Martin’s musical mystery tour – This month’s blog comes from a playlist from the skies! I have been flying a lot this year and spent a good few hours searching through the International music sections for new music and films. Yesterday on the way to San Francisco I found a new artist from Sweden I had not heard of before called Laleh. Her web site says “she was born in Iran, fleeing that war-torn country a year later, first to Azerbaijan, then to Minsk in former Sovjet, and finally, at the age of 9, to a refugee camp in Tidaholm, Sweden.”
Thanks Larry (NZ) for finding this very interesting project from Mexico – taking objects that have been used for violence and having the creativity to see the possibilities of using them to make music.
At the beginning of August we had a wonderful trip to the Czech Republic – so check out the group Čechomor who have become famous by blending rock with Moravian traditional music.
Singers and Musicians are some of the most driven, courageous people on the face of the earth. They deal with more day-to-day rejection in one year than most people do in a lifetime. Every day, they face the financial challenge of living a freelance lifestyle, the disrespect of people who think they should get real jobs, and their own fear that they'll never work again. Every day, they have to ignore the possibility that the vision they have dedicated their lives to is a pipe dream. With every note, they stretch themselves, emotionally and physically, risking criticism and judgment. With every passing year, many of them watch as the other people their age achieve the predictable milestones of normal life - the car, the family, the house, the nest egg. Why? Because musicians and singers are willing to give their entire lives to a moment - to that melody, that lyric, that chord, or that interpretation that will stir the audience's soul. Singers and Musicians are beings who have tasted life's nectar in that crystal moment when they poured out their creative spirit and touched another's heart. In that instant, they were as close to magic, God, and perfection as anyone could ever be. And in their own hearts, they know that to dedicate oneself to that moment is worth a thousand lifetimes.
Great day hanging out with Jonathan Walker – his first time busking in Chichester. He heads up an online community to encourage street musicians. He writes “ASAP exists to celebrate public spaces as places of community, interaction and enjoyment. Whether you are a street artist and performer yourself, or you share our vision of public spaces being places of animation and community, we welcome your involvement. You can join here.”
Martin’s musical mystery tour – I have always loved singers who use their voice as an instrument and experiment with the possibilities of sound. So this month we look at some female singers who have discovered new areas with their vocal chords.
Martin’s musical mystery tour – This month we listen to some of the most exciting Balkan brass ensembles. Oh boy do they make me smile when I hear this music! Romanian band, Taraf de Haïdouks decided to mix styles with those of other Balkan countries by inviting Gypsy virtuoso musicians from Macedonia (the Koçani Orkestar brass band), Bulgaria (clarinet player Filip Simeonov) and Turkey (percussionist Tarik Tuysuzoglu).
Martin’s musical mystery tour – I have been working with a good friend who originates from Portugal so this months blog takes a brief look at the music from that beautiful land. Listen to the wonderful vocal of Ana Moura an internationally recognised fado singer.
Martin’s musical mystery tour – I’m in Texas y’all – so this months blog had to be country.
Found this wonderful collection of spiritual sung poems – The Oktay ensemble is the name of a children`s folklore-ethnographic ensemble who have conducted ethnographic work on the musical culture of the “Staro Vera” (Old Believers) living in remote areas high up in the mountain headwaters of the great Siberian Yenisei river.
Translation – Read More
Just had a wonderful afternoon discovering more about an area in Mexico that has fascinated me for a long time since I read an article in National Geographic. For most people Mariachi will be the music that is synonymous with Mexico. Yet this wonderful country is rich in different types of indigenous music that goes back for at least 4000 years. Singer Eugenia León explores this wonderful heritage in a 3 part series. Here is one of the episodes.
Martin’s musical mystery tour – We are out in San Diego and so this month’s selection is from another Spanish speaking country – Mexico. One of the radio stations I always look for when travelling in the car in southern California is the Mexican music stations. This music just makes me smile – pure fun. The mariachi orchestra is composed of at least two violins, two trumpets, a Spanish guitar, and two other types of guitars – the vilhuela and guitarron. Here is an amazing Mexican folk ensemble the Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán, who have been together in various formats since 1897 – must be some sort of record!
An amazing initiative – the Landfill Harmonic Orchestra in Cateura, Paraguay, directed by Favio Chavez. An orchestra that plays instruments created out of literal trash, made lovingly for them by their community.
Martin’s musical mystery tour – I am out visiting family in Spain – so this month’s blog comes from the land of flamenco.
