DOCSLIB.ORG

Daft Punk – Pentatonix

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Daft Punk – Pentatonix CAMS 231 Major Essay Elysse Turner – 4503235 Daft Punk – Pentatonix Elysse Turner CAMS231 4503235 Pentatonix, a five piece a cappella band, have been tearing up the charts recently, redefining a genre, which is often overlooked in the music industry. They have faced hurdles because of their genre throughout their career, but their goal remains consistent: "to break through the a cappella connotation that people have of it. We want to make it a mainstream thing." (Hoying in Parker 2015) And through their adaptions on the genre as well as shows like NBC's The Sing Off (2009), Fox's Glee (2009), and movies such as Pitch Perfect (2012), it is clear a cappella is making a breakthrough to the masses. This essay will look at the unique sound of Pentatonix, through the analysis of their Medley Daft Punk (2013), focusing on the techniques they use to incorporate the musical styles of Electronic Dance Music (EDM) into their a cappella sounds. A Cappella has its roots in the church, "it is Italian for 'in the style of the church', and that refers to music for unaccompanied voices" (Harding and Sloan 2015). Stemming back to the middle ages with gregorian chants, where the musical styles usually consisted of unaccompanied, modal, monophonic singing. This style was then developed into organum, which consisted of polyphonic melodies, often moving in parallel, a perfect 4th or 5th apart, or later on in the period, moving in contrary motion. However, the golden age of a cappella was not in the middle ages, but in the renaissance era, as music moved away from being used as just a form of religious worship, and started to become more of an art form. As a result of this shift in audience, madrigals were developed - secular vocal music, which was often sung a cappella, or without instruments, by a small group of singers. Harmony was also developed, favouring 3rds and 6ths, moving away from the 5ths previously used, yet it still sought to allow equal attention to each part. Though the baroque period is not known for a cappella, it did bring about a change in structure for choral pieces. Instead of giving equal attention to each part, it instead allowed the highest and lowest registers to become more prominent and stand out, reflecting our modern structures for pop songs, where the lead singer is often the highest voice. (Narushima 2014). A Cappella music experienced a resurgence in the 20th century through barbershop quartets. These groups typically had 4 people of the same gender with 3 of the voices harmonising to the fourth voice, which carried the melody. These groups worked with close harmonies and utilised tempo variation, dynamics, diction, colour and phrasing to create interest within their performances. (Encyclopaedia Britannica 2015) This style was often 2 Elysse Turner CAMS231 4503235 very improvised, however there were a few key elements which set barbershop apart from other a cappella waves. It generally followed a homophonic pattern, with groups singing the same words at the same time in harmony, while the melody was in the second highest voice, sung by the lead. The vocal parts, from highest to lowest were tenor, lead, baritone, and then bass. Barbershop also has a unique tuning which creates a sharper sound, this is because the "the goal in barbershop is to create what are called overtones, which are when you lock into a chord, […] to create a high pitched ring, and that is seen as the goal of barbershop, to create as many of those overtones as possible" (Roose in Harding and Sloan 2015). These overtones, sometimes referred to as 'the angels notes' create the illusion of a 5th singer in the group as it produces the sound of an extra note. (Harding and Sloan 2015) A Cappella Music in the 21st century is experiencing another rise in popularity, featuring in Hollywood, prime time television, the Grammys and within colleges. Internet culture, surrounding YouTube in particular has helped create this new interest in a cappella, with a large range of covers being uploaded in this style. The benefit of this platform allows users to become an a cappella group with no other people. The style of a cappella has also progressed since the barbershop wave, introducing more complex harmonies, polyphonic melodies, and beatboxing. Furthermore, a cappella music today attempts to emulate instrumental sounds, to create interest within the style. This new approach to a cappella music is creating a whole new market for the music industry. It is moving away from a college-based hobby, towards a professionalised industry. "A Cappella has really come full circle, it was the most popular music half a millennia ago with gregorian chant, and then the composers became more ambitious and started putting in instrumentation, and now we're back to where we came from." (Harding and Sloan 2015) Pentatonix or PTX as fans call them, is a modern day a cappella quintet who have risen to success since winning NBC's 3rd season of The Sing Off in 2011. Through YouTube, they were able to maintain their rise to fame by posting covers to popular songs and originals, gathering a worldwide audience for their artistic style. Their channel PTXofficial is currently ranked at #42 for subscribers with over eight million, and has amassed over 944 million views across all their videos (SocialBlade 2015). Since 2011, they have released three mainstream albums and two Christmas albums, as well as making a cameo appearance in Pitch Perfect 2 (2015). They have toured the United 3 Elysse Turner CAMS231 4503235 States, Canada, Europe, the United Kingdom, Australia and South East Asia, and have been nominated for a variety of music awards — the Grammys, Billboard Music Awards, YouTube Music Awards, Shorty Awards, and Streamy Awards — as well as presenting at the American Music Awards. The group consists of Scott Hoying, Baritone; Mitch Grassi, Tenor/Counter Tenor/Alto; Kirstin Malando, Alto/Mezzo Soprano; Avi Kaplin, Baritone/Bass; and Kevin Olusola, Beatboxer/High Tenor. The song I am analysing simply titled Daft Punk (2013) is their highest achieving arrangement, with over 135 million views on YouTube and winning a Grammy for 'Best Arrangement, Instrumental or A Cappella' in 2015. The piece is a medley of 8 different songs from the band Daft Punk including Around the World (1997), Television Rules the Nation (2000), One More Time (2000), Harder Better Faster Stronger (2001) Digital Love (2001), Technologic (2005), and Get Lucky (2013). When composing this piece, the group first established the songs they wished to include by choosing from their own favourites and narrowing it down by looking at the most recognisable pieces from Daft Punk. From there they created a structure, which would allow the songs to flow from one to another easily. After the order had been established, keys were chosen to suit the lead carrying the melody for each section, and transitions were incorporated to make these changes seamless. From here, the process included filling up the sound with techniques to make it sound larger than just five vocalists and tweaking areas to make them more complex, for a true reflection of dance music. (Grassi 2015) SECTION TIME BAR SONG EXCERPT A (Intro) 0.00 1 Technologic B 0.28 17 One More Time C 0.40 25 Get Lucky D 1.32 52 Digital Love B' 2.07 72 One More Time E 2.22 80 Harder Better Faster Stronger F 2.51 96 Television Rules the Nation B'' 3.06 104 One More Time C' 3.33 120 Get Lucky G (Coda) 3.49 128 Get Lucky, Around the World, One More Time, Harder Better Faster Stronger 4 Elysse Turner CAMS231 4503235 The song starts off with a 4/4 rhythm and in the key of D major, however this changes twice - to A major in bar 24, and back to D major again in bar 52. Mitch begins the song, creating a monophonic texture, until Scott joins him 4 seconds in, creating a homophonic texture which lasts until the end of section A. Fig. 1: Section A, Bars 1-3 Sections B, B', B'', F, and G introduce a Polyphonic texture into the mix, while sections C, D, E, C' returns to the homophonic texture. Fig. 2: Section F, Bars 99-102 5 Elysse Turner CAMS231 4503235 Fig. 3: Section C, Bars 50-51 Section E, utilises a monophonic texture through stagger entry from each vocalist, resulting in one voice at a time up until bar 88 where it breaks up into a polyphonic sound. Fig. 4: Section E, Bars 81-83 The dynamics for the piece remain fairly constant, with the most significant volume changes occurring either on singular notes to emphasise the sound or in the vocal percussion line. Since the melody line of the piece is split across 4 different vocalists with different natural ranges, the melodic range 6 Elysse Turner CAMS231 4503235 covered in the piece is quite wide, from the lowest note being B1 to the highest note of A5. Fig. 5: Daft Punk Melodic Range Pentatonix is able to incorporate EDM like sounds into their piece by emulating the styles of that particular genre. Their voices in a sense become synthesisers for the stylistic attributes, which identify EDM and pop, using this to create the illusion sounds, which appear to be manufactured or edited. Avi believed that this was one of the most difficult songs because of this, "having to sound all like all those different [elements] and just with our voices." (Kaplan in Yogaku Express 2015) There are a number of ways, which they do this, but their primary techniques are through the tight harmonies, rhythm, and the use of tone colour for their voices which changes throughout.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • View Entire Issue As
    MUSIC WITH PASSION Florentine Opera opens its season with Bizet’s tempestuous heroine. Page 23 THE VOICE OF PROGRESS FOR WISCOnsin’s LGBT COMMUNITY October 18, 2012 | Vol. 3, No. 25 Record number of LGBT ’ candidates ‘Carmen seeking office By Lisa Neff Staff writer There’s an easy bet on Nov. 6 – the majority of members elected to the 113th Congress will be male, Caucasian, Christian and heterosexual. That’s the way it’s always been, though in recent decades there have been changes in the demographics on Capi- tol Hill. Still, this year, a record number of women have campaigned for federal elected office. And the same can be said of LGBT candi- dates for Congress – there are an unprec- edented nine out candidates for federal ronek office in the general election. G One of them, Democratic U.S. Rep. Tammy Baldwin, is running for the U.S. Senate in Wisconsin. She faces former Gov. Tommy Thompson in a close contest. Eight other candidates are running in the general election for the U.S. House, includ- ollage:Laura C ing Democrat Mark Pocan of Wisconsin. / Currently there are no out members of AP the Senate and four out members of the Frightful fun at local haunts House – Baldwin, Jared Polis, David Cicil- line and Barney Frank, the Democratic titan hoto: Page 19 from Massachusetts who is retiring after P serving 16 terms in Congress. Frank made history in 1987 when he came out to the Boston Globe, saying, “I don’t think my sex life is relevant to my job, Ghostly lore part of local heritage but on the other hand I don’t want to leave the impression that I’m embarrassed about By Michael Muckian the spirits’ favorite haunts.
    [Show full text]
  • Compliment Expressions and the Responses in Pitch Perfect Film
    PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI COMPLIMENT EXPRESSIONS AND THE RESPONSES IN PITCH PERFECT FILM A SARJANA PENDIDIKAN THESIS Presented as Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements to Obtain the Sarjana Pendidikan Degree in English Language Education By Devita Putri Saraswati Student Number: 141214079 ENGLISH LANGUAGE EDUCATION STUDY PROGRAM DEPARTMENT OF LANGUAGE AND ARTS EDUCATION FACULTY OF TEACHERS TRAINING AND EDUCATION SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY YOGYAKARTA 2018 i PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI A Sarjana Pendidikan Thesis on COMPLIMENT EXPRESSIONS AND THE RESPONSES IN PITCH PERFECT FILM By Devita Putri Saraswati Student Number: 141214079 Approved by Monica Ella Harendita, S.Pd., M.Ed. 15 March 2018 ii PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI A Sarjana Pendidikan Thesis on COMPLIMENT EXPRESSIONS AND THE RESPONSES IN PITCH PERFECT FILM By DEVITA PUTRI SARASWATI Student Number: 141214079 Defended before the Board of Examiners on 11 April 2018 and Declared Acceptable Board of Examiners Chairperson : Yohana Veniranda, S.Pd., M.Hum., M.A., Ph.D. ____________ Secretary : Christina Lhaksmita Anandari, S.Pd., Ed.M. ____________ Member : Monica Ella Harendita, S.Pd., M.Ed. ____________ Member : Priyatno Ardi, S.Pd., M.Hum. ____________ Member : Christina Lhaksmita Anandari, S.Pd., Ed.M. ____________ Yogyakarta, 11 April 2018 Faculty of Teachers Training and Education Sanata Dharma University Dean, Dr. Yohanes Harsoyo, S.Pd., M.Si iii PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI "A DREAM DOES NOT BECOME REALITY THROUGH MAGIC; IT TAKES SWEAT, DETERMINATION, AND HARD WORK." – Colin Powell I dedicate this thesis to those people who REFUSE TO GIVE UP on their dreams. iv PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI STATEMENT OF WORK’S ORIGINALITY I honestly declare that this thesis, which I have written, does not contain the work or parts of the work of other people, except those cited in quotations and the references, as scientific paper should.
    [Show full text]
  • Impoliteness Strategies in Pitch Perfect and Pitch Perfect 2 Movies
    IMPOLITENESS STRATEGIES IN PITCH PERFECT AND PITCH PERFECT 2 MOVIES A THESIS Submitted to Letters and Humanities Faculty in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for Degree Strata One (S1) DANTI YANIAR 1113026000028 ENGLISH LETTERS DEPARTMENT FACULTY OF LETTERS AND HUMANITIES SYARIF HIDAYATULLAH STATE ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY JAKARTA 2017 ABSTRACT Danti Yaniar, Impoliteness Strategies in Pitch Perfect and Pitch Perfect 2 Movies. Thesis. Jakarta: English Letters Department, Letters and Humanities Faculty, Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University of Jakarta, September 2017. This research is on Pragmatic scope that focuses on impoliteness strategies. The unit of analysis is Pitch Perfect movies transcript. It is a qualitative research. It is intended to identify the types of impoliteness strategies chosen by characters, how the characters respond the FTAs, and the features of offending event that trigger the characters to do impoliteness. This research used Impoliteness strategies theory by Jonathan Culpeper as the main theory, Impoliteness strategies by Derek Bousfield, and Offending Event by Timothy Jay as the supporting theories. As the result, it was found that all five strategies were chosen by the characters. The strategies from the most chosen to the less chosen were as follow positive impoliteness strategy, negative impoliteness strategy, bald on record impoliteness strategy, sarcasm or mock politeness strategy, and withhold politeness strategy. The characters frequently harmed the addressees‟ face by insulting name calling and using obscure language sub-strategies. The delivered FTAs made the addressees dominantly evaluated them with responses. The addressee responded the FTAs by choosing offensive countering. The characters mostly countered the offender by asking a challenge question which is in negative impoliteness strategy.
    [Show full text]
  • LAMORINDA WEEKLY | 'Pitch Perfect 2'
    LAMORINDA WEEKLY | 'Pitch Perfect 2' Published May 20th, 2015 'Pitch Perfect 2' By Derek Zemrak The pitch is in tune in "Pitch Perfect 2"! The Bella's are back in the sequel to the 2012 surprise hit, "Pitch Perfect," which was made on a $17 million production budget and grossed $65 million at the U. S. box office. Moviegoers knew a sequel would be in the works with those results. This time, everyone's favorite a capella group - the Barden University Bellas - must regain their glory after a humiliating wardrobe malfunction by Fat Amy (Rebel Wilson) that was witnessed by the president of the United States while they performed at the prestigious Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts. With nowhere else to turn, the Bellas enter an international competition that no American a cappella group has ever won. The solid ensemble cast from the original Fat Amy (Rebel Wilson) steals the show in movie returns in "Pitch Perfect 2," which includes "Pitch Perfect 2," the follow-up to 2012's Oscar nominee Anna Kendrick (Beca), comedian surprise hit. Photo Richard Cartwright Rebel Wilson (Fat Amy), Brittany Snow (Chloe), Ester Dean (Cynthia), Hana Mae Lee (Lily) and Alexis Knapp (Stacie). Beca is a senior at Barden and working as an intern at a record label company when Chloe discovers that Beca is more interested in her career. The Bellas once again must pull it all together and find the "perfect pitch." Two-time Emmy Award nominee Elizabeth Banks ("30 Rock") takes the directing reins and keeps the movie going at a quick, witty pace.
    [Show full text]
  • Nigerian Gateway Exclusively Electing Leaders at That Level
    $1bn arms funds: Reps grill service chiefs, IGP, others today Defence met with the Ministry banditry, Monguno said, “The money, but the money is By: Akorede Folaranmi Nigeria has invited the Monguno (retd.), who said Inspector-General of Police, of Defence on the $1bn special during an interview with the President has done his best by missing. We don't know how, h e H o u s e o f Mohammed Adamu; service security fund released by the Hausa Service of the British approving huge sums of money and nobody knows for now. I Representatives Ad chiefs and other heads of Federal Government in 2017, Broadcasting Corporation on for the purchase of weapons, but believe Mr President will THoc Committee on the paramilitary agencies. part of which was used to pay March 12 that $1bn funds meant the weapons were not bought, investigate where the money Need to Review the Purchase, The security and service for 12 Super Tucano fighter to purchase arms to tackle they are not here. Now, he has went. I can assure you the Use and Control of Arms, chiefs are to explain the jets in the United States. insurgency during the ex-service appointed new service chiefs, President takes issues of this Ammunition and Related procurement and deployment of Reactions had greeted the chiefs' tenure got missing. hopefully, they will devise some nature seriously. Hardware by Military, arms and ammunition in their comments made by the In response to a question on ways. “The fact is that preliminary Paramilitary and Other Law respective agencies.
    [Show full text]
  • On the Auto Body, Inc
    FINAL-1 Sat, Oct 14, 2017 7:52:52 PM Your Weekly Guide to TV Entertainment for the week of October 21 - 27, 2017 HARTNETT’S ALL SOFT CLOTH CAR WASH $ 00 OFF 3 ANY CAR WASH! EXPIRES 10/31/17 BUMPER SPECIALISTSHartnetts H1artnett x 5” On the Auto Body, Inc. COLLISION REPAIR SPECIALISTS & APPRAISERS MA R.S. #2313 R. ALAN HARTNETT LIC. #2037 run DANA F. HARTNETT LIC. #9482 Emma Dumont stars 15 WATER STREET in “The Gifted” DANVERS (Exit 23, Rte. 128) TEL. (978) 774-2474 FAX (978) 750-4663 Open 7 Days Now that their mutant abilities have been revealed, teenage siblings must go on the lam in a new episode of “The Gifted,” airing Mon.-Fri. 8-7, Sat. 8-6, Sun. 8-4 Monday. ** Gift Certificates Available ** Choosing the right OLD FASHIONED SERVICE Attorney is no accident FREE REGISTRY SERVICE Free Consultation PERSONAL INJURYCLAIMS • Automobile Accident Victims • Work Accidents Massachusetts’ First Credit Union • Slip &Fall • Motorcycle &Pedestrian Accidents Located at 370 Highland Avenue, Salem John Doyle Forlizzi• Wrongfu Lawl Death Office INSURANCEDoyle Insurance AGENCY • Dog Attacks St. Jean's Credit Union • Injuries2 x to 3 Children Voted #1 1 x 3” With 35 years experience on the North Serving over 15,000 Members •3 A Partx 3 of your Community since 1910 Insurance Shore we have aproven record of recovery Agency No Fee Unless Successful Supporting over 60 Non-Profit Organizations & Programs The LawOffice of Serving the Employees of over 40 Businesses STEPHEN M. FORLIZZI Auto • Homeowners 978.739.4898 978.219.1000 • www.stjeanscu.com Business
    [Show full text]
  • Daft Punk - Pentatonix Wiki
    Daft punk - pentatonix wiki Pentatonix (abbreviated PTX) is a five-member American a cappella group from Arlington, The group's video tribute to Daft Punk had received over million views as of mid Their debut EP PTX, Volume 1 was released in , Members​: ​Scott Hoying; Mitch Grassi; ​Kirstin M. PTX, Vol. II (Volume 2) is the third extended play (EP) by American a cappella group Pentatonix "Daft Punk", Thomas Bangalter, Guy-Manuel de Homem- Christo, Daft Punk, 9. "Save the World / Don't You Worry Child" (iTunes pre-order. PTX is the second studio album by American a cappella band Pentatonix. Released on 19 "Daft Punk", Thomas Bangalter, Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo · Daft Punk, 2. "Problem". Max Martin · Savan Kotecha · Ilya Salmanzadeh. Daft Punk are a French electronic music duo formed in by Guy-Manuel de A cappella group Pentatonix performed a medley of Daft Punk songs, released Members​: ​Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo​; ​Th. Daft Punk is a song by the a cappella group Pentatonix. It is a song mashup of Technologic, One. Description Daft Punk by Pentatonix SONGS USED: ​ Technologic - One More Time - Get Lucky. Daft Punk This song is by Pentatonix and appears on the EP PTX, Vol. II (). Pentatonix (often abbreviated as PTX) is an American a cappella group of four They did a Daft Punk melody, and a cover of "Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy". A PENTATONIX CHRISTMAS TOUR - GET YOUR TICKETS AND VIP NOW! A. In just five years, Pentatonix has sold more than 6 million albums in the U.S. alone.
    [Show full text]
  • The Evolution of Fat Female Characters in Contemporary American Film a Thesis Presented to the Faculty Of
    Changing Shape: The Evolution of Fat Female Characters in Contemporary American Film A thesis presented to the faculty of the College of Fine Arts of Ohio University In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Master of Arts Laura E. Pohlman April 2016 © 2016 Laura E. Pohlman. All Rights Reserved. 2 This thesis titled Changing Shape: The Evolution of Fat Female Characters in Contemporary American Film by LAURA E. POHLMAN has been approved for the School of Film and the College of Fine Arts by Ofer Eliaz Assistant Professor of Film Studies Elizabeth Sayrs Interim Dean, College of Fine Arts 3 Abstract LAURA E. POHLMAN, M.A., April 2016, Film Changing Shape: The Evolution of Fat Female Characters in Contemporary American Film Director of Thesis: Ofer Eliaz The purpose of this thesis is to elucidate the fluid conception of fat women within contemporary American culture from the early 1970s to the present. Due to their non- normative embodiment, fat women typically face denigration and marginalization. Most mainstream film narratives reify the negative social positioning of fat women, often through assimilationist characters that resign themselves to fatphobia or otherwise compensate for their fatness. On the flipside, carnival and camp narratives foster liberatory fat characterization, as exemplified by the figure of “the unruly woman.” In his portrayal of both assimilationist and liberationist women, Divine functions as a barometer for subsequent fat characterization. Overall, this thesis critiques fat assimilation, argues for the importance of fat liberation, and projects a future where fat acceptance becomes the norm. 4 Table of Contents Page Abstract ..............................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • December 2014 Bark for Webpage
    B U L L D O G S B A R K *****************ECRWSS**** Local Postal Customer VOLUME 24 ISSUE 4-2014-2015 STANBERRY R-II HIGH SCHOOL DECEMBER 2014 Due to increased printing & mailing costs and a decrease in advertising revenue over the past few years, The Bulldog Bark would like to start a voluntary sub- scription fee of $10 per year per household. If you would like to advertise in The Bark, which is mailed to over 900 households per month, or subscribe, please mail a check to Stanberry R-II, 610 N. Park St, Stanberry MO. Music Fosters Holiday Spirit Elementary Entertains as By Aeriell Munns “Riu, Riu, Chiu” was only one of the pieces performed Always Staff Reporter by the high school choir that was enjoyed by all. By Erin Foehring Guest Reporter The annual elementary winter program was held Tuesday, December 9. With the help of many with everything from props to costumes to lots and lots of time and effort, the program was once again a huge suc- cess. To kick off this amazing show, grades k-6 sang “Bring on the Snow”. The theme for this year was very different from past performances. It was called “Bring on the Snow”. The whole show was not a play about someone who saves Christmas. It was more of a variety show. The cast portrayed many odd yet fun characters--everything from a deer head, to a goose, to a knock knock joker. The whole point of this “Variety Show” aspect was to show how sometimes we all need a break The junior high and high school music to get away from troubles and stress, spe- Wilhouskey followed by “The Little Drummer concert took place on December 8.
    [Show full text]
  • Countdown to Christmas: Four Days Left: Wisdom from Saint Peter
    Countdown to Christmas: Four days left: Wisdom from Saint Peter Canisius, first day of winter, Thoreau’s ‘The Pond in Winter,’ today’s O Antiphon and prayer, and more great Christmas music It’s almost Christmas… (Photo by Patti Murphy Dohn) “If you have too much to do, with God’s help you will find time to do it all.” — St. Peter Canisius (1521-1597), whose feast we celebrate today, December 21 Great advice from today’s saint, especially during this hurried week Saint Peter Canisius (1521-1597) ——- Introduction: In the last Advent days leading up to Christmas, I will share some reflections, prayers, and music for you to enjoy during this very hectic holiday season. “Heaven is under our feet is well as over our heads.” —Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862) It’s the first day of winter: Comedian Steve Martin once joked “A day without sunshine is like, you know, night.” But it is bright and sunny today and thus hard to believe that it is December 21, the first official day of winter. Almost 60 degrees here in Bel Air…. The Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year, comes today at 12:11 p.m. (EST). I heard that we will have 9 hours and 32 minutes of daylight. I’m not a fan of winter, so I will be counting down the days until Spring, be assured. My dear friend Sue, who just retired in June after many years teaching English on the high school and college levels, posted one of her favorite passages this morning from Thoreau’s ‘The Pond in Winter’ from “Walden.” She especially loves the last sentence, as do I!! Enjoy… “Standing on the snow-covered plain, as if in a pasture amid the hills, I cut …my way first through a foot of snow, and then a foot of ice, and open a window under my feet, where, kneeling to drink, I look down into the quiet parlor of the fishes, pervaded by a softened light as through a window of ground glass, with its bright sanded floor the same as in summer; there a perennial waveless serenity reigns as in the amber twilight sky, corresponding to the cool and even temperament of the inhabitants.
    [Show full text]
  • From Voutube to Touh.Ill, Pentatoriix Music Amazes JENNIFER EMILY ADDY LAI STAFF WRITER STAFF WRITER
    VOL.48 ISSUE 1448 OCT 6, 2014 From VouTube to Touh.ill, Pentatoriix music amazes JENNIFER EMILY ADDY LAI STAFF WRITER STAFF WRITER YouTube sensation and acapella group, Pentatonix, perform at Touhill Performing Arts Center PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF ADDY LAIITHE CURRENT as well as the winning group of show was the group's cover the third season of NBC's "The of "Say Something," origi- Sing-Off,': . An American acap­ nally performed by A Great Big pella group that consists of five World feat. Christina Aguilera. vocalists who originated from The vocalists' voices echoed Arlington, Texas. Pentatonix throughout the theater and sent is comprised of lead vocalists chills through the captivated Scott Hoying; Kristin "Kristie" crowd. Their performance of the Maldonado, and Mitch GrasSi, "Evolution of Music" demon­ vocal bass Avriel ''Avi'' Kaplan, strated their technical skills, and and beat boxer Kevin K.O. Olu­ accomodated their audience of sola. Originally a three member different ages. group comprised of Scott, Kris­ Pentatonix's involvment tie, and Mitch, they eventually with their audience, a con­ found the need for a bassist and nection that is rarely seen at a beatboxer to reach stardom. concerts, was definitely one of The band name derives from the the key reasons why audiences five-note music scale, pentaton­ . were begging for an encore. ic, replacing the 'c' with an 'x'. Mitch, wanting a photograph The band redefines the meaning. of the enthusiastic crowd, took of an acapella concert. out his cell phone and started to Pentatonix performed take a panoramic photo as Scott some songs froln their previ­ hummed to the tune of "Jeop­ ous albums along with a couple ardy".
    [Show full text]
  • Pentatonix: Using Social Media for Consistent Virality
    Sean O’Connor DSG 630 Dr. Jones 1 April 2015 Pentatonix: Using Social Media for Consistent Virality With the creation of YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, and other forms of online social media, individuals seeking to break into the music industry have a wider open door than ever before, and one band that has done this successfully in the last few years is the innovative vocal quintet Pentatonix. As the group has promoted itself online and formed a personal relationship with its fans, Pentatonix has been able to consistently create viral content. The band first created a massive following on the television show The Sing-Off in 2011, and they ultimately won the competition. However, Mitch Grassi, one of the band’s singers, recognized, “Reality show stars can be a bit of a flash in the pan because the next reality show comes along and people quickly forget about them. But we wanted to make sure that we maintained our presence in the music industry.” (Brunner, 2014) The solution was to create an even greater fan base online and creating a personal connection with the viewers of their content. Their main avenue of releasing new content was through YouTube, mostly with covers and medleys of previously recorded songs. Although this is a strategy used by thousands of other YouTube users and musicians, Pentatonix’s unique instrumentation helped them stand out. But in addition, each video ends with the band addressing the viewer, thanking them for watching and encouraging them to subscribe to their YouTube channel and watch more of their videos, as well as check out their website.
    [Show full text]