Ansley's Music Blog

 1. The Chehade Brothers  The Chehade Brothers I was researching modern middle eastern music and found The Chehade Brothers. I found them to be very interesting so I wanted to share them with you all. Rami and Farid Chehade are Palestinian-Lebanase musicians and singers. They grew up in Jordan where their childhood was surrounded by music and art which inspired the brothers to pursue a career in music. They both play many Arabic and other instruments like the oud, bouzok, violin, cello, riq, and many more. In this video they are accompanied by many other instruments this website lists:   bouzoq, a bouzouki, a oud, a violin, an accordion, a clarinet, a kanoun, a double-bass and three percussionists. I love this video, everyone seems to be having so much fun.  2. The Erhu The Erhu The Erhu is commonly known as the Chinese Violin. It originated in Central Asia during the Tang Dynasty. It is a two stringed vertical fiddle. The strings of the Erhu are stretched over a wo...

For this blog I decided to Interview my Dad on Music in his life. My Dad listens to so much music. I feel like he knows every song on the radio. When he's in the car we're always listening to 70s on 7, 80s on 8, or Yacht Rock Radio, and he knows about every song. My Mom will sometimes say "how do you know this?" You'll sometimes hear him singing something me or my siblings like and we also wonder how he knows those songs. My dad can say he's been to a lot of iconic live shows, but he's also been forced to see The Cheetah Girls, One Direction, and some others with my sister and I. Here is our conversation about music in his life: Who was your favorite artist when you were a kid?   “When I was a kid I would say probably The Drifters” How did your music you loved as a kid influence the music you love now? "I still listen to the same stuff. I love beach music. On my phone I have a whole section of beach music." What kind of music did you dislike as ...

Soul Music   is a genre of African American popular music that originated in the United States in the 1950s and 60s. It combines elements of gospel, rhythm and blues, and jazz. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame defines Soul as, “music that arose out of the Black experience in America.” History of Soul Music After slavery ended in 1865 African Americans were not allowed to attend churches that white people attended. African Americans built their own churches and sang Christian songs with their own style. Most Soul musicians grew up singing in these churches and that influenced their work. This style and rhythm from churches and gospel groups lead to the creation of Soul Music.  Types of Soul Music Early Soul The earliest soul songs were created when artists took gospel songs and added secular lyrics. "I've Got A Woman (Way Across Town)" by Ray Charles was inspired by the gospel song "I've Got A Savior (Way Across Jordan)" Popular soul singer, Sam Cooke was in a ...

Beyond The Classroom: Indigenous America and Africa 1. The Pan Flute As we were discussing Music from the Andes and instruments used, I became really interested in the Pan Flute. So, I'm going to share some history and facts about the Pan Flute, some covers using the Pan Flute, and a song you probably didn't know had a Pan Flute in it. The Andean Pan Flute (or panpipe) came to be from the Aymara cultures in the Lake Titicaca region. From there the Pan Flute spread to other places. The Pan Pipe differs in size and design throughout different regions. Andean  shepherdesses  would use the panpipe to gather their sheep and goats. Then panpipes were made from bones and feathers, now the panpipe is usually made from bamboo. The average panpipe has 13 bamboo pipes, each pipe has a different "tonal quality" that gives each a different sound. The top of the pipe is open and the bottom is closed.  Pan Flute History             Also, as I was resea...

 Every aspect of our lives is connected to music. From the music we listen to in the car to the music played on some of the most important days of our lives. Music gives us a feeling whether happy, sad, sentimental, or exciting. We have certain songs we associate with people or events in our lives. I’m going to share some events in my life and the music that was present.   Weddings: I’ve been to a few weddings and the music at each one is different. Usually, the music at a wedding is picked by the couple and reflects their relationship and lives. The music is all happy and some is played for dancing. The music is sometimes performed live by a band or singer or played by a DJ or something similar. The most recent wedding I went to was my cousins. He and his wife had their first dance to “Stand by Me.” I really love this song and the moment was very sweet.  "Stand By Me" Ben E. King Funerals: Music at a funeral represents a person’s life. The songs may be chosen by a p...

Hello everyone! I'm Ansley. I am a freshman here at Converse. I'm from Gaffney, South Carolina. I don't have much of a musical background apart from a few piano lessons and school productions when I was younger. I love listening to new songs and artists and finding new stuff I like.  1. Something I'm listening to now: "Big Shot" The Lumineers Last month The Lumineers released a new album, Brightside. "Big Shot" is probably my favorite from the new album. The past few weeks I have had the new album and other songs from The Lumineers on shuffle. The new album is good but isn't my favorite from The Lumineers. The Lumineers have some very popular songs, and some that are very good but don't get as much attention as others. If you've never listened to The Lumineers, I recommend the album, Cleopatra.  "Gold Rush" Taylor Swift A playlist I have been playing a lot recently is a combination of both Folklore and Evermore by Taylor Swift. ...