It's all one circle

I think that the most surprising thing to me was the native American culture and how much sense it makes, and how so many other cultures are so very very familiar. There are so many cultures that have similarity's that are half way around the world from each other. This fascinated me and surprised me a lot. Also, I had no idea that the rest of the world knew so much of American culture. At one point I came across a dancing Jail in the Philippines to Michael Jackson's thriller. All in all though I think that the similarity's were quite fascinating, and I truly enjoyed looking at the different blogs to see how other people could contribute to the class.

One thing that truly saddened me about my culture is how iconic we are and how much we value outer beauty, and in my personal experience not get together enough. I mean yes, one could go to a club, but it's not the same as Grecian dancing, or folk dancing. Basically I think that Americans tend to want the individuality so bad that we forget that we are all together on this planet. (Try going to PostSecret, and one will witness the loneliness as one of the keys to many a secret)
During the presentations today, I was truly disappointed that I could not hear the Rachmaninoff piece. I had seen Sara in the hall and she had been so excited about this piece that she had discovered through the projects, that I'm now bound and determined to find that recording and hear it on my own.
All in all though, I really enjoyed the course, and the presentations of the country's, than later the slide shows were really really cool, especially with the artifacts. I truly hope that in the future I can get to travel and experience at least some of what Dr. Weeks did on his travels.

Cool stuff Friday

While researching for my Ireland project I came across this Irish band who incorporates a lot of African drumming and culture. Also, I think this video is cool because it's like traveling around the whole world within 4 minutes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1dmh1cZQuXk



Another thing I crossed was this competition in Europe called Euro vision. Right now it's huge all across Europe and I'm not sure of all of the details, but It's interesting to me to watch the popular music of other countries. Also, a lot of the entries were in English, and I the one below the first is a Russian finalist who sang English as his second language, which made me truly wonder how much of an accent we have when we sing at recitals.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MvVSaMjmdPQ&feature=PlayList&p=340AB2921456862B&playnext=1&index=13 (the first two minutes share a couple clips from this year)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_XR5xrU02yo
(I really really do not know what to think about this one)Also, I thought it was interesting that most of it was sung from the floor, and he's barefoot. As an English speaker it just sounds slightly off. I wonder if it sounds normal to Russians because it's sung as a second language. Watching the video agian, It's interesting to have an entire male cast upfront with only females in background. Quite opposite to American standards. A Blog talking about it.

This another entry, and although it's from Norway and we haven't covered it, I think that it's absolutely fascinating to keep watch all of these entries in English that are done as a second language. Their variation on it is just so foreign to me, and just when I think everything has been done, the men start the song in falsetto.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d8wjcMus_m4&feature=related
I suppose that it's just like English opera where sometimes one can still not understand it even though it's their native tongue.
Also, I think that Euro vision can only be compared to American Idol, because the country's are similar in size to the states, and in my opinion have their country's pride, while still enjoying the unity of Europe.
While listening to this last piece it sounds very American, but while watching it one can really tell it's not. I believe it's from Serbia, which I had to look on a map to find. (two countries above Greece)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3-j8Nrl_XI&NR=1

Stop hey what's that sound...

"Oh say can you see" The beginning line of our National Anthem. Sung today with the first Black President, I just cannot feel anything but pride in our country as millions of people gather to sing, and unite to watch this event. Afterwards was The “Stars and Stripes Forever” by John Phillips Sousa. Another American trademark that any American pastime or political event would be empty without. Another piece that was played at the inauguration was an arrangement of "Simple Gifts". Now by being a band geek that I am, I have played many variations of it, and know it as well as the stars and stripes forever. It's interesting to me that it is an Irish tune, but it truly makes sense because America is a tossed salad (not a melting pot because many of the pieces of culture are still intact). While watching this I could not help but shiver as watching the historical event happen.

One thing that I loved that one of the pastors said was a quoted a song that was sang in the 60's that he was a part of. (This piece was written during the marches of rights in the 1960’s) This is defiantly one thing that I called my grandmother and asked her how she felt about. She said that she never thought in her life time that she would witness this event. I mean just think, she was born in 1935 and witnessed all of the segregation first hand. She was thirty-one when Martin Luther king spoke at this same spot.
While thinking historically about the sixties era, I remember a few years ago when I watched a three hour production on the 60’s (Incidentally called “The 60’s”). One thing that I noticed during the production was the amount of music that related exactly to what they were talking about. For instance, one song that comes to mind is “For What it’s Worth” By Buffalo Springfield one just can’t ignore the lyrics about stopping the war in Vietnam.

there's something happinin here
what it is aint exactly clear
theres a man with a gun over there
tellin me i got to beware

i think it's time we stop, children
what's that sound
everybody look what's goin down

there's battle lines being drawn
nobody's right if everybody's wrong
young people speakin there minds
getting so much resistance far behind



During the inauguration speech I felt that it was so reminiscent to the 60’s regarding Vietnam in the fact that we are still at war, people don’t understand why (especially now that it’s been proven that there are no nukes in Iran, or Afghanistan) and It’s only after five years and over 4000 American’s lives that we now have a president who is saying that “We are taking the troops out of Afghanistan and letting them take care of their own country”. Hearing that was amazing and I’m so excited that a lot of my family and friends lives who are currently serving will soon be in less danger.
Another example of music being used against or for politics is the use of Youtube. While trying to figure out the song from earlier I actually found the song being used as a tool to fighting against the possibility of 9’11 being a conspiracy, and just in general pointing out the corruption of the government. Here is the link,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-4IbwuEwQo
Personally I do not understand all of the video, but the gist of the anger towards the government is more than prevalent.

Another video with lots of pictures from the 60's fighting against the government http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30W3iRL48gQ&feature=related

(NPR Death toll report http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=88939595)

Cool Stuff Friday #2

As I was looking through some world cds, I remembered I had a cd of a popular egyptian named Hakim. Inspired, I pulled up a youtube video and found that it was really popular to belly dance to. Enjoy! This particular video is another group of students sharing the Indian culture to students in Lafeyette.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qobx8O0ozr8&feature=related
Also, in case your wondering, the song title El Wala Wala actually means Hey Dude. ( I looked for further translation but could not find any)


After looking a little bit more, I found another production of belly dancing http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ox8Znptlsdk&feature=related that was of a women improvising (or seems to be improvising) while the man plays a gorgeous tablah. It almost reminded me of the african culture in that you have the men (or in this case man) playing while the women is dancing. I just love how fluid the movement is, and the way that she contorts her stomach is just jaw dropping. Although word of warning if you watch it for the tablah player, you will be disapointed in that the camera man is only on the women. (not too shocking there) It's just interesting though to me that in our society we have celebritys walk around or dance around in scantily clad bikinis, and this women is so much more feminine about it even though she's wearing just a little bit more than say Britney Spears. One qoute that I really like from the comment box is the following


"It is about Arab religion, Agny is Joy of life. If you live and no feeling Agny is sleep, you have to wake-up. Drumms do that and the dance is under musik controll.
As you can be alive but with no Joy if Agny, the fire is not in you."



This is such an interesting concept because in most of America whose ancestors are of the puritan religion, they believed that dancing was immoral, and a sin. Because of this, dancing is not condoned now, but if you "feel" god you can speak in tongues (in some sects of Christianity) but for the most part we stand in place while singing. I just love the concept of celebrating a religion through dance.

Last but not least in case anyone was interested in ordering a belly dance video I found this site that had every video that seems to have ever existed in America. Although, after looking at this, I think that it's awesome that people are learning about other cultures, it seems that a lot of the popularity of it is just due to the work out.
http://www.bellydancestore.net/

Here are a couple examples of the tablah.







Another really interesting tradition that I found that I just wanted to share even though were are technically not covering India yet was the intricacy of henti hands. It looks like this really nasty paste when you put it on, but will last for about two weeks. For the brides it's called Mehindi and according this link,

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://bp3.blogger.com/_Va40yjzpBrs/R7sslu34xxI/AAAAAAAAAv8/zvfZmQfwvhw/s400/Arabic%2BBelly%2BDancer%2B01.jpg&imgrefurl=http://nazarsudhakar.blogspot.com/2008_02_01_archive.html&usg=__oTDnp37e4hCDOyw_d68R5e0O4Os=&h=400&w=383&sz=34&hl=en&start=1&sig2=OVklZt8gg6MFCMstFA2TfA&tbnid=e7lgT--ngsB3kM:&tbnh=124&tbnw=119&ei=OTBxSbizPI2ssAOAnJ21DA&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dbelly%2Bdancer%26gbv%3D2%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DG


"Mehendi, a heart beating moment of every bride's life. The mehendi theme fixed in their mind that they never marry without a mehendi.

All are knows the importance of Mehendi in Hindu wedding ceremony. It is an artistic and pleasing expression which tripping the light fantastic way on everybody's core of heart. A Mehendi plays a vital role in such a way that no Indian marriage is believed to be complete without it!"

A cultural aspect, but absolutely gorgeous!



Last thing...I found a website called Walla! radio http://radio.walla.co.il/ts.cgi?tsscript=index.english&fg=1

I just thought it was interesting because it's all in Hebrew but than randomly you will see Metallica, or Lil Wayne. Amazing how much Western music other cultures listen to.

Another little tangent, I worked with a girl from Russia and she liked alot of our music even though a lot of times she doesn't actually know what it means. I wonder if it's difficult to find American song translated into Russian.

Rites of passage and the music that acompanys it.

To me being a rebellious child who was across town at friends houses the second I learned how to ride a bike, having my license was one of thee biggest rites of passage to this day. Now of course, the driver gets to choose the music in the car, and so the second I received my license I immediately put on my favorite pop band of the moment and had my step mom or dad then had to suffer to my music! Of course they didn't drive with me to often however, it will still one of my biggest rites personally. Another big one in the western culture is graduation. Be it High school or College there is always the school band playing, with Americas being "Pomp and Circumstance". I'm not sure if any of the members in Latin America ever tire of certain San Juan's, but for 3 straight years every band member was responsible for playing that (and repeating it as many times as necessary). As a musician this of course would grow old while playing it, however I don't think that Graduation would be the same if it wasn't played.
I'm not sure if joining band is considered a rite of passage to most, but growing up as a younger sibling to a bigger brother in band, I could not wait to play an instrument. Than when fifth grade rolled around, I was finally able to pick an instrument and lo and behold my "Buzz" was too high for the tuba. Heartbroken I settled on the horn. Although not one of the big "Rites" that many people think of, I think that the vast majority of elementary school kids are really excited to play an instrument, be it for orchestra or band.
A few more rites would have to be baptisms and birthdays. For most religions it is imperative for the baby to be baptized in the family’s church. This is typically a huge deal in that the whole family gathers and after the baptism a celebration is typically held afterwords. During the baptism there is often organ music In celebration that the child will be innocent and if it were to die would be saved. With that in mind the music follows in religious music, sometimes on organ with the members and family accompanying in a celebratory song. Last but not least, Birthdays are the ultimate rite of passage, now granted not all of them are special. There is the golden birthday (When you turn the number of your birthday) along with sweet sixteen (license yes!) double numbers, finally a teen at 13 and becoming legal at 21. All in all though every year is typically celebrated with the happy birthday song, either sang by friends or family. It’s just sad that the happy birthday song is technically owned by Michael Jackson, and therefore restaurants cannot use it. Following the tradition is typically cake and perhaps a family favorite recipe is served.

Music and Relgion

Growing up in a wide variety of churches, (Lutheran, Methodist, Presbyterian, and Episcopalian) along with visiting many many more over the years has given me at least somewhat of a perspective of how the different sects within Christianity work. Basically, a priest or member of the church gives a lesson, than a song is sung. Based on the church, the Sunday, etc. Is the type of music that is sung/played. For instance there is different music sang around Christmas than there is two Sundays after advent. Sometimes there is a solo singer, sometimes a live band will play, but most of the time in my experience it has been an organist. In relation to the African music in the call and response genre, My Grandmothers church (Lutheran) would have a single man do the calling in a part speech, part song like in the standard that Western Civilizations call a chant. Most of it would be monophonic, with some changes in pitches. At the same church however, there would also be hymns that would be sung with the whole church. Because most of the congregation does not know how to read music, or is not professional musicians, the music has a very small range and is of a simple rhythm. By doing so the service will sound better and people will not be frustrated and concentrate on that instead of the reason of singing, for god. In other service’s I have experienced, there have been choirs to help emphasis their love of god. With their flowing gowns, and passion, it is truly bound to leave at least somewhat of an impression on one. Now while the church services that I’ve describe are now called “Traditional” There is now a type of service that tries to keep up with the younger generation. With a less of a “stuffy” atmosphere, and catchier tunes, the ministers use Christian pop music. This to me seems to have a more laid back atmosphere and does not require “Sunday’s Best” as had previously. Many people show up in normal attire, and it just seems just that much more relaxed. Also, as far as Church imitating popular music, I almost feel like it’s turned around now, with Churches trying to bring the cynical youth back by playing music that’s praising god, but rocking out at the same time. It’s an interesting twist, and I know for a fact that many of the older generation hate it. To appease both parties, many churches now have two services. I wonder if the preachers enjoy the switch from new to old every Sunday.

Cool stuff friday

*Edit* I tried posting the link so that it would be live, but It wouldn't work, so you will have to highlight it and put it in the address bar. Sorry! I promise the links are correct though****

For fridays cool stuff blog I decided to look up a few fun videos on youtube that relate to what we are talking about. Recently I purchased a thumb piano (I temporarily forgot the name of) and I decided to look up a few videos in native africa. Here is one...

www.youtube.com/watch?v=1zP2OlgA6i0


A thumb piano and african harp ensemble

After this video I stumbled upon a single man playing a thumb piano.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=lAaFv5t3duY&feature=related



After looking at related links I found a really cool technologically advanced one where the man actually plugged in his Kalimba (which I believe is a variation to the original thumb piano)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vwi0JaJmVTI&feature=related



Out of curiosity on legality of Peyote, I found a page stating the laws written just as recently as 2000.
Legal status of Peyote


http://www.erowid.org/plants/peyote/peyote_law1.shtml


Last but not least this is the infamous dancing man. Although all of the videos look slightly fake with the background if you continue onto the website


http://www.wherethehellismatt.com/?fbid=yW4I4EzQJ4P
You can actually watch a lecture on all of the countries that he has been too, and how people have reacted to him just randomly dancing all over the world. His latest adventure is 42 countries in 42 months, and if you take the time to watch his lecture posted on the website he speaks all about the different cultures that he visits. I just love how the silly dancing will just bring random strangers together even for just the shooting of a youtube video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlfKdbWwruY


I hope that everyone takes the time to watch that video because it's truly amazing how music and dance can bring people together.



Last but not least my mother used to listen to Pure Moods a lot in the late 90's. Here is an example of a modern Native American piece that incorporates a lot of new with old.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zhd9z9Qhb6A&feature=PlayList&p=CABB45B12E3474F9&index=2