Music Today

Archive for June, 2009

Sardinia is an island to the west of mainland Italy in the Mediterranean Sea south of Rome and almost entirely south of Naples. Don't be surprised that spring starts early here. And it is beautiful, at least much of the time. Many people find the Sardinian spring weather more pleasant than that of the Sardinian summer. So you have yet another reason to vacation here during Primavera.The small town of Sardara, population about 4500, is located some 30 miles (50 kilometers) northwest of Cagliari, the regional capital in the south of the island. On March 12 it commemorates the death of its Patron Saint San Gregorio Magno in the beautiful early Fourteenth Century church of the same name. This is the religious ceremony. The festive ... [more..]

In all the years I've been reviewing music (13 and counting) one of my favorite labels has always been Sequoia Records. David and Steve Gordon have consistently released a plethora of cool music, their own (including the bestselling Sacred Drum series of Native/World music) and that of numerous other artists, with dozens of titles available. In fact, the first CD I ever received and reviewed, Music of the Tarot , came from Sequoia. As if their music wasn't enough, the Gordon's have a strong "green" ecology ethic, and it feels really fabulous to support what they do.Having said that, I must add that the Gordon's have recently stepped up their game. As evidence, I present Achillea: The Nine Worlds, by Jens Gad, a core member ... [more..]

The internet has been a revelation for many different people; musicians and music teachers among them. In years gone by finding a single piece of sheet music at an affordable price was a relatively simple task that did not require running all over town. Today that task is becoming an increasingly more difficult and expensive venture. The internet and online music stores have simplified significantly the search for sheet music with the advent of printable sheet music. Whether it be a beginning French horn student, an advanced piano player, or a string quartet looking for an appropriate piece of music there is a website that can help locate the piece and allow for instant downloading and/or printing of the music. Whether it be a Beethoven ... [more..]