skipped" to! Simply open the Chapters tab, and look for the wonderful new Film Strip icon, and you'll know instantly where you are!



Do you have a suggestion for the NVL? Are there features you'd like to see implemented? If so, you can e-mail us at Naxos, or leave a comment!

Congratulations and Welcome to our first two subscribers! The folks at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities - and Douglas College have already made the NVL a part of their offerings! Enjoy all that the NVL has to offer!



- Nick

Nick@NaxosUSA.com
615.465.3836

www.NaxosVideoLibrary.com

www.NaxosMusicLibrary.com


Follow us on Twitter: @NaxosMusicLib
Find us on Facebook: www.Facebook.com/NaxosMusicLib

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Great recordings in the Naxos Music Library

The Naxos Music Library is an extraordinary resource. I’ve been a fan since my undergraduate years when I worked in my university’s music library. Now I work for Naxos Music Library full-time and have unlimited access to some of the world’s best classical music 24-7! I’ve discovered a lot of new music since joining the NML team, both through my own perusal and recommendations from subscribers world-wide. With a constantly growing selection of almost 40,000 CD’s, it’s easy to gloss over some worthwhile pieces and recordings.
For this reason I’ve decided to compile a weekly playlist of pieces that deserve a bit of extra attention. Perhaps some of these pieces will be old news to you. Perhaps you will not like some of my suggestions, but the hope is that we’ll all spend a little more time with classical music and discover a few new favorites that would have otherwise remained unknown to us.

Week of 11-15 January 2010
Symphonies

1. Georg Christoph Wagenseil—Symphony in C, Op. 5, No. 5, WV361 (777112-2) I’ve had a soft-spot for Wagenseil ever since my Classical Symphony class in Vienna. His symphonies are short, sweet, and were dwarfed by Haydn, Mozart and other Classical composers who advanced the genre; however, as my prof used to say, “The symphony had to start somewhere.”
2. Johann Christian Bach—Sinfonia for Double Orchestra in D, Op. 18, No. 3 (8.553367)
3. Zdenek Fibich—Symphony No. 1 in F, Op. 17 (8.553699)
4. Gloria Coates—Symphony No. 15, “Homage to Mozart” (8.559371) The most prolific female symphonist in history certainly deserves more recognition. Liner notes for this CD are especially interesting.
5. Herman Berlinski—Symphonic Visions (8.559446)
6. William Schuman—Symphony No. 3 and Symphony No. 5 (8.559317)
7. William Grant Still—Afro-American Symphony (BCD9086) This has been my favorite symphony for 2 years now. Still’s Americana and use of a solo banjo are brilliant.
8. Alan Hovhaness—Symphony No. 63 “Loon Lake”, Op. 411 (8.559336) Alan Hovhaness wrote 67 symphonies, among many other works. Like all prolific composers, some of his works have faded into the background of his vast output. His 63rd symphony caught my attention because of the unique sounds (sounds of the loon and bird-songs) and beautiful flute/piccolo parts.
9. Bedrich Smetana—Festive Symphony (8.223120) Smetana played a large role in establishing a Czech national sound. This is one of his lesser-known works, and I enjoyed getting acquainted with it.
10. Vincent Persichetti—Symphony No. 8, Op. 106 (FECD-0034)

NML Jazz iPhone App!

Isn't this a nice little "end of the year" gift!

The Naxos Music Library Jazz has its own iPhone App! The function and form mirrors the NML App. It also, allows access to your NML Jazz individual and account based playlists remotely!

Click here for a direct link to the App Store!

In case you're a bit rusty about how to install an App, here's a link to the NML App installation and set up guide.

Should you have any questions, please don't hesitate to call or write!

Happy New Year!
Nick

Nick@NaxosUSA.com
615.465.3836

www.NaxosVideoLibrary.com

www.NaxosMusicLibrary.com

Easily Download Music You Enjoy!

Upon logging into the NML today, many of you notice the "Buy and Download" buttons in the NML. These links will take you to our Download store, Classics Online!

While many users welcome this feature, (as even some of the more well known recordings can be tough to find for purchase), some folks epxressed interest in the ability to turn this feature off.

Here's a step by step guide to turning the links off, should your institution like to.

Here's a Screenshot with the Link on.

1. To Begin: Log into the NML with your administrator Username//Password




2. Click on "Manage Account"






3. The next pop-up will display the account management screen. You can see the "Enable/Disable" option for the COL Links.



That will do it! If you have any other questions, feel free to contact us at Naxos.

Happy Thanksgiving!
Nick

615.465.3836 (direct)
Nick@NaxosUSA.com

www.NaxosVideoLibrary.com

www.NaxosMusicLibrary.com