Beneath the Surface: A Day in the Life of a Geophysics Undergrad

Featured Performances: "Someone to Watch Over Me" (Composed by George Gershwin, lyrics by Ira Gershwin, 1926, United States) Listen to Ella's recording here:      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=olC33bjtnhw&list=RDolC33bjtnhw&start_radio=1 "How High the Moon" (Live in Berlin, 1960) (Composed by Morgan Lewis, lyrics by Nancy Hamilton, 1940, United States) Watch the legendary performance here: https://youtu.be/Zf_yECTnuko?si=ciZ7sxgn64h-I9tm A Voice Forged in Song Through her musical journey, Ella Fitzgerald demonstrates the power of interpretation. Despite having a challenging upbringing (she was born in 1917), she began her professional singing career in 1934 after winning a competition at the Apollo Theater. She was quickly promoted to lead vocalist in bandleader Chick Webb's group after he found her. After Webb's death, she became the band's new leader and went on to have a successful solo career.  Throughout her life, Ella aimed to becom...

Irish music has always been popular because it makes people feel happy, sad, and tells stories. I chose to learn more about Celtic folk music for this musical journey. It has been around for a very long time. It encompasses a wide variety of styles, from melancholy ballads performed in a pub to lively reels that fill a festival field. What does the Emerald Isle sound like? Let's take a listen. An Enduring Legacy Created by Melodies:  To fully enjoy Irish folk music, you need to know about the history of community, resistance, and preservation. In the 17th and 18th centuries, Gaelic culture was limited by the Penal Laws and other rules. Irish resistance to colonialism relied on music. (Source 1) Experts say the bardic tradition and hedge schools helped preserve Irish language, narratives, and music.  Rather than a concert, this sounded more like a survival film score. One of the few comforts that those who managed to escape the Great Famine in the 1840s could take with them as ...

In 1969, a drummer named G.C. Coleman played a four-bar solo for a B-side funk track. Unbeknownst to him, he had just recorded the most sampled, influential, and legally contentious loop in music history.   This post will trace the evolution of the "Amen Break" from an obscure soul record to the foundational element of Drum and Bass and Jungle. Point A: The Original – "Amen, Brother" by The Winstons (1969)  Title: Amen Brother Artist: The Winstons  Composer: J. G. Coleman, R. C. G. Lewis, S. L. Gittens  Date: 1969  Country of Origin: USA The break occurs about one minute and twenty-six seconds into the song. It is a driving, syncopated pattern played on a drum kit, characterized by its powerful kick drum, sharp snare hits, and busy hi-hat and cymbal work . In its original context, it was simply a dynamic moment in a soulful funk track. The men, The Myths, The Legends Musical Element Analysis:      Two crucial musical components undergo a radical e...

 Title: The Planets, Op. 32: IV. Jupiter, the Bringer of Jollity. Composer: Gustav Holts Date Composed: 1914-1916 Country of Origin: United Kindgdom Listening to music and letting it control your whole being are not the same thing. The Planets by Gustav Holst is a great example of this. The song "Jupiter" is one of the best. It grabs your attention right away with its unapologetic joy and grandeur. This work gives me a lot of energy, makes me feel like I've won, and fills me with hope. It's a cosmic party, a big song of goodwill that makes you believe in heroism and greatness without saying a word. 1. Trim and Condense To heighten the emotional impact of the story, "Jupiter" employs a variety of textures. During the more rapid sections, the texture becomes dense and polyphonic as various lines of instruments (including strings, woodwinds, brass, and percussion) blend together to create a rich and intricate sound. All the revelry and mayhem of a massive party...

 Musical Analysis of "Shedryk"      Introduction: Few melodies in the world are as instantly recognizable as the one in "Shchedryk," composed by the Ukrainian master Mykola Leontovych in 1916. While millions know it as the basis for the Christmas classic "Carol of the Bells," the original piece holds a much deeper significance as a Ukrainian "shchedrivka," a traditional New Year's song wishing the household prosperity. For me, as a Ukrainian, this piece evokes a powerful sense of cultural pride, ancient mystery, and the crisp, anticipatory air of a winter celebration. Its emotional power is not an accident; it is the direct result of Leontovych's masterful manipulation of specific musical elements. This analysis will explore how the melody, rhythm, and harmony of "Shchedryk" work together to create its unique and haunting beauty.      Personal Reaction and Emotional Response: Listening to a authentic performance of "Shchedr...

Introduction: My name is Yan Vyshynskyi, and I am sophomore studying Geophysics here, in the University of Alaska Fairbanks. I am still in the "figuring-it-all-out" stage, so don't imagine me expertly analyzing seismic data in search of oil just yet. You are free to reconsider at any time! For the time being, I would like to focus on mastering the fundamentals and maintaining a neat textbook. My lifelong fascination with the inner workings of the Earth and the causes of earthquakes led me to declare geophysics as my major. When we put our feet on the floor, where exactly do they lodge? Being a detective and investigating crimes against the environment is a lot of fun. My Relationship with Music: Okay, I have to be honest with you - when I am not thinking about time scales or which rock is a limestone or dolomite or oolitic limestone, I try to relax by listening to either classical music or heavy metal. I need something that will bring me back to Modern Time, and not milli...