Posts Tagged ‘Music’
Sean O’Brian Gets Down with Another Good One
02/07/2022Sean O’brian on the Lighter Side of Health
02/07/2022
Rocketman – Sir Elton John’s Life Story – 5 Stars
18/06/2019
I just saw Rocketman tonight, and had to write a few words. Sir Elton walks the talk. The movie is a statement of compassion, strength, endurance, and is an inspiration on many levels. This movie has the message of being grateful for what we have in our lives, and, to get to the business of living our lives. Get those songs recorded, tell your loved ones how much you love them. Life is short – show up and be there…
Where am I going with this? Elton John did what it took to pull himself up. He checked himself into rehab and chose life. He’s done the work, and it shows, and the world is better for it.
I had no idea about his life story, but wow – what a story of love, of perseverance, of forgiveness, of friendship. If you want a life lesson you’ll never forget, definitely see the film with the following caveat: The film has explicit sex scenes, which are not my cup of tea*, so buyer beware.
There are some great interviews but here is one in particular where Elton John makes some comments that reveal his altruistic, strong character, and resilient nature. Actor Taron Egerton and Giles Martin are also in this roundtable interview on Apple Music. There’s another good interview, believe it or not, on ET. As an aside, Elton John and Taron Egerton sing Tiny Dancer at the 75th Aides Foundation Fundraiser.
Through it all, you get that he’s just a real person wanting to do good in the world, and is not afraid to candidly share his life story with us. Good on ya Sir Elton John.
* Author’s note: My practice is that I don’t watch movies with explicit sex scenes, violence. There are rare cases when the message furthers the overall mission of the movie, and this is probably one of them.
Mountain Spirit New Zealand – A Video Snapshot
26/01/2019Check out our new video which gives you an overview of what we’re up to, our goals and dreams to make Mountain Spirit a place where people can connect to nature, themselves and each other. The video was done by “The Master” *Ashley Leung. Ash did the ground work, all editing and production. Keep the good work Ash! Randall did the aerial footage, and Ash made magic with it.
*We feel very fortunate to have Ashley, his wife Autumn and their new daughter as family friends. We miss them them and look forward to their return to New Zealand.
Kirtana Performs 1st Time on New Zealand’s South Island
08/02/2015
Mountain Spirit near Wanaka, will be hosting Kirtana, a California-based singer/songwriter will be who performs at events with speakers such as Eckhart Tolle, Gangaji and Geneen Roth. She comes to the South Island for the first time to share her contemporary, sacred songs. She will be performing at St. Columba’s Anglican Church on Sunday, 12th, April from 3:00pm-5:00pm in Wanaka
Described as a ‘brilliant poet, marvelous songwriter and accomplished guitarist’, Kirtana best describes both her music and her purpose in sharing it is to “celebrate divine love and the truth of who we are.”
Randall and Amanda Richards, of Mountain Spirit, the newly created retreat centre, say, “We’re really excited to have 
Kirtana come to the South Island and share her music with us. It will be our first event. We’re still working on infrastructure on our land and permitting for other programs, so we were not quite open to host the event on-site. So when the Anglican Church agreed to have the event at their church, we knew it would be a great venue.”
Kirtana says she is thrilled to have the opportunity to share her music and divine exploration in concert with Kiwis. She will be performing songs from her newest CD “Unseen Grace”
Says Onethemagazine.com, “Kirtana has become one of the most highly sought after modern-day minstrels of non-dual awakening. Her voice and lyrics reach with vulnerable longing for the heart of God, while at the same time transmitting the discovery of that, the opening to that, and the final consummation within it.”
Tickets are $30 in advance, ($35 on the day). With a “Group of 5 offer” at $125 and can be purchased over the phone at Mountain Spirit 03-443-5669 or online at Eventafinda.co.nz For more information call 03-443-5669 or go to the event webpage at mtnspirit.co.nz
12 REGLAS Para Tocar en una Banda
28/04/2014
Banda Chimu Inka, Cusco, Circa 2003
1 . Cada uno debe desempeñar la misma pieza .
2. Observar los signos de repetición sólo si lo que acabas de jugar era interesante.
3. Si toca una nota equivocada , mirar a uno de los otros jugadores.
4. La nota correcta , en el momento equivocado , es una nota falsa . ( Y viceversa ).
5. Una nota equivocada , jugó tímidamente , es una nota falsa .
6. Una nota equivocada , interpretada con autoridad, no es más que tu interpretación de la frase .7. Si todo el mundo se perdió, sino que , seguir los que se pierden .
8. Esfuércese siempre para jugar el máximo notas por segundo. Esto intimidará los jugadores más débiles y que ganar la admiración de los ignorantes.
9. Las marcas de ligaduras , dinámica y alteraciones deben ser completamente ignorados. Ellos están allí sólo para poner el mirar más complicado.
10. Si un pasaje es difícil , más despacio. Si es fácil , acelerar . Todo va a igualar a sí misma en el final.
11. Has logrado una verdadera interpretación cuando , al final, no has jugado una nota de la pieza original.
12. Cuando todo el mundo se detiene la reproducción, usted debe parar también . No juegues las notas que pueden haber dejado de nuevo.
New Zealand Singer Loving Life on the Road in N. America
08/09/2013By Lucy Ibbotson
Otago Daily Times
Van Riel in Bodie California
Lake Hawea, New Zealand singer-songwriter Anna van Riel, between gigs on her sustainable house concert tour across North America, plays with daughter Matilda (2) in Bodie, a ghost town in California.
Two-thirds of the way through her sustainable musical road-trip across Canada and the United States, Lake Hawea, NZ singer-songwriter Anna van Riel says the 15 months spent planning and fundraising for the experience has all been worth it.
”I’m still pinching myself,” Ms van Riel told the Otago Daily Times in an email from Colorado.
”I can’t believe we did it. That we’re here. It’s been so much cooler than I anticipated.”
Accompanied by husband Locky Urquhart and their daughter Matilda (2), Ms van Riel has spent the past two months travelling from British Columbia, through Washington State, Oregon, California, Nevada, Utah and Colorado, performing quirky concerts in private homes, farmers markets, trailer parks and other venues.
This week, the trio have been camping at Read the rest of this story at Otago Daily Times…
lucy.ibbotson@odt.co.nz
Taking Time to Enjoy Life..And Music
18/02/2012
A concert, but do you have the time to listen?
I play music professionally, and I too have noticed that the only population that really is open, I mean REALLY open to the music are the little kids. They stop, stare, dance and get enthralled, no matter where, or who’s watching, or even what music it might be..
A man sat at a metro station in Washington DC and started to play the violin; it was a cold January morning. He played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time, since it was rush hour, it was calculated that 1,100 people went through the station, most of them on their way to work.
Three minutes went by, and a middle aged man noticed there was musician playing. He slowed his pace, and stopped for a few seconds, and then hurried up to meet his schedule.
A minute later, the violinist received his first dollar tip: a woman threw the money in the till and without stopping, and continued to walk.
A few minutes later, someone leaned against the wall to listen to him, but the man looked at his watch and started to walk again. Clearly he was late for work.
The one who paid the most attention was a 3 year old boy. His mother tagged him along, hurried, but the kid stopped to look at the violinist. Finally, the mother pushed hard, and the child continued to walk, turning his head all the time. This action was repeated by several other children. All the parents, without exception, forced them to move on.
In the 45 minutes the musician played, only 6 people stopped and stayed for a while. About 20 gave him money, but continued to walk their normal pace. He collected $32. When he finished playing and silence took over, no one noticed it. No one applauded, nor was there any recognition.
No one knew this, but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the most talented musicians in the world. He had just played one of the most intricate pieces ever written, on a violin worth $3.5 million dollars.
Two days before his playing in the subway, Joshua Bell sold out at a theater in Boston where the seats averaged $100.
This is a real story. Joshua Bell playing incognito in the metro station was organized by the Washington Post as part of a social experiment about perception, taste, and priorities of people. The outlines were: in a commonplace environment at an inappropriate hour: Do we perceive beauty? Do we stop to appreciate it? Do we recognize the talent in an unexpected context?
One of the possible conclusions from this experience could be:
If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world playing the best music ever written, how many other things are we missing?
Thanks to Mills Chapman for the post
R. Richards Onstage #2
23/03/2010Mountain Spirit Institute’s founder and director was on stage last month at the Sunapee Community CoffeeHouse in Sunapee, NH, where he performed for an evening of solo piano, original folk songs, a bit of Zampona and Native American flute. You can learn more about his music and background at his webpage on MSI’s website. Here he sings a version of Life Imitates Art from a CD by Three Track Mind of Seattle, possibly written by Kevin Jones.
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