January, 2021, Listening Calendar

Friday, January 1: The Choral Scholars of Dublin’s Auld Lang Syne (4:01) “Auld Lang Syne” comes from an old Scottish poem. The song is well-known around the world. The song is traditionally sung as a farewell to the old year at the stroke of midnight on New Year's Eve. Best wishes to all in 2021!

Saturday, January 2: Claude Debussy’s Arabesque (4:06) French composer Claude Debussy wrote this lovely and popular piece early in his musical career. It was originally written for the piano. Enjoy this beautiful, calm arrangement.

Sunday, January 3: The Beatles Let It Be (3:54) As the story goes, Paul McCartney has said that "Let It Be" was inspired by a dream he had about his mother, Mary. In the dream, she assured her son that everything would be all right despite all the turmoil going on in his life. This is a song offering great hope and comfort.

Monday, January 4: John Philip Sousa’s Washington Post March (3:30) “Washington Post March” is a very popular march written by the march-king, John Philip Sousa. I hope this toe-tapping lively music might be a great way to start the week.

Tuesday, January 5: Benny Goodman’s Sing, Sing, Sing (5:23) “Sing, Sing, Sing is a popular song from the Big-Band/Swing jazz period of the 1930s made famous by clarinetist and band leader Benny Goodman. Fifth-grade students will be “sing, sing, singing” this song in January!

Wednesday, January 6: The Little Mermaid’s Under the Sea (3:26) This popular Disney song (and movie) needs no introduction! Feel free to sing along!

Thursday, January 7: Jacque Offenbach’s Snowflake Ballet (11:07) Close your eyes and imagine falling snowflakes dancing gracefully through the air as you listen to this beautiful classical music. The music just might be a great inspiration for creating an artwork. Friday, January 8: A Powerful Song and Pictures from the Civil Rights Movement Oh Freedom (3:04) “Oh Freedom” is an African-American spiritual from the time of the Civil War in the 1800s. This powerful song was also used during the Civil Rights period in the 1960s. The pictures in this video really show the great struggles of this time period.

Saturday, January 9: The Sandpiper’s Come Saturday Morning (3:12) We are taking a trip back with this early 1970’s song that remains popular today. This is a great song to listen to for a peaceful happy Saturday.

Sunday, January 10: The Ohio State University’s Marching Band (8:49) As the excitement builds for the NCAA Collegiate National Football Championship on Monday evening (1/11), enjoy this half time performance by one of the greatest college marching bands, The Ohio State Marching Band!

Monday, January 11: The University of Alabama’s Million Dollar Band (5:42) The NCAA Collegiate National Championship is tonight! Enjoy this performance by one of the greatest college marching bands, The University of Alabama’s “Million Dollar Band.” I (Ms. Thierry) was a proud member of this group and marched 2 national championship games during my days at Alabama. Roll Tide, y’all!! I’m a nervous wreck!!!

Tuesday, January 12: Antonio Vivaldi’s Winter (9:20) Baroque composer Antonio Vivaldi wrote this composition with hopes of imagining all kinds of wintery scenes: imagine the brisk chill of winter; sitting by a fire to warm you up from being outside; and finally, a fast and furious ending depicting the dangers of snow and ice! I bet you might be able to create a beautiful picture from this music!

Wednesday, January 13: Charles Ives’ They Are There March (2:30) Charles Ives wrote this lively march using many popular songs from the Civil War period. Do you recognize any of the music?!

Thursday, January 14: The Lion King’s Circle of Life (4:06) Do you recognize this popular Disney song from the “Lion King” movie? Composer/pop singer Elton John wrote and recorded the song in about an hour and a half. Super wow.

Friday, January 15: The Chordette’s Lollipop (2:07) This pop tune from the 1950s is still very popular today! And really, who doesn’t enjoy a good lollipop?!!

Saturday, January 16: Smokey Robinson and the Miracles’ Tears of a Clown (2:58) Enjoy this great Motown hit tune recorded by the King of Motown in the late 1960s, Smokey Robinson! Mr. Robinson continues to perform and make music today!

Sunday, January 17: Pete Seeger’s If I Had a Hammer (1:58) “If I Had a Hammer” is a very famous folk tune originating from about 1950. The “hammer” in this song is used as a means of hammering out injustice in every form and to make the world a better place. The current 5th-grade class sang this song 2 years ago on a spring concert!

Monday, January 18: Sing About Martin (1:34) I hope everyone might take a moment or 2 today to reflect on Martin Luther King and his great, brave, and peaceful work during the Civil Rights period. Indeed, he has helped make our world a much better place, and to that we thank you, Reverend Dr. King.

Tuesday, January 19: A Great Song from the Civil Rights Movement We Shall Overcome (2:08) “We Shall Overcome” is a famous anthem from the Civil Rights period. The lyrics of the song are a message of hope for a better future, and a future where everybody will have equal rights and opportunities, no matter what race or social and economic background.

Wednesday, January 20: Michael Jackson’s We Are the World (7:36) “We Are the World” is a famous and uplifting song written by Michael Jackson and Lionel Ritchie. This song has been used for many occasions. Here is a recording of it with many famous singers from the 1992 Presidential Inauguration.

Thursday, January 21: Johann Sebastian Bach’s Fugue a la Gigue (3:41) Famous composer Gustav Holst rewrote one of Bach’s famous works as a fun and charming band composition. This music is a delight to hear!

Friday, January 22: From Frozen 2 Show Yourself (4:39) Do you recognize this famous song from the Disney movie, “Frozen 2?”

Saturday, January 23: Leopold Mozart’s Musical Sleigh Ride (4:13) Did you know the famous composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s father was also a well-known composer? Can you imagine being out and about of a cold and snowy winter’s day riding in a sleigh as you listen to this music? Enjoy!

Sunday, January 24: Elton John and Kiki Dee’s Don't Go Breaking My Heart (4:16) Looking for some fun and uplifting music today? Enjoy this song by one of my favorite pop singers, Sir Elton John!

Monday, January 25: Theme and Variations on Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star (14:04) This catchy tune, “Twinkle. Twinkle Little Star,” was a popular folk song hundreds of years ago. The famous composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart used this tune in a very famous piano piece he wrote. Remember with theme and variation, you will always hear the catchy tune, but each time you hear it, something will be different, too!

Tuesday, January 26: Percy Grainger’s Children's March (7:08) Imagine, if you will, children slowly marching into town, passing through the town very loudly, and then leaving the town, the music growing ever softer as they move “Over the Hills and Far Away.” This is one of my absolutely favorite pieces to play and listen to!

Wednesday, January 27: The Fifth Dimension’s Aquarius (4:52) This older and lively pop song has remained ever popular and is often used in movies. I dare you to only listen to it once! (And yes, the catchy tune will surely get “stuck in your ears!”)

Thursday, January 28: Duke Ellington and Ella Fitzgerald’s It Don't Mean a Thing if it Ain't Got That Swing (2:33) This jazz tune from the early 1930s remains one of today’s most famous songs. You will enjoy this recording featuring jazz legends Ella Fitzgerald and Duke Ellington. I dare you not to tap your toes to this one!

Friday, January 29: Sergei Prokofiev’s Troika (Sleigh Ride) (2:36) Troika is a Russian word describing a 3-horse drawn sleigh. As you listen, can you imagine riding through the snow on such a sleigh?

Saturday, January 30: Pete Seeger and Judy Collin’s Turn, Turn, Turn (3:44) Here is a pop song from the 1960s. This song has been recorded by many artists. The essential message in this song is the hope for peace. Fifth grade students, this song is in your music book.

Sunday, January 31: Eric Whitacre’s The Seal Lullaby (4:13) The “Seal Lullaby” is a beautiful song about a mother seal singing softly to her young pup. This is a very special song.