Last Day

Question #1
Probably one of the most surprising things I learned about another culture was during the time my group was researching Australia. I had never thought about the music landscape of the world’s largest island, but I had always assumed that it was a place similar to that of the quiet rural towns of old stories, not too risqué or anything of that sort. And, I’m pretty sure all in my group were of the same opinion.
BOY, WERE WE WRONG!!!!
I’m not going to go into the gory details, but let me tell you Australia is not what we imagined it to be! The traditional music of the Aborigines was pretty much what we expected, maybe a bit more soothing and remarkably similar to the music of the Native Americans. But the modern musical landscape is much more scandalous than we ever would have thought. I suppose that goes to show you that cultures will take many different perspectives to the influences regarding their music. Plus, it shows us to never make an assumption about a culture based on what we’ve seen in the modern media. You can’t always believe what you see or hear, and we learned that lesson in a very clear fashion.

Question #2
The thing that struck the closest to home with me about our own music culture is the absolute need for perfection within the music. Most musicians in our society today strive to be in tune and in rhythm all the time, never making a mistake and never missing a beat. They never want to appear human, and while it is true that in order to truly be good at something you have to make it look effortless, not enough of our own humanity is fused with the music. Listening to the other cultures’ music and watching their particular rituals made me realize that they weren’t trying to be perfect: they were trying to convey a message, an idea to their audience to help them feel the powerful message of the music as they felt it. In typical American society today, we don’t focus so much on the beauty of the music’s performance, but rather the theory and structure behind the music. We don’t perform the music according to our own thoughts and feelings, we perform it according to the ideas and opinions of others.

Question #3
One thing I would really like to learn more about is the music of Indonesia. That was the one culture in class that I had the most trouble listening to and yet it was the one culture in class that our teacher truly expressed a keen interest in. I want to know what I am missing, and I want to know what makes it so special. Are my ears just not ready for that kind of music, or was it just too early in the morning? I would love to hear some more of the music, especially the lullabies, and see if maybe I can’t form an opinion about this music as well.

Cool Stuff #3 or #4--whichever

I absolutely loved the Japanese portion of class, so here's a bunch of really cool stuff concerning Japan! This ranges from the puppetry to instruments and their performance! Enjoy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UV938f46Wpg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P6nS-8OKl8I
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNXMO_Acto0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1xzgqfzTOfE&feature=related

Music and Society

My family is very proud of the men in our family who fought in the American Revolution and the American Civil War, so I grew up learning about different cultural aspects to the societies that were so different and yet so similar. Probably one of the most memorable things to me when I was learning was the uses of music during the time to bring about a certain result.
“Yankee Doodle” came out just before the American Revolution and is still around even today. I know I still sing the tune over and over again whenever I am making macaroni and cheese. Originally thought up by the British during the French and Indian War, the song was meant to demoralize our troops and mock their strife and cause. But, this song is now a symbol of patriotism in this country and many different variations have been added throughout history in order to adapt to our ever-changing homeland. One version came from the Southerners during the Civil War while a completely different version—a parody-- was introduced by Billie Holiday in the 1930’s. This song is used now to rally the patriots in the country and to teach young children about the Revolutionary War when they are still in grade school and still has a deep resonance in my household today.
Civil War pieces such as “Battle Hymn of the Republic,” “John Brown’s Body,” and “Dixieland” were all songs which, back then, were used in a similar fashion to the way “Yankee Doodle” is used today. These songs were sung by the soldiers as well as the civilians left at home in order to convey their own personal truths to the war, their own personal causes and reasons for their stands. The pieces were tethered directly to the ideals and beliefs of those who would sing and play them and still have a strong quality in society today. Various connotations can be ascertained, but with the collection of all of the songs from both sides of the war, a better picture of the war can be inferred. These songs were used to rally the men and women of the “separate countries”—I use that term loosely because of my own set of personal beliefs about the war—and today can still be heard to rally the citizens of this country.
These historical pieces of music are still extraordinarily prevalent in today’s society, whether it be at military functions, or children’s classes, the movies, television, books, the internet, or even in the comfortable spaces inside the many houses in America. They continue to draw upon the instinctual pride Americans have for their country, and for those who have a history of family in the wars, the fierce acknowledged pride and respect for the struggles and sacrifices for The Cause.

Cool Stuff #2

Alright, so we've all heard that I know how to dance in a certain fashion that happens to compliment the music of the Middle East. Here is a video of a dancer dancing a traditional style dance with a few modern touches, accompanied by instruments of the area:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBsN_sxbWYw&feature=related
And here's some Latin American music with a band similar to one that was mentioned in class:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vTeOHusgBDg&feature=PlayList&p=09E38E40F3F7733F&playnext=1&index=1
Here's something interesting enough: a video of African influences in Latin American music. It appears to be a lecture that was included in a television show of some sort, so it is quite lengthy:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NkemGswLwTk
And for the fans of Jim Carrey, here's a video of one of his 1991 shows during which he talks about the Middle East in terms of pop music:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXUQAZ03G6k

Music and Rites

The biggest rite that I can think of that has just recently taken place in my life is my eldest sister's wedding. In this ceremony, both my middle sister and I provided the music as we watched our sister give herself away to the man who had stolen her heart and who had also stolen her away from us. He was moving back to Washington State to return to his family, and she moved out there with him. My other sister and I knew we would be called upon to play the music for her wedding, so we immediately began compiling a list of pieces we could play, and sure enough a phone call came soon after she moved away.
The situation was precarious for myself: I'm not a religious person, yet the Catholic church she was getting married in required only certain songs be played. None of the traditional songs we had picked out seemed to apply--except for Pachelbel's Canon. Ugh! It's a beautiful song, but once you play that bass line three thousand times, it gets pretty monotonous. But, this was for my sister's wedding, and so I resigned myself to play the Canon in D for the millionth time.
The bass line began, I was alone as both sisters awaited their entrance, and it was then that I saw the look on my now brother-in-law's face. It was an indescribable look, full of happiness and terror as he watched the woman in the white gown drawing nearer. The theme came in and he nearly lost control, but he was not the only one: my father was also nearly about to lose the composure that he had kept all weekend since we arrived. It was then, while daydreaming and watching everyone else and STILL playing the bass line in tempo and in tune (I've played it many many times before), that I realized exactly what was happening. The people around had associated this music with the bride's entrance, and as they gazed at her beauty, the piece was made all the lovlier.
The particular swells and tones of the violin mixed with the steady constant sound of the cello mixed and created a mood of awe and anticipation. The people of the audience and the people in front of everyone else seemed to feel how important this moment was all at the same time. There was a sense of uniformity and, finally, the sense of family that had eluded us all weekend. We had all come together for this moment: Pachelbel's Canon, the arrival of the bride. Everyone had known from my first note that this was a special moment that would resonate with us for all of our lives. We were becoming a family.
Now, I don't view the Canon with as much disdain--although I still complain if I have to play it. Who wouldn't? But, ever since I saw my sister given away by my tearing father, I have had so much more respect and admiration for it. This one lone piece, this piece that is so well-known throughout the world and played so much brought us all together. A family was realized with its first and last notes, and friends were made that will not soon be forgotten. Three thousand miles away the music of the ceremony touched us. Three thousand miles away, the music of the ceremony set a particular mood, allowed us to feel what was truly within our hearts, and created lasting relationships and memories that will be in the fore-front of our minds for years to come.

Music and Religion

I have led a mostly secular existence for the duration of my time on this planet thus far, but that does not mean I have no beliefs, no sense of direction or faith. This just means that whereas some people may be more religious beings, I am a more spiritual being, pulling from all manners of sources for my own belief system.
I was raised on my heritage which consisted of Native American and Scotch-Irish on my father’s side and Swedish, Australian, and Indian on my mother’s side, and all of these different cultures have their own religious beliefs and customs that I take into consideration when I think about the divine. Mainly, when I speak of my beliefs, most people can see the Native American faith most clearly, so I’ll mainly focus on that aspect of my faith and how it regards music.
Like we learned in class, music is a sort of prayer, or can be used as a sort of prayer to praise The Creator and thank Him for all that he has done for us and given us. All life is a gift, and we honor that gift as best as we can through the songs. The old saying “When words fail, music speaks” holds true in this moment, as does the saying that “God gave us music so that we might pray without words.” Music serves as one of the many ways that we as human beings can become closer to The Creator, or The Divine One, or whatever you choose to call your own personal divine being. With the music, a spiritual awakening takes place—if you allow yourself to give yourself completely to the music and its message. The music may not have words that all can understand, but the emotions evoked and the ideas presented with the styles and interpretations of those involved deliver the sacred right into the hands of the people.
With my own personal philosophy—again, taking from many different belief structures—there are no rules as to how anything should be performed or viewed. All that is requested is that you leave yourself open to whatever may come your way that you leave yourself vulnerable to the awesome power that the music holds. Nothing is required but your belief that there is something out there in the world that is greater than you; you are not the highest authority on this planet, neither am I nor anyone else on the planet. There are things in this world and things beyond this world, transcending space and time that are beyond your control and beyond your knowledge, but with the music you find some sort of peace and are able to reconcile this fact. One way of reaching the divine is through music—if you truly believe and are willing to give yourself up to that authority.
Since I pull from all manners of sources and have never really spent any time in a church that I remember well at all, I cannot say as to whether or not any particular religion has influenced what I believe to be aesthetically pleasing in music. My belief system is as eclectic as my music choices. I pull from Christianity, Buddhism, and Hinduism (among others) and I listen to anything from soundtracks to the angst-filled rock of the 1990’s. I do not belong to any one religion and I do not belong to any one style of music or preference in music. I listen to music the way I regard religion: I find what works best for me and what speaks to me, what makes the most sense to me and what truly touches me.

Cool Stuff #1

I thought it could be interesting to note the similarities and the differences between a Cherokee War Dance and a Sioux War Dance in terms of the music, not the dance. This is the link to get to the Cherokee:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LEl-yJQvXaE
This video actually has dancers involved with the music, but this Sioux War Dance is merely the music:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YNLQ0ecGEGQ&feature=related
Speaking of the Sioux, here is a video of a Sioux Ghost and Buffalo Dance filmed by Thomas Edison himself in 1894. The picture is a bit grainy, but what do you expect? It was 1894!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQGW5a0q51w
Also, under the related videos to the side are a bunch of old videos, such as this one!
I thought this, too, would be interesting, seeing as how it is the combination of Native American language and Western music. In this video you hear "Amazing Grace" being sung in the Cherokee language:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UvYIjFtPQEk&feature=related
Oh, and just for all of the lovers of the purple head scarf and the cheesy stage lighting, here's a video of Robert Mirabal singing "Little Indian Girl." Enjoy:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVhse7O3WuI&feature=related

Music and Movement

Music is always directly linked with movement in my life, being a part of musical theatre and a belly dancer. In both of these activities, the music and the movement are directly linked and depend upon one another in order to truly stand out. The music emphasizes the motions and the same applies if the situation were reversed. Musical theatre and belly dancing cannot exist without music, and the
Musical theatre without the dance and the songs would hardly be anything other than a play that can’t decide whether or not it is a drama or a comedy. With the marriage of the songs and dances something more is created: an outlook on life that can touch the audience as well as entertain them. Something special happens with the actors on the stage as well: they find themselves transported into another world, escaping the reality outside the theatre. Such is the point of drama and theatre: to exist in a world other than the one which is lived in. A musical without music would make no sense, and if the actors randomly broke out into song without any dance, the effect of the song would be lost. The entire purpose of the music and the movement is to demonstrate what cannot be correctly conveyed in prose. Verse and choreography must be employed, otherwise the story is lost, the audience leaves without enrichment of some sort, and the actors find themselves a part of something absolutely meaningless and devoid of any value. Neither the music nor the movement are more important than the other in this because with this tactic of utilizing music and movement in order to tell a story, all characteristics and facets contribute to the experiences of all involved. The actors on the stage become a part of the story and the audience finds themselves witness to a reality which does not really exist. Theatre and drama are meant to transport all involved into another world, and music and movement are an integral part in life, and therefore theatre. Theatre imitates life, as do music and movement.
Belly dancing requires mass amounts of music and movements. One cannot be truly comprehended without the other, especially for the performer. A truly special thing happens when the dances are performed with the correct movements and music: one becomes the music and the movements. The performer finds themselves to be the instrument in the end: the instrument which communicates the history, meaning, and emotion behind the choreography and the composition. Just as the Native Americans feel that music and dance combine to be a spiritual moment, so too can this experience be. The performer fuses with their environment and find peace with themselves—even if mistakes are made. The experience means more than the mistakes ever will, and the connection made to the atmosphere, the music, the dance, the audience (if there is one), and one’s divine being can be an extraordinarily powerful thing that has the capability to change everything.
Music and movement in life are always directly linked, able to incorporate all facets of life into beautiful pieces and moments that stay with us for a lifetime. If they were to be separated, life would not run as it should, for all art forms were meant to inspire the life around us and the people around us. The two were made for each other and I fear the day that they find themselves separate and able to stand on their own.

Musical Autobiography

My love of music stems from family reunions when my Grandpa, his brothers, and his sons would all gather in one room and play their instruments. Appalachian mountain music was the order of the day, and the guitar, the violin, and the banjo sounded throughout the entire house as the smells of home cooked food wafted through the halls and filled our nostrils. I was also introduced to the music of Elvis Presley and The Beatles at these reunions and this was the music that defined my childhood. I learned how to horribly play the guitar with tab music for their greatest hits, and I also learned how to tinkle around on a piano with sheet music for the same songs. I still, to this day, listen to the music and you can even sometimes hear me singing the tunes that everyone else seems to have forgotten or abandoned. My love of music, however, does not stem only from Appalachian mountain music, Elvis, and The Beatles. One of my relatives on my mother’s side was from India, and, being always interested in that chapter of our family history, I was taught to belly dance. Belly dancing is one massive workout for your entire body set to the music of India, so with all of the training that I had, I became very familiar with Indian music and eventually grew to love it intensely. I really can’t tell you any specifics about composers or instruments, but I can give a dancing lesson or even come up with an original dance upon one hearing. Having to do this during my training, I was able to truly comprehend how my body and its movements fit so well with the music opening up before me, and I was finally able to grasp exactly why both the dancing and its music were beautiful. Both are an art form and I still love to dance whenever I can—although that can be difficult in a dorm room. One final way I was influenced by music is perhaps the most significant details that define my life. Being interested in films and the making of films my entire life, it was only natural that I found my way into the soundtrack section one day after seeing a movie in theaters. Now, practically all I listen to are movie soundtracks, which only enhance the viewing experience. I am able to see and hear the art of the film now, as every trombone slide or oboe solo or cello drone contribute to the pictures in some way. The music itself performs as a different venue of expression and development of the characters on the screen, and you can get such a better picture of the story and its nuances if you know the music. The music imitates the life on the screen, just as music imitates life in the real world. The music I listen to imitates my life: I’m interested in practically everything, so it only makes sense that I listen to Appalachian, Indian, and modern instrumental music.