File this under: "People You Don't Hear About Until They're Dead"

Odetta was a pretty influential folk singer who has a pretty interesting story that is definitely worth a read. She was hoping to sing at Barack Obama's inauguration, but she never will get that chance. Why? Because she just died.

The Soloist

There's an intriguing movie set to be released this coming March called The Soloist. This movie traces the interaction between journalist Steve Lopez and Nathaniel Anthony Ayers- a former Julliard cellist who succumbs to schizophrenia and winds up homeless on the streets of L.A. This is based on true events, and the actual articles that Steve Ayers published, beginning in 2005, along with a video journal with actual footage of the REAL Ayers can be found here.

Some Performances of Ancient Greek Music

Music in a Time of War

I found an article about some violins that survived [and helped people survive] the holocaust. In a world that is constantly torn by war, it's interesting to see the role music plays in bringing a sense of relief and comfort.

Schoenberg and serial music

Schoenberg being a lover of order in music (he used traditional forms) created a set of rules that composers could use. Also he was influenced by the socialist belief in absolute economic and social equality and gave the notes absolute equality or "socialism in music". Also I know this is annoying but Schoenberg's opera was published as Moses und Aron Schoenberg changed it because Moses und Aaron had 13 letters a number he feared deeply. (not kidding)