'Oldest musical instrument' found

From article at BBC:
Scientists in Germany have published details of flutes dating back to the time that modern humans began colonising Europe, 35,000 years ago.

The flutes are the oldest musical instruments found to date.

The researchers say in the Journal Nature that music was widespread in pre-historic times.

Music, they suggest, may have been one of a suite of behaviours displayed by our own species which helped give them an edge over the Neanderthals.

The team from Tubingen University have published details of three flutes found in the Hohle Fels cavern in southwest Germany.

Read the entire article here.

John Andrew, 77 prepares for Verdi's Otello

From TimesOnline:

Think of Rocky for opera lovers: this summer Jon Andrew, a former star international tenor, is coming out of retirement at 77 for one last shot at Otello.

If he makes it all the way through the title role of Giussepe Verdi’s adaptation of the Shakespeare tragedy Othello, he will become the oldest person to tackle one of the most demanding roles in the repertoire.

Plácido Domingo, 68, the great Otello of modern times, no longer performs the demanding role, while Giovanni Zenatello quit it in 1933 at 57 after more than 300 appearances as the Moor of Venice.

On the face of it Andrew is hopelessly underprepared. He has not sung a major solo part since he performed The Flying Dutchman in Buenos Aires in 1982 and he last tackled Otello in Munich in 1979. But his secret weapon is a ferocious commitment to fitness that would shame singers half his age.

Read all here.

Related story here.

Thanks to a former voice student, Bradley Trammel who recently performed his senior recital at USC (South Carolina) for sharing this story with me.

Age of Aquarius

The Aquarian alignment 14th February 2009

We measure our global sense of both space (latitude and longitude) and time (universal time - UT or GMT) from the prime meridian located at Greenwich, England. So we can perceive the collective influence of this momentous astrological event by looking at the alignment from this globally ‘centered' perspective.

When we do something extraordinary and exquisite emerges

At dawn on 14^th February the day dedicated to St Valentine, the patron saint of Love, the Moon in Libra enters the seventh house of relationships. And Jupiter and Mars are aligned in Aquarius in the twelfth house of spiritual transformation.

Forty years ago, the intuitive words of a song called Aquarius, brought the dawning of the new age into our collective awareness:

When the Moon is in the seventh house

and Jupiter aligns with Mars.

Then peace will guide the planets

and love will steer the stars

At dawn on 14^th February the Cosmos actually embodies this perfect alignment to support our collective manifestation of love and peace and dawning of the Age of Aquarius.

The Fifth Dimension sings Aquarius on You tube.

The Constellation Aquarius on a interactive sky chart.

What is this little guy?

Saw this little one just a few nights ago on the patio. I believe it's a snail but what kind? We had a good rain recently and some warm weather. I had never seen such a shell before. The desert has so many surprises.

Inaugural Music

Belated congratulations to President Barack Obama and all those who made his election victory possible. Since this is a music site and I'm trying my best not to include politics I just want to share a few thoughts about the music played by the venerable classical musicians who braved the below freezing temperatures that January morning at the capital building. Even though most people heard the pre-recorded version they did play along to it knowing that their instruments would be stretching the limits in such conditions. Also they did not bring out their million dollar "babies."

Here's more on the story thanks to Southeast to Southwest.


As far as the piece which was a take-off on Aaron Copeland's arrangement of the Shaker hymn Simple Gifts, by John Williams. I thought it was very nice althought I prefer Copeland's simplicity and inspiration.

As hoped for, (by me), it did get to a choral summation before the coda after a sophisticated ensemble played beautifully by the group.

Celebrating Freedom on Martin Luther King Day

Tucson has three events scheduled for Martin Luther King Day Celebration:

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr Multi-faith Service - St. Augustine Cathedral will be open for a special, multi-faith religious service to commemorate the birth date and legacy of The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. "Freedom March" - Jan. 19 A Freedom March commemorating the birth date of The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and celebrating Dr. King's message of human rights. The march begins at the University of Arizona Mall and ends at Reid Park DeMeester Outdoor Performing Center.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr Day Festival - The Tucson Children's Museum presents a celebration honoring the life and works of The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.


I ALWAYS cry when I hear this speech. I have a dream. One can feel the spirit of love and truth pour forth through this man and resonate deep within one's being where love, truth and light await his awakening.






May our new president. Barack Obama, carry the bright light of truth and freedom that is his and our heritage to a new day, a new dawning of a more perfect union and world.

Shaman's Hand Blog Talk Radio for January 11, 2009

Shaman's Hand with it's musical focus on Michael Emmanuel's music and musings is also starting to add shows that deal with ISSUES! Whats this?

This week's show will focus on the Drug War! Our featured guest will be Sheriff Richard Mack. He's going to talk about how and why he went from under-cover narcotics agent to an advocate for ending the so-called "war on drugs." Does this mean all illegal drugs?

Mack, as I, is a member of LEAP. Law Enforcement Against Prohibition. Other members from Leap are expected to join us for this interesting discussion. You can also join in by using the sidebar link or click here.

My thoughts (almost) exactly!

Admit it, you're as bored as I am

After 40 years and 1,500 concerts, Joe Queenan is finally ready to say the unsayable: new classical music is absolute torture - and its fans have no reason to be so smug.

During a radio interview between acts at the Metropolitan Opera in New York, a famous singer recently said she could not understand why audiences were so reluctant to listen to new music, given that they were more than ready to attend sporting events whose outcome was uncertain. It was a daft analogy. Having spent most of the last century writing music few people were expected to understand, much less enjoy, the high priests of music were now portrayed as innocent victims of the public's lack of imagination. If they don't know in advance whether Nadal or Federer is going to win, but still love Wimbledon, why don't they enjoy it when an enraged percussionist plays a series of brutal, fragmented chords on his electric marimba? What's wrong with them?

The reason the sports analogy fails is because when Spain plays Germany, everyone knows that the game will be played with one ball, not eight; and that the final score will be 1-0 or 3-2 or even 8-1 - but definitely not 1,600,758 to Arf-Arf the Chalet Ate My Banana. The public may not know in advance what the score will be, but it at least understands the rules of the game.

Read all at link above.