The name "Rapflexion" of Carlos Utermöhlen's youth project perfectly describes what he and his team do: through the musical form of rap, they help young people reflect on themselves. In addition to learning musical techniques, young people from disadvantaged areas in Germany and South America also rediscover language and gain a new sense of self-worth and community. In this interview, Carlos talks about his diverse experiences from nearly 20 years of youth work.
read moreWe want to examine what makes reggae musically unique, which songs are considered absolute classics, and the typical roles of individual instruments, so you can try out your instrument at the next reggae jam. An introduction with many audio examples.
read moreAs nature awakens from hibernation, floral scents fill the air. Fresh leaves give the world a green hue, and gardens and meadows start exploding with colour... Can all of this be captured in music? Stretta editro David Rauh went looking for anwsers, guided by his own personal Spring Music-Highlights.
read moreComposing and arranging for big band today is no easy task, as Jazz Award winner Thorsten Wollmann knows from personal experience. Here is a brief overview of the past and present of this quintessential jazz ensemble.
read moreEvery year on the 2nd of November, Mexico celebrates one of its most important holidays, Día de Muertos. As the name suggests, the "Day of the Dead" commemorates the deceased. But unlike many funeral and commemoration ceremonies in Europe, it is a lavish and colourful festival with great hustle and bustle on the streets, festive parades and exuberant music and dances.
read moreWhat would 2001: Space Odyssey be without Richard Strauss? What would Back to the Future be without Chuck Berry? What would Alfred Hitchcock have done without Bernard Herrmann? It is hard to imagine our favourite films without music. But the first films were produced without any sound at all! From the first moment someone pushed a piano onto the stage at a silent movie theatre, this wonderful musical genre sprung to life.
read moreReggae – these are summer vibes on the always sunny Caribbean island of Jamaica, Bob Marley, dreadlocks, and marijuana. While these common clichés are not unfounded, they only reflect a very small part of the music style. Christian Geiger takes a journey through the history of reggae (through ska and rocksteady) and answers the question: What exactly characterizes the style?
read moreSince the very first silent films, music and film have always gone hand in hand! For us as musicians, however, it is particularly interesting when we reverse the terms ‘film’ and ‘music’, and focus on the genre 'music films'. Here, the music itself is the subject, and each and every film provides numerous musical numbers. Ten members of the #StrettaSquad recommend their favorite music films, and every single one is an absolute must-see!
read moreThe forest has undergone an amazing transformation: from a place of a multitude of dangers, to a preservation area of untouched nature. It serves as a seismograph for the general state of the environment. But what role does the forest play in music? Do hunting horns and birdsong really emanate from the forest? Holger Slowik from the #StrettaJournal spoke to musicologist Georg Högl, an expert on the forest in music.
read moreWe take a look at a few questions about dark music: Why do we get goosebumps and what does that say about us? Do you know the melody of death that has been creeping through music history for centuries, quoted by many great composers, and even features in children's films like _The Lion King_? Embark upon our eerie musical journeys and let yourself be inspired. Some answers and examples might scare you...
read moreNow the horror really begins. Atonality, dissonance, specifically developed, weird instruments, rhythmic unrest, menacingly deep tones or bone-chilling high notes - there are no limits to the imagination of film composers to make us uncomfortable, to accentuate terrible images or to forebode disaster.
read moreSo, you think that after “Scary Classical” and “Freaky Film Music”, nothing can frighten you anymore? You're probably right, since popular music tends to be more entertaining and generally tries not to be too disturbing. It's often the backstory that frightens us the most, like with the first song on this playlist…
read moreCome into the cool catacombs of the most catastrophic classical compositions! Crisp as a cat, you can listen to the clear, concert call in the cold cellar of a cathedral with clattering teeth. Is that an organ I hear? No, for at the beginning of this playlist, one of the most important pieces of all time was arranged for orchestra, in order to be even more effective. Discover the terrific depths of classical music!
read moreShimmering heat, balmy evenings, thunderstorms… Summer has many faces, tones moods, and sounds. In this Stretta Journal article about the sounds of summer, Holger Slowik presents his selection of summer music favourites.
read moreChristmas is the festival of songs! There is no other occasion with such an abundance of melodies and lyrics from all centuries and regions of the world. Let's take a closer look at two songs: Where do they come from? What is the story behind their creation? What exactly do the lyrics say, and what makes their melody so uniquely memorable?
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