I must say, it's been nice to write my thoughts up and believe that people would read them and care. But, all good things must come to an end (or so I'm told).
The first prompt is a very easy one to answer, though I'll try and elaborate on the simple answer. The simple answer is this: there is a lot of music out there that is very odd by our standards that I really enjoy. More specifically, the Ecuadorians and the Indians have amazing music that I want to recreate myself. To do this, I am either going to buy or build an imbabura harp (with a bit of help!). I also plan on obtaining a set of tabla and hooking up with someone with a sarangi and sitar to jam.
Prompt 2: Our culture doesn't rely heavily enough on music. Well, I suppose that's a very generalized statement, but I suppose I just wish there were a larger influence of quality music on society (and vice versa). Additionally, I did realize that music is used more often and for more purposes that I'd previously thought (just not quite enough for my taste).
And finally, I shall refer back to the first prompt for this answer: I want to learn to play tabla and become a tabla master! Oh, and I want to learn more about pretty much every percussion instrument we discussed in class (and those that I discovered on my own).
Thanks for reading, and I apologize for my over-indulgence into the percussion side of things, it's just how I roll...
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Friday, January 23, 2009
Cool Stuff #3
Admittedly, this week's adventures in world music didn't have quite the effect on me of the previous week (the Middle East is just too cool). Additionally, I already included two of the instruments from India that I absolutely love in last week's Cool Stuff. So, I decided to try and take a few detours from the class discussions and discovered a few things that I deem to be rather cool.
First, I had a conversation with a percussionist friend of mine about gamelan orchestras. Somewhere along the way he decided to ask me if I knew the difference between a tam-tam and a gong, which then allowed me to explain to him the discomfort that Dr. Robbins must feel each time he dscusses that very topic (I would just leave it that tam-tams aren't pitched). So, in honor of that, here's a gamelan orchestra!
Following my brief stay in the Indonesian culture, I quickly moved on to the Japanese (I was ready to hear some drumming). Two things really popped out at me: 1) I love taiko drumming 2) I found a video (though low quality) of a Japanese group performing at the WGI World Championships for Indoor Percussion. The latter of the two is especially interesting because it is clearly an American activity. However, the Japanese group has certainly put their twist on it, including traditional scales, instruments, etc... in the production.
As a side note: Watching Aimachi and the taiko drummers got me thinking and reminded me of a drum corps that performed a Japanese themed show this past year entitled Samurai. The show is full of Japanese inspired music and I thought I'd share a clip of the percussion feature.
First, I had a conversation with a percussionist friend of mine about gamelan orchestras. Somewhere along the way he decided to ask me if I knew the difference between a tam-tam and a gong, which then allowed me to explain to him the discomfort that Dr. Robbins must feel each time he dscusses that very topic (I would just leave it that tam-tams aren't pitched). So, in honor of that, here's a gamelan orchestra!
Following my brief stay in the Indonesian culture, I quickly moved on to the Japanese (I was ready to hear some drumming). Two things really popped out at me: 1) I love taiko drumming 2) I found a video (though low quality) of a Japanese group performing at the WGI World Championships for Indoor Percussion. The latter of the two is especially interesting because it is clearly an American activity. However, the Japanese group has certainly put their twist on it, including traditional scales, instruments, etc... in the production.
As a side note: Watching Aimachi and the taiko drummers got me thinking and reminded me of a drum corps that performed a Japanese themed show this past year entitled Samurai. The show is full of Japanese inspired music and I thought I'd share a clip of the percussion feature.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Music and Society
Much of today's popular music has a tendency to encourage the worst behaviors imaginable. It seems that one of two things is happening: a) I'm getting too old and disconnected to popular music to appreciate it, or b) it is becoming increasingly vulgar in content. It also appears that this music has provided today's children and young adults with a plethora of role models that continuously suggest that promiscuity, drugs, disrespect for women, and a complete lack of responsibility for one's actions are social norms. No, I'm certainly not naive enough to believe that these problems haven't existed forever. Yes, I believe they are worsening due to a number of factors, one being the degradation of morality in popular music (and culture in general).
So, from my point of view, one of the main culprits of this is the popularization of rap music with lyrical content equivalent to pornographic poetry. Often, these lyrics contain descriptions of sex acts that should make most people blush. However, the reaction is, most often, indifference to the vulgarity, mostly due to people being desensitized by continuous exposure. I believe that this also encourages many people, especially those young and impressionable minds, to engage in the popularized acts of sexual promiscuity. These same songs also tend to be very misogynistic, using derrogatory terms to refer to women.
In addition to the rap music of today, I also feel that much of the pop music, in the vein of Brittany Spears et al, teaches young girls that the proper method of interaction with boys is solely sexual. It seems sad to me to see thirteen year old girls scantily clad walking through the malls in order to pick up their next boyfriend. Hopefully something will come along to change this trend and, perhaps, provide a set values for our future generations.
So, from my point of view, one of the main culprits of this is the popularization of rap music with lyrical content equivalent to pornographic poetry. Often, these lyrics contain descriptions of sex acts that should make most people blush. However, the reaction is, most often, indifference to the vulgarity, mostly due to people being desensitized by continuous exposure. I believe that this also encourages many people, especially those young and impressionable minds, to engage in the popularized acts of sexual promiscuity. These same songs also tend to be very misogynistic, using derrogatory terms to refer to women.
In addition to the rap music of today, I also feel that much of the pop music, in the vein of Brittany Spears et al, teaches young girls that the proper method of interaction with boys is solely sexual. It seems sad to me to see thirteen year old girls scantily clad walking through the malls in order to pick up their next boyfriend. Hopefully something will come along to change this trend and, perhaps, provide a set values for our future generations.
Friday, January 16, 2009
Cool Stuff #2
So, oddly enough, I've made a life altering decision this week: I am going to drop out of school and spend all my money instead on the instruments of Ecuador, Western Africa, and the Middle East. Then, perhaps I'll make my way to a big city and live the rest of my days playing in parks, subways, and on street corners; wow, what fun that would be. So, this week's Cool Stuff will be completed with this in mind, exploring the instruments that I'll one day give up normalcy to own.
The first is an imbabura harp, but I couldn't find anything on it :(
So, the second I was able to kill two birds with one stone: a sarangi and tabla!
The third, or rather fourth, instrument on my dream list is a sitar.
And finally (well not quite, I'd really like to have them all), I would like to round out my collection of drums with a doumbek.
Well, I suppose my dream of being a nomadic musician of obscure instruments won't come true. But, in the mean time, I'm still going to try to imagine how sweet a life of pure music could be.
The first is an imbabura harp, but I couldn't find anything on it :(
So, the second I was able to kill two birds with one stone: a sarangi and tabla!
The third, or rather fourth, instrument on my dream list is a sitar.
And finally (well not quite, I'd really like to have them all), I would like to round out my collection of drums with a doumbek.
Well, I suppose my dream of being a nomadic musician of obscure instruments won't come true. But, in the mean time, I'm still going to try to imagine how sweet a life of pure music could be.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Rites and their Music
Rites, as I see them, don't particularly exist in the same respect as they once did, especially when considering the role that music plays within them. In my experience, the only rites which are directly connected with music to this day are: marriage and graduation. Despite there obviously still being rites for birth and death (and perhaps certain others can be considered on similar grounds), I don't particularly see a connection drawn with any music in particular. For births, I can't recall having ever been a part of any services containing music whatsoever, though I think it would be quite interesting if someone broke that mold. Deaths/funerals, in my mind, should be accompanied by an appropriate Requiem Mass. Those masterpieces tell the story of someone's passing so much better than words ever could; yet, they are rarely, if ever, utilized.
Marriages, however, do tend to stir a common image among most as to what music is considered typical. I'm sure most of us are familiar with the "Wedding March," and, perhaps, many of us still use its melody to help us define intervals. Obviously, this piece of music plays a rather large role in many weddings (except for those that opt for a different march or piece altogether - namely Canon in D).
Graduations also rely mostly on a single piece to draw a sense of tradition together; that piece is "Pomp and Circumstance." This piece is instantly recognizeable to almost any person existing within our culture. Additionally, it is immediately connected with the typical graduation ceremony along with all its little activities (walking across the stage while hoping not to trip, filing in and out with your peers, tossing the hats, etc...).
Marriages, however, do tend to stir a common image among most as to what music is considered typical. I'm sure most of us are familiar with the "Wedding March," and, perhaps, many of us still use its melody to help us define intervals. Obviously, this piece of music plays a rather large role in many weddings (except for those that opt for a different march or piece altogether - namely Canon in D).
Graduations also rely mostly on a single piece to draw a sense of tradition together; that piece is "Pomp and Circumstance." This piece is instantly recognizeable to almost any person existing within our culture. Additionally, it is immediately connected with the typical graduation ceremony along with all its little activities (walking across the stage while hoping not to trip, filing in and out with your peers, tossing the hats, etc...).
Monday, January 12, 2009
Music and Religion
Throughout my lifetime I've attended many churches of varying denominations, each with their own flavor of worship. Because of this, my perception of what role music plays in church/religion is probably somewhat skewed from the average church attendee's. I also tend to ascribe religious value to much of the music I listen to on a daily basis, since I believe that one of the gifts God has given us is the beauty and joy that is music.
Having gone to a private Christian school for undergrad, I was certainly exposed to a vast amount of music in a church or worship setting. The large majority of this came in the form of a worship band, which would generally consist of an acoustic guitarist or two, a bassist, a djembe or drumset for accompaniment, and several vocalists. Most often, this form of worship appeared in the Southern Baptist or Non-Denominational services. For a year or so, I attended a church where I played drumset (though selfishly so, I suppose; I was paid) for a praise band. The music in this particular church didn't appear to have a huge deal of importance to the service, similar to most of the churches I have attended. It seems that the music is played and then the sermon begins, a seperate entity entirely. My preference would be for a much more integrated approach, similiar to the Catholic Church, where music is used throughout the service and is given more meaning than just worship; perhaps a union of religion and music on a level similar to that of the old Bach-style services - or any that used the masses of the composing greats of eras past - where the music, architecture, etc... and work together to create an atmosphere of otherworldiness and deep appreciation for God's creation.
It seems highly likely that for many people the music of their churches does effect what they find aesthetically pleasing in music. I, personally, don't see a connection between the aesthetic of the music in my church and the music I listen to on a daily basis. However, I do connect what I listen to on a daily basis with my spiritual life. Exploring the sounds that we are capable of hearing, and feeling, I feel one can grasp a much deeper understanding of God. Surely with the vast number of references to music within the Bible, there seems to be a small emphasis placed on its importance. Whether listening to my favorite drum corps recordings, my old metal favorites, or easy listening, I find a deep connection between religion and music alone (often driving down the road; a perfect time for deep thought and contemplation, I'm sure).
Having gone to a private Christian school for undergrad, I was certainly exposed to a vast amount of music in a church or worship setting. The large majority of this came in the form of a worship band, which would generally consist of an acoustic guitarist or two, a bassist, a djembe or drumset for accompaniment, and several vocalists. Most often, this form of worship appeared in the Southern Baptist or Non-Denominational services. For a year or so, I attended a church where I played drumset (though selfishly so, I suppose; I was paid) for a praise band. The music in this particular church didn't appear to have a huge deal of importance to the service, similar to most of the churches I have attended. It seems that the music is played and then the sermon begins, a seperate entity entirely. My preference would be for a much more integrated approach, similiar to the Catholic Church, where music is used throughout the service and is given more meaning than just worship; perhaps a union of religion and music on a level similar to that of the old Bach-style services - or any that used the masses of the composing greats of eras past - where the music, architecture, etc... and work together to create an atmosphere of otherworldiness and deep appreciation for God's creation.
It seems highly likely that for many people the music of their churches does effect what they find aesthetically pleasing in music. I, personally, don't see a connection between the aesthetic of the music in my church and the music I listen to on a daily basis. However, I do connect what I listen to on a daily basis with my spiritual life. Exploring the sounds that we are capable of hearing, and feeling, I feel one can grasp a much deeper understanding of God. Surely with the vast number of references to music within the Bible, there seems to be a small emphasis placed on its importance. Whether listening to my favorite drum corps recordings, my old metal favorites, or easy listening, I find a deep connection between religion and music alone (often driving down the road; a perfect time for deep thought and contemplation, I'm sure).
Friday, January 9, 2009
Cool Stuff
Not sure where to start this project, I fell back on my standard searches: percussion! This is a video that I've watched numerous times in anticipation of my own udu arriving. The man in the video is using tabla technique, but manages to produce some incredible sounds.
Udu!
My next search was to find an authentic percussion ensemble (not an American university) performing on world percussion instruments.
African Percussion Ensemble!
So I don't limit my perusing entirely to percussion instruments, I decided that the Native American pictures I found would be of costumes and dances. The colors in each of these costumes is quite beautiful and certainly eye catching.
Udu!
My next search was to find an authentic percussion ensemble (not an American university) performing on world percussion instruments.
African Percussion Ensemble!
So I don't limit my perusing entirely to percussion instruments, I decided that the Native American pictures I found would be of costumes and dances. The colors in each of these costumes is quite beautiful and certainly eye catching.
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