Enjoying a few days in Tel Aviv @ Pluto studios I am here recording a Hebrew project with Ruth Fazal – Canadian violinist and singer/songwriter. Although I don’t have much down time – it has been very interesting being in Tel Aviv, a vibrant city that never seems to slow down, and as one taxi driver told me “This is one big party city, the world comes here to play”.
We have been in Edinburgh recording Colin Symes singing this wonderful Aaronic blessing in Gaelic – a very special moment.
Gaelic …… Read More
I was very fortunate to see Yelemba d’Abidjan at Womad when they recorded this clip. I had never heard of the group before seeing them and they were the highlight of the festival as they used cultural dance and costume to bring their story to the UK.
Really enjoyed the launch of the CD Freightships with Small Town Jones at the weekend – watch out for Jim, he’s a wonderful songwriter and someone to watch out for in the future.
The Tavil or Thavil is from southern India and is traditionally used in temple and folk music, often accompanying the Nageshwaram at open-air temple festivals.
We have just had a note detailing the use that the dispensary has had in the last couple of months. Thanks again for all who have helped with the purchase of the Sing to the Well CD. Our Tanzanian contact writes : Read More
I have been reading a wonderful book written in the 1950’2 called “People of the Deer” by Farley Mowat who as a young man spent time with the Ihalmiut people in the Barrens – what is now the Canadian Arctic. Farley also wrote the short story The Snow Walker which later became a wonderful film.
The Inuit’s “throat singing” is a singing technique almost exclusively practised by women. (Unique in nature compared to the other 2 throat singing styles – Khöömei, from Mongolia and a style called eefing used by the Xhosa people in South Africa. Here are some video clips explaining a little of how the Inuit use this expression.
The Inuit drum is an amazing sound – I have stood next to one as it is played and the movement of air it creates is unique to this technique. This video podcast doesn’t do it justice but gives you a little insight into this very special drum.
A Persian warrior who was marching to battle was carrying a bow but no arrows. On the road he met a friend who asked why he had brought no ammunition. “How will you fight?” asked his friend. “I will use the arrows sent by the enemy,” he replied. “But what if no arrow comes?” “Then” replied the bowman, “there will be no war”.
The Pakhavaj is a northern Indian drum, a precursor to the tabla, which played an important role in Hindustani music till the nineteenth century.
