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Didgeridoo Sessions

/ mrbaxteria2008 / Leave a comment

Interesting info about this video:

“Enjoy this short impression of our contribution to the Summer Solstice world didgeridoo meditation.
Four times a year people all over the world take part in this didgeridoo sound healing meditation wherever they are. The didgeridoo meditation happens on the equinoxes and solstices at local sunset times. It is like a wave of healing sound following the sunset around the globe four times a year.
So the meditation starts in New Zealand (since they are the first large land after the date line); soon after participants in Australia, Taiwan, Japan and other Asian countries join in; the wave will then be carried on by participants in Arab countries, Israel, Africa and Europe with Americans, Canadians, Middle and South Americans complete the world wide circle.
We will do this didgeridoo meditation at every solstice and equinox, so we will join our global energy playing didgeridoo four times a year. Join our growing worldwide didgeridoo circle in this regular meditation, the next one will be on 22 June 2007. Wherever you are on this beautiful planet on 22 June 2007, please allow for one hour starting at your local sunset time. If you cannot set that hour apart, be with us in spirit as much as you can during that hour.
Let’s Surround the Earth in a Didgeridoo Sound Blanket!!!
For more info: http://www.didjshop.com”

If you are a world music enthusiast like me, I know you will find it hard to resist the sound of the didgeridoo. The didgeridoo is a wind instrument of the Aboriginal Australians which dates back up to 1,500 years. The popular culture has made the didgeridoo ‘hip’ and thus incorporate it in recordings. A fine example is found in Long Black Veil of The Chieftains and also can be heard in The Book of Secrets by Loreena McKennitt.

Jacob McCauley’s Bodhran Techniques

/ mrbaxteria2008 / 3 Comments

I admit I was baffled by all the bodhran designs I see these days. It has evolved from a traditional instrument  to a stylish one capable of different flavors. The styles have now became varied as the younger generations introduced their own way of playing .

  Jacob McCauley is from Toronto Canada( winning the Toronto Fleadh Music Competition, March 2008). He incorporates a lot of styles but his favorite tempos  are the 7/8 and 13/16.He is in the middle of working on his  Bodhrán Instructional DVD , an experimental album with guitarist Santiago Dobles & bass player Alan Goldstein of progressive Metal band “Aghora” and several other projects. Whoaa! Metal meets folk.

Being a versatile player, he already shared the stage with The Chieftains and Lau(award winning Scottish band). What makes looking at his instructional videos rewarding is his charismatic personality, and easy way of explaining and demonstrating.

I am starting to enjoy listening to the bodhran without other instruments. It is a very expressive percussion. It is capable of delivering many shades and even nuances that can never be found in other percussions .

Orla Fallon My Land Tour

/ mrbaxteria2008 / 4 Comments

Wow finally I am back home! It feels great to sit here writing about what is hot and latest in our musical culture. Orla Fallon who is part of the successful group Celtic Woman is busy promoting her music from the new album My Land . She is making rounds around venues in the United States until October. Fans of her clear soprano will surely  don’t want to miss this.  Here is the calendar for here tour dates: http://www.orlafallon.com/Tour/tabid/1159/Default.aspx

She is also doing media promotion. By the looks of it , her management is really doing its best to back her up and make sure she makes waves around the US. Just check this out:  http://www.orlafallon.com/TVAirDates/tabid/1158/Default.aspx

Orla made an impact for me personally when she played the harp singing Carrickfergus. Her red hair and beautiful voice make her distinctive from the group. And yes she’s the only one playing the harp.

I wish Orla more success in her tour and hopefully we will be able to catch her when she performs live ion our town!

The new album My Land is now out. Visit the official store:

Tracklisting:

Tracklist:
1. Mo Ghile Mear
2. Distant Shore
3. Morning Has Broken
4. Ni Na La
5. Down To The River To Pray featuring The Dublin Gospel Choir
6. Isle of Innisfree
7. Both Sides Now
8. Red Is The Rose featuring Tommy Fleming
9. My Land
10. Spanish Lady LIVE with the Dubliners
11. I’ll Tell Me Ma LIVE with the Dubliners, featuring Damien Dempsey

Paul Jarvis: Thoughts from the Youngest of The Brennans

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Making funny faces:Paul and Aisling

Making funny faces:Paul and Aisling

Our week opens heralding the month of May, the celebration of Beltane. My friend Jenny said it is Spring in Europe, the season of love.  Spring reminds us of the beauty of youth, the freshness of everything, the first bloom of flowers and the warm colors of the day. They say it is the youth that carries the legacy of our ancestors into the new era. I believe so. And since youth is our theme for this week, I have the honor to present to you my guest , who is young, musical and Irish.

Paul Jarvis is the son of Tim Jarvis, a freelance photographer and Moya Brennan lead singer of Clannad and the First Lady of Celtic music.  He performed in his mother’s recording at an age of four! He  also sometimes perform side by side his sister Aisling. Music is in the genes. You will find out through this nice  one on one with Paul.

  • How is it like growing up with the Brennans?

I love it, but I don’t really have anything to compare it to. There such a great family. The best is when all nine of the Brennan brothers and sisters go up to Donegal for Christmas. There is always something mad happening! It is quite hard for Olive my auntie to come over because of living in Australia, but when she does come she often brings my cousin Callum over, whom i get on very well with, and in Ireland I spend a lot of time with Pól’s son Ember, he’s a great lad!

One of those rare moments with Mom

One of those rare moments with Mom

 

  • Your mom has performed many concerts. Does she sometimes bring you along?

I have traveled quite a lot with my mum. She does many gigs in Europe so it’s not too hard to go and meet her, and sometimes (but very rarely) she takes us to places such as America or Tanzania. We kind of turn them into holidays while we’re there as well. So it can be a great experience! Although my sister, Aisling, has started to travel a lot more with my mum. She plays with her regularly now.

  • In Whisper to the Wild Water, you appeared narrating a speech in Gaelic about St Francis of the Assisi. It’s a beautiful piece. How old were you at that time? It’s a moving track.

I was, I think four years old at the time of recording. At the time I didn’t have a clue what the words meant because it was all in Irish and I couldn’t speak it back then. When recording my mum sat next to me and told me the words and then i repeated it into the mic, and that’s how it was recorded. i was also asked to go over to sing it in Japan, but I was too scared of the crowds at that age, so I never performed it live with my mum.

  • Your sister Aisling is also getting involved with music and also performed with your mom. Do you wish to follow the same path someday?

I would love to start playing with my mum in the future, I just need to up my standard, so it should be good if I do get around to it in the next few years. i wouldn’t be able to play next year though because I have my big school exams, but after.

  • You are currently studying right? What type of music do the guys listen in your college?

Yes, I am in my secondary school currently and I do eight subjects, one of which is music. It is mostly classical music but there is some Irish traditional music as well.

  • How do fans of Clannad and your mom treat you when they spot you?

There are a few of my mum’s fans who would recognize me but apart from that, I don’t think they would recognize me!

Are You Irish?

/ mrbaxteria2008 / 1 Comment

On the Personal Side of Things…

I apologize to have been away for quite awhile. Like most ordinary working class human beings I have family business to take care. Apart from that I have been busy with my job and having a social life. Which  should have been done moderately because I have an obligation to you.  I like updating this site. It gives me a sense of balance. When it is about this, it is always about music. Not what I feel and not what I expect people to give me.

Often times we find ourselves feeling neglected. Especially when we are no longer the center of attention. This can be a sad experience. That is always the case when you are fond of someone. That person becomes the center of your universe. Suddenly nothing matters.

I don’t usually put personal stuff here because this is about music. Sorry about that but I feel like I have to say this. I had a falling out with a friend a couple of months ago. Neither of us are still speaking to one another. At some point I felt I was abandoned.  Then I realize I have to take it as a blessing. I no longer get phone calls late at night where the conversation centers around this person’s relationship and family life. I no longer had to sacrifice a little bit of time in my part just to listen to concerns when I am supposed to hurry up to do something. For the fist time I feel that I am talking about myself. This is a good feeling. Why should I feel bad losing someone like that? It is the feeling of freedom I shall never trade for a moment’s bliss. When you care about someone  you are giving that person access to your soul. Make sure it is worth it.

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Old Blind Dogs Concert..

Fans of Old Blind Dogs will be glad to know that they will kick the month of may with a concert. Old Blind Dogs have been playing music that combines Celtic, World reggae and rock. Originally from the Scottish Highlands, the band has been around since 1992 and with an accomplishment of recording 12 albums.

Time: 01 May · 19:30 – 22:00 ,  Venue: Kathy and Cary Brown’s House

More info:  Tickets are $20 suggested donation (all proceeds go directly to band)
Complimentary Food and Drink Band CDs available for purchase plus a raffle for the acoustic guitar used on the tour-all proceeds of raffle benefit Paws for People
For reservations call 708-602-4408 or email kathleenblazebrown@sbcglobal.net

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Jig: The Film

Are you ready for Jig? This is a film about Irish dancing . Release date May 6 2011:

More Info: From the award winning director of My Street and Mum & Me, Jig tells the compelling story of the 40th Irish dancing world championships in Glasgow. Thousands of dancers, their families and teachers take part in the drama-filled seven day event where dance talent is pushed to the very limit in the quest for perfection.

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For Wrestling Fanatics..

I am not a wrestling fan. But there’s this guy in facebook who asked me if I am Irish. he noticed all my posts. I said “Nope but it’s like asking me why I love RnB when I am not African American”.