Like some previous posts, this one is a mix of music and international/travel stuff, mainly providing links for readers to explore. I'm going to start in Alaska and move west till we land in Ohio.
I want to fill readers in on updated links and videos on the site. Also, look for video material of my recent headline act at the 1st Wednesday Open Mike Night at the Great Machipongo Clam Shack. Coming up soon.
One new link is to the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Also see their most endangered list: Which One Would You Save?
If you're more interested in wildlife, check out these 4 Destinations for seeing bears from Good Nature travel. As I noted in an earlier post, go easy on the selfies with bears!
I want to fill readers in on updated links and videos on the site. Also, look for video material of my recent headline act at the 1st Wednesday Open Mike Night at the Great Machipongo Clam Shack. Coming up soon.
One new link is to the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Also see their most endangered list: Which One Would You Save?
If you're more interested in wildlife, check out these 4 Destinations for seeing bears from Good Nature travel. As I noted in an earlier post, go easy on the selfies with bears!
Click for info on Natural Habitat Adventures' ship-based Alaska tour.
Hmm, Alaskan bears makes for a natural transition to things Russian...
Chekhov Marathon
Last fall, the Leo Tolstoy estate at Yasnaya Polyana sponsored a 36-hour world-wide internet reading, connecting readers from various places in Russia (11 time zones there!) as well as New York, LA and other US cities, a couple of scholars from South Korean universities and elsewhere. It set a Guinness record for largest audience for a live-stream reading.
Click on this pic of Fyokla Tolstaya, the author's great-granddaughter, for the Moscow Times (English) story about this coming September's "Chekhov is Alive" marathon.
Slovakia: How could you forget your flail?
Moving farther west, here's a Slovak video a former student sent me via Facebook.
It's a modern version of a folk tune called "Macejko" [MAH-tseh-ko, a form of "Matthew"]. No deeper meaning than a guy goes to winnow lentils, forgets his flails and has to go back home for it. He asks his wife what she did with them; he says she could find it blind... The refrain says, "Hey, Macejko, play for me on the thin string, followed by nonsense syllables. This has been done in so many versions, well-known for its use of a West-Slovak dialect called Záhoracký.
Chekhov Marathon
Last fall, the Leo Tolstoy estate at Yasnaya Polyana sponsored a 36-hour world-wide internet reading, connecting readers from various places in Russia (11 time zones there!) as well as New York, LA and other US cities, a couple of scholars from South Korean universities and elsewhere. It set a Guinness record for largest audience for a live-stream reading.
Click on this pic of Fyokla Tolstaya, the author's great-granddaughter, for the Moscow Times (English) story about this coming September's "Chekhov is Alive" marathon.
Slovakia: How could you forget your flail?
Moving farther west, here's a Slovak video a former student sent me via Facebook.
It's a modern version of a folk tune called "Macejko" [MAH-tseh-ko, a form of "Matthew"]. No deeper meaning than a guy goes to winnow lentils, forgets his flails and has to go back home for it. He asks his wife what she did with them; he says she could find it blind... The refrain says, "Hey, Macejko, play for me on the thin string, followed by nonsense syllables. This has been done in so many versions, well-known for its use of a West-Slovak dialect called Záhoracký.
I used to sing it in a chorus in Banská Bystrica, Slovakia. Now I'm working on an acoustic version of my own. Here's a sample of the "traditional" Macejko, as sung by the group Senzus, which electrifies folk music to a degree. They're one of the most popular groups in Slovakia--if you go to a wedding or similar celebration there, you'll probably here their music (recorded or re-interpreted by a live band). Lots of csardas!
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Swiss President's Rail Commute Couldn't resist this one. Having traveled Switzerland this way myself - the country has the densest rail network in the world - I know how easy it is to get around. Click the pic for full story. |
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Mozart's Café (Columbus, OH) and Classical Music
Finally, by way of Austria, we come back around to Columbus, Ohio. Mozart's Café was founded about twenty years ago by Indian native Anand Saha, who studied hospitality in Switzerland, where he also met his Tyrolean (Austrian) wife. The two have been very successful in promoting fabulous pastries of Alpine and Central European origin, such as Dombos torte, a Hungarian layered sponge cake with chocolate buttercream and caramel, stuff that's really hard to find in the States.
And they also promote the arts. So I'm also adding them to my links page.
Here's an example of how (from their e-newsletter):
Dallas-based arts organization Open Classical is working to establish a national touring pipeline for classical musicians, similar to what exists in the pop industry. They're in the midst of a national tour to spread awareness for the project, and they're stopping in Columbus next week for a free concert at Mozart's!
I spent hundreds of hours at their restaurant, reading my grad school assignments, editing dissertation chapters, all in their very European atmosphere, charging my brain with desserts and coffee. And of course enjoying the (recorded and live) music. Wish I could have been there Tuesday for the performance. Here's a clip of Neo Camarata/Open Classical:
Finally, by way of Austria, we come back around to Columbus, Ohio. Mozart's Café was founded about twenty years ago by Indian native Anand Saha, who studied hospitality in Switzerland, where he also met his Tyrolean (Austrian) wife. The two have been very successful in promoting fabulous pastries of Alpine and Central European origin, such as Dombos torte, a Hungarian layered sponge cake with chocolate buttercream and caramel, stuff that's really hard to find in the States.
And they also promote the arts. So I'm also adding them to my links page.
Here's an example of how (from their e-newsletter):
Dallas-based arts organization Open Classical is working to establish a national touring pipeline for classical musicians, similar to what exists in the pop industry. They're in the midst of a national tour to spread awareness for the project, and they're stopping in Columbus next week for a free concert at Mozart's!
I spent hundreds of hours at their restaurant, reading my grad school assignments, editing dissertation chapters, all in their very European atmosphere, charging my brain with desserts and coffee. And of course enjoying the (recorded and live) music. Wish I could have been there Tuesday for the performance. Here's a clip of Neo Camarata/Open Classical:
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