Sigma Alpha Iota

REVIEWs Alpha Mu Initiate Featured on New Oboe Composition CD P By Elora Walsh ublished by Centaur Records, Falling Still is an album of music for oboe by women composers. The album features Alpha Mu initiate Dr. Mary Ashley Barret, oboe professor at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and Kappa Gamma advisor, along with the talents of Inara Zandmane, Michael Burns, Marjorie Bagley, Alexander Ezerman and Scott Rawls. The opening tracks "Danza Gaya" and "Polka," composed by Madeline Dring, are a light and inviting way to start the album. "Danza Gaya" features a fast-paced piano accompany along with a conversing, bold oboe voice. Eventually the piece works its way into a bit of a darker personality, but by the end brings back the light. "Polka" starts with a beautiful oboe trill that works into a staccato waltz. The tempo of the track varies at points, helping keep listeners engaged. Over all, the two pieces complement each other nicely with the dance qualities each one possesses. Track three, "Incantation," slows down the pace a bit. This piece combines dark, ominous notes on the piano with the higher register of oboe and bassoon. The eight-minute song builds up in tempo and sound, creating a story for listeners to hear. Jumping ahead to the last section of the album, "Four Personalities," stays true to its title, giving listeners multiple personalities of the oboe for listeners to hone in on, the first being "Yellow." "Yellow" opens up with a solo, jazzy oboe setting a fun, finger-snapping scene. The piano jumps in to bring a full tone to the song in response to the oboe. The duo paints a sunny picture, making listeners want to tap their foot along to the beat. "White" is the second of the four personalities. This track sticks with a bit of a jazzy theme, but it's more serene. If you're looking for a song to stroll around the park and listen to, "White" is that song. Following "White" is "Blue." Starting off with a lone oboe and a single chord from the piano, "Blue" stays true to its namesake. Halfway through, the song progresses into a melancholy tone, working well to balance out the other personalities. Lastly, "Red" brings everything full circle with its quickened pace and crescendos creating a dramatic feeling. Have no fear though, "Red" continues to build throughout the track leaving the album off on a powerful note. If you would like to sit back and let the beautiful tones of oboe take you on an adventure, I strongly suggest you get your hands on a copy of Falling Still. Elora Walsh is a senior majoring in communications with a minor in music at Clairon University of Pennsylvania. At Clarion, Elora is the editor-in-chief of The Clarion Call, Programming Director of WCUC-FM, President of the Society for Collegiate Journalists, and President of the Kappa Eta Chapter of SAI. CLICK FOR MORE To learn more about Centaur Records, visit centaurrecords.com Children's Books Combine Animals and Arias to youngsters and is an inspiring story for the young reader to follow his/her dream. "…no dream is impossible for the strong in heart!" THE BEAR WHO LOVED THE BEAR WHO LOVED PUCCINI PUCCINI by Arnold Sundgaard and Dominic Catalano How do you get your students interested in opera? Here is an appealing book about The Bear Who Loved Puccini by Arnold Sundgaard and illustrated by Dominic Catalano. It follows the dream of Robert Remsen "Barefoot" Rainfield, a young Minnesota bear who wanted to sing the music of Puccini after falling in love with his opera, Madame Butterfly upon hearing it on a camper's radio. The reader then follows Rainfield on his journey to the big city of St. Paul to start his career as an opera singer. However, who ever heard of a singing bear? His adventure takes the reader from his first big break, as he becomes known for his "clear, sweet voice" singing at the St. Pete's Elite Café for pancakes, to a chance to sing at La Scala. The Bear who Loved Puccini is a charming tale which introduces opera THE CATROPOLITAN THE CATROPOLITAN OPERA OPERA by Susan Herbert The Catroplolitan Opera by Susan Herbert is a whimsical entertaining look at opera through the eyes of the feline world. This book has fantastically adorable illustrations and tongue-incheek synopses of grand operas with cats performing in full costume. This book is delightful and is a must for all SAIs who love opera and would like to see the world through the eyes of the Grand Catropolitan Opera Company. It can be used as a fun way to catch the attention of the child in all of us to understand opera in another way. MEOOOW. — Ginny Johnson sai-national.org SPRING 2012 PAN PIPES 19

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