Found this quote in one of my old National Geographic’s – “Look, I was born in Austro-Hungary,” said a man in his 80’s. “I grew up in Czechoslovakia, suffered from Germans, spent 40 years in a colony of Russia – without leaving Prague! Now we’re Czechs again, like we’ve been for a thousand years. What’s so bad about that?” (Sept 1993 Nat Geog). Just about sums up their history – this has all added to the most unique architecture and design.
Enjoying the amazing city of Geneva where you can hear most of the world’s language’s as you walk down the streets. I played at a wonderful gathering of the nations. 12 hours of musical expression, praying for the country and it’s people. This is the city where many organisations have their headquarters, including the UN, International Red Cross and World Health Organization’s. I was amazed to go to the church where the International Red Cross was started – a vision in 1863 that now has around 97 million volunteers! WOW! This weekend is the 200th year celebrations of Geneva joining the Swiss Confederation.
At an open mic night we heard some wonderful Czech folk songs – the 3 singers are –
- Romana Kročilová
- Elenora Fikesová
- Monika Součková
For translation Read More
During our trip to the Czech Republic we came across these street musicians busking in Prague. A unique blend of Czech folk music using bagpipes.
“We have always had a strong tradition of music” declares Charles University musicologist Jarmila Gabrielová. “I found it is a rare Czech who doesn’t play some instrument – or at the very least sing”. Read More
We had a another great week with the Gateway community in the mountains @ Moniatis – after our time of stories and teaching we had a day doing some wandering around the island. The church of Saint Paraskevi near Pafos in Geroskipou village, had the most amazing frescoes, some of which were painted in the 1oth Century.
It’s that time of the year when Christmas songs hit the airwaves. Read More
Just spent a couple of days with Kerst Sikkema (Netherlands) recording. Sometimes situations dictate your creativity and with this song that was definitely the case. We had tried to record Kerst playing grand piano on 2 occasions in different rehearsal studios in London – both times we had noise problems, work men outside one studio and a very noisy foot pedal! So – we started being creative with sounds and this led us to the final result.
Avondlicht
English translation : Read More
We have been in Edinburgh recording Colin Symes singing this wonderful Aaronic blessing in Gaelic – a very special moment.
Gaelic …… Read More
We have all been shocked by the horrendous happenings in Norway and I have felt for my good friends in that beautiful country. In my thoughts I kept remembering a wonderful singer Hildegunn Vederhus who I had met this May in Norway. She told me some of the stories of her land and sang some of the old folk songs. This is just one (my friend John captured roughly on his Ipad) that she remembered from her childhood.
Here is her translation – very apt after the sadness of the last few days …. Read More
