From the Library - The Funny Stuff!

Musical Comedy, Satire, Parody or Novelty Music. Call it what you will but humorous music is all over the place. (And despite what some people think, Weird Al is not the only person to write parodies!).



From Tom Lehrer, Rolf Harris, Benny Hill and Art Carney to the more recent stylings of Jonathan Coulton, The Arrogant Worms, Richard Cheese and Mitch Benn there should be something in here for everyone.



And yes there should be some Weird Al.



Just try not to laugh too loud if you're listening in at work.

From the Library is produced by gullar sahir in conjunction with the Alexandrian Free Library Consortium of Second Life. You can listen to the programme now in-world at http://music.radioriel.org, or click one of the buttons below. Today's programme is presented by Edward Pearse.



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For more information on the Alexandrian Free Library, current exhibits and the work of Consortium members in general, please visit the Alexandrian Free Library website, or one of their branches in-world

From the Library - Early Music

Today's From The Library features an assortment of Mediaeval and early Renaissance music for your listening pleasure.

From the Library is produced by gullar sahir in conjunction with the Alexandrian Free Library Consortium of Second Life. You can listen to the programme now in-world at http://music.radioriel.org, or click one of the buttons below. Today's programme is presented by Edward Pearse.

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For more information on the Alexandrian Free Library, current exhibits and the work of Consortium members in general, please visit the Alexandrian Free Library website, or one of their branches in-world

From the Library - String Selection

Classical orchestration is often dominated by stringed instruments. Cellos, violins, violas, bass and guitar all contribute significant air time in classical compositions. Even today with the advent of electronic synthesizers, saxophones, and autotune (that's nearly become an instrument by itself), strings are still a dominant part of the music we listen to.

Today's From The Library features an assortment of classical music featuring strings. From chamber music to full orchestration. A little something for everyone.

From the Library is produced by gullar sahir in conjunction with the Alexandrian Free Library Consortium of Second Life. You can listen to the programme now in-world at http://music.radioriel.org, or click one of the buttons below. Today's programme is presented by Edward Pearse.

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For more information on the Alexandrian Free Library, current exhibits and the work of Consortium members in general, please visit the Alexandrian Free Library website, or one of their branches in-world

From the Library - The Music of Movies

Film and television images are often govern that extra dimension by means of accompanying music. It will take a simple scene of a group of people walking forward and make it into an iconic moment. Sometime it will take an old piece of music and forever link it to the new image. How many people can listen to Strauss's Blue Danube without thinking of rotating spaceships? From Murder on the Orient Express and The Great Race, to Batman Begins and Sherlock Holmes. A selection of the soundtracks from the Library of Edward Pearse.

From the Library is produced by gullar sahir in conjunction with the Alexandrian Free Library Consortium of Second Life. You can listen to the programme now in-world at http://music.radioriel.org, or click one of the buttons below. Today's programme is presented by Edward Pearse.

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For more information on the Alexandrian Free Library, current exhibits and the work of Consortium members in general, please visit the Alexandrian Free Library website, or one of their branches in-world

From the Library - Percy Grainger

On the 8th of July 1882 Percy Grainger was born in Melbourne, in the then Colony of Victoria (now part of Australia). His precocious musical talents saw him give public performances at the age of 12. Travels through Europe, and the US saw Grainger in contact with numerous musicians saw him build friendships with fellow composers such as Edvard Grieg, Frederick Delius, Vaughan Williams, Sir Edward Elgar, Richard Strauss and Claude Debussy.

While Grainger never quite achieved the fame of many of his contemporaries, his appreciation is slowly coming to light.

Today's programme includes recordings of Grainger's works in addition to those of contemporary composers, Grieg, Delius, Vaughan Williams, Holst and Elgar.

From the Library is produced by gullar sahir in conjunction with the Alexandrian Free Library Consortium of Second Life. You can listen to the programme now in-world at http://music.radioriel.org, or click one of the buttons below. Today's programme is presented by Edward Pearse.

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For more information on the Alexandrian Free Library, current exhibits and the work of Consortium members in general, please visit the Alexandrian Free Library website, or one of their branches in-world

From the Library - Mediaeval Medly

Music of the Middle Ages was not something you bought on a parchment and took home to listen to. It was played live and, as with most modern live music, would change from performance to performance. Copyright did not exist so writing a hit song and living off royalties was not an option. Even if you did write a song, if someone played it better than you, they often got the credit.

Today's collection includes music from professional musicians as well as historical re-creationists performing tunes that have been passed down through the centuries.

From the Library is produced by gullar sahir in conjunction with the Alexandrian Free Library Consortium of Second Life. You can listen to the programme now in-world at http://music.radioriel.org, or click one of the buttons below. Today's programme is presented by Edward Pearse.

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For more information on the Alexandrian Free Library, current exhibits and the work of Consortium members in general, please visit the Alexandrian Free Library website, or one of their branches in-world

From the Library - Stravinksy's Birthday

On the 5th of June 1882 Igor Fyodorovich Stravinsky was born in Oranienbaum in Russia. With the introduction of the Gregorian calendar to Russia in 1918 this date has become the 17th of June in the modern reckoning.

Stravinsky is widely acknowledged as one of the most influential composers of the 20th century. Probably best known for The Firebird and The Rite of Spring pieces, Stravinsky was considered a musical revolutionary and changed the way many composers thought about rhythm, melody and musical design.

Today's From the Library celebrates Stravinsky's legacy as well as those of fellow Russian composers.

From the Library is produced by gullar sahir in conjunction with the Alexandrian Free Library Consortium of Second Life. You can listen to the programme now in-world at http://music.radioriel.org, or click one of the buttons below. Today's programme is presented by Edward Pearse.

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For more information on the Alexandrian Free Library, current exhibits and the work of Consortium members in general, please visit the Alexandrian Free Library website, or one of their branches in-world

From the Library - CineSound

Both the big screen and the small screens of film and television rely heavily on music to set the tone of their stories. Today, with only a few notable exceptions, both film and TV will try and have a single piece of music that defines the story. This is the theme. Sometimes the memorable piece from the film is the end credits, other times it's the opening sequence. For TV the start and finish are often the same.

So settle back in your favourite chair, a drink at the ready and let the music bring back the memories of some great movie moments.

From the Library is produced by gullar sahir in conjunction with the Alexandrian Free Library Consortium of Second Life. You can listen to the programme now in-world at http://music.radioriel.org, or click one of the buttons below. Today's programme is presented by Edward Pearse.

Tune in:

For more information on the Alexandrian Free Library, current exhibits and the work of Consortium members in general, please visit the Alexandrian Free Library website, or one of their branches in-world

From The Library - Soldiers of the Queen

Today's "From the Library" features a selection of pieces and marches either written for the military or relating to portrayals of the Military.

Selections include pieces by Gustav Holst, Edward Elgar, John Philip Sousa, Gottfried Piefke, and performances by the Australian Military College Band, the Gordon Highlanders, the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra, the US Military Academy Band and the Gebirgsmusikkorps 8 der 1. Gebirgsdivision Garmisch-Partenkirchen.

From the Library is produced by gullar sahir in conjunction with the Alexandrian Free Library Consortium of Second Life. You can listen to the programme now in-world at http://music.radioriel.org, or click one of the buttons below. Today's programme is presented by Edward Pearse.

Tune in:

For more information on the Alexandrian Free Library, current exhibits and the work of Consortium members in general, please visit the Alexandrian Free Library website, or one of their branches in-world

Note from Edward: Today's program includes some German Nazi marches. This program is an abbreviated historic record of military marches and music, which does include the "patriotic" music written for the German military during the Nazi regime. gullar sahir does not in any way support the philosophies of the Nazis by playing this music. We present it to you in a scholarly and academic context, just as we have done with other pieces in the past.

From the Library - Victorian selections

Today's From the Library presents a mix of Music Hall songs, fairground music and 19th century classical pieces.

From the Library is produced by gullar sahir in conjunction with the Alexandrian Free Library Consortium of Second Life. You can listen to the programme now in-world at http://music.radioriel.org, or click one of the buttons below. Today's programme is presented by Edward Pearse.

Tune in:

For more information on the Alexandrian Free Library, current exhibits and the work of Consortium members in general, please visit the Alexandrian Free Library website, or one of their branches in-world