The first bird I searched for was the nightjar, which used to nest in the valley. Its song is like the sound of a stream of wine spilling from a height into a deep and booming cask. It is an odorous sound, with a bouquet that rises to the quiet sky. In the glare of […]
Tag Archives: music
I have to share two fantastic musical documentaries, both of which happen to be in stunning black and white. The first features guitarist Lenny Breau and comes from the National Film Board of Canada. If you don’t know their work, or that their over 13,000 productions are available to stream free on their site, get on it! […]
Great music offers a glimpse at the pinnacle of human potential. Other music, ephemeral and utilitarian, never makes it out of base camp–or perhaps the gutter. Adult film music likely fits this second description but its reputation may be on the rise. I saw this article on “how sex got its soundtrack” from Salon and couldn’t help […]
UPDATE 12/16/15: Are you a fan of Irv’s work? Want to collaborate or share your personal story of discovering the environments series? Drop me a line at jonathaneennewton [at] gmail [dot] com. Exciting projects in the works. UPDATE 10/8/14: I’m now working with Syntonic Research, Irv Teibel’s label, to sort through his papers and recordings […]
What is music? What is music? What is music? Though not a tonal language per se, English is a language of inflection and affection. We find ourselves enrapt with music’s ineffable characteristics, however to reach an agreeable definition seems impossible and ill advised. Below represents the dynamic and diverse conclusions of composers, philosophers and, of course, musicians on the […]
Presuming that there is such a thing as “progress” when it comes to music, and that music is “better” now than it used to be is typical of the high self-regard of those who live in the present. It is a myth. Creativity doesn’t “improve.” I came across this bold assertion in the first chapter […]
