Mystical and Sacred Music Listening: Relay for Life Event

St. Cecilia by John William Waterhouse

As part of my own personal giving to Relay for Life this year, I have decided to join Radio Riel's "Riel Day for Life" on July 11th. I have donated money to sponsor two hours of music - music of my choosing.

From 6:00am - 8:00am SLT on July 11th, I invite you to listen to sacred and mystical music with me. I specifically chose the music for these time slots as they are just the beginning of a new day for me. I like the thought of easing into the day and allowing the music to set a loving and grounded tone. The first hour will be Celtic and pagan mystical music.

During the second hour we will hear sacred choral pieces of the major religions.

I will have my land in Winterfell Anodyne: Isle of Skye (http://slurl.com/secondlife/Winterfell%20Anodyne/211/159/35) open for dancing round the fire and stone circle, as well as quiet places to sit and listen - perhaps to meditate, perhaps to talk softly with friends. You are all invited to join me. Hope to see you there.

Music Appreciation: Crooners

I am so pleased to have been asked to present a music appreciation evening at the New Champagne Rooms in New Babbage this Sunday night, May 16th at 8pm SLT.

In honor of the latest edition to the New Champagne Rooms family in Seraph City, I will be playing a set based on the theme "Crooners". We'll enjoy the music of those singers of pop standards from the early part of the 20th century through more modern times over the course of our 2-hour musical journey together.



Hope to see you there.

What Does The Realm of the Red Rose Sound Like?

And now the music that The Realm of the Red Rose creates (apparently):



For more information go here.

The Living Light Concert a Success!

Miss Ariesse Heart

Miss Heart, Mr. Ghost, and Lady Eva

Miss Ariesse Heart charmed the crowd as she led the group of music lovers through an overview of how she is inspired and creates such beautiful works of music. A relatively unknown avatar in Second Life, she is one of the best known composers/arrangers of sacred choral music in the (real) world. She has published over 1700 individual works.

In real life she is the wife of Mr. Icarus Ghost's human. They have been married a number of years, and as all learned last night, they are on occasion a creative team on lyric and music composition.

Miss Heart and Mr. Ghost

The crowd were rapt in attention to the music; however, the open chat format of our conversation with Miss Heart proved to be comfortable and a great use of the platform that is Second Life. Questions were freely asked as the music progressed. Comments were made by many in attendance, and Miss Heart described her thoughts and inspiration for specific words or musical techniques.

An Enthusiastic Crowd

Her word- and dynamics-painting is rich in depth of color and quite poignant throughout the pieces. Many in the crowd discussed how individual pieces moved them emotionally.

Miss Reghan and Miss Tehanu

Miss Hypatia

It has been my pleasure to sing and direct a few of Miss Heart's typist's work in my own RL choir(s) and I look forward to even more opportunities to do so.

Merry Christmas and blessings for a healthy new year.

Eva

Concert & Chat With the Composer on December 20th at 7pm SLT

I'm am so pleased invite you to the ballroom of my home, Caisteal Teanacadh, on December 20th to listen to a concert* of sacred choral Christmas music by Miss Ariesse Heart - or rather, her human.



Miss Heart's guiding spirit began piano and theory lessons at the age of five, and wrote her first song at the age of twelve. Her first octavo was published twenty years later. In 1992, she became a full-time composer and arranger and now has over 1,500 published works. Over twelve million copies of her songs have been purchased in their various venues, and she has been a recipient of the ASCAP Special Award for the last 19 years.

In addition to her choral music for church and school choirs, her songs appear on thirty albums (four of which have been Dove Award Finalists) and numerous children's videos, including sixteen songs on four gold videos, and four songs on one multi-platinum video.

Her songs have also appeared on such diverse television shows as "The 700 Club" and HBO's acclaimed series "The Sopranos."

I feel so fortunate that Miss Heart has agreed to spend time with us here in the Isle of Skye, Winterfell Anodyne, Second Life, sharing her music. We will all have a chance to chat with Miss Heart during the concert as well as after the music has ended. Unlike RL composer/conductor educational moments, which must take place either before or after the music, the platform of a virtual world gives us all the opportunity to use text to ask and answer questions while the music plays all around us.

Please join me for this special holiday time together. I look forward to the opportunity to introduce you to Miss Heart, and for you to learn more about the brilliant and lovely woman behind the avatar.

*pre-recorded

Happy Hanukkah to my Jewish Friends and Loved Ones

As my typist was out and about today performing some last minute holiday errands, she had National Public Radio tuned in on her radio. Composer Erran Baron Cohen was interviewed on Fresh Aire and we were treated to a sampling of songs from his latest CD, Songs in the Key of Hanukkah. The music offers a new take on traditional sounds.

Mr. Cohen's work was recorded in London, Berlin and Tel Aviv. The CD combines klezmer, reggae, electronica and hip hop as it reinterprets classics. The album even features New York rapper Y-Love rhyming in Yiddish. Y-Love is a convert to Orthodox Judaism and raps in English, Yiddish, and Aramaic. (Now that takes a whole lotta talent.)

My typist was completely engaged as she listened to the radio program. Once returning home, a Google search successfully found Mr. Cohen's website. Here is the Dreidel song and video from Songs in the Key of Hanukkah. Enjoy!

And Happy Hanukkah!

Speaking of Finnish Rock Bands

I don't know exactly when or where, but recently at a party in SL there was some discussion about rock bands from Finland. Well, likely it was at Gearz or somewhere that Diamanda was serving up the music (we all know how she loves Finnish Death Metal). At any rate there was some random discussion about the music scene in Finland.

To my great surprise I learned today that a band I only recently discovered - and like quite a lot - is based in Finland.

Poets of the Fall.

Arriving at their official web site today, I learned this and found their 2008 tour dates. As a matter of fact I lunched at the Virgin Oil Company in Helsinki where they held a sold out show this year. :-D

I find their music to span the rock continuum fairly broadly from ballad to much heavier pieces (bet you already have them, Dia). The first song I ever heard from POTF was Fragile. The lyrics really move me. I have posted them below.

FRAGILE
You've been biting bullets all these years, I know
There beside yourself, choking back tears
And you aced avoiding possibility
When you made your bed upon the bittersweet

Oh now don't you worry
There's no need to be sorry
There's still time to step lightly

Cos the love you used to feel is still in there, inside
It may be the faded photograph, the lock of hair, don't hide
If you're scared, I'm here to hold you,
If you get lost I'm here to guide you
Love is peace when peace is fragile
Love is all the good in you that still remains
Love is peace when peace is fragile

You've been going out of way to agree
Like you've been rubbing yourself all wrong just to be somebody else's genie
Catering to your disasters every need
Waiting to finally be set free

I said baby don't worry
Life will carry
Just take it slowly....

The goodie that I really want to share with you today is this video for Carnival of Rust. A good song filmed with a very steampunkish look, which I think many of you will enjoy.



Do let me know what you think.

Eva