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Audio

COMIC AUDIO COMPANION – Listen to the music discussed in the book!

This is an educational website—the audio clips below are intended to help illustrate the material discussed in the comic book. The majority of these clips are hosted on third party services such as YouTube and SoundCloud. The remainder are either from Wikimedia Commons, or short excerpts posted for the sole purpose of illuminating the discussion of topics such as musical borrowing.

As explained in the comic, more people than ever are making music. That is something we should celebrate. But artists and composers deserve our support—financial as well as moral. If you like any of the music below, please consider buying it from Amazon, iTunes, or your preferred service.


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Ancient Greek music

Click below to listen to a rendition of Ancient Greek music from Duke Professor William Johnson (opens in new tab)
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Salve Regina

Salve Regina

(Audio from Wikimedia Commons)

 


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Contessa de Dia's A Chantar M'er

Contessa de Dia,
A Chantar M’er

(Audio from Wikimedia Commons)

 


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William IX's Joyfully, I Set Myself to Love

A version of William IX’s
Joyfully, I Set Myself to Love

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Allegiez moy... (by Josquin des Prez)

“Allegiez moy. . .”
(by Josquin des Prez)

Allegiez moy... (by Josquin des Prez)

 


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Lute music from Petrucci's publication of Intabolatura de lauto (book 1) by Francesco Spinacino

The image to the left is the first page from Petrucci’s publication of Intabolatura de lauto (book 1) by Francesco Spinacino. Here is some of the lute music from this book
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Justice Silence’s song from Henry IV

Justice Silence’s song
from Henry IV

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You 15 Year Old Girls

You 15 Year Old Girls
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Di Lasso’s mass
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Georg Friedrich Handel

“. . .and he shall reign forever and ever” from Handel’s Messiah

Ludwig van Beethoven

Beethoven’s quotation of Handel in Missa Solemnis

Gustav Mahler

Part of Mahler’s First Symphony that is similar to Missa Solemnis

Igor Stravinsky

Stravinsky’s
The Rite of Spring

 
 

Luciano Berio

Berio’s quotation of Stravinsky
 
 

 


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Ludwig van Beethoven

Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony
 

Part of Brahms’ First Symphony that echoes Beethoven

Gustav Mahler

Part of Mahler’s Third Symphony that echoes Brahms

Gustav Mahler

Mahler’s Second Symphony
 

Luciano Berio

Berio borrowing from Mahler in Sinfonia

 


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La Marsailles and Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture

The French national anthem
 
 

Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture quoting the French national anthem

Holst’s The Planets and Williams’ Star Wars soundtrack

An episode of Rick Beato’s “Everything Music” demonstrates similarities between Holst’s The Planets and Williams’ Star Wars soundtrack
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You could copy folk songs to set a scene...

The folk
song Zhuravel
(“The Crane”)

Tchaikovsky’s
Second Symphony quoting Zhuravel

The folk
song Beriozka
(“The Birch Tree”)

Tchaikovsky’s
Fourth Symphony quoting Beriozka

 


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The Anacreontic Song

The Anacreontic Song
The Anacreontic Song

The Star-Spangled Banner

The Star-Spangled Banner
The Star-Spangled Banner

Pinkerton’s theme from Madame Butterfly

Pinkerton’s theme from Madame Butterfly

Jimi Hendrix playing The Star-Spangled Banner

Jimi Hendrix playing The Star-Spangled Banner
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My Country, 'Tis of Thee

My Country,
’Tis of Thee

My Country, 'Tis of Thee

God Save the Queen
God Save the Queen

Battle Hymn of the Republic

Battle Hymn of
the Republic

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John Brown’s Body
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The Marines’ Hymn

The Marines’ Hymn
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Jacques Offenbach’s Genevieve de Brabant
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Nelly Was A Lady

Nelly Was A Lady
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The Old Arm Chair

Henry Russell’s
The Old Arm Chair

Samuel Carusi’s
The Old Arm Chair

 

 


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Scott Joplin, Maple Leaf Rag

Scott Joplin,
Maple Leaf Rag

Scott Joplin, Maple Leaf Rag

 

 


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Gershwin’s Swanee, sung by Al Jolson

Gershwin’s Swanee, sung by Al Jolson
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Leonard Bernstein playing Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue

Leonard Bernstein playing Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue
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I Got Rhythm and the rhythm changes

George Gershwin performing I Got Rhythm
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“The rhythm changes” chord progression from I Got Rhythm
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Charlie Parker riffing on the rhythm changes
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The yodeling DeZurik sisters

The yodeling DeZurik sisters
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Paul Whiteman’s Mississippi Mud

Paul Whiteman’s
Mississippi Mud

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Robert Johnson, Cross Road Blues

Robert Johnson,
Cross Road Blues

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Skip James

Skip James,
Devil Got
My Woman

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Robert Johnson,
Hellhound on my Trail

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Leroy Carr

Leroy Carr,
When the Sun Goes Down

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Robert Johnson,
Love in Vain

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Kokomo Arnold

Kokomo Arnold,
Sagefield Woman Blues

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Robert Johnson,
I Believe I’ll Dust my Broom

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Son House

Son House,
Walkin’ Blues

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Robert Johnson,
Walkin’ Blues

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Hambone Willie Newbern

Hambone Willie Newbern,
Roll and Tumble Blues

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Robert Johnson,
Traveling Riverside Blues

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Leroy Carr

Leroy Carr,
Mean Mistreater Mama

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Robert Johnson,
Kind Hearted Woman Blues

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Rory Block, Hellhound on my Trail

Rory Block,
Hellhound on my Trail

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Ben Harper, Dust My Broom

Ben Harper,
Dust My Broom

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Rolling Stones, Love in Vain

Rolling Stones,
Love in Vain

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Grateful Dead, Walkin’ Blues

Grateful Dead,
Walkin’ Blues

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Led Zeppelin, Travelling Riverside Blues

Led Zeppelin,
Travelling Riverside Blues

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Cream, Crossroads Blues

Cream,
Crossroads Blues

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George Thorogood, Kind Hearted Woman Blues

George Thorogood,
Kind Hearted Woman Blues

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Ida Red and Maybellene

Bob Wills & His Texas Playboys, Ida Red
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Chuck Berry,
Maybellene

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Roll Over Beethoven

Chuck Berry,
Roll Over
Beethoven

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The Beatles,
Roll Over
Beethoven

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Prince, Johnny B. Goode

Prince,
Johnny B. Goode

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Sweet Little Sixteen & Surfin' USA

Chuck Berry,
Sweet Little
Sixteen

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The Beach Boys,
Surfin’ USA

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Chuck Berry, Brown Eyed Handsome Man

Chuck Berry,
Brown Eyed Handsome Man

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Little Richard, Tutti Frutti

Little Richard,
Tutti Frutti

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Pat Boone,
Tutti Frutti

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Hound Dog

Big Mama
Thornton,
Hound Dog

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Elvis,
Hound Dog

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The Beatles & Nat King Cole

Nat King Cole,
Answer Me,
My Love

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The Beatles,
Yesterday

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The Beatles & Bobby Parker

Bobby Parker,
Watch Your Step

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The Beatles,
I Feel Fine

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The Beatles, Within You, Without You

The Beatles,
Within You, Without You

(Illustrative audio from Wikipedia)

Paul McCartney demonstrating how Bach’s Bourée inspired Blackbird

Paul McCartney
demonstrating how
Bach’s Bourée
inspired Blackbird

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Honey Pie & Revolution 9

The Beatles,
Honey Pie

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The Beatles,
Revolution 9

(Illustrative audio from Wikipedia)

 


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La Marseillaise, Bach, Greensleeves, In the Mood

“La Marseillaise” portion of All You Need Is Love
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Bach portion of All You Need Is Love
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“Greensleeves” portion of All You Need Is Love
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“In the Mood” portion of All You Need Is Love
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Chuck Berry, The Beatles, Cream

“Here come a flattop. . .” from Chuck Berry’s You Can’t Catch Me
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“Here come old flattop. . .” from The Beatles’ Come Together
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Cream, Badge
(co-written by George Harrison)
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The Beatles, Here Comes the Sun
(written by George Harrison)
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Pachelbel, Catch 22, Coolio

Pachelbel’s
Canon

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Catch 22,
On & On & On

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Coolio,
C U When U Get There

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The Axis of Awesome, 4 Chords

The Axis of Awesome,
4 Chords

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(This video illustrates a standard
chord progression for pop songs.)

 


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James Newton, Beastie Boys

James Newton,
Choir

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Beastie Boys,
Pass the Mic

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Roy Orbison, 2 Live Crew

Roy Orbison,
Oh, Pretty Woman

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2 Live Crew,
Pretty Woman

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Girl Talk’s Night Ripper album

Girl Talk’s Night Ripper album
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Public Enemy, Bar-kays, Malcolm X, Rufus Thomas

Bar-kays,
Son of Shaft

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Public Enemy,
Caught: Can We Get A Witness?

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Malcolm X, 1964 Boston Radio Interview
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Public Enemy,
Party for Your Right to Fight

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Public Enemy,
Don’t Believe the Hype

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(The sample you hear of “Now here’s what I want you all to do for me” is from a live version of Rufus Thomas’ “Do the Funky Penguin” that was taken down from YouTube.)
 

 


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Jimmy Castor Bunch, Beastie Boys

The Jimmy Castor Bunch, The Return of Leroy Pt. 1
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Beastie Boys,
Hold It Now, Hit It

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Gilbert O'Sullivan, Biz Markie

Gilbert O’Sullivan,
Alone Again (Naturally)

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Biz Markie,
Alone Again

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Public Enemy, Caught: Can We Get A Witness?

Public Enemy,
Caught: Can We Get A Witness?

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George Clinton, N.W.A

George Clinton,
Get Off Your Ass and Jam

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N.W.A,
100 Miles and Runnin’

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(Can’t hear the sample? It became what sounds vaguely like a police siren in the background.)
 

 


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Madonna, Vogue

The Salsoul Orchestra,
Ooh, I Love It (Love Break)

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Madonna,
Vogue

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The Police, Puff Daddy

The Police,
Every Breath You Take

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Puff Daddy,
I’ll Be Missing You

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The Turtles, De La Soul

The Turtles,
You Showed Me

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De La Soul,
Transmitting Live from Mars

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The Chiffons, He's So Fine

The Chiffons,
He’s So Fine

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George Harrison,
My Sweet Lord

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Listen to George Harrison discussing this case
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Michael Bolton

Isley Brothers,
Love is a Wonderful Thing

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Michael Bolton,
Love is a Wonderful Thing

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Pharrell Williams and Robin Thicke

Marvin Gaye,
Got to Give It Up

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Pharrell Willliams and Robin Thicke, Blurred Lines
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The Legendary KO, George Bush Doesn’t Care About Black People

The Legendary KO,
George Bush Doesn’t Care About Black People

(explicit lyrics, opens in new tab)
(video by The Black Lantern)

 


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Ray Charles

Ray Charles,
I Got a Woman

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Kanye West,
Gold Digger

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Ray Charles, The Southern Tones

Listen to a mashup
of I Got a Woman
and I Got a Savior

The Southern
Tones,
It Must Be Jesus

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Ray Charles,
I Got a Woman

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Clara Ward

Clara Ward,
This Little Light of Mine

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Ray Charles,
This Little Girl of Mine

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DJ Earworm, The Grey Album, My Doorbell

DJ Earworm Mashup,
United State of Pop 2017 (How We Do It)

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The Grey Album video
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Mashup of Eric B. & Rakim’s Paid in Full and The White Stripes’ My Doorbell
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Special thanks to our web designers Balfour Smith, Michael Wright, and Madeeha Khan, and to our research assistants Peter Berris, Cory Fleming, and Rich Hatch.