Monday, January 26, 2009

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.

Saturday, January 24, 2009

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.

Monday, January 19, 2009

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.

Thursday, January 8, 2009

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.

Wednesday, January 7, 2009

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.