Friday, October 31, 2008

Shaman's Hand Piano Meditations on CD at Amazon.com

It's up and ready for purchase at amazon. Just click on the picture above to check it out. The pieces are remastered versions of Eternal Ecstasies: Born in Bethlehem done as a music version by request. The music is somewhere between classical and new age, contemplative and for the most part relaxing and at times deeply emotional. The recording was done on my teacher John Suter's 1885 Steinway Concert Grand fully restored by James Reeder. The sound is rich and up close.

Pieces are titled: Touch of Rebirth, Touch of Creator/Creation, Touch of Purity, Touch of Mercy, Touch of Joy, Touch of Meekness/Strength, Touch of Infinite Love, Touch of Inner Peace and Shaman's Blessing.

Perfect for letting go of all the tension and energy blockages and entering those blissful, peaceful waves that correspond to the higher brain frequencies. It has been said by one listener to have a levitating effect on the mind/body consciousness. I have enjoyed listening while freeway driving!

The picture above is a blending of the piano and Lake Michigan where I grew up. We will be playing some of the music on Shaman's Hand Blog Talk Radio in the coming weeks to celebrate the release of Shaman's Hand, Piano Meditations!

Monday, October 20, 2008

One more version of the Shaman's Hand Design


On the next Shaman's Hand Radio Show we'll be featuring three pieces of Domenico Scarlatti, son of Alessandro Scarlatti. He wrote some 550 keyboard sonatas, few of which were published in his lifetime. I'll be using one example on harpsichord and two on piano.

One of the neat things about doing a radio show is learning and relearning so many things about music that I have had the opportunity to have connections to whether it be something I've studied or performed or a connection through fellow artists.

The radio show also features wonderful spiritual readings, great poetry, some of which I put to music, and great guests.

Listeners have participated in little contests and won mugs and CDs.

There's always something I've learned by doing Shaman's Hand.

Click on the picture for more information on Scarlatti.
Click on the graphic to check out the Shaman's Hand radio site.

Sunday, October 19, 2008

Shaman's Hand Poster

Friday, October 17, 2008

Design for Shaman's Hand Piano Meditations


This is one of two versions of some artwork for Shaman's Hand, Piano Meditations that is about to be released at amazon.com. The images are from pictures Jesse and I took of some of the natural wonders around Newberry, South Carolina. The Great Egret on the right was found in Tucson, Arizona, (can you believe it) over at Christopher Columbus Park, not far from where we live. Could make a neat poster!

Thursday, October 16, 2008

Tannhäuser anniversary of 1845 debut


October 19th, 1845 Wagner's opera Tannhäuser was performed for the 1st time. The opera is based on the legend of Tannhäuser which is based on a real person who lived in the middle of the 13th Century and was a German Minnesänger and poet. Tannhäuser's poems are parodies of the traditional Minnesänger genre.

He was active at the court of Frederick II of Austria, and the Codex Manesse depicts him in the habit of the Teutonic Order, which suggests he might have participated in the Fifth Crusade.

The Codex Manesse is the single most comprehensive source for the texts of love songs in Middle High German, representing 140 poets, several of whom were famous rulers. The term for these poets, Minnesänger combines the words for "romantic love" and "singer", reflecting the content of the poetry, which adapted the Provençal troubadour tradition to German.

The manuscript is "the most beautifully illumined German manuscript in centuries;" its 137 miniatures are a series of "portraits" depicting each poet.

In the legendary account, Tannhäuser finds the Venusberg, home of Venus, and spends a year there worshipping the goddess. He leaves the Venusberg an eventually is filled with remorse. He travels to Rome to ask Pope Urban IV if it is possible to be absolved of his sins. Urban replies that forgiveness is as impossible as it would be for his papal staff to blossom. Three days after Tannhäuser's departure Urban's staff blooms with flowers; messengers are sent to retrieve the knight, but he has already returned to Venusberg, never to be seen again.


Of course there's a little more to the opera. Check it out here.


We'll be celebrating this anniversary on Shaman's Hand Blog Talk Radio this coming Sunday night 8:00 MST. Check the sidebar for links.