From: owner-ecto-digest@smoe.org (ecto-digest) To: ecto-digest@smoe.org Subject: ecto-digest V8 #12 Reply-To: ecto@smoe.org Sender: owner-ecto-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-ecto-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk ecto-digest Saturday, January 12 2002 Volume 08 : Number 012 Today's Subjects: ----------------- Re: Molly Zenobia [Andrew Fries ] Victoria Hanna? ["neal copperman" ] Re: Victoria Hanna [MarkSuss@aol.com] The Far Side X-Files [Phil Hudson ] Different Tastes in the Arts ["Lyle Howard" ] Re: Different Tastes in the Arts [meredith ] NYC-area performances of possible interest [meredith ] Fwd: [Grassy Hill Concerts] REMINDER: Groovelily w/Julia Macklin, Sunday 1/13 [meredith ] hearing music in your head ["Karen Hester" ] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Fri, 11 Jan 2002 22:26:14 +1100 From: Andrew Fries Subject: Re: Molly Zenobia on 10/1/02 Wantonmoll@aol.com wrote: >she's just a pretentious little white girl Be that as it may, I'm just a bit puzzled as to why you'd bring up her size and complexion when discussing her ability... Is this an AOL thing? - ---------------------------------------------------------------- "All I know is that I'm being sued for unfair business practices by Microsoft. Hello pot? It's kettle on line two..." - - Michael Robertson, founder of Lindows - ---------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 11 Jan 2002 16:13:35 -0000 From: "neal copperman" Subject: Victoria Hanna? I was curious if anyone was familiar with Victoria Hanna, an Israeli performance artist and vocalist. She's appearing in town with "Russian musician Grundik". Sounds kind of intriguing, but I have a few options for Saturday night that are all pretty good. So I was looking for a bit of first hand knowledge that might pull this one to the top :) neal np: Mannu - Angelit ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 11 Jan 2002 12:53:34 EST From: MarkSuss@aol.com Subject: Re: Victoria Hanna I had a chance to hear Ms. Hanna and Grundik recently, as part of something called Storahtelling, which took place at Knitting Factory NY on Christmas eve. I am a fan of this relatively new program, which typically tells stories from the Torah as a theatrical performances, much like Torah stories were told long ago. On Christmas eve, however (well, it was after midnight, so 'Christmas day'), the performance was based on Talmudic stories and other sources. The other performers were Amichai Lau-Lavie, founder of the Storahtelling project, and Basya Schechter, founder of the band Pharaoh's Daughter. The best way I could describe this particular performance is 'eerie'. With Grundik's electronica in the background, and Hanna's voice chanting what seemed to me to be authentic ancient Middle-Eastern chants, the story of the similarities between Chanukah, Christmas, and Winter Solstice was delivered in highly entertaining fashion. [http://storahtelling.org ] Storahtelling will be in Temple Emanuel, 8844 Burton Way, Beverly Hills, CA on Saturday morning. [http://listen.to/grusla ] Grundik and Victoria Hanna will be at Sephardic Festival, Albuquerque, New Mexico on Saturday night. I'm afraid you will have to look elsewhere for greater detail. Healthy and Happy New Year! Peace, Love, and Faith! Mark Susskind [http://hello.to/marasu ] >> I was curious if anyone was familiar with Victoria Hanna, an Israeli performance artist and vocalist. She's appearing in town with "Russian musician Grundik". << ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 11 Jan 2002 16:01:13 -0800 From: Phil Hudson Subject: The Far Side X-Files Idly thumbing through my new Far Side 2002 desk calendar, I stopped in at August 9th, ( Happy's Birthday) and found a cartoon entitled "Innocent and carefree, Stuart's left hand never knew what the right was doing". The subject, Stuart is sitting at a desk, juggling three balls with his left hand. The right hand is writing a note. I put on my glasses to read the note, which read: " Tonight I strike! Death to the Left Hand, Death! Death!" If you want me, I'll be under the bed. Phil ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 12 Jan 2002 00:03:42 From: "Lyle Howard" Subject: Different Tastes in the Arts Hola, Meredith said her first favorite song was: That would be Gary Wright's "Dream Weaver". I *still* look for it on the radio when I'm trapped in a car with no working CD or tape player. :) I think sometimes 1/3 or 1/2 of the ectophiles are dancing vigorously on my ceiling. I have noticed that for each one who hates something there is someone else who thinks that same something is God's gift to man. As one who has pretensions to being artistic, I find that comforting. If I ever pull anything artistic from the black hole that is my creativity, I know someone somewhere will like it. That knowledge, coupled with a suspicion that a high percentage of all art is dreck, is liberating. (I always operate on the assumption that I can write or compose as bad as a large number of published and recorded people.) On the other hand, the knowledge that no one can agree on what is good can be paralyzing. Can I be sure the paragraph I chop, or chord I scratch because it is not aesthetically pleasing would not have been cherished by someone somewhere? It's all very confusing. Gary Wright - Dream Weaver I have hated that song from the first time I heard it in 1973(?). Here are my reasons: 1) I was probably depressed when I first heard it, so deep in my brain the dreary wanderings of the synth are stored as shallow folds of unhappiness. 2) At about the same time Pink Floyd and Stevie Wonder were making synth sounds that integrated into songs without trumpeting their presence. Only after long periods of listening did you realize a new sound had crept in with the guitars and rhythm section. This was the time period when everybody and his brother were taking creaky pop songs and orchestrating them using modular synths. (Wendy Carlos, what did you do to us?) Examples: The Plastic Cow Goes Moog. Popcorn. Tonto's Exploding Headband. Feel free to round out the list, other oldsters. Uh, I mean wise elders of the tribe. 3) You could not turn the radio on from 1973 to, when?, the 80's without hearing "Dreamweaver." And now it is every twentieth song on nostalgia stations. So, a bunch of arbitrary factors came together to make me loath "Dream Weaver." But I will give my life to defend people's freedom to love the song. Or hate it. Well, maybe I wouldn't mind losing a leg or arm. Bye, Lyle was listening to: Little Jack Melody and His Young Turks. _Smoke and Noise_. The cabaret version of "Cum on Feel the Noize" is quite nice. _________________________________________________________________ Join the worlds largest e-mail service with MSN Hotmail. http://www.hotmail.com ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 11 Jan 2002 19:54:27 -0500 From: meredith Subject: Re: Different Tastes in the Arts Hi, Lyle responded: >Gary Wright - Dream Weaver > >I have hated that song from the first time I heard it in 1973(?). Here >are my reasons: Just keep one thing in mind here: I was 4 years old when the song was popular. :) I would hope that'd provide at least *some* sort of excuse... ======================================= Meredith Tarr New Haven, CT USA mailto:meth@smoe.org http://www.smoe.org/meth "an eye for an eye only ends up making the whole world blind" -- mahatma gandhi ======================================= Live At The House O'Muzak House Concert Series http://www.smoe.org/meth/muzak.html ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 11 Jan 2002 20:14:38 -0500 From: meredith Subject: NYC-area performances of possible interest Hi, I think I keep forgetting to post this here -- NYC-area ectophiles may not be aware of it. On Monday, January 14 at Joe's Pub Susan McKeown will be doing a solo a cappella performance, sharing the stage with Yungchen Lhamo of Tibet and Mah Damba of Mali as part of their "Women Of The World" series. Info is at http://www.publictheater.org/plaidesignd/pub_show_womenworld.html. As of this afternoon there were still tickets available. They're kind of pricey, and I've probably posted here in the past about how much I LOATHE Joe's Pub as a venue, but I think it'll all be worth it to see Susan on the same stage as Yungchen Lhamo, someone I never, ever thought I'd get to hear live. I also stumbled across a listing for Will Ackerman, Liz Story and Samite at the Intermedia Arts Center out in Huntington, Long Island next Saturday, January 19th. This is of tangential interest, because Happy sang on Samite's album _Songs To Share_ a couple years ago. And finally, don't forget Trina Hamlin comes to our place on the 20th! Get those reservations in now ... ======================================= Meredith Tarr New Haven, CT USA mailto:meth@smoe.org http://www.smoe.org/meth "an eye for an eye only ends up making the whole world blind" -- mahatma gandhi ======================================= Live At The House O'Muzak House Concert Series http://www.smoe.org/meth/muzak.html ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 11 Jan 2002 20:20:21 -0500 From: meredith Subject: Fwd: [Grassy Hill Concerts] REMINDER: Groovelily w/Julia Macklin, Sunday 1/13 Hi, I love how I keep getting "reminders" as first notices of something... In a more expansive post elsewhere, Tom mentioned that Marina Belica will be singing with the opener, Julia Macklin. The Barn is way cool. Meredith >From: Tom Neff >To: ghconcerts@grassyhill.org >Subject: [Grassy Hill Concerts] REMINDER: Groovelily w/Julia Macklin, >Sunday 1/13 >Date: Fri, 11 Jan 2002 15:01:05 -0500 > >Hello there, fellow inhabitants of 2002 the Palindrome Year (last one till >2112)... > >Just a reminder that there is still some space available for this Sunday's >first Grassy Hill Barn Concert of the year, featuring the unique sounds of >GROOVELILY and our special guest JULIA MACKLIN at 3:00 P.M. in lovely and >still snow-free hills of Lyme, CT. > >Groovelily (who were recently written up in the NY Times) are something >very special, a trio (for us) consisting of Valerie Vigoda singing and >playing a rather outrageous-looking neckstrap violin called "The >Viper"(!), Brendan Milburn singing and playing keyboards, and Gene Lewin >on percussion. Val has toured with Cyndi Lauper and when you see her it >doesn't come as a great surprise - she's full of happy energy. Their >songs are astonishingly well-crafted folk-pop with lots of humor, energy >(there's that word again) and heart. The word "folk" is applied to a lot >of different kinds of independent acoustic music - and when you come hear >Groovelily you'll realize what a big tent it really is. They're >unforgettable & I know you'll love them. > >Opening is Julia Macklin, a thoughful and mysterious singer-songwriter >from Brooklyn, NY who writes some entrancing songs about longing, loss, >bitterness, and other cheerful subjects. :) Seriously, she's a lot of fun >to see and hear - it's a pleasure welcoming her along with Groovelily. > >The suggested performer donation is $12 - it all goes the musicians, and >we collect it at intermission. > >For information and reservations, email info@grassyhill.org or call >860-434-8208 and press 3. > >Looking forward to seeing you in this great musical year ahead! > >More information is online at http://grassyhill.org/concerts . But this >email covers whatcha need to know right now - Sunday, Groovelily, Macklin, >no snow, be there :) > >-- >Tom "No, the weathervane hasn't arrived yet" Neff >tneff@grassyhill.org > >_______________________________________________ >GHConcerts mailing list >GHConcerts@mail.grassyhill.net >http://mail.grassyhill.net/listinfo/ghconcerts ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 11 Jan 2002 23:21:52 -0500 From: Michael Curry Subject: Fwd: SUSAN McKEOWN in NYC Monday >Date: Fri, 11 Jan 2002 20:57:37 -0500 >To: sngmusic@earthlink.net >From: Sheila-na-Gig Music >Subject: SUSAN McKEOWN in NYC Monday > >PERFORMING AT JOE'S PUB ON JANUARY 14, 2002 IN THEIR FIRST U.S. APPEARANCE TOGETHER: > >WOMEN OF THE WORLD: VOICES > >MAH DAMBA YUNGCHEN LHAMO SUSAN McKEOWN >MALI TIBET IRELAND > > >THREE WOMEN THREE CULTURES THREE VOICES > > >WOMEN OF THE WORLD: VOICES is a unique presentation of three very distinct musical styles by three very remarkable women. This special collaboration will explore the universal spirit of women through the singing traditions of Malian, Tibetan and Irish music. > >Mah Damba, Yungchen Lhamo and Susan McKeown are all vocalists who have achieved international acclaim as performers whose work reflects their native tradition. > >This a cappella performance will explore the true beauty and captivating power of the human voice. > >MONDAY, JANUARY 14 AT 7:00 PM >JOE'S PUB >425 LAFAYETTE STREET >FOR TICKETS AND INFORMATION: 212-539-8777 > >MAH DAMBA is the daughter of the late Sissoko Baba, a well-known 'djeli' or griot who hails from a long line of storytellers and musicians of court of the ancient Malian empire. Now based in Paris, Mah Damba has toured extensively in Europe and has performed with Kassi Mady Diabati and the Mandi Foli ensemble. Mah Damba is the subject of an upcoming documentary "Denko la Coeur". Mah Damba will perform for the first time in the US as part of the Women of the World: Voices tour. > >The delicacy of [Mah Damba's] singing on "The Divas of Mali" actually reminds this reviewer of Oumou Sangari, who appears later on the CD. Her second song, "Jarabi", one of the most beautiful songs in the jeli repertoire, is probably the strongest performance on the compilation. >- Djembe & Mande Music Review > >YUNGCHEN LHAMO's name was bestowed on her as a child by a holy man. Translated, it means "Goddess of Melody and Song". At pains to stress there is nothing special about her, Yungchen Lhamo sings in order to uplift and inspire listeners to pursue a spiritual path. Known as "the voice of Tibet", since 1995 she has given hundreds of performances around the world in twenty countries and released the beautiful albums "Tibet, Tibet", a collection of a cappella songs, and "Coming Home", on Peter Gabriel's Real World Record Label. > >That she sings without any accompaniment whatsoever, and succeeds in holding the attention of the listener, places her in a special category. I cannot readily recall another singer capable of such a feat. >- Opera critic Neville Cohn, The West Australian > >SUSAN McKEOWN grew up in Dublin and from an early age was drawn to traditional songs both in English and Gaelic. Among her numerous US releases are the traditional albums "Bushes & Briars" and "Lowlands". Susan has toured internationally with her band The Chanting House and extensively in the US with Scots fiddler Johnny Cunningham. > >Vocal genius. . . the most strikingly original contemporary woman singer working in the Celtic vein is Susan McKeown. >- The Christian Science Monitor >************************ >Sheila-na-Gig Music, LLC >http://www.sheilanagig.com >Tel: 212-260-2302 >Fax: 212-260-9645 > > ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 12 Jan 2002 17:30:04 +1300 From: "Karen Hester" Subject: hearing music in your head Phil Hudson wrote: >I have the strange ability to hear entire pieces of music in my head; which, >incidentally, is how I write music. > >This is a both a blessing and a curse, as anyone will attest who has had >the entire themes from the Love Boat, or 'The Jeffersons", or for that >matter "My Sharona" by the Knack, stuck in their head for a day or two. >(On the positive side, I can keep myself entertained for hours without a CD >in sight :) Anyone have an idea of how this works in our heads? It's weird that our memory of a song can have so much detail, be so similar to hearing it, but not involve the ears. Does the mental replay happen in the same place the brain gathers together the sounds and processes them? And yet, hearing the song has so much more emotional impact. And why do I have perfect pitch when remembering music, but dreadful pitch when listening to real sounds, and worse when vocalising them?! Though when I invent tuneless little ditties in my head, the notes are often slid into rather than hit immediately, like I have to do if trying to sing. So that must be a different part of the mind than the memory-songs live in. >Now I just hope Kildare's not going to get stuck in there and play on endless repeat for a few days, which has been happening to me recently with marching band music Aaarrghh!. There was a spate of correspondence on this in adventuring magazines a while back, I think after the tale of 'brown girl in the ring' (or something) staying in Joe Simpson's head as he clambered across boulders, starving and with a broken leg (or whatever, my memory functions dubiously). That could be a fun new ecto game - someone writes "everyone, whatever you do, don't think of the theme music to The Simpsons", and the rest of the day we suffer :) All of which reminds me of my favourite book title - "What to say when you talk to yourself." npimy: rain. no, wait, that's real. now picturing in my head: sparkling skies above a rainforest canopy. (sometimes i can picture really really bright white, with my eyes closed, and it jolts me. hmmm). now smelling in my head: cinnamon. (I can almost induce a sneeze) now touching in my head: sandpaper. now tasting in my head: plums. (now I'm hungry) now being in my head: Super-Karen. ------------------------------ End of ecto-digest V8 #12 *************************