Richmond Public Library: Music Of The Month – February 2022

Press release from the Richmond Public Library:

Ben Himmelfarb

2022-02-04

Gellman Room Concerts

The 2021-2022 Gellman Room Concert season is here! You can always watch past concerts on RPL’s YouTube page.

Mark ValentiSaturday, February 12 at 2:00 PM

“Something for Everyone—Romantic, Impressionistic, Modern Virtuoso Piano Music”—works by Schubert, Rachmaninoff, Debussy, and Barber presented by Mark Valenti, piano.

Greater Richmond Children’s Choir

Saturday, February 26 at 2:00 PM

The Greater Richmond Children’s Choir presents Lyrics & Laughter in the Library! Invite your young and young-at-heart friends to enjoy this performance by GRCC’s training choirs under the direction of Crystal Jonkman and Pete Curry.

From Our Collection

Love songs are one of the oldest forms of popular music. When we think of “love songs” in English or other European-derived languages, we are usually referring to romantic love between individuals. This is a pretty modern understanding, emerging as the subject of European poets and lyricists in the Middle Ages. Prior to that, “love” tended to be understood in more mythological–or at least less individualistic and psychological–terms. To learn more about the history of “love songs” around the world, check out these books on music history, Ted Gioia’s Music: A Subversive History or Great Courses: Music and the Brain.

Here are two selections from our collection of Scores and Songbooks from two decidedly different eras.

Staff Playlist

Here are some of RPL staff’s favorite romantic music choices. Remember, the romance of a song can be about the mood it sets or memories (and nostalgia) it inspires! All of these songs are available via Hoopla with your library card!

Meg R. suggests Love Stinks by the J. Geils Band.

Ginter Park Library Staff suggest Ravel’s Bolero and Rimsky-Korsakov’s Scheherazade.

Beth M. suggests “All My Love” by Led Zeppelin.

Nan A. suggests “Unchained Melody” by the Righteous Brothers and “Wonderful Tonight” by Eric Clapton.

Lisa C. suggests “A Case of You” by Joni Mitchell.

Scott F. suggests “Can’t Get Enough of Your Love, Babe” by Barry White.

Phil S. suggests “Harvest Moon” by Neil Young.

Adam Z. suggests “Something” by The Beatles. (While The Beatles original recordings are not on Hoopla, there are tons of fun cover and tribute albums from many artists that include their songs!)

Alfreda P. suggests “She Believes in Me” by Kenny Rogers, and “No One in the World” by Anita Baker.

This press release was produced by the Richmond Public Library. The views expressed here are the author’s own.