the elven one with taxidermy
a cute pronghorn antelope adorned with Currier & Ives...haha
a tambura orchestraOkay, I'll say a few more. Though this is sticking a toe out of the Classical music box, I just couldn't resist a gush. The fey, impish creature known as Joanna Newsom -part wood nymph, part Appalachian hillbilly- is a classically trained harpist who is the most daring and exciting thing in music these days. Her 10 minute-long-on-average songs are crafted like classical compositions, challenging the pop music- listener to follow their intricate instrumental and lyrical story patterns. On her new, 3-disc masterpiece Have One On Me, Newsom's music, which has been categorized as "freak folk" draws from celtic and Eastern European influences, and even jazz. In addition to Newsom's ethereal harp playing, the album treats us to such fanciful instruments as pump organ, oboe, bassoon, Bulgarian tambura and kaval, Turkish kemence, and a newly-invented Australian instrument called the tarhu that you can read about here! My advice is that you rush over to Electric Fetus as soon as you can and buy this album.
Joanna Newsom- a feast for the ears, eyes, and mindIf you don't want to stay in your home all weekend listening to the Newsom album, there are a few exotic offerings from the Minnesota Orchestra you might want to catch. Friday was the music of Sibelius sung by Finnish voices; Saturday is the latin sound of Doc Severinsen and El Ritmo de la Vida; and Sunday presents [the sound of my proud Irish upbringing! ] ... The Chieftains! Pulse-quickening jig music just in time to herald St. Patrick's day and the coming of Spring!
céad míle fáilte !
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