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Category: Arts – Entertainment

  • Tomma Abts – Abstract Art is OK but not KO.

    In 2006 the Turner Prize gained its first ever female winner. The artist who achieved this feat hails from Germany and is called is Tomma Abts. In order to carry off the Turner Prize – in the final, Tomma had to overcome three notable artists .

    In no particular order of importance these were – sculptress Rebecca Warren who was the fancied hot favourite with many bookies, “billboard artist” Mark Titchner – and finally film maker Phil Collins…(No not him of Genesis fame!).

    When the judges cast their votes however it was Tomma Abts who came out on top. She won twenty five thousand british pounds and of course the Turner Prize itself. I am sure the money will come in handy – however its the exposure that Tomma will get from winning thats the really important thing here.

    What does Tomma Abts do? Well she actually paints abstract art; usually in oils or acrylics. – something of a novelty for the Turner Prize – some would say! Tomma Abts was originally selected for her solo art exhibitions at Kunsthalle Basel, Switzerland, and Greengrassi, London.

    1. Tomma Abts has been praised by no less than the Tate Gallery who describes her canvases as “intimate” and “compelling” .
    2. They also comment on Tommas “consistent” and even “rigorous” method of painting.
    3. In addition the Tate states that Tomma Abts “enriches the language of abstract art” .
    4. With such praise heaped upon her head its no surprise to me that she won the prize.
    5. However I actually feel that Tommas abstract artwork isnt “knock out” but it definitely is OK.

    The images or paintings of Tomma Abts are created by the repetiton of various geometrical shapes on a base of rich colour. Personally – I dont think that Tommas approach to painting is particularly original. However I have to admit that while not being “knock out” I find some of Tommas images pretty compelling and touching. I have to say that this does surprise me.

    48 x 38 cms – exactly. These are the dimensions of every Tomma Abts painting. Im not sure quite why Tomma selected these dimensions. Obviously she finds them appealing and I suppose they make for a very compact painting.

    When creating titles for her paintings apparently Tomma simply plucks one from a dictionary of German first names! Titles like “Veeke” for example were created in this way. In my view this is surely only slightly more interesting than numbering each picture!

    All in all I think that Tomma Abts creates abstract art that is pretty accessible to the public at large. This is something that perhaps could not be said about the artwork of previous Turner Prize winners! I base my opinion of course on Tommas prize winning paintings. I would go further and state that I cannot conceive of a Tomma Abts creation offending anyone – even slightly.

    In the end its just my personal opinion but I do believe that its entirely posible that Tomma Abts will go on to become a household name – within her own lifetime…Of course she could also disappear without trace from the media – and our minds in the blink of an eye, for precisely the same reasons.

  • Islamic calligraphy

    Islamic Calligraphy has arguably become the most reverenced form of Islamic art. It provides a link between the languages of the Muslims with the religion of Islam. The Muslim calligraphists have great contributions in taking this Islamic art to this zenith. The holy book of Islam, Al-Quran, has played an important role in the development and evolution of the Arabic language, and by extension, calligraphy in the Arabic alphabet. The famous Islamic artists have created Arabic calligraphy of supreme quality. Till today, The chief sources for Islamic calligraphy are the proverbs and complete passages from the Holy Quran. In modern times, the supply of Islamic calligraphy has also become a flourishing Islamic art business.

    Islamic calligraphy is a visible expression of the highest art of all for the muslim. It is the art of the spiritual world. Calligraphy literally means writing beautifully and ornamentally. Islamic calligraphy is the art of writing, and by extension, of bookmaking. This art has most often employed the Arabic script, throughout many languages. Since Arabic calligraphy was the primary means for the preservation of the Quran, Calligraphy is especially revered among Islamic arts. The work of the famous muslim calligraphers were collected and greatly appreciated throughout Islamic history. Consideration of figurative art as idolatrous led to calligraphy and abstract figures becoming the main methods of artistic expression in Islamic cultures. Contemporary muslim calligraphers are also producing the Islamic calligraphy of high artistic quality.

    Calligraphic scripts

    1. The Kufic script is the first of those calligraphic scripts to gain popularit.
    2. It was angular, made of square and short horizontal strokes, long verticals, and bold, compact circles.
    3. For three centuries, this script had been mainly used to copy the Quran.
    4. The cursive Naskh script was more often used for casual writing.
    5. This script had rounder letters and thin lines.
    6. It would come to be preferred to Kufic for copying the Quran as techniques for writing in this style were refined.
    7. Almost all printed material in Arabic is in Naskh.
    8. The Thuluth would take on the ornamental role formerly associated with the Kufic script in the 13th century.
    9. Thuluth is usually written in ample curves as it has a strong cursive aspect.
    10. The Persians took to using Arabic script for their own language, Persian after their conversion to Islam.
    11. The Taliq and Nastaliq styles were contributed to Arabic calligraphy by the Persians.
    12. Nastaliq style is extremely cursive, with exaggeratedly long horizontal strokes.
    13. The Diwani script is a cursive style of Arabic calligraphy.
    14. It was developed during the reign of the early Ottoman Turks (16th and early 17th centuries).
    15. This outstanding Diwani script was both decorative and communicative.
    16. Finally, Riqa is the most commonly used script for everyday use.
    17. It is simple and easy to write.
    18. Its movements are small.
    19. In China, a calligraphic form called Sini has been developed.
    20. This form has evident influences from Chinese calligraphy.
    21. Hajji Noor Deen Mi Guangjiang is a famous modern calligrapher in this tradition.

    Calligrams

    The most Islamic of arts in the Muslim world, has also its figurative sides. The muslim calligraphers have produced wonderful anthropomorphic figures by interweaving written words, made from an “Allah” , a “Muhammad” , a “Bismillah” , etc., or using micrography. These include , (Ali, the Ideal Human of mystics, a praying man, a face), (Duldul, horse of Ali, horse (Alis Duldul), fish, stork or other bird (the quranic Hudhud) and unanimated representations (a sword (Dhu al-Fiqar) and a mosque. Calligrams are related to Muslim mysticism and popular with many leading calligraphers in Turkey, Persia and India from the 17th century onward.

    Pakistani Islamic Calligraphy

    Pakistan has produced Islamic calligraphist of international recognition. Sadeqain is on of these international fame Islamic calligraphist. He was an untraditional and self-made, self-taught painter and calligrapher. He did a lot of work on Quranic calligraphy. Many other contemporary Pakistani calligraphists like Gul Gee have created great contemporary Islamic calligraphy. These days, Islamic calligraphies of Tufail and Uzma Tufail are getting very much popular both in Pakistan and all over the world.

    Islamic Calligrahpy as an Islamic Gift

    The Muslims love to adore their homes, offices and places of their work with the Islamic calligraphy. The Islamic calligraphies especially the verses from the Holy Quran and the verses from the sayings of the Holy Prophet are considered to be very sacred to muslims. Islamic calligraphy indeed make the perfect gift for a muslim for any special occasion. A muslim can send an Islamic gift of Islamic calligraphy to congratulate his relative or friend on his new home or new office or on his birthday or wedding ceremony or on Eid Festival.

    It is great news for the muslims living all over the world to get the Islamic paintings and Islamic calligraphy of their own choice. Please visit our website at www.paintingsgifts4u.com and click the section of the Islamic paintings. You can get Islamic Calligraphy of your choice just by selecting the Item number of the Islamic Painting or by sending the Holy verse of your choice. We also supply Islamic paintings and Islamic Calligraphy from Pakistan on wholesale basis at very best prices. We are supplying cheap Islamic paintings and cheap Islamic calligraphies with high quality.

  • Classic Rock Performers Who Have Had A Lasting Influence On Music

    Classic rock is a fundamental part of American history. Many of todays leading bands can trace their styles back to the influence of certain musicians. While every song made available to the world has had an impact on the music industry, there are certain performers who will eternally stand at the forefront of music.

    From folk rock to psychedelic rock, there have been many groundbreaking sounds and voices. Here are the top ten most influential classic rock bands in history.

    Elvis Presley

    While Elvis is not traditionally viewed in the classic rock genre, it is impossible to ignore his influence on the world of Rock-n-Roll. As the first to expose mainstream America to something other than traditional family music, he faced a tremendous amount of opposition from the mainstream.

    Despite the extreme racism exhibited during the 1950s, Elvis never hesitated to give appropriate credit to his inspirations. Mainly African-American performers influenced Elvis sound and style. Southern radio disc jockeys originally refused to play Elvis singles, because they sounded “too Negro” for white stations to air.

    It was not just Elvis sound, but also his performance, that drew controversy. The movement of his hips in a suggestive manner sparked an entire decade of debate.

    Despite the firestorm of criticism that surrounded Elvis reign, his continuing popularity has ensured that Elvis crown as the King of Rock and Roll would remain valid for decades, even decades after his death.

    The Beatles

    As the best selling musical act of all-time, it is hard to deny the influence of the Beatles, not only on the musical culture of America, but also on every aspect of human life. The Beatles included John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Ringo Star, and George Harrison.

    Their innovative style defined the music of the 1960s – – twice. They began their career in England, and when they came to America, they were already a huge success in the United States. In their early years, they had defined pop music for a new generation.

    As the hippy days of the late 1960s began to take hold of Americas young people, the Beatles redefined their music again, with another new style of music lauded by the masses. Their very loud stance on drug use and war made them a controversial group, but their popularity never wavered. Although the Beatles retained the loyalty and admiration of their late 1960s audiences until the group broke up, the touring days of the Beatles ended in 1966 when John Lennon proclaimed, “The Beatles were more popular than Jesus Christ.”

    Bob Dylan

    Dylan has one of the most easily recognizable voices in the world. Raspy and full of passion, Bob Dylans sound is distinctive. His songs are amazing and defined a generation obsessed with the themes of social unrest, an anti-war stance, and encouragement for the civil rights movement.

    A traditional folk singer, Dylans works transcended all genres and appealed to countless young Americans. His sincere lyrics spoke to many and made it possible to empathize with his many causes.

    Jimi Hendrix

    As the undisputed master of the electric guitar, Jimi Hendrix is a classic rock foundation. The self-taught guitar player refused to be limited by many of the conventional views of guitar players.

    Prior to Jimi Hendrixs development as a guitar player, the electric guitar was considered to merely be a louder version of the acoustic guitar. Hendrix embraced the uniqueness of the electric guitar and showed his appreciation for it to the rest of the world.

    Pink Floyd

    Easily considered the greatest band of all time, Pink Floyds unique style and showmanship defined psychedelic rock. Their concept albums were thematic masterpieces that appealed to countless audiences. The Dark Side Of The Moon, Animals, and The Wall each still stand out today as great Rock masterpieces.

    The Who

    Also known for their thematic records, The Who pioneered the idea of rock opera. Most famous for their collaborative efforts with every major musical figure of their time, Tommy The Rock Opera ensured the longevity of the band into the future.

    Their success and fame were not limited to their unique approach to concept albums. Their musical skills are still highly regarded in both mainstream circles and in the entertainment industry. Their music is currently being used as the theme song for at least three of the most popular show on TV on the air today.

    The Rolling Stones

    The Rolling Stones have easily maintained their position as one of the longest lasting bands in recording history. Like most popular rock bands of the age, they were an England-based band that was more than happy to take on America.

    Their grungy unkempt image became so popular; many artists are still attempting to master it. Their unique sound and high quality lyrics have kept them at the top of the charts for almost 40 years.

    Cream

    Cream, featuring guitarist Eric Clapton, was one of the most technically advanced music groups of their time. Their instrumental techniques became legendary and paved the way for other bands to focus on developing their instrument techniques, in addition to their lyrics.

    The Doors

    The Doors have always been one of the most controversial bands that had ever existed. Jim Morrisons wild behavior set the tone for the countless musical bad boys that would follow in his footsteps.

    The poetic lyrics of The Doors, as well as their outrageous behavior, made them a crowd favorite.

    Led Zeppelin

    The road to heavy metal was paved by Led Zeppelin. Their first album was pivotal in its inclusion of distorted amplification techniques. Over the years, their experimentation included mixing acoustic and electric sounds, with the addition of synthesized melodies. The success of Led Zeppelin helped establish a strong base for the development of metal music.

    Few people of their generation or the current generation realize that like Elvis, Led Zeppelin took most of their inspiration from African-American performers. As a lifelong fan of Led Zeppelin, it is was oddly fascinating to listen to some of the not-so-famous African-American rhythm-and-blues performers of the 1930s, and to be able to hear the Led Zeppelin songs we have loved for years in a whole new way.

    Final Thoughts

    Clearly, these ten bands had a significant impact on the evolution of Rock-n-Roll music through the generations, but it is more difficult to put them into an ordered list of important groups. Lets just agree that most of us love all ten bands on this list.

  • Beat Maker Software – 3 Great Ways To Use It

    Have you seen any of the latest beat maker software online? Its really cool and the stuff you can do with it is quite incredible. With very little music knowledge or background you can make some pretty interesting beats and even songs by simply using the software. You also dont need too much in terms of a computer and a basic PC or Mac will do just fine.
    Beat maker software can be used for a variety of things. Many people spend a fortune on buying beats and sounds that they could have made themselves – for free. Here are 3 cool ideas for how you can use the software.

    1. Background music

    Are you into making your own games? Computer games require a lot different sounds and music and if you have to buy it all you can quickly blow your budget. With the software you can make your own beats and really customize it to get what you really want – even if you are not very musical.

    2. Rap beats

    Are you into rapping and hip hop? Are you thinking of making your own songs? Most of the time the lack of a studio or the inability to play instruments tend to keep many of us from fulfilling our musical talents. With beat software you can make your own music and rap over it by using some basic recording and mixing software. Who knows, you could make the next smash hit on your own PC using some basic beats software.

    3. Video production

    Do you do a lot of video production? You probably need a lot of background music to animate your videos. You could buy sound clips but how much better would it be to make your own. One thing you dont have to worry about when making your own music is that all the copyrights belong to you and you dont have to pay for using sound clips in clients videos. This will help you spice up all the video clips you produce and it can set you apart from your competition.

    The real secret to making great beats using software is not so much the software itself but the libraries that come with it. Beats are made up from sampled sounds and unless you record your own samples you need to use predefined ones. Most music software packages link to huge online databases with a great variety and this is something that you need to keep in mind when looking for the ideal software package.

  • Dance Class: Making it Safe for Children

    A dance class should be safe for students particularly young children. Parents should ensure that the place their children go to a class that provides adequate training and amenities for them.

    Some parents may consider the location, time and price of the class but the most important factor to look into is the safety of the kid. They should make sure that the child is getting the right training without overexertion.

    Safety to children does not only mean safety in the studios physical features. It also means proper training methods which is suitable for the age of the child. This will help prevent unwanted injuries while dancing.

    The parent must see to it that the child gets proper supervision and adequate training that do not strain his or her young body. The teacher has to consider that the childs age pose some developmental limitations when it comes to physical exertion. He is, for instance, not capable of lifting his partner.

    1. To be able to determine if the class is safe, the parents should be able to watch the class.
    2. The students must be able to follow the teachers direction.
    3. If most students are struggling with the instruction, the dance classes might be too advanced for their skill level.
    4. This is an indication that the training might be too strenuous for the child.
    5. Another factor parents should look into is the number of accidents or injuries in the class.
    6. If the teacher fails to provide a comprehensive warm-up for the kids before the start of the lessons, this can result in injuries.
    7. If the child just experience temporary aches at the early stages of the lessons then that is understandable.

    But if the muscle pain does not go away then the routine could be too advanced for the child or they are not doing enough warm-up exercises. It is best if the parent asks the child if he or she experiences physical problems after the dance. This can prevent injuries from occurring or worsening them.

    The childrens bodies may be flexible but plunging into their routine immediately right after they get into class will not be beneficial to them in the long run. This practice can have harmful effects on the joint, tendon and muscles. Dance education should forego preliminary procedures.

    If there are acrobatic exercises to be executed in dance classes, it will best that the floor have cushions or mats. The cushion will be great for any tumbling, twisting or flipping moves in a dance. This can prevent the child from getting injured or strained.

    There are some lessons that require several years of training before a child can take part in it. If the school does not allow your child to join in some lessons then that means it is not age-appropriate for her or him. You should not insist on enrolling because forcing a child to study dance techniques beyond her age and experience can lead to physical problems later.

    Children below 6 years old should be allowed to experience several dancing classes. Older children who have enrolled in dancing classes and wish to quit should be allowed to do so. A child who is not interested in the class will most likely not learn anything. Forcing your child will not produce positive results. A dance class for children should be a fun, exciting and safe experience for the child.

  • Dance Classes for Adults

    People who have not started dancing at an early age may want to try dancing when they reach their 30s or even the golden years. The method of teaching an adult dance class may differ from other age groups. Adults do not have the same physical make-up with younger dancers. They are not as flexible as children. This is one consideration that teachers look into when teaching adults.

    It would be best for adults to enroll in dance classes whose teachers understand this unique requirement. Adults will have certain concerns and limitations that do not bother other age groups. For instance, they may find it awkward wearing revealing clothes, they are worried about getting injured or they might feel out of place in a group comprised mostly of young dance students.

    Dance instruction should not be for the different age groups. The reason for this is largely due to physiological differences. An adult beginner dancer enrolled in dance class filled with teenagers may find themselves pushing too hard to keep up with the young ones. These could pose risks to their health rather than help them.

    1. Adults must look for a studio where they can have a good warm-up before doing the dance routines.
    2. A good warm-up consists of exercises that move the joints from neck down and all muscles.
    3. It should enhance flexibility, balance and speed.
    4. The exercise should last 30 minutes for a one-hour class.
    5. If the class runs for 90 minutes then a 45 minute warm-up would be enough.
    6. Warm-up exercises usually become routine.
    7. This will enable adult students to memorize the steps and make the most of the exercises.

    The dance warm-ups must make use of aerobic motion. This will develop flexibility of body. It will also help prepare the body for the physical demands of the class.

    Exercises that are non-weight bearing enable adults to utilize their energy for lifting and holding without using balance. Progressive exercises will prepare the adult step-by-step on a level they are comfortable with.

    Warm-ups that only use basic stretches, kicks or bending are not sufficient. The requirement should be moving all muscles and joints of the body. Basic moves cannot accomplish that. Insufficient warm-up can pose risks of injury and strain to an adult dancer.

    A great teacher should inquire from the adult dancers if they have existing injuries or if they have physical conditions that pose limitations on their movements that day. An instructor must be able to communicate to students not just issue directions. This will make the class more interactive and fun for the student.

    After a good warm-up, dancers will proceed to the center of the studio. The teacher demonstrates to the student how certain moves are made. If there are limitations in an adult dancers movements due to a physical condition then the teacher must not force her or him to execute some steps. A teacher is there to guide not to force instruction.

    Adult students do not attend classes to be able to compete professionally. This is a very rare occurrence although not an impossible situation. Adult students usually enroll for the love of salsa dancing. If an adult student has the passion for the dance then letting him or her help choreograph will enable the dancer to feel fulfilled.

    An adult dancer who learns to be flexible can perform as well as the young dancers. It might take time to perfect a performance but the dancer can learn various moves that will help in the dance. Jumping, twisting, turning, balancing and partnering are all part of the rigorous demands of dancing which an adult should prepare for. Teachers can make a difference in the adult dancing experience in a dance class by helping him or her adjust.

  • Criticism In Music

    A criticism, or “critique” as it is also called, refers to any kind of oral or written opinion, whether negative or positive, communicated to a perfomer by an instructor, judge, mentor, other musician or even non-musician. It is an evaluation of a performance that is shared to the performer by the evaluator. It is sometimes also shared with the public, such as in media, where, in this case, it is more commonly known as a “review” . You, as a musician, can become adversely affected in your morale and possibly even discouraged if you do not know how to properly deal with it. Any art, including music, is so close to the persons very essence that any criticism about it can hit home like a ton of bricks, even devastating an individual, believe it or not.

    But criticism for the musician is inevitable. It comes with the territory of learning and performing music, from instructors, other musicians, admirers, fans, from all sorts of sectors. It is an inherent aspect of conservatories and music competetitions.

    Technically speaking, every person has the right to express his/her opinion on anything. Oftentimes, people feel the need to express their feelings regarding anything in the arts. You hear it a lot with film and music. These can come off as either complimentary or critical.

    If one receives a praiseful comment, such as how wonderful or moving their performance was, they should accept it, thank the originator and be genuinely proud that they could capture anothers heart with their aesthetic power. It is encouraging to hear such words, and rightfully so.

    1. However, ANY criticism or advice, either negative or even positive, from a non-professional (non-musician) should be entirely and utterly ignored.
    2. Regardless of whatever personal impact you created upon the listener, they are not the correct source for technical advice.
    3. Example: A pianist is performing a Bach piece and gets carried away with the dynamics (loudness and softness of various notes).
    4. After the performance, his friend, a non-musician whos dabbled in studying some music theory, praises him and advises him on how great the intensity on the dynamics was during the performance.
    5. The pianist makes the mistake of taking this as technical advice (instead of just differentiating between that and praise).
    6. He then enters a music competition where he performs the piece by getting carried away again on the dynamics.
    7. He promptly gets flunked and loses the competition because this piece he was performing, of the Baroque era, does not feature any sort of extremity in dynamics.

    When a musician receives professional criticism, however, it can oftentimes be contradictory. For instance, one authority may say how excellent ones pedaling is while another comments on how muddy it sounds. This can leave a musician with uncertainty and unnecessary confusion. A thing to realize is that profesional technical critiquing can sometimes be opinion-oriented. But, it can also very well be corrective. There is a way to deal with this.

    A musician always truly knows his or her own areas of weakness. These become more prominent and the individual becomes more tuned and aware of them as time and progress goes on. One should always be able to take such criticism without becoming introverted or feeling harmed. When one gets any such critiquing, the first thing to do is take it into consideration and evaluate it for themselves. If one feels that criticism was incorrect, then they have a right to evaluate that accordingly. A musician should always maintain his/her integrity. Though, at the same time, they should be open-minded and willing to learn more and become better and better. There is a fine line between not going the effect of poor criticism and being stubborn and never learning anything.

    Lastly, there are always those individuals in society who seek to squash and put down creative minds, whether out of jealousy, insanity or their own failures. This occurs in any of the arts. As a musician, NEVER allow anyone to do this to you, for their “criticism” is merely an effort to overtly and openly put you down, or to slowly and insidiously suppress you by sounding “helpful” . Disregard it and continue being creative and making music!

  • Ensiferum Lyrics

    The principal stretch to I saying Ensiferum in concert was the Milwaukee be over on the Summer Slaughter Tour 2010. It was individual of the most excellent concerts of my life, and Ive been to a pretty safe amount. Here is my tally of Finnish metal stretch, Ensiferum:

    The stretch comes outmoded wearing Finnish flags as kilts and with faces painted, glad designed for battle. Petri Lindroos introduces the stretch by maxim “We are Ensiferum. We are from Finland.” participating in individual fluid gesture the stretch starts with their opening song “Hero in a Dream” . Truly Epic.

    Along with the bands amazing stage presence and crowd involvement, Ensiferum (which channel “sword bearer” in Finnish) has something to many metal bands lack. The capacity to note down amazing lyrics.
    Ensiferum lyrics are about of the mainly creative and poetic lyrics in the full metal genre. Perhaps it is the bands data of Finnish mythology to drives this. The poetic themes of many Ensiferum songs relate to fantastical, archaic, or historic stories, by and large with heroic sentiment in connection to Finland.

    For pattern, in the song “Slayer of Light,” Petri screams, “Through the dreadful storms, across the frozen oceans… The firewind rages in the sky…” Ensiferum lyrics are accurately epic and after sitting in a undisturbed span listening to an Ensiferum recording, present is nothing better than getting lost in Finnish mythology while enjoying about safe quality metal. The mix of history and heaviness is at all times individual to mixes well and the artistic and poetic visualization of Ensiferums lyricists come up with stayed consistently amazing during all Ensiferum record.

    The Austrian clarinetist Anton Stadler, who was a clarinetist in the Vienna Court Orchestra (late 1700s), became associates with Mozart. This friendship, along with the beauty of Stadlers tone, inspired Mozart to note down his Clarinet Quintet in 1789 and his Clarinet Concerto in 1791. Through the centuries these two moving parts come up with happen to about of Mozarts mainly beloved harmony. The poetic melodies in both of these moving parts capture the beautiful singing qualities of the clarinet.

    Mozarts waste of the clarinet as an orchestral and solo instrument influenced anon composers to note down designed for the instrument. The clarinet became a standard instrument used in orchestras. Beethoven and Brahms, following Mozarts pattern, made extensive waste of the clarinet in their symphonies.

    Other composers of clarinet solo moving parts in the basic 1800s were Carl Stamitz and Louis Spohr. Also well famous designed for his many clarinet moving parts is Carl Maria von Weber. Weber wrote many operatic and choral moving parts, and his solo moving parts designed for clarinet include many poetic melodies evoking an operatic, singing fashion of live.

    Clarinet Music Today

    Today the clarinet is predominantly used in symphony orchestras, chamber harmony, opera orchestras, broadway orchestras, concert bands, martial bands, jazz, cumbersome stretch harmony, New Orleans jazz and dixieland. It is besides used in folk harmony in European and Latin countries, live a prominent role in klezmer harmony, Hungarian gypsy harmony, Bulgarian folk harmony, and Greek traditional harmony, Latin America sambas and choros.

    The principal stretch to I saying Ensiferum in concert was the Milwaukee be over on the Summer Slaughter Tour 2010. It was individual of the most excellent concerts of my life, and Ive been to a pretty safe amount. Here is my tally of Finnish metal stretch, Ensiferum:

    The stretch comes outmoded wearing Finnish flags as kilts and with faces painted, glad designed for battle. Petri Lindroos introduces the stretch by maxim “We are Ensiferum. We are from Finland.” participating in individual fluid gesture the stretch starts with their opening song “Hero in a Dream” . Truly Epic.

  • The Most Popular Christmas Songs of All Time

    The most popular Christmas songs are much loved timeless classics which have become part of tradition. They have sold millions of copies worldwide with their messages of celebration, happiness and romance. Performed by many of musics most iconic stars their popularity transcends time and generations.

    Band Aid was the super group formed by Bob Geldof in 1984 to raise awareness and money for the famine in Ethiopia. Their Christmas number 1 “Do They Know Its Christmas” sold over 3.5 million records in the UK alone and involved artists such as George Michael, Boy George and Paul Young. It was an impromptu affair with the studio only giving Bob Geldof 24 hours to record most of the song.

    On the 25th of November many of the biggest recording artists in the UK visited SARM studios, Notting Hill to record their performances. The single later went on to cause controversy when Bob Geldof promised every penny made by sales would go to charity. The government responded by refusing to donate the VAT, Mr Geldof lambasted the act and made a public appeal which gathered support across the country. This led to the government backing down and donating the tax to the appeal.

    • One of the best selling Christmas singles is called “Candle in the Wind” and was written and performed by Elton John in 1997 as a tribute to Princess Diana who died earlier in the year, the song sold almost 5 million units in the UK and over 33 million copies worldwide.
    • It was originally written for Marilyn Monroe and released in 1973 by Elton John.
    • but did not even nearly enjoy the same amount of success.
    • As a sincere gesture Elton John later stated that he would only ever perform the song live at the request of Prince William and Harry of Wales.

    According to the Guinness Book of records and selling in excess of 50 million copies worldwide, Bing Crosbys “White Christmas” is considered the best selling single of all time. The song was originally written by Irving Berlin and was performed and released by Bing Crosby. The song initially spent 11 weeks at number in the US Billboard charts in 1942, but was re-released reaching the top of the charts again in 1945 and 1946. Bing Crosby went on to release two other well known Christmas anthems “Silent Night” and “Jingle Bells” with both exceeding sales of over 30 million copies worldwide. They are to this day thought to be two of the most popular Christmas songs in history.

    Another golden oldie which has sold millions of copies is “Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer” written in 1939 by Robert L. May, a copywriter for the Chicago-based Montgomery Ward department stores, it was originally created as a promotional gift for the stores customers. Gene Autry later recorded and released it in 1949, since that time it has sold over 25 million copies worldwide and continues to be a staple of Christmas tradition.

  • BBC Banned Music: Top Singles Banned

    The British Broadcasting Corporation also known as the BBC is a public broadcasting corporation. Therefore, it allows itself to ban materials that deviate from certain standards of civility. During the years, many singles that were seen as too explicit, distasteful or bear the potential for offending the British public were banned from BBC airplay. Here you can read about some of them.

    In 1977, when England was celebrating the Queens Jubilee, the Sex Pistols had released their second single titled God Save the Queen. The single includes controversial lyrics that rhyme the national anthem title with fascist regime. Moreover, the record cover displayed a picture of the Queen with a safety pin stuck in her nose.

    The single was found to offensive to be air played by the BBC, but it did not stop it from reaching number two on the BBC official singles chart. According to the myth, God Save the Queen was the top selling single in the UK at the time, but it was held back of number one to avoid controversies.

    1. Serge Gainsbourg and Jane Birkin scandalous duet Je TAime …
    2. Moi Non Plus, translated: I love you… me neither, was the first ever number one hit to be banned by the BBC.
    3. Although at the time of its release, in 1969, the sexual revolution was celebrated, the British radio still was not able to cope with such explicit lyrics, not to mention Birkins moans and groans.
    4. The BBC ban and The Vatican denounce, did not stop Je TAime … Moi Non Plus from being a top selling single in the UK and worldwide.
    5. In October 7, 1969, the single reached number one in the BBC official singles chart.
    6. At the same time, it had reached number 69 at the US singles chart.

    Je TAime … Moi Non Plus was a major influence on another BBC banned single, Donna Summers disco pioneer from 1976 titled Love to Love You Baby. After counting 23 faked orgasms performed by Summer in Love to Love You Baby, the British Broadcasting Corporation banned the song. However, it did not stop it from becoming a massive hit. Love to Love You Baby reached number four on the UK single charts but peaked to number two on the Billboard pop chart.

    Relax by Frankie Goes to Hollywood is one of the most controversial singles as well as commercially successful singles in history. The BBC did not only ban the song it also did not stop BBC Radio 1 DJ Mike Read to publicly express his feelings of disgust from the singles explicit lyrics. In 1984, Relax stayed in the UK singles charts for 42 weeks. In five of them, it stayed in number one. By the end of 1984, embarrassed Auntie Beeb removed the ban. Relax is still very popular worldwide and it is one of the most recognized symbols of the era. The arguments on whether it gained such a huge success despite the BBC ban or the BBC ban helped promoting it have not been settled yet.

    Paul McCartney and the Wings response to the 1972 Bloody Sunday events titled Give Ireland Back to the Irish, was banned by every media resource in the UK. It was forbidden from being broadcast by the BBC, Radio Luxembourg and the Independent Television Authority. In addition, the song title was not allowed to be pronounced on the air, so when it arrived to the BBC Radio 1 chart show it was presented as a record by the group Wings. However, Give Ireland Back to the Irish hit the top of the Irish singles charts.