*This post is part of Free for All’s “Making Magic” series, which will focus on Kelley’s exploration of the opportunities in the library’s Creativity Lab.
Every time I hear Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah it slowly moves through me like a wave building, cresting, breaking, and then retreating to leave behind an inner landscape that is a little bit different than the one that was there before the song played. It’s one of those songs that makes it feel good to feel sad, a song of longing, of loss and of love, but most of all, at least to me, it feels like a prayer. The interesting thing is that if you asked me about the lyrics, I would tell you that I’ve never paid close enough attention to tell you exactly what they are or what they mean, but I don’t need those things to know exactly what feelings Cohen wanted to evoke when he composed the song. The magic of music is it’s power to make us feel without needing to fully understand why. A song is a catharsis of sound.
Earlier this month, Leonard Cohen passed away, but he is immortalized by his music. From Saturday Night Live to the Shrek soundtrack, Hallelujah alone has been covered by numerous artists, my favorite being this version by Jeff Buckley:
2016 has been a big year of loss in the music world. I mentioned Leonard Cohen already, but David Bowie, Sharon Jones, Leon Russell, John Berry of the Beastie Boys, and Prince were among this year’s noteworthy passings as well. This is starting to sound like a downer of a post, but it’s not. All of these musicians live on in their music, and there will always be new musicians entering the field to make their exciting contributions to this ever growing and changing art that touches so many of us. You could be one of them.
If you are someone who likes to make music, whether it be original songs or covers of the work of someone you admire, the library has everything you need from books about the music business to a sound recording studio equipped with resources like Pro Tools, a professional quality microphone and a selection of instruments just waiting to be played. The best part is, if you don’t already know how to use the sound recording equipment, the Creativity Lab offers classes so that you can learn. For free! The next one is coming up on December 17th, so if you’ve been thinking about recording your first album, or even just experimenting a bit with sound, now is your chance.
The following are some books from our collection to provide inspiration and help you get started:
33 Revolutions Per Minute : A History of Protest Songs, from Billie Holiday to Green Day by Dorian Lynskey
Not happy with the way things are going in the world or your corner of it? Write a protest song! For inspiration, check out this title where music critic Dorian Lynskey provides an overview of seventy years of protest music.
Learn to Speak Music: A Guide to Creating, Performing, & Promoting Your Songs by John Crossingham
Our teen room offers this great book that explores music from all angles. You’ll learn about songwriting, promotion, the importance of a good practice space, and more.
The Big
Payback : The History of the Business of Hip-Hop by Dan Charnas
Are you a hip-hop fan? Why not take some time to explore this 40-year history of rap? Rolling Stone’s 4-star review calls this one, “a classic of music business dirt-digging as well as a kind of pulp epic.”
Here Come the Regulars : How to Run a Record Label on a Shoestring Budget by Ian Anderson
If you’re interested in starting your own record label, you’ll find everything you need to do it on the cheap here. Covering topics from fundraising to saying no to your friends, this book is a great choice if you’re looking for a DIY spin on the music business.