Arts & Culture

Uke Can Do It!

            
     

You’ve always wanted to play a musical instrument, but it was too expensive, or time-consuming, or scary? That’s how I felt, until I bought my first ukulele.

The little instrument with a big following is easy to learn. Without too much investment in money or time, you’ll be strumming and singing lots of your favourite songs.  Toronto Public Library has added many songbooks and how-to books to the collection recently, and has some great CDs and DVDs to inspire budding ukesters.

 

You might want to start by watching The Mighty Uke. It traces the history of the ukulele, and highlights some of the great groups and individual musicians who are playing today, including Canada’s own James Hill.

 

Don’t feel too bad if your playing isn’t quite up to James’s skill – he started playing uke in public school. Give yourself a couple of years to catch up!!

Here are some CDs to inspire you.

 

Ukulele Songs

A very non-traditional album by Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam!

 

True Love Don't Weep

Canadian James Hill, such an exciting and original performer.

 

Somewhere Over the Rainbow

Last but not least, Israel Kamakawiwo'ole (Izzy),  the man who helped to re-start the ukulele craze!

 

               

And of course, some how-to books to get you started playing today.

 

                
Once you've mastered a few techniques, check out these great songbooks!

No tiptoe-ing through the tulips required – the ukulele repertoire has come a long way since the days of Tiny Tim!

For those of us who like to play with friends and fellow learners, here in Toronto we are lucky to have some great ukulele group opportunities. Check out the legendery Corktown Ukulele Jam, and the Toronto Institute for the Enjoyment of Music for their special events, regular classes and jams.

Many of the greatest pop and rock musicians have included the uke in their repertoire. George Harrison was a huge ukulele fan, and said that everyone should play one. Who are we to argue?

 

Go ahead, release your inner musician, pick up a uke, and start strumming! You know you want to.

Did you know that the Arts Department on the 5^th Floor of the Toronto Reference Library has a large collection of scores and songbooks that you can use here, and in many cases borrow? There is a song index, but you can also browse through the catalogue looking for songs, musicals and instrumental music.  There are 3 photocopiers on the floor but don’t forget to add money to your copy card/library card on the Main Floor .

Fashion Illustration

The pleasure of fashion illustration is presented here in some books that
may interest you.

 

 


 

                       

                         The clothing of the body in interesting ways.

 

Woody Guthrie 1912 - 1967. Is This Land Made For You and Me?

Woodrow Wilson Guthrie would have been 100 years old today. Despite his death 45 yeas ago, his songs still resonate.  In fact, some seem as if they were written only yesterday.

Guthrie wrote This Land is Your Land in 1940 as a response to Irving Berlin's God Bless America. Guthrie had travelled the length and breadth of the United States during the worst of the Depression, looking for work, painting signs and playing his guitar and singing. I don't think Guthrie's version is any less patriotic than Irving Berlin's, but it did paint a fuller, more honest picture of the state of the union.

Everyone knows this song; versions exist in many different countries (as a kid I always thought our own - "from Bonavista to Vancouver Island"  - was the original).  Like the best folk songs, it could be adapted and changed.  Woody Guthrie's original song  includes verses I had never heard before:

This land is your land This land is my land
From California to the New York island;
From the red wood forest to the Gulf Stream waters
This land was made for you and Me.

As I was walking that ribbon of highway,
I saw above me that endless skyway:
I saw below me that golden valley:
This land was made for you and me.

I've roamed and rambled and I followed my footsteps
To the sparkling sands of her diamond deserts;
And all around me a voice was sounding:
This land was made for you and me.

When the sun came shining, and I was strolling,
And the wheat fields waving and the dust clouds rolling,
As the fog was lifting a voice was chanting:
This land was made for you and me.

As I went walking I saw a sign there
And on the sign it said "No Trespassing."
But on the other side it didn't say nothing,
That side was made for you and me.

In the shadow of the steeple I saw my people,
By the relief office I seen my people;
As they stood there hungry, I stood there asking
Is this land made for you and me?

Nobody living can ever stop me,
As I go walking that freedom highway;
Nobody living can ever make me turn back
This land was made for you and me.

The inspiration for verses five and six could have been taken from the headlines of this morning's newspaper -  powerful, seemingly untouchable banks, foreclosures, disenfranchised people out of work.

This rousing rendition is from Barack Obama's inaugural concert in 2009.

 

 I don't think there would have been a Pete Seeger, Bob Dylan, Phil Ochs or Billy Bragg without Woody Guthrie first blazing a trail.

Toronto Public Library's collections reflect Woody's vast legacy.  Here's but a smattering of works featuring Woody's music and life story:

 

                                             

   Woody Guthrie Sings Folk Songs  Dust Bowl Ballads                Live Wire

                                            

            This Land was Made...      Pastures of Plenty               American Radical

 

     I love a good man outside the law,
just as much as I hate a bad man inside the law.

-Woody Guthrie, "Pretty Boy Floyd" lyric sheet notation, 1940's.

 

Spoken like a true iconoclast.  Live on, Woody!

 

Songs in Original Keys for Women and Men - more music scores

Ever wanted to sing a song in the original key and just not been satisfied by the piano / song scores out there?  Well, I hope you'll be happy with a new series the Toronto Public Library has added "Original Keys for Singers".  This series was designed for vocalists looking for authentic transcriptions from their favorite artist.  The books transcribe famous vocal performances exactly as recorded and provide piano accompaniment parts so that you can perform or practice exactly as your favorite artists sang them.  There are two general volumes arranged by gender.

               

 

There are couple of volumes arranged for Christmas (which will be handy for lounge singers):

               

If you're interested in Christmas music you may like some of our earlier blog posts on favorite Xmas songs esp Lou Rawls' "Christmas Is" or the Waitresses "Christmas Wrapping".

 

If you're interested in specific female singers (including Ella, Bette, Liza and Mariah)  why not try any of the following :

                              

 

If you're looking for male singers then you may like some of the following:

                                 

 

We'll be doing some future blog posts on other authentic settings and original keys collections including The Singer's Musical Theatre Anthology by voice and the Singer's Library of Musical Theatre  by voice.

There is lots more information about the sheet music and score collection of the Arts Department at the Toronto Reference Library.  There is also a song index to individual songs.