Sleeping Hedgehog

Students at Dodgson School of the Imagination (A City Tale)

By Donna Bird, on February 22nd, 2012

So I assume that you’ve read the look at the Dodgson School of the Imagination? If not, do read it now.

So now you may be wondering, ‘Who attends the Dodgson School of the Imagination?’ Well, the little ones at the Geisel Centre are primarily the offspring of staff, faculty and students at the School, along with a few children from town. The town and the school itself are also the primary sources of the students in grades kindergarten through twelve.

Many parents settle or remain in our fair city so that they can send their children to the Dodgson School. It’s been around long enough so that three or more generations of some families have attended. While there are no dormitories for the younger students, a few from far away live on campus, typically in residences with faculty or staff, while their parents travel or work abroad. Adult students, who learn about the School by word of mouth, come from all over the world.

As a very well-endowed private school, Dodgson can easily afford to provide complete and partial scholarships to deserving students. Admission is on the basis of portfolios submitted by applicants, recommendations from people who know the applicants’ work, and interviews with members of the Inner Circle of Supporters. Imagination is an elusive characteristic, and the people who are mostly likely to be accepted are not always the ones who have the most impressive credentials.

Whisky

By Reynard, on February 22nd, 2012

That we love whisky here at the Kinrowan Estate is no surprise to anyone who has read our post on this spirit.

Now I’d like to draw your attention to an article this morning over at the Coolhunting site called Behind the scenes at the Jameson Distillery with Master Distiller Barry Crockett as it’s a wonderful look at one of the great Scottish distilleries. Go read it now and I’ll pour both of us a wee dram of the really good whisky from my private stock.

Gary Whitehouse: Sound Bites

By Robert M. Tilendis, on February 22nd, 2012

We are very pleased to offer what we sincerely hope will be another ongoing music column here at Sleeping Hedgehog: “Sound Bites” from Gary Whitehouse. Gary’s located in the Pacific Northwest (the other Portland, or close by, at least) and is active in the music scene and brings a wealth of knowledge, first-hand experience, and good connections to his reviewing. (But if you think this column is going to be all about Oregon, guess again.) So, without further ado, please take a look at “Sound Bites,” in which Gary does some catch-up.

Music & travel series Music Voyager to begin third season (Press Release)

By Kinrowan Limited Press Office, on February 21st, 2012

The acclaimed music and travel TV series unveils the most exciting music from across the globe.

On February 24th, the third season of the celebrated music and travel television series Music Voyager will begin rolling out to PBS stations across the United States and dozens of other broadcasters worldwide. The series, which is distributed in the US by American Public Television, follows the Music Voyager team as they explore the globe in search of unexpected adventures and surprising discoveries that unveil the magic and mystery of music from near and far.

With local musicians as his guide, host Jacob Edgar tastes exotic and occasionally ghastly food, visits off-the-beaten path attractions and parties the night away at amazing concerts in hidden venues that only the locals know. Along the way, viewers are rewarded with a VIP pass to nightclubs, festivals, recording studios and rehearsal rooms, experiencing an ear-opening journey along the world’s musical heartbeat.

Season 3 begins in Tennessee, as Music Voyager travels along the Music Highway from the Appalachian Mountains in the eastern part of the state to the country music capital of Nashville to the blues, soul and rock and roll of Memphis. The team then travels to Israel to explore the multicultural sounds from this historically rich and fascinating region.

More Update

By Robert M. Tilendis, on February 21st, 2012

And that, from just about anywhere.

When’s the last time you spent an hour or so listening to Nubian drumming? Not recently, I’ll bet. Well, spend some time with Mahmoud Fadl and Drummers of the Nile in Town: Cairosonic. It’s an eye-opener.

Next we have a review of a whole series (that’s five CDs, count ‘em, five) on the music of Vietnam. You’ve never heard the music of Vietnam? Well, lick your chops and dive right in.

Next, we have a book, but it’s about music — or really, about an instrument that has become a mainstay in performances of traditional music, especially in Appalachia. Read all about it — and I mean all about it — in Paul M. Gifford’s The Hammered Dulcimer: A History.

And next, hold on to your seats: recordings of two concerts by a legendary band at a legendary music festival: Mahavishnu Orchestra: Live at Montreux, 1984 & 1974. I don’t really need to say more, do I?

And about that “mostly” — we’ve got one review here that I couldn’t pass up: Sacred Fire, the television adaptation of Charles de Lint’s story. Aside from the fact that it sounds pretty neat, it has nothing in common with anything else in this post.

Well, I’m going to spend more time wandering around in the Archives, just because.

Later. . . .

New album from Värttinä (Press Release)

By Kinrowan Limited Press Office, on February 21st, 2012

It’s been six years since Miiero, their last release, and the expectations grew high in the beginning of 2012 when Värttinä finally announced the release of their new album entitled Utu (Mist).

The beloved group hasn’t been on hold these past six years: they have been actively touring and they also made the music for The Lord Of The Rings musical.

The line up has gone through some changes as the group today consists of Mari Kaasinen (vocals), Johanna Virtanen (vocals), Susan Aho (vocals), Matti Kallio (accordion, keyboard etc.) and Hannu Rantanen (double bass). The new record features appearances from Wimme, Sakari Kukko, Jaska Lukkarinen, Kukka Lehti and Matti Laitinen.

The album, released on 1 Feb, was well received in Finland as it climbed to top 20 on the first week after the release. Utu has already been released in Germany, Austria and Switzerland and more countries will follow.

Värttinä will also commence a tour but so far only two shows have been confirmed: April Jazz Festival on 28 April in Espoo, Finland and Wild Mint Festival on 2 June in Moscow, Russia.

Vishtèn Brings the Joy of Acadian Roots to the U.S. in March 2012 (Press Release)

By Rock Paper Scissors, on February 20th, 2012

From childhood evenings listening to music from the top of the stairs, to exuberant folk music sessions on Shetland busses and knockout performances at the Vancouver Olympics, Vishtèn evokes a world in tunes: the rocking boats and waltzing bows of remote island harbors; the unflagging creativity of step dancers and percussive piano, ancient ballads and striking new melodies flowing from vibrant Acadian and Quebecois communities. There, French and Celtic sounds—the same current that flows through Breton, Cajun, Irish, Scottish, and much American music—meet.

This world instantly invites listeners in, with flying footwork, rippling frame drum, soulful fiddle, and songs that are four centuries old, and others newly minted by the band. With members from Prince Edward Island’s legendary Evangeline area—a hub of Acadian culture—and from the most remote reaches of Quebec, the windswept Magdalen Islands, Vishtèn knows how to dance artfully at the rich intersection of deep history and contemporary energy.

The Canadian trio with thousands of performances worldwide under its belt brings its warm, dynamic rendering of French-rooted, Celtic-infused traditions and new compositions to the U.S. for a tour in March 2012. The group’s stops include Chicago, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Ann Arbor, and Oklahoma City.

“As we’ve looked for songs and compositions, we’ve stepped out of being completely traditional, the way people play at home, while still keeping that influence very present in our minds,” explains musician, singer, and dancer Emmanuelle LeBlanc. “We’re contemporizing our music, and creating our own fresh version of Acadian music.”

This fresh approach shines through the band’s concert recordings (including their latest release, Vishtèn Live) and their upcoming album of all original compositions, Mosaïk. Fans can support the album’s production via pre-sales here.

There’s More Where That Came From

By Robert M. Tilendis, on February 20th, 2012

So what if you actually could buy someone’s soul? That’s what happens in Proposition Player from Bill Willingham and Paul Guinan. Does it work? Follow the link to find out.

The Woods Band’s Music from the Four Corners of Hell actually has nothing to do with people’s souls, except maybe in the metaphorical sense. But check it out anyway.

And as long as we’re talking about traditional — or traditionally based, anyway — music, let’s think about Les Amants Du Saint-Laurent from Le Vent du Nord. (Yep, you guessed it — more Quebecois music.)

And talking of tradition, we have a double-barreled treat for you: Tony Foxworthy’s Customs in Kent: Folklore of England and Dick Richardson’s The Sussex Recipe Book. I mean, these books are pretty hard-core.

And now that we’ve managed to skip back in time a little bit, how about Will Shakespeare and his pal Tuck Smythe solving a murder? Welcome to The Slaying of the Shrew. (Poke, poke — Get it?)

See you next time with more goodies. Bye for now.

Rummaging at Endicott Studio: Nordic, Germanic and Welsh Myths

By Iain Nicholas Mackenzie, on February 20th, 2012

The roasting, the feasting and the hours of horseplay helped to create a special warmth on this cold, hard day. Then the fire was stoked and fed to make a warm place where there could be dancing until darkfall. Martin was very drunk. Rebecca danced alone, wide skirts swirling, hair flowing as the accordion wheezed out its jig, and feet stamped on the stone flags at the edge of the field, where the pit had been dug. — Robert Holdstock’s Merlin’s Wood

I’ve been rummaging over at the archives of Endicott Studio this week and found some interesting articles, all concerning myths and how they came to be.

First is A Rune with a View: An Introduction to the Visionary Alphabet of the Northern World. If you’ve ever cast runes, you should read this article!

The Wild Hunt runs through the Germanic, Welsh, and Nordic folk traditions (but is not part of the Anglo-Celtic traditional in any meaningful manner). This article will give you a firm grounding in this history of the Wild Hunt. For a superb fictional look on this myth, read Jane Yolen’s The Wild Hunt.

Into the Fog: Icelandic Land and Lore is a personal look on the historical basis of the Icelandic sagas, and The Magic of Wales is essential reading for anyone who has read Susan Cooper’s The Dark is Rising series or Alan Garner’s The Owl Service.

Join us later in the Courtyard as Chasing Fireflies, a wonderful contradance band which has Reynard on concertina, a lovely piper-lass named Finch, and Béla on viola, will be playing an Eventide dance with Ingrid, a fiddler from Norway, doing the calling. We’re expecting a cold evening with light snow so dress accordingly and take use of the mulled wine and bonfire as need be!

Originals

By Robert M. Tilendis, on February 19th, 2012

And they all are — just read on.

Let’s go back a bit, to shortly after September 11, 2001, and to the “Concert for New York City” organized by Paul McCartney. We have a look at the documentary about the show, The Love We Make.

As long as we’re going back to originals, how about Grimms’ Fairy Tales the way the Grimm brothers first heard them? See what I mean in our review of Grimm’s Grimmest.

And yet another original, none other than the Pogues’ Rum, Sodomy & the Lash (and if the Pogues’ aren’t originals, I don’t know who is), and the story of the making (with a few added tidbits) in a book of the same title by Jeffrey T. Roesgen.

And just one more, and this looks about as original as it can get: Phil and Kaja Foglio’s Girl Genius: Agatha Heterodyne and the Beetleburg Clank. Hint: It’s not steampunk. Truly.

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