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Lifeline expedition, West Indies

By AmericasNo Comments

22 October – 6 November

2005_1105WestIndies0087

A team of about 30 people representing about 16 nationalities with an emphasis on reconciliation issues concerning the legacy of the Trans-Atlantic slave trade, met in Barbados for the first week and then split into 3 teams for the 2nd week going to Cartagena , Columbia, Curacao, Dutch West Indies and Martinique and Guadeloupe. We went to Martinique and Guadeloupe.

…… and the rest of the story Read More

9. November 2005
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The Pacific Islands have always sparked thoughts of both mystery and paradise. Until you fly from California south to New Zealand or Australia you never quite understand the vastness of the ocean that lies below - an area covering 30% of the world's surface with more than 25,000 islands! Interestingly the Pacific Ocean got its name from the Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan in 1521 who called its waters "mar pacifico" which means peaceful sea.

Martin Neil
2. November 2005
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Ruth Fazal tour

By My StoriesNo Comments

IMG_3247September, England.

Martin has just finished a tour in England with Ruth Fazal from Toronto, Canada….. had a great time, her music is a little different as she is from a more classical background but she loves allowing space for improvisation. She has also written a classical Oratorio piece for the Jewish people, called Oratorio Terezin.

More info www.oratorioterezin.com

She found a book of children’s poems 8 years ago and God told her to weave a story of God’s heart for His people through this story book and the Hebrew scriptures …… it’s an incredibly powerful story and she has some amazing stories of what has happened through this project. It has now been performed with orchestra’s in Canada, the Czech Republic, Austria and in Israel on holocaust day.

14. September 2005
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History for some reason defined the continent of Asia as east of a line joining the Urals with the Caucasus and the Black Sea. The incredible thing about this amazing landmass, is its enormous diversity in land, climate and people. Its music stretches back for over 3000 years and can be quite a stretch for Western ears, not just in the sounds, but in the philosophy behind it. And what incredible sounds, from the percussion based classical music of Thailand, Tuvan throat singers in Mongolia, Indonesian pop bands, the poetry of the Arab world to Ravi Shankar's sitar music that influenced so many in the 1960's.

Martin Neil
20. March 2005
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Netherlands

By My StoriesNo Comments

DSCF919029th Dec.-13th Jan 2005 San Diego & L.A., U.S.A.

We flew out to San Diego to be at the “City of Refuge” again (we were with them in Feb. ’04 and also 28th Sept.-4th Oct.). During our time there we led the team on retreat for 5 days and generally got involved with their weekly routine. This included packing up food to be distributed to the poor and homeless and visiting a large night shelter where we played music and chatted with the homeless. There were also two weddings of people who have been part of the project so Martin was seconded to play along with other musicians. The rest of our time was kept busy with helping people move house, drum circles and lots of one to one times with people from the team. As ever we left feeling that we had been amongst people of similar hearts and that we would be back…… Read More

8. November 2004
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The States and Kelowna, Canada

By AmericasNo Comments
  • Jo Vogels
  • Jo
  • Maori haka
  • Matthew Donovan
  • me and Tony
  • Drums
  • Mixing
  • Rich Nibbe
  • Studio

Martin travelled, on his own this time, to record a C.D. with Jo Vogels. Martin has played on and produced an album for Jo before, and they’ve been friends for a number of years. (In August Jo flew over from Australia and spent a week with us at our home, doing pre-production work. We had a lot of fun with Jo playing his songs and Martin making suggestions about style, timing, dynamics etc..) Whilst out in the States we even had time for some paddling …… Read More

9. September 2004
Love1

In a world such as ours ... it is necessary to understand why a madrigal by Gesualdo or a Back Passion, a sitar melody from India or a song from Africa, berg's Wozzeck or Britten's War Requiem, a balinese gamelan or a Cantonese opera, or a symphony by Mozart, Beethoven, or Mahler, may be profoundly necessary for human survival ..."

John Blacking
20. July 2004
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Kaua’i, Hawai’i

By OceaniaNo Comments

22nd April/30th May

hawaii_ref_2001

Reflections from the Garden Isle.

He wai ua, ua ka ua

(Indeed, it rains. It rains upon the land.)

For six weeks the island of Kaua’i, one of the oldest Hawaiian islands became our home. Known as the garden isle for its amazing plants and stunning fauna, and also renowned for being the wettest place in the world. An extinct volcano stands high in the middle of the island and is nearly always topped with rain clouds. Because of its beautiful beaches, rugged terrain and tropical climate, the island has become a tourist haven, famous for the number of films that have been set within its shores. Read More

7. June 2004
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Canada and Cre8ed schools work

By Music from the NationsNo Comments

11/20th April Canada.

Canada

Our time in Canada was again a time of catching up with friends and helping with music for a conference in Abbotsford. We had a wonderful opportunity to go and observe a Native American pow-wow with our friends Jerry and Leslie Chapman from the Sto’:lo people. www.jerrychapman.org Here’s a (badly recorded) clip of their powerful drumming and singing.

23. April 2004
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Drumspeak

By DrumsNo Comments

MINOLTA DIGITAL CAMERAJerry Chapman hand-crafts First Nation style drums and whilst visiting he allowed us to use his instruments and joined me playing percussion on a couple of the conference evenings. They both spend some of their time taking musical teams onto Native American reservations.

  • Kit used with Jerry Chapman's Native drums
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  • Jerry Chapman's Native drums
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  • Playing Native American flute
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14. April 2004
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