Penguin Cafe

On BBC radio 3 this morning, the presenter announced that next Wednesday’s prom at 10.15 pm (I think!) will feature the Penguin Cafe, formerly the Penguin Cafe Orchestra. The founder, Simon Jeffes, sadly died in 1997, aged only 48, but his son is now organising the ‘Cafe’.

BBC PROMS 2010

Live from the Royal Albert Hall, London

Presented by Catherine Bott

‘I think our recordings have been put in the classical, folk, pop, rock, avantgarde, chillout, world and dance sections of record shop,’ says Arthur Jeffes, leader of Penguin Café, the 21st-century reincarnation of the Penguin Café Orchestra made famous by his father Simon Jeffes.

For its debut in this Late Night Prom the Penguin Café’s wide-ranging lineup of ukulele, dulcitone, penny whistles and guitars alongside violin, cello and piano, is supplemented by the Northumbrian smallpipes – played by their star champion Kathryn Tickell.

Kathryn Tickell (Northumbrian smallpipes)
Penguin Café.

link to the programme notes

Simon Jeffes was born in Sussex. After spending some of his early childhood in Canada, he returned to England. He started to play the guitar at the age of thirteen and subsequently studied classical guitar, piano and music theory and attended the music department of Chiswick Polytechnic with the intention of going on to music college. However finding that academic studying did not suit him, he embarked on a series of experiments. He did not find any of these areas particularly satisfying and eventually formed the Penguin Cafe Orchestra in order to develop his work as a composer. He describes its genesis thus:

“In 1972 I was in the south of France. I had eaten some bad fish and was in consequence rather ill. As I lay in bed I had a strange recurring vision, there, before me, was a concrete building like a hotel or council block. I could see into the rooms, each of which was continually scanned by an electronic eye. In the rooms were people, everyone of them preoccupied. In one room a person was looking into a mirror and in another a couple were making love but lovelessly, in a third a composer was listening to music through earphones. Around him there were banks of electronic equipment. But all was silence. Like everyone in his place he had been neutralized, made gray and anonymous. The scene was for me one of ordered desolation. It was as if I were looking into a place which had no heart. Next day when I felt better, I went to the beach. As I sat there a poem came to me. It began ‘I am the proprietor of the Penguin Cafe. I will tell you things at random.’

Penguin Cafe

female vocals appear to be lacking, but I’ll search on YouTube …

Penguin Cafe Orchestra – Perpetuum Mobile

As featured on 3Breakfast this morning (3/9/2010)

Penguin Cafe Orchestra- Music For A Found Harmonium

The Penguin Cafe Orchestra-Telephone and Rubber Band

Stile Antico vocal ensemble

Stile Antico are a British group specialising in Early Music. As well as their website (http://www.stileantico.co.uk/), here are links to recent proms performances and live video through YouTube.

Stile Antico

Their website contains quality mp3s to tempt you into buying their (highly recommended!) CDs. example http://www.stileantico.co.uk/clips/ByrdAve.mp3.

http://www.stileantico.co.uk/order_cd.php has links to all CDs, and the mp3s and descriptions are all available from this page.

Stile Antico – British vocal ensemble – sings Clemens non Papa

also available on the Beeb, Stile Antico’s performance at the London Proms. replay available until 3/9/2010.

Stile Antico vocal ensemble

The young British vocal ensemble Stile Antico perform The Song of Songs – sensuous polyphonic music from the courts of Renaissance Europe. The programme celebrates some of the greatest composers of the age, with works by Ceballos, Clemens non Papa, Gombert, Guerrero, Lassus, Palestrina, Praetorius, Victoria and Vivanco, interspersed with plainchant.

Broadcast on:
BBC Radio 3, 2:00pm Saturday 28th August 2010

Monteverdi programme by Stile Antico

Kate and Matthew, members of Stile Antico, take time out of rehearsals in Norfolk to discuss the group’s new Monteverdi programme, celebrating 400 years since the publication of the Missa in illo tempore.

I lived near here for a while…

Meredith Monk and Vocal Ensemble

Before I forget – an interview with Meredith Monk :
interview.mp3

Meredith Monk composer and singer

her website: http://www.meredithmonk.org/

She was interviewed on BBC radio yesterday and described how, as a student mainly of dance and art, she was sitting at the piano one day and realised the voice was ‘allowed’ to try anything, and she never looked back! The interview linked above also describes some of this crucial moment in the 1960s.

Meredith Monk is primarily known for her vocal innovations, including a wide range of extended techniques, which she first developed in her solo performances prior to forming her own ensemble. In December 1961, she appeared at the “Actor’s Playhouse” in Greenwich Village (NYC) as a solo dancer in an off-Broadway children’s musical theater adaptation of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol,” entitled “Scrooge” (music and lyrics by Norman Curtis; directed and choreographed by Patricia Taylor Curtis). In 1964, Monk graduated from Sarah Lawrence College after studying with Beverly Schmidt Blossom, and in 1968 she founded The House, a company dedicated to an interdisciplinary approach to performance.

Monk’s performances have influenced many artists, including Bruce Nauman, whom she met in San Francisco in 1968. In 1978 Monk formed Meredith Monk and Vocal Ensemble (modelled after similar ensembles of musical colleagues, such as Steve Reich and Philip Glass), to explore new and wider vocal textures and forms, which often were contrasted with minimal instrumental textures. Monk began a long-standing relationship with the Walker Art Center of Minneapolis, which continues to showcase her work to this day. Pieces from this time include Dolmen Music (1979), which also was recorded for her first album released at Manfred Eicher’s record label ECM in 1981.

Meredith Monk & Vocal Ensemble- Program at LaGuardia H.S. 2010

Vocal Ensemble members Ellen Fisher and Katie Geissinger directed a 45-minute piece with students in the music, dance and theater departments of LaGuardia High School of Music and Art and Performing Arts in May 2010. This was The House Foundation’s second sponsored program. Excerpts can be seen here. Songs include “Quarry Lullaby”, “masks” and “Panda Chant II” © Meredith Monk Music/ASCAP.

Meredith Monk and Vocal Ensemble – Dawn

from “Book Of Days”

Trio Mediaeval – Norwegian vocal trio

Trio Mediaeval – “The Little Child” video

from Folk Songs, with interview

An interview with Trio Mediaeval including excerpts from the traditional Norwegian melody “The Little Child” from their Grammy nominated recording “Folk Songs.”

heard on Radio 3 7 january 2010. “3breakfast”

listen again, for a week here

Trio Mediaeval – “Gjendine’s Lullaby” video from Folk Songs

The traditional Norwegian melody “Gjendine’s Lullaby” from Trio Mediaeval’s Grammy nominated recording “Folk Songs.”

Their albums:

trio medieval words of the angel

trio medieval stella maris

trio medieval soir dit elle

trio medieval folk songs

similar female vocal: kate-rusby

playing guitar with a bucket on your head

Guns N’ Roses – 12 – Band Introductions/Buckethead Solo

maybe some guitars after all! Got to keep the yoof happy …

Guns N’ Roses live in 2002 in Boston, Massachusetts at the Fleet Center. One of the best shows from the 2002 era.
Why the bucket on head? If you want a poll, ask here

Nicola Benedetti – violin

A new favourite musician of mine, Nicola Benedetti.

Nicola Benedetti – Szymanowski Violin Concerto video

A superb, impassioned live performance from the young Scots violinist.

and an interview:

Nicola Benedetti at the Silver Clef Awards video

Nicola Benedetti talks to http://www.t5m.com about how classical music has a significant impact on the audience, at the Nordoff Robbins Silver Clef Awards 2008.

and one of my favourite solo violin pieces:

Nicola Benedetti plays Vaughn Williams’ “Lark Ascending” video

Iva Bittova and Skampa Quartet

Performing songs by Janacek

Incredible czech musician IVA BITTOVA sings Janacek´s song “Kviti milodejne” (Love herbs) from Moravian folk poetry in songs(Moravska lidova poezie v pisnich) with Škampa quartet.

Transcription for voice and string quartet (more string quartet )by Vladimir Godar.

Iva Bittova and Skampa Quartet Janacek songs

Incredible czech musician IVA BITTOVA sings Janacek´s song “Hajicku zeleny” from Moravian folk poetry in songs(Moravska lidova poezie v pisnich) with Škampa quartet.

Iva BITTOVA & Skampa Quartet “Hajicku zeleny”

Yasmin Levy – Mano Suave

featuring duduk, world music singer Yasmin Levy and band performing ‘Mano Suave’ live at Dutch television.

Yasmin Levy – Mano Suave video

She is singing it in Judaeo-Spanish. Commonly known as Ladino. A nearly extinct Romance language.
It is influenced heavily by Hebrew, Aramaic, Arabic, Turkish and a bit of Greek.

most likely translation to English:

Ah, her hands were so soft

No one dated touch them

Ah,mother, no one dared touch them

She gave him her heart and soul

Ah, mother, she gave him her heart and soul

Yasmin Levy – Noches, noches

Yasmin Levy at Groningen, The Netherlands. October 15, 2008

Guitar Songs – Minor Blues Progression – Blues Guitar Lesson

Videos to help budding guitar wizards! With links to related music lessons and inspiring musicians.

Guitar Songs – Minor Blues Progression – Blues Guitar Lesson video

Basic blues. The blues man plays guitar really well, but explains right from the beginning – an unusual and very helpful combination:

more of his:

Guitar Songs – Rob Thomas Inspired Chord Progression Groove video

Guy Buttery – Standing in the Rain

Recommended by Ro, who saw him live last week:

video Guy Buttery – Standing in the Rain

Acoustic guitar with slide, harmonics, tapping, interesting rhythms.

sample of tab for Estranged – Guns and Roses

A couple of guitar videos showing the pros , and a very good demo in slow time. Also the tab for part of the song.

Guns N’ Roses – Estranged

The video was too large for YouTube and when I downsized it, the audio and video got a little out of sync.

Estranged Lesson Solo 1 Slow Motion video

The tab:

ESTRANGED

GUNS N ROSES

Gm7 C Gm7 C
|–|—-|——|——–|—–|—-|——|——–|——————–||
|–|—-|——|——–|—–|—-|——|——–|——————–||
more

Eva Cassidy – somewhere over the rainbow

Eva Cassidy somewhere over the rainbow – video

The best version of this song I’ve heard by far.
What an incredible Musician
Performed live at Blues Alley – Eva Cassidy, Somewhere Over the Rainbow.

Danny Boy by Eva …

acoustic guitar specialists!

variety is the spice of … beware the cliche !

Andy McKee – Guitar – Drifting

Andrew Winton acoustic guitar solo

“The first thing you should know about Andrew Winton is that he’s a seriously good guitarist… In company with some of Australia’s finest singer-songwriters, most notably Jeff Lang, Winton uses a blues base for many of his creations, slipping into jazz grooves, even gospel mode, here and there.” – Rhythms Magazine

Award winning musician Andrew is an independent solo artist based in Perth, Western Australia.
He combines acoustic guitar, lap slide, dobro and seven-string lap guitar/bass (the Wintonbeast), with hollers and stomps to provide an engaging and authentic performance. He plays original music with blues, roots, folk, gospel & jazz influences. Andrew’s sound has been likened to a cross between Ben Harper, Sting, Kelly-Joe Phelps and Harry Manx. His performances are driven by infectious rhythms, stunning slide, bluesy vocals, quirky lyrics and storytelling.

or, pick your own from these:

15. Petteri Sariola
14. Kotaro Oshio
13. Justin King
12. Erik Mongrain
11. Kaki King
10. Peppino D’Agostino
9. Antoine Dufour
8. Andy Mckee
7. Stephen Bennett
6. Steven King
5. Don Ross
4. Chet Atkins
3. Lenny Breau
2. Tommy Emmanuel
1. Michael Hedges

Ursula Rucker, poetry with music

Ursula Rucker is an American spoken word recording artist.

She has a reputation for unique poetry techniques and stage presence which are described as “strong, vulnerable, wounded and raging”.

Ursula Rucker on MySpace

http://www.myspace.com/ursularucker

music ,

synthesizers .

Ursula Rucker “Awakening” video

Loveless feat. Ursula Rucker video

Loveless feat. Ursula Rucker, taken from the Mercury Prize nominated, MOBO winning album ‘Two Pages’ released 1998.

typical praise from YouTube commenters:

I remember this outfit knocking out some tip top beats back in the day …when this was launched it was a breath of fresh air
If anyone has any negative comments jeezzz mann i feel for you….
Rawness, spiritual deepness unsurpassed in today’s RNB shizzle …
The album as a whole is a masterpiece….if you miss it ….my deepest sympathies…
peace n music

I

I discovered this last night on R3 (ten years or so behind the times, as per usual … )

Discography

* Supernatural (Single) (1994)
* Supa Sista (2001)
* Silver or Lead (2003)
* Ma’ at Mama (2006)
* Ruckus Soundsysdom (2008)

with 4hero

* “Loveless” on Two Pages (1998)
* “Time” on Creating Patterns (2001)
* “The Awakening” on Play with the Changes (2007)

CROSBY, STILLS, NASH Woodstock 1971

For those of us seeming to be without a summer (again!), a bit of nostalgia:

CROSBY, STILLS, NASH Woodstock 1971 video

The lyrics:

Well I came upon a child of God
He was walking along the road
And I asked him ‘Tell me where are you going?’
This he told me

Said ‘I’m going down to Yasgur’s farm
Gonna join in a rock and roll band
Got to get back to the land to set my soul free

We are stardust, we are golden
We are billion year old carbon
And we got to get ourselves back to the garden

Well then can I walk beside you
I have come to lose the smog
And I feel as I’m a cog in something turning
And maybe it’s the time of year
Yes and maybe it’s the time of man
And I don’t know who I am
But life is for learning

We are stardust, we are golden
We are billion year old carbon
And we got to get ourselves back to the garden

By the time we got to Woodstock
We were half a million strong
And everywhere was a song and celebration
And I dreamed I saw the bombers death planes
Riding shotgun in the sky
Turning into butterflies
Above our nation.

We are stardust, we are golden
We are caught in the devil’s bargain
And we got to get ourselves back to the garden

Vivaldi: Concerto in F minor video

Vivaldi: Concerto in F minor, RV 297, L’inverno / Amandine Beyer
part 1

notes from Oedipus (the youtube dude):
Antonio Lucio Vivaldi (1678 – 1741).
Concerto No. 4 in F minor, Op. 8, RV 297, “L’inverno” (Winter):
I. Allegro non …

not guitars! – violin

Sorry yoof, but I need classical.It’s an age thing …
My New 5-String Electric Violin – Random Songs

Quote: It’s gonna take me a while to get used to the 5 strings. The guy at the String …

Jeff Beck guitar

Jeff Beck demos how to play blues guitar with your thumbnail! Who needs a plectrum? Who can afford one

Geoffrey Arnold “Jeff” Beck (born 24 June 1944) is an English rock guitarist. He is one of the three noted guitarists, along with Eric Clapton and Jimmy Page, to have played with The Yardbirds. He was ranked 14th in Rolling Stone Magazine’s list of the “100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time”.

Jeff Beck jamming video

If my arithmetic is okay, he’s 62 in this vid …

UDO MUSIC FESTIVAL 2006 Live at Fuji Speedway 2006.7.22
Jeff Beck (g)
Jason Rebello (key)
Randy Hope-Taylor (b)
Vinnie Colaiuta (ds)

Jeff Beck – People Get Ready video

nice to see and hear Jeff playing a much covered favourite: (2006.7.22)

John Etheridge guitar

Jazz guitarist (and more!) John Etheridge, and a duo with John Williams later …

John Etheridge – Guitar Makossa video

John’s ‘Guitar Makossa’ recorded 2007 for the Guitar music Maestro Series.

JOHN ETHERIDGE-STORMY WEATHER CLIP

a brief clip from “Stormy Weather” in a very bluesy style.

John Williams & John Etheridge video

playing Paul Hart’s composition – Ludvig’s Horse (part 2)

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