Paul O'Rear -- Sunday, December 7, 2008, 2:18 PM (5 Comments)
Categories: Music
Tags: Americans, Australians, Bagpipes, Bettie O'Rear, Celtic music, Clint O'Rear, College Station Texas, Colorado, Danny Boy, David O'Rear, Englishmen, Fred Weatherly, Irish diaspora, Irish music, Irishmen, James Flannery, Jewish, Larry O'Rear, Londonderry Air, Malachy McCourt, Marjorie Konner, Mark O'Rear, Mark Vittert, Mel Konner, Minneapolis Star Tribune, Robert Armstrong, Sinn Fein-ers, St. Louis Business Journal, St. Louis Missouri, Thanksgiving, The Three Irish Tenors, Tim Bennett, Ulstermen, Wes O'Rear
[PART 3 OF 3]
In my first Danny Boy post …
- I shared with you the fascinating history surrounding the tune to which the words of “Danny Boy” were set, back in the early 1900’s;
- I explored the possibility that this song may have played an important role in my own family’s history
;
- I shared my long-held desire to someday record a four-part harmony version of the song with my four brothers, in honor of my sweet Dad.
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Paul O'Rear -- Tuesday, October 28, 2008, 12:28 AM (No Comments)
Categories: Music
Tags: Amazon.com, Dan Messé, Gary Maurer, Half Acre, Hem, Liberty Mutual, Mark O'Rear, Sally Ellyson, Steve Curtis, The Part Where You Let Go, Village Voice
One night, a year ago or so, I was talking to my brother Mark on the phone. Mark and I both love music, and the conversation that evening turned to music. Mark told me about a group that he had discovered recently, a group with a beautifully unique sound and a simple name, “Hem”.
Even if you have never heard of the group, you have probably heard at least one of their songs without even realizing it. In 2006, Liberty Mutual insurance company aired a commercial that created a lot of buzz. Here’s how the company describes it on their website.
“It all began with a single commercial that gave voice to an entire movement. It prompted thousands of people to start thinking and talking about responsibility, to celebrate the positive things in their lives and the world around them. And it captured the essence of Liberty Mutual’s core belief that responsibility matters, and doing the right thing is everything.”
(http://www.whatsyourpolicy.com/videos/index/9)
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Paul O'Rear -- Thursday, October 23, 2008, 2:33 PM (No Comments)
Categories: Music
Tags: 4-Part Harmony, Alto, Bass, Clint O'Rear, Danny Boy, David O'Rear, Mark O'Rear, SATB, Soprano, Tenor, Thanksgiving, Wes O'Rear
[PART 2 OF 3]
OK, this post is primarily for the benefit of my brothers, but someone else might find it useful as well. In response to my previous “Danny Boy” post, my brothers and I are making plans to record a 4-part harmony version of “Danny Boy” when we are all together at Thanksgiving. This post is designed to facilitate the preparations for the Thanksgiving recording session.
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