Experience relaxing music along with some gravitating soundscapes offered by the emerging Amsterdam Electronic Producer and his fluent musical styles of Nordic Circuits.
Hailing from Amsterdam, Netherlands Nordic Circuits is making a difference in this world with his flawless musical styles. He has been one of the most impressive music artists who have a lot to offer to this world of music. Recently he has started making his music and releasing it on online music-streaming platforms. His works have already been appreciated by many music lovers. His seamless musical style in ‘Echoes of Sans-Soucis Beats Edit Ambient Sans-vocal mix’ is a treat to witness. This greatly composed ambient track will not only make you dance but also leave you speechless, you will fall for the overwhelming nature of this track.
Being a reflective Amsterdam Electronic Producer his works are very enticing for people who will witness the number. He is just 4 tracks old and another of his track that will consume you is ‘When the Wolf Cries’. Jan Paul Schutten is slowly and strong growing a forever impression on his audience and the compactness of his numbers will surely charm many people around the world. His 70’s synthesizer-inspired tracks are truly very charming to listen to. And his brilliant electronic and ambient track is winning the world in a flawless manner.
The tracks he has produced a delivered by far are ‘Nice To Be in Orbit’, ‘Echoes of Sans-Soucis’, ‘When the Wolf Cries’, and ‘Echoes of Sans-Soucis Beats Edit Ambient Sans-vocal mix’. He is planning to drop more tracks in the near future. Nordic Circuits will soon be an eminent name in this industry with its uniquely crafted numbers and engulfing musical compositions. His passion is burning inside him and slowly and with dedication, he is releasing some gripping music. From his daunting styles to his powerful musical vibes his works will thrill you. If you are intrigued about him you can catch these numbers on SoundCloud anytime.
For more tracks of Nordic Circuits, Please go through the below links: https://soundcloud.com/nordiccircuits
Baritone Christopher Purves performs HK Gruber’s “Frankenstein!!,” with Esa-Pekka Salonen and the San Francisco Symphony. Photo: Brittany Hosea-Small
Scariness is always appropriate for the advent of Halloween, but it comes in different varieties. In addition to the obvious sort of chills and thrills that are the province of ghost stories or slasher flicks, there’s the eerie unease that comes when things are just a little bit off.
That brand of spookiness is the province of “Frankenstein!!,” the wonderfully oddball cabaret entertainment by the Austrian composer HK Gruber that served as the headline attraction of the San Francisco Symphony’s concert in Davies Symphony Hall on Thursday, Oct. 27. The piece doesn’t trade in obvious chills, but it gets under your skin in a way that’s both unsettling and hilarious.
Baritone Christopher Purves plays the melodica while performing HK Gruber’s “Frankenstein!!” with the S.F. Symphony. Photo: Brittany Hosea-Small
“Frankenstein!!” is a 30-minute suite of numbers for orchestra with a singing, speaking and caterwauling vocal soloist (Gruber prefers the term “chansonnier”). Written in 1977 and performed frequently ever since, it features a series of verses by the Austrian poet HC Artmann, done in English translation.
The title character is mentioned prominently, but so are a host of other familiar names from the pop-cultural imagination of a midcentury child. Some are straight out of the monster pantheon: a werewolf, a baby vampire, the gender-bending “Miss Dracula.” But also on hand are Batman and Robin, John Wayne, Goldfinger and his pal “Jimmy Bond.”
As for what these Halloween archetypes actually do, your guess is as good as mine. Artmann’s poems are singsong doggerel, cast in short rhyming lines, and they pursue a fantasy logic that is as hard to fully grasp as it is to resist.
Monster races down the stairs Grubby hands, disheveled hair So that’s why he never lingers There’s blood on his dainty fingers
What makes the piece so delightful is Gruber’s musical setting, which matches the text whim for whim. The score is full of instrumental foibles — penny whistles, whirling plastic tubes, a percussionist inflating and popping paper bags as a rhythmic device. At one point, Gruber writes an extended, beautiful duet for kazoo and trombone.
Between the puckish musical effects and the parade of characters trooping through the text, “Frankenstein!!” has the effect of a Halloween tea party for some slightly bloodthirsty dolls. It’s like a Tim Burton remake of “Toy Story.”
Why is scary music so effective? It’s speaking to our subconscious
Baritone Christopher Purves performs HK Gruber’s “Frankenstein!!” with the San Francisco Symphony. Photo: Brittany Hosea-Small
Beneath the childish surface, though, there’s some kind of emotional turmoil that’s all the more effective for being so elusive. The versions of Superman and Lois Lane who are mentioned here aren’t anyone we know; they’re not even Halloween-costume riffs on themselves. The verses date from the tumultuous year 1968, and Gruber claims that the piece boasts a hidden political undercurrent, so that may be what sets the piece so convincingly off-kilter.
Music Director Esa-Pekka Salonen and the orchestra played with pointed clarity, but the chief thrill of the performance came from the British baritone Christopher Purves, who delivered the solo part in a burst of droll virtuosity.
The only other time the Symphony has played “Frankenstein!!” was in 2006, when Gruber himself was the soloist and infused the piece with an air of genial menace. Purves, his head largely buried in the score, didn’t quite exhibit the same level of interpretive freedom, but his blend of robust operatic singing and insinuating bedtime-story recitations made a formidable combination.
In one movement, Gruber conjures up a dialogue between a man and a woman, the one deep in the bass register and the other crooning in a wheedling falsetto. Purves rendered it flawlessly.
The evening marked the Symphony’s second consecutive week of roughly Halloween-themed programming, following last week’s death-haunted collection of music by Mussorgsky, Liszt and Berlioz. For the first half, Salonen led the orchestra’s strings in Bernard Herrmann’s music for “Psycho,” and the suite from Bartók’s 1919 ballet “The Miraculous Mandarin.”
Both pieces lean rather heavily on their plots for real scariness, and contemporary audiences are more likely to be conversant with “Psycho” than “Mandarin.” (In Hermann’s piece, the sudden arrival of the shrieking string effects that accompany the film’s famous shower scene prompted chuckles of familiarity from the audience.)
There was little to complain about in the performances, but both works include some long, rather flaccid stretches alongside passages of genuine excitement. It wasn’t until after intermission that the evening — now plunged into chilling darkness — truly came alive.
San Francisco Symphony:7:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday, Oct. 28-29. $35-$165. Davies Symphony Hall, 201 Van Ness Ave., S.F. 415-864-6000.www.sfsymphony.org
Bob Gold, right, with first Lady Barbara Bush in front of his Portland country radio station, WPOR. Photo courtesy of Kimberly Sheppard
The music and cultural scene in Greater Portland owes a debt to “Country Bob.”
Robert Gold, a longtime radio executive who purchased local station WPOR in 1971 and used it to bring country music to Maine airwaves, died last month at age 90. A celebration of life will be held this week for family and friends.
His legacy, though, lives on, according to those who knew him, even if locally owned radio stations like the one he built have become a relic of the past.
“He lived and breathed radio,” said Bob Fuller, who owned another well-known Portland station, WBLM, when Gold was turning WPOR into a country juggernaut. “Like all of us who succeeded in radio, he worked at it. He put a lot of hours in. There was no alternative.”
Fuller said he and Gold were technically rivals but had vastly different audiences so they were always cordial. WBLM was, and still is, a classic rock station. They formed a friendship that lasted 60 years.
“Even now, whenever I tell people that I lived in Portland and had radio stations here, people often will say, ‘Do you know Bob Gold?’ ” Fuller said.
Gold was born and raised in Portland and had a deep affection for his community. Before buying WPOR, he worked for former Maine Gov. Horace Hildreth, who owned a broadcasting company after his political career.
“He took his responsibility of owning a station very seriously,” said Kimberley Sheppard, Gold’s daughter. “He really understood that it was the responsibility of the station – and the people who ran it, of course – to take care of the public.”
By the 1960s, country music had started to branch more into mainstream culture with artists like Loretta Lynn, George Jones and Merle Haggard. But it was hard to find on radio stations in the Northeast until Gold came along and transformed WPOR.
“He saw that it was working in other markets, and there was a hole here, so he filled that void,” Fuller said.
Bob Gold with U.S. Sen. Margaret Chase Smith. Photo courtesy of Kimberly Sheppard
In the early days of owning the station – before concert promoters – Gold also was responsible for bringing big-name country music acts to what was then City Hall Auditorium, now called Merrill Auditorium. Sheppard remembers meeting Lynn, who died this month, at the station before the show.
“She couldn’t have been more kind,” she said. “She came with her husband (Doolittle Lynn) and talked about her upbringing. I’m sure she said the same thing to every radio station, but she was just a gem.”
Sheppard also remembers her father bringing in Jerry Lee Lewis, the rockabilly pioneer known just as much for his insatiable interest in (young) women as he was for his hit song “Great Balls of Fire.” Lewis died just last week.
“When Jerry Lee came, I was a teenager and he almost made a beeline for me,” Sheppard recalled. “My father grabbed me and said, ‘Stay away from him.’ ”
Bonnie Grant, who worked with Gold for 21 years at WPOR, starting as a salesperson and ending as general manager, said his success as a leader was in hiring similarly decided people and empowering them.
“A lot of us worked for him for over 20 years, I think that says a lot about Bob,” she said. “He created a team that became a family.”
Grant said when she first interviewed with Gold, he asked her if she liked country music. She did not.
“He said, ‘Oh, you will.’ And he was right,” she said.
Tom Hennessey was another longtime WPOR employee. He started in 1975 and had come over from WCSH radio.
“He was a tough boss but a really principled guy,” he said. “And he loved the music business and the show biz aspect of what we did. I used to go to conventions all over the country with him, including in Nashville. They all loved Bob.”
Another example of Gold’s commitment to community was a segment he created for WPOR called “The Big Deal.” It would run every weekend and listeners could call in and describe items they wanted to sell and leave their number for others to contact if they were interested. It was like a call-in yard sale. It was Facebook Marketplace long before that site existed.
Fuller said Gold was a savvy broadcast executive who succeeded because he understood both his audience and his advertisers.
“In the early days, we were fighting over the same advertising dollars but as clients matured, they realized different formats worked for different businesses,” he said. “Many wanted that country audience, and Bob recognized that.”
Growing up, Sheppard remembers listeners would call their house thinking they could request a song from the radio station’s owner. Her father always took the call.
He was involved with the Children’s Miracle Network and other philanthropic causes over the years and served on the board of the Maine Association of Broadcasters. In his spare time, which was indeed spare, he played golf and raised three children, Sheppard and his sons, James and Jeffrey, with his wife, Durelle, who died in 2000.
Gold sold WPOR in 1996 to Saga Communications, which still owns the station and seven others in Maine, but stayed on for a few years as a manager before retiring.
Even though Gold was a high-level executive, he relished his nickname, “Country Bob.”
“He never grew into being a big shot,” his daughter said. “He was always grounded and humble about it.”
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The Northwest Arkansas Jazz Society presents a Centennial Tribute Concert celebrating the music of Toots Thielemans at 7 p.m. Nov. 4 at Roots HQ on the Fayetteville square, one of the last shows before the venue closes up shop. Pianist Kenny Werner and harmonica master Grégoire Maret will perform a tribute to the jazz legend, who would have turned 100 this year.
Werner has been a world-class pianist and composer for over 40 years, earning a Grammy nomination in 2003 in the Best Instrumental Composition category. In 2010, Werner was awarded the Guggenheim Fellowship, and in 1995 he was commissioned to compose a piano concerto dedicated to Duke Ellington. He performed as pianist for Thielemans for over 20 years.
Swiss-born Grammy-winner Maret has a resume that includes Prince, Marcus Miller, Kurt Elling, Pete Seeger, Cassandra Wilson and more. For this tribute performance to his mentor and inspiration, Maret says the duo will “find new places where his spirit is truly honored, but his music is being played through a new prism.”
Werner and Maret will honor Thielemans, who passed away in 2016 at 94 with songs written by or associated with him, like “Bluesette,”http://www.bing.com/news/”Midnight Sun,”http://www.bing.com/news/”Theme from Midnight Cowboy,”http://www.bing.com/news/”I Do It For Your Love,” and “What a Wonderful World.” One of the most recognizable sounds in jazz history, Thielemans made the harmonica into a legitimate jazz instrument, recording more than 30 albums and working with artists including Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, Bill Evans, Ella Fitzgerald and Pat Metheny.
Tickets start at $30 for general admission and are available at digjazz.com/events. The NAJS also hosts Jazz at the University at the University of Arkansas Global Campus at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 4 with the Vocal Jazz Ensemble.
BENTONVILLE
• Simply Seger (Bob Segar Tribute) happens at 8 p.m. Nov. 11 ($12.50-$20); at Meteor Guitar Gallery, 128 W. Central Ave.
• Tigran Hamasyan performs at 8 p.m. Nov. 11 ($20-$48) at The Momentary, 507 S.E. E St., themomentary.org.
• Trillium Salon Presents Eve Maret at 6 p.m. Nov. 3 (free) in the Contemporary Art Gallery (trilliumsalonseries.com); Terrance Wilson performs at 7 p.m. Nov. 4 ($10 students, $36 members and $45 nonmembers) at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. crystalbridges.org/
EUREKA SPRINGS
• Dirty 30! with Jackie Beat and Sherry Vine starts at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 5 ($30-$40); the 75th annual Original Folk Festival features Willi Carlisle and Chucky Waggs & The Company of Raggs on Nov. 10 ($15), Shinyribs and Rachel Ammons on Nov. 11 ($30) and Pokey Lafarge and Hot Club of Cowtown on Nov. 12 ($29-$59); and free music in the basement from Skye Pollard & Family Holler, Sprungbilly, Willi Carlisle, Danny Spain and the Hedgehoppers on Nov. 10; Jesse Dean, Front Porch and Shannon Wurst on Nov. 11; and Dandelion Heart, Brian Martin and Ozark Mountain Rhombus on Nov. 12, during the Folk Faire at The Aud at 36 S. Main St. theaud.org
• Sprungbilly plays at 6 p.m Oct. 31; Los Roscoes play at 5 p.m Nov. 3; Bob Wayne performs at 7 p.m. Nov. 4; Fall Diversity Weekend Drag Brunch starts at noon and Magnolia Brown performs at 7 p.m. Nov. 5 at Wanderoo Lodge and Gravel Bar, 216 W. Van Buren. 363-6755.
• Front Porch play at 9:30 p.m. Oct. 31; Danny Spain Gang plays at 8 p.m. Nov. 11; Shilah Molina and the Honkey Tonk Flame, Gary Lawrence and Chucky Waggs and the Company of Raggs perform at 8 p.m Nov. 12 at Chelesa’s Corner Bar, 10 Mountain St. facebook.com/chelseaseureka.
FAYETTEVILLE
• Figure presents Terrorvision at 8:30 p.m. Oct. 30; Jordy Searcy performs at 8 p.m Nov. 1 ($15 and up); Twiddle plays at 8:30 p.m Nov. 2 ($22 and up); Wakaan presents the ‘Time Warp” tour featuring Champagne Drip at 8:30 p.m. Nov. 3 ($20 and up); happy hour with the Bel Airs starts at 6 p.m. ($8) followed by Ozark Riviera at 9:30 p.m. Nov. 4 ($10); Borgore plays at 8:30 p.m Nov. 5 ($15 and up); Brother & The Hayes perform at 8 p.m. Nov. 9 ($10) at George’s Majestic Lounge, 519 W. Dickson St. Fayetteville. georgesmajesticlounge.com/shows.
• Pepe Rivero with Adi Meyerson, Fernando Valencia and Ivanna Cuesta will perform a jazz jam session at 6 p.m. Oct. 31; a Toots Thielmemans Centennial Tribute featuring Grégoire Maret and Kenny Werner starts at 7 p.m. Nov. 4 ($30-$40); and Dar Williams plays at 7 p.m. Nov. 6 ($30 and up) at Roots HQ, 1 E. Mountain St. fayettevilleroots.org.
• Here Come the Mummies and Saxsquatch perform at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 30 ($20 and up); Mt. Joy performs at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 31 ($35 and up) The Taylor Party starts at 9 p.m Nov. 4 ($15 and up); Cole Swindell performs at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 5 ($40 and up); Waka Flocka Flame performs at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 11 ($25 and up); Trombone Shorty performs at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 17 ($29.50 and up) Mike Ryan performs at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 18 ($20 and up); Noche De Verano Sin Ti (Bad Bunny Night) happens at 9:30 p.m. Dec. 3 and Trampled by Turtles plays at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 8 ($29.50 and up) at JJ’s Live, 3615 N. Steele Blvd. jjslive.com.
• Woven will perform from 1-4 p.m. Nov. 6 at Terra Studios, 12103 Hazel Valley Road. instagram.com/songswoven
FORT SMITH
• Smile Empty Soul, Sun Volume and Saint Tragedy perform at 7 p.m Nov. 3 ($15-$20); Chris Webby, Ekoh and Justin Clancy play at 8 p.m. Nov. 6 ($19-$39); The Cadillac Three and Ben Chapman play at 8 p.m. Nov. 12 ($20-$30); Tracy Lawrence plays at 8 p.m. Nov. 17 ($39-$59); Little Feat plays at 7 p.m. Dec. 1 ($59-$79); William Clark Green plays at 7 p.m. Dec. 2 ($15-$29) at TempleLive, 200 N. 11th St. 222-6186; fortsmith.templelive.com.
• 49 Winchester & Kendall Marvell play at 8 p.m. Nov. 11 ($20-$25); Slade Coulter and Parker Ryan perform at 8 p.m Nov. 18 ($10-$12); Paul Cauthen plays at 7 p.m. Nov. 19 ($35-$130); the Thanksgiving Eve Special with JD Clayton happens at 7 p.m. Nov. 23 ($10-$15); Kody West plays at 7 p.m. Nov. 26 ($10-$15); and Austin Meade plays at 8 p.m. Dec. 9 ($15-$20) at Majestic Fort Smith, 817 Garrison Ave. majesticfortsmith.com.
• Hoppy Hour Comedy Show with Edrick Jorge, Kyle Rill, Isaac Martin, Harrison Broadstreet and LG Grey starts at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 12 at Fort Smith Brewing Company, 7500 Fort Chaffee Blvd. facebook.com/rivervalleycomics
LOWELL
• JJ Whitehead performs at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 4 & 5; Andy Hendrickson performs at 6 p.m. Nov. 11 & 12; Kevin Nealon, Bruce Barth and Bobcat Goldthwait perform in December at The Grove Comedy Club, 808 S. Bloomington St. grovecomedy.com.
SILOAM SPRINGS
• A Song’s Embrace featuring Dr. Deborah Caldwell, Christopher Barnett, Siloam Jazz Band, Siloam Adult Community Choir, NWA Chamber Orchestra, Siloam Children’s Community Choir and soloists Rose Sparrow and Donna Rollene will begin at 2:45 p.m. Nov. 13 during the Siloam Music Festival Series at Camp Siloam Auditorium, 3600 S. Lincoln St. siloammusicfestival.com.
SPRINGDALE
• Charley McMullen performs comedy at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 3; Andrew Deacon starts telling jokes at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 10; a comedy album recording for Cammy starts at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 17 at Black Apple Hard Cider, 321 E. Emma Ave., facebook.com/NaturalStateComedy.
• Dance Chance NWA with Arlynda Jonas, Sarah Webb and Blake Worthey happens at 7 p.m. Nov. 2 ($5, tickets at Eventbrite); Marketing for Musicians with Maximiliano Dominguez and Dazz “King Honey” Murry starts at 6 p.m. Nov. 15; SoNA presents Latin Traces at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 19 (free); Victor Charlie & Vraii + 64velour perform at 7 p.m. Nov. 30 at 214 By CACHE, 214 S. Main St. cachecreate.org.
WEST SILOAM SPRINGS
• The Lacs perform at 8 p.m. followed by Casey Twist on Nov. 3 at Seven in Cherokee Casino, 2416 U.S. 412. cherokeecasino.com/west-siloam-springs/entertainment.
UP IN THE HILLS
• Strings and Friends with Arkansauce, Kyle Tuttle, Eureka Strings, Hillbenders, Willi Carlisle, Chucky Waggs & the Company of Raggs, Flintwick, Lusid, Country Jesus, Syke Pollard, Front Porch, Cory Simmons, Garry Lawrence, Fleet Wood and Family, Sister Lucille, Earth Boan, Kiltwithfire, Blues N Grass, Arkansas Brothers, Traveling Squirrels, Danny Spain Gang, New Kentucky Colonials, Hipbillies, Blayd Law, Jordan Jensen, Jeremy Stewart and Ziggy Brown will be Nov. 18-20 at Blue Clouds Resort, 17170 Arkansas 281 in Lead Hill.
Send info about your upcoming concerts and events to Monica Hooper, music editor, at mhooper@nwaonline.com.
Happy Halloween!! October was not a good month for me. It was mostly Tricks and few Treats! The tricks were that I was recovering from an appendectomy and after two weeks of that, I caught a virus and then a bacterial infection and was sick for 2 more weeks. My motivation is now at all time low and I have no desire to write or even buy as my energy level is completely wiped. I haven’t written much at all this past month and don’t know when I will get back in to a full time mode, if I ever do. It was hard enough to even put this simple post together, but I am trying.
This month might be my smallest number of purchases in quite some time, but doesn’t mean it doesn’t have what I think are some really sweet Treats! I did get to one record store during the month on the sole day in between recovery and illness where I felt good. It didn’t last that long because by the afternoon, it all went down hill. Noble Records was having their 3rd Anniversary Drop and what a drop it was. I picked up a Kiss Bootleg. More to come on this one down the road, but this is a 1981 reissue of a 1978 bootleg of Kiss My Axe 1978.
While there I picked two albums I had reviewed in my You Pick It Series that won for albums I had never heard before. I grabbed Frank Zappa’s Hot Rats and George Harrison’s All Things Must Pass which was the owners personal copy. It is so clean and even includes the poster!!
Then I picked up a classic I had been wanting for ages, Thin Lizzy’s Jailbreak. Nothing I need to add to that…
And lastly, I picked up the 12″ Maxi Single for Billy Idol’s White Wedding. I had been wanting it for ages due to the cover. Pretty great!!
And that was it from Noble, but what a haul it was. I also picked up a couple Matt Nathanson CD Promotional Singles that I have been collecting. I think I only have 4 more to get and I will have everything out there that I know exists…
That wasn’t all. I grabbed a Joel Hoekstra’s 13 debut Dying to Live. I bought this because I forgot that Jeff Scott Soto sang on half the songs…duh!! How could I not have remembered that!!
And lastly, the only new release I have bought and it is Richard Marx’s Storyteller. 20 songs and broken up in to four categories, Pop, Rock, Country and Ballads. Some great stuff as the man can write a song!
And that is everything. I told you it wasn’t much. Here is all of it in one shot!!
Thanks for stopping by and have a great month of purchases!!
Phillip Edelman is an associate professor of music education and the current director of the School of Performing Arts at the University of Maine. Having joined UMaine in the fall of 2016 Edelman works not only with students to help ensure their progression as performers but also with future teachers who are planning to enter the field.
Starting his music education career in 2006 Edelman was a middle school music teacher in Goddard, Kansas. He has always been interested in teaching music ever since he was in 5th grade when his band teacher got him interested in the subject. He believes that music education in schools is underrated as they can create outstanding and memorable learning experiences for students involved.
“I think that the value of having a comprehensive music program at, let’s say, any given public school, is sometimes taken for granted and not appreciated. And what music does for students is often not appreciated,” Edelman said.
In 2013 he began working toward his Ph.D. at the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory of Music and Dance, where he taught courses surrounding education methods and music technology. On top of earning his Ph.D. in music education he has also earned degrees from Kansas State University and the University of New Hampshire.
Currently Edelman teaches courses in music education and conducting at UMaine. This includes teaching future music instructors the necessary skills they need to succeed in their level of education. He also teaches music pedagogy which refers to the study of teaching and learning new instruments in order for aspiring music teachers to apply them in an educational environment.
The most fulfilling aspect of teaching for Edelman is seeing the growth of music players as they learn new instruments or other valuable skills over the course’s duration.
“I see a ton of growth because these are people who have never played whatever it is that we’re teaching at the time. So right now I’m teaching a double reach pedagogy course. So these are, you know, trumpet and blue horn players who have never played a bassoon before, who now can pretty convincingly play the bassoon after a couple of weeks, and that’s really rewarding,” Edelman said.
Edelman is also the director of the UMaine Concert Band, which allows him to get involved with more students of vast music backgrounds. The UMaine Concert Band plays a variety of concert band literature in both on and off-campus environments and is involved with performing and raising money for charities such as Champion the Cure from Northern Light Health.
“Oh, it’s so much fun. It’s the best. We’ve got students from every major on campus; it feels like we’re about 100 students in any given year. We do concerts that raise funds for local charities and local organizations that do excellent work. And we just have a really great time,” Edelman said.
On top of his past and current teaching experience Edelman has served as a conductor for the New Horizons Music band in Roeland Park. The New Horizons International Music Association is an organization that brings music to older adults who are learning for the first time or want to relearn instruments they played from years prior. Edelman believes that music education has the ability to create a strong sense of community between each player.
“If you look across our society right now we’ve got people hating each other for all sorts of reasons. But when you put everyone sort of in the same room and working on the same task and making beautiful music together, it’s really hard to hate the person next to you because you have to sound good,” Edelman said.
Edelman is also a member of various music-based organizations such as the National Association for Music Education, the College Band Directors National Association and the American String Teachers Association.
“Those are our professional groups. So we have conferences, we talk about policy, we do research, we communicate with our members in the field. We talk about different methodological approaches to teaching and learning,” Edelman said.
Whether it be upcoming music teachers, music students, non-music students or even older adults, the importance of a music environment is essential for learning the art form and for harboring a strong sense of community.
“Learning is the advice I give to all professionals within or without music education. And the most rewarding aspect of teaching within the program is getting to see the current students we have become teachers, and then influence the next generation of music makers,” Edelman said.
Posted in Events By Katie Simning On October 30, 2022
Welcome to This Week in Geek, your guide to events of interest to the Minnesota geek community for the week of Monday, October 31, to Sunday, November 6.
(Jump to In-Person Events)
Virtual Events
Kid Koala: Music to Draw To
What: Music, Meetup When: Monday, October 31, at 7:00 p.m. Where: Virtual via Crowdcast
This free virtual version of the long-standing event series in Montreal provides a cozy atmosphere for attendees to make art and work on projects quietly toge12ther with a calm soundtrack of ambient music performed live by Kid Koala.
Virtual Pub Quiz Trivia Night
What: Trivia When: Monday, October 31, at 8:00 p.m. Where: Virtual via Twitch
Get your trivia on from the comfort of home with Geeks Who Drink’s online trivia night. Prove your mettle, and maybe learn a little something! Watch for other Monday-night virtual pub-trivia events going forward.
The Radical Agreement Project
What: Comedy & Theater, Educational When: Tuesday, November 1, at 3:00 p.m. Where: Virtual via Zoom
Learn a new improv exercise in this series of 30-minute Zoom improv classes. This event is free, but participation is critical, so attendees will be required to turn on their cameras and microphones to join in.
Minnesota Zoo Virtual Yoga
What: Sports & Fitness When: Wednesday, November 2, at 7:45 a.m. Where: Virtual via Zoom
Start your morning with yoga at the zoo! Each week, the instructor teaches a yoga routine live from exhibits around the zoo. These classes are appropriate for both beginners and experienced yogis. Each class is $8 for nonmembers, with reduced rates available for zoo members or when registering for multiple classes at the same time. Sessions are recorded and available to view during the week for those who are unable to tune in live.
Marshall W. Alworth Planetarium Live Stream: What’s Up?
What: Educational, Science & Tech When: Wednesday, November 2, at 7:00 p.m. Where: Virtual via Facebook Live
Learn about current astronomical events and get your space questions answered by staff from the Marshall W. Alworth Planetarium at the University of Minnesota—Duluth. This virtual session is free.
Weird & Wonderful Wednesday Watchalongs
What: Movies When: Wednesday, November 2, at 7:00 p.m. Where: Virtual via Discord
Enjoy a free screening of an obscure film with Miss Emmy Martian and other cinephiles on Discord, every Wednesday night.
What: Educational, Science & Tech When: Thursday, November 3, at 5:45 p.m. Where: Virtual via Zoom
The Smithsonian Institution, home to famed museums and world-class research centers, is bringing educational programs and art courses online for all to enjoy. At this event, learn about how new audio technology is being used by scientists to study nature, including uncovering sounds beyond human hearing, regenerating species, building non-human dictionaries, and exploring the impacts of noise pollution on plants and animals. General-admission tickets are $25. Check out the streaming series webpage to see the many other upcoming events this week.
Twin Cities Geek Art Club
What: Arts When: Thursday, November 3, and Sunday, November 6; at 7:00 p.m. Where: Virtual via Discord
The Twin Cities Geek art club meets every Thursday evening from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. on the Twin Cities Geeks Discord. Hop on voice or video and chat while you create art, then share your finished pieces on the #art-club channel! This event is open to all. You can join by visiting twincitiesgeek.com/discord.
Air and Space Adventures
What: Family, Gaming When: Saturday, November 5, at 11:30 a.m. Where: Virtual via GooseChase
Join the National Air and Space Museum every month for a free virtual game! This family-friendly game is open for three hours and features a mix of missions, photo challenges, and activities. Players will need to download the free GooseChase app to participate, which is available on both iOS and Android.
In-Person Events
Please note: Due to the risks from the ongoing pandemic, we urge all readers to take appropriate safety measures when choosing to attend in-person events, such as masking, physical distancing, and frequent handwashing. We also urge all eligible Minnesotans to get vaccinated against COVID-19 and to wear a mask in indoor settings even if vaccinated. If you believe you have been exposed to COVID-19 or are experiencing symptoms, please get tested and follow Minnesota state guidelines on isolating from others. See our COVID-19 resources page for more information on vaccination, health and safety, financial and other assistance, and more.
While government and business policies change frequently and we cannot guarantee the safety of anyone attending an event we are not affiliated with, we do avoid featuring organizers or venues we believe to be following unsafe practices. If you feel something in this column does not meet those criteria, we encourage you to contact us at [email protected] with your concerns.
Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular
What: Family, Community When: October 1, through November 5 Where: Minnesota Zoo
This is a chance to explore a trail of artistically carved glowing pumpkins at the Minnesota Zoo. This year’s theme is a “Night at the Library,” and features new artists’ creations. Tickets range from $18–24, and members receive $2 off.
Six: The Musical
What: Theater & Comedy, Music When: Thursday, October 27, through Sunday, November 6 Where: Ordway
The wives of Henry VIII bring their stories out of the King’s shadow and give them a pop-diva remix in Six: The Musical. This Tony Award-winning Broadway show features an all-woman cast and band. Tickets start at $60.50.
Twin Cities German Film Festival
What: Movies When: Thursday, November 3, through Sunday, November 6 Where: The Main Cinema
The first annual Twin Cities German Film Festival will explore the theme of “Reel Women” through six films featuring narratives of women changing lives. Screenings will be at the Main Cinema, formerly the St. Anthony Main. Check out the website for a full list of films and screening times. Individual film tickets are $8–12.
Kate DiCamillo, A Very Mercy Christmas
What: Books, Family When: Thursday, November 3, at 4:00 p.m. Where: Red Balloon Bookshop
Author Kate DiCamillo will be signing copies of her latest children’s book, A Very Mercy Christmas. Attendees can also get her previous books signed when copies are purchased through Red Balloon Bookshop, including The Tale of Despereaux, Because of Winn-Dixie, and the Mercy Watson series. Tickets are $22.58 (with fees) and include a copy of A Very Mercy Christmas.
National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo)
What: Meetup When: Thursday, November 3, at 5:30 p.m. Where: Dayton’s Bluff Library
National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) is here! Hundreds of thousands of people around the world have taken up the challenge to write 50,000 words in just one short month. Are you one of them? This weekly meet-up invites local NaNoWriMo participants of all ages out for an evening of writing and camaraderie.
Sci-Fi Book Club
What: Books When: Thursday, November 3, at 6:30 p.m. Where: Nokomis Library
The Nokomis Branch of the Hennepin County Library hosts a monthly science-fiction book club where patrons discuss new and interesting sci fi. Lending copies of the books can be picked up at the information desk of the library. For November, the club will discuss The Apollo Murders by Chris Hadfield. See the event listing for upcoming titles.
Reverend Matt’s Monster Science: Kill You as Soon as Look at You
What: Comedy & Theater, Educational, Family When: Thursday, November 3, at 7:00 p.m. Where: Bryant Lake Bowl
Reverend Matt’s Monster Science, a recurring comedic lecture series with a focus on monsters, returns this month to take a close look at the creatures who can kill with just a glance including Medusa, basilisks, and Baba Yaga. Tickets are $12.
University of Minnesota Writers Series: Eloisa Amezcua and Tracy K. Smith Reading
What: Books When: Friday, November 4, at 7:00 p.m. Where: Northrop Auditorium at the University of Minnesota
Every fall, the University of Minnesota hosts a series of free readings and talks from award-winning writers, poets, and graphic novelists. This week features readings from Eloisa Amezcua and Tracy K. Smith. Amezcua is an award-winning poet and author of Fighting Is Like a Wife and From the Inside Quietly. Smith is a Pulitzer Prize recipient and author of Life on Mars, Wade in the Water, Duende, and more. To see other upcoming events in the series, head over to the university’s English department website.
Spektral Quartet: Enigma: A 360° Experience
What: Music When: Friday, November 4, and Saturday, November 5, at 7:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. Where: Bell Museum
The Grammy-nominated Spektral Quartet is bringing their new audio-visual concert, Enigma: A 360° Experience, to the Bell Museum. The performance will feature music from Icelandic composer Anna Thorvaldsdottir, along with immersive visuals by Sigurður Guðjónsson playing on all 360-degrees of the museum’s planetarium. Tickets are $33.50.
Free First Saturday: Offerings
What: Arts, Community, Family When: Saturday, November 5, at 10:00 a.m. Where: Walker Art Center
Celebrate art and community on the first Saturday of every month with free gallery admission and special events at the Walker Art Center. This month’s theme is “Offerings,” which will include Día de los Muertos art activities, a scavenger hunt, screenings of the short film For Estefani, Third Grade, Who Made Me a Card, and a reading of From the Top of the Trees with author Kao Kalia Yang.
Spotlight Science: Brain Power
What: Science & Tech When: Saturday, November 5, at 10:00 a.m. Where: Bell Museum
Spotlight Science is an event series that brings the current science happening at the University of Minnesota to the community through interactive experiences and special guests. This month’s topic is all about brains, featuring activities that explore their functions, how they change, and the impacts of brain injuries and addiction. There will also be planetarium screenings of the animated film Mysteries of Your Brain. This event is included with regular admission; adult general admission is $12 and there are multiple offerings for reduced rates.
Drawn to Nature!
What: Arts When: Saturday, November 5, at 1:00 p.m. Where: Fort Snelling State Park
Head over to Fort Snelling State Park for an afternoon of nature sketching! A naturalist will be on site to point attendees toward picturesque areas of the park. Check out the event calendar on the Department of Natural Resources website for more outdoor events in state parks throughout Minnesota.
Funlab: STEAM for Ages 7–11
What: Educational, Science & Tech When: Saturday, November 5, at 2:00 p.m. Where: Dayton’s Bluff Library
FunLab is an event for kids 7–11 to learn STEAM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) principles through fun in a drop-in session with crafts, games, projects, experiments, and movies. The event is free, and will serve kids so long as supplies last.
Shieldmaiden Sunday
What: Gaming, Meetup When: Sunday, November 6, at 12:00 p.m. Where: Source Comics and Games
Shieldmaiden Sundays are a dedicated space for female-identifying (including trans women/femme) and nonbinary nerds and geeks at Source Comics and Games. This is a recurring weekly event providing a space for women to play games, chat about comics, cosplay, or just enjoy the company of other geeks. Be sure to check out the Source calendar for additional events!
The Mysterious Old Radio Listening Society
What: Theater & Comedy When: Sunday, November 6, at 7:00 p.m. Where: Bryant Lake Bowl
Enjoy a night of horror, comedy, and suspense in the style of a vintage radio broadcast, including old-time commercials and sound effects. Programming will include The Shadow Over Innsmouth, Smee, and Runestones are a Girl’s Best Friend performed by Joshua English Scrimshaw, Shanan Custer, Eric Webster, and Tim Uren. Tickets are $18.
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So, which of these events will you be attending? What events would you like to see featured in the future? Let us know in the comments section below or contact us via email. And don’t forget to add your events to the Twin Cities Geek Community Calendar!
In the agenda according to the UCSB Arts & Lectures’ Hear and Now series, rising young classical phenoms and fresh “now-ish” ideas are granted a spotlight in the warming ambience of Hahn Hall on the Music Academy’s Montecito campus. That general agenda gets twisted only slightly with the arrival of much-acclaimed young harpsichordist Jean Rondeau, on Friday, November 4.
For the evening’s entertainment, the keyboardist dips back into 18th-century baroque annals and presents the complete Goldberg Variations of J.S. Bach. The principal difference here is his period-correct use of the proper tool — the harpsichord of Bach’s day, versus the piano version made famous in the 20th century by Glenn Gould and other grand pianists.
Jean Rondeau | Credit: Clement Vayssieres
Something of a charismatic figure and radical virtuoso well-known for his dynamic live performances, the 31-year-old Frenchman is one of the current bright lights of the global harpsichord scene. He has recorded several albums, including a recent, meticulously faithful rendition of the Goldberg Variations on the Erato label, met with critical hosannas; and 2017’s Bach Dynasty. He has ventured into contemporary music, as well, giving the 2018 world premiere of the solo harpsichord piece Furakèla by the fascinating French keyboardist-composer Eve Risser, whose music deftly cross-talks between classical and jazz.
The iconic Goldberg opus has very much been in Rondeau’s hands and on his mind lately. In the wake of the album’s release, his Santa Barbara debut on Friday is part of a busy U.S. tour with the Variations as his sole focus, culminating in an appearance in the midtown Manhattan classical music temple and proving ground that is Carnegie Hall.
Last June, Rondeau presented the world premiere of the two-piano and percussionist piece UNDR, co-composed by himself and percussionist Tancrède Kummer, drawing direct inspiration from the Goldberg Variations.
Never mind that a harpsichord recital in Santa Barbara is, in itself, an all-too-rare occasion. The chance to audience with one of the great living practitioners on the instrument, on the theme of one of the premiere jewels from J.S. Bach’s repertoire, no less, is an opportunity not to be missed.
The 7 p.m. event at Hahn Hall also includes a pre-concert talk by Derek Katz, UCSB Associate Professor of Musicology, at 6 p.m. (free to event ticket holders).
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TOWN OF WATERTOWN, New York (WWNY) – It was a festive weekend in the North Country.
“They were like ‘Mom, we have to be Chucky for Halloween’ and that started in March,” said Fort Drum resident Zhazha Prieto.
Prieto and her family are four versions of the Good Guys Chucky Doll.
“Each one of us represents a different movie because of our weapons,” said Prieto.
They came out to the Nococon Halloween Costume Party hosted at the Town of Watertown Fire Hall which gave several an excuse to show off their costumes a day before Halloween night.
“It’s an amazing opportunity for us to get to know people in the community, but also enjoy some family fun stuff,” said Prieto.
Organizers of the event say community Halloween parties like this one need to become more popular.
“Let’s have a Halloween party that people can come to. Don’t get me wrong, I love haunted trails and haunted hay rides and all that stuff, but there needs to be more celebration,” said Nococon Co-Director Ember Belird.
The party didn’t stop in another fire hall cross county lines.
People with pumpkin hats danced in Copenhagen to the beat of the Black River Valley Fiddlers.
“It’s a beautiful day, and so many people have come just to have a good time and enjoy the old country music and the fiddlers,” said Juli Hebert, a Copenhagen Fire Department Auxiliary member.
This is a yearly tradition for these Lewis County residents who say it is a great way to enjoy the community.
Whether it’s dressing up or taking someone out to the dance floor, it always makes this time of year a skele-fun time.
When psychobilly and horror rock bands The House of Haunt, The Brains and Gallows Bound took the stage at This Ain’t Hollywood on March 12, 2020, little did music fans in Hamilton know It would be one of the city’s last live shows for some time.
The show would in fact be the final one for the venue. The iconic Hamilton bar was sold that spring, just as the pandemic started hitting the city’s arts and culture sector hard with closures.
“This Ain’t Hollywood was on the verge of closing for quite a while,” House of Haunt vocalist and guitarist Matthew ‘Fang Binite’ Vörös said, looking back.
“The strength of the scene and the strength of the people kept it alive.”
The venue’s closure ushered in a difficult time for the industry, but more than two years later, COVID restrictions on live music venues are fully lifted. Hamilton artists are emerging from a summer nearly back on track, after navigating a music scene deeply impacted by the pandemic.
Well-known venues in the city — The Casbah, Mills Hardware, Doors Taco Joint and Metal Bar, and Corktown Pub, to name a few — are back to near-regular programming.
Thousands of music fans caught many a live act on stage, as Supercrawl returned to James Street North in September.
The city has also seen new venues enter the scene, such as the Sonic Unyon Records-owned Bridgeworks, which opened last year. Underground DJ venue Sous Bas was sold to new owners, who relaunched it as Andthenyou in June.
But the industry which relies on live performances for revenue also saw many losses over the past few years. This Ain’t Hollywood and the Cat N’ Fiddle closed permanently. Absinthe also closed, although it hinted on Oct. 7 on Facebook that it was ready to re-open.
“I am very grateful for those venue owners that stuck around,” musician Andrew Adu Amoah said in an interview earlier this year. Amoah is the lead singer and composer of the Hamilton post-apocalyptic funk band Papa Skin Freak.
“Hats off to those who didn’t just quit. But who believed in musicians and artists and are architects of hope really,” he said.
The band went back to playing live throughout the spring and summer. This return included shows at Hamilton’s Corktown Pub and Toronto’s Supermarket. Looking back on the band’s performance at Corktown, Amoah said the show’s atmosphere reminded him of the magic of live performance.
“That interplay between the artist with the band members and the artist with the audience was beautiful to watch,” Amoah said. “It felt really good, especially because [the band played] original music. [The crowd] hadn’t heard [those] songs before and yet, we got people dancing.”
‘The world missed going out’
Performing allows artists to build relationships and connections within the music scene. The pandemic put a dent in that ability, as several Ontario artists told CBC Hamilton.
Kingston-based singer-songwriter and Hinterwood vocalist Sadie McFadden said the uncertainty of the pandemic made booking shows difficult.
“I remember when we were trying to book a show and the people who I once knew were no longer doing booking,” she said. “There’s a loss of connections that are really important to the music industry there, but there’s also the loss of money at the physical venues. With these things together, there’s financial hardship on the venues that also gets passed down to musicians.”
Hats off to those who didn’t just quit. But who believed in musicians and artists and are architects of hope really.–
Not only did the pandemic take a financial toll on venues and artists but McFadden, who has played Hamilton in the past, said the loss of longstanding venues has been emotional for artists like her.
Places like This Ain’t Hollywood are often “like home base for a lot of different musicians,” she said. “There’s a lot of places that, even if they didn’t close down, they might not be offering live music anymore. So, it’s a loss of community as well.”
Hinterwood vocalist Sadie McFadden says the pandemic cost her important connections in Hamilton’s music scene. (Kate Pichora/submitted by Sadie McFadden)
For Kitchener singer-songwriter Alyssa Mikuljan, who also goes by Alyssa DVM, venues like Corktown offer the space to bring a passion project to life. Over the last few months, Mikuljan has been teaming up with artists from across genres to put on a series of shows celebrating women in music.
“Unless you’re in the music industry, [the presence of women in music is] not something that’s really talked about,” Mikuljan said. “Everyone [who attended the first shows at Corktown] loved it, to my knowledge.”
McFadden, Mikuljan and Vörös all said they’ve noticed revitalized enthusiasm toward live music among audiences, even as some feel unsure of being in a crowd and interacting with performers.
“The world missed going out,” Vörös said. “They missed live music. I find shows are attended more post-pandemic than they were pre pandemic.”
Mikuljan says artists are more thoughtful about what they are offering an audience and are careful not to overbook a venue or city, so people still come out.
“You don’t want super close performance days at the same place,” Mikuljan said, adding it had been harder to draw in crowds as pandemic restrictions lessened. “People want new and unique experiences.”
As the winter months draw near, musicians like Mikuljan, McFadden and Vörös look to focus on writing and recording new songs. Amoah is also shifting focus towards developing Papa Skin Freak’s social media presence and, by extension, their audience.
“We will do a couple shows in the region,” Amoah said. “But as far as I’m concerned, we’re all full speed torpedoes, spreading the gospel and trying to get in the pockets of people from around the world who love that little bit of funk soul hybrid the way we do it.”
Mikuljan said she’s optimistic, despite the uncertainty the winter months may bring.
“I hope people will continue to support live music,” Mikuljan said, “because I’m glad that it’s back.”
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