The concert was great and the crowd outside was just as enthusiastic as those inside the Basilica! Mostly those sitting outside were drunk just as the musicians inside who had done shots of Jack Daniels before going on stage.
The music was a mix of traditional Yugoslavian and hints at Bela Bartok, John Cage, and Pierre Boulez. The young comedian of 19, don't know her name, performed text based off the film "La Reine Margot" the music from the film was wrote by Bregovic. He then was influenced by his own music to write the text. She was really good and had all of her text memorized which was a plus and minus because Goran wasn't conducting her, but he got angry when she wasn't performing it exactly as "written".
The music at moments seemed film-like, similar to other pieces he had written and particulary the one he ha wrote for the film. One of the other interns said it was funny that the lyrics were about profane things and that the concert was taking place in the basilica royal. Standing outside looking in made me feel like at a rock concert with screaming fans and all!
Check out Goran Bregovic online!
Tuesday, June 08, 2010
Sunday, June 06, 2010
The Oud according to Smadj, part 1
The sound of the oud fluttered in every part of the room as if we were being drifted off to some foreign land in the Orient. Smadj, a Tunisien, living in Istanbul, dedicated these series of songs to a woman he fell in love with in Istanbul ho ended up dying. It was a great concert which brought musicians from London and Paris itself, and in two weeks will bring artists from Istanbul, Algeria and Morroco! Some songs were a reflection on belly dancing music or others that followed a tranquil beat that recalled the death of his muse. Not only was it sounds of the Orient but a mix of manipulated and computerized sounds.The drums called tablas were very intriguing each different part of the drum created a different tone and in order to be tuned it needed to be hit with a hammer.
The trumpet was ok, he often had difficulty producing a sound and one could tell that Smadj didn't appreciate that it usually happened during the important melodic lines, but was perfect during the improv. It was ironic that he nailed the lines that he didn't pratice, but failed at those that he had spent a long time on. Smadj also manipulated the sound of the trumpet with the use of his 2 macs by creating an organ sound or a flute sound, it as definitely interesting.
Samples of his music can be found at his myspace: http://www.myspace.com/jeanpierresmadj and he will also be performing next Thursday June 17 at the Festival de Saint Denis in the Basilica!
The trumpet was ok, he often had difficulty producing a sound and one could tell that Smadj didn't appreciate that it usually happened during the important melodic lines, but was perfect during the improv. It was ironic that he nailed the lines that he didn't pratice, but failed at those that he had spent a long time on. Smadj also manipulated the sound of the trumpet with the use of his 2 macs by creating an organ sound or a flute sound, it as definitely interesting.
Samples of his music can be found at his myspace: http://www.myspace.com/jeanpierresmadj and he will also be performing next Thursday June 17 at the Festival de Saint Denis in the Basilica!
Tuesday, June 01, 2010
REQUIEM DES ROIS DE FRANCE DE DU CAURROY
The ensemble performing was called "Douce Memoire" which means Sweet Memory, and a sweet memory it was. Though I didn't see the actual concert, because I was in charge of keeping watch of the dressing rooms and helping with the reception, what I heard was good. The group performs with musical instruments from the Medieval and the Baroque period, about 10 instrumentalists and 6 singers (2 women and 4 men).
The concert was in memory of Henri IV's death and was influenced by the queens and kings of the court. Therefore, when the music started it was reminscent of the sounds one would hear in the 16th century. It made me want to process down the walkway like a princess, "Now presenting Princess Adrienne of Drancy"!
The main instruments used were recorders, bassons, a small pump with your feet type organ and a cross-between a trumpet and a cornette. The trumpet cornette sounded like a flute but it wasn't, I asked one of the woman playing these instruments to describe it and she said there was no relation with the flute.
The music echoed throughout the Basilica and echoed into the courtyard of the church as if angels were sending the music into the ears of the crowd. The only disappointment was the music and the echo did not stay in rhythm, this coming from a musician. But I guess not everything can be perfect.
This ensemble and their concert were great, the women's voices harmonized well and one could see that they loved singing as there was a sort of glitter in their eyes. The men were so enthusiastic when singing, they would just sort of jump right in, when it was their turn to add the harmony to the fugue.
And the instruments, one thing I could never forget... harmonized and sweet melodies never making a mistake, thus creating sweet melodies.
The concert was in memory of Henri IV's death and was influenced by the queens and kings of the court. Therefore, when the music started it was reminscent of the sounds one would hear in the 16th century. It made me want to process down the walkway like a princess, "Now presenting Princess Adrienne of Drancy"!
The main instruments used were recorders, bassons, a small pump with your feet type organ and a cross-between a trumpet and a cornette. The trumpet cornette sounded like a flute but it wasn't, I asked one of the woman playing these instruments to describe it and she said there was no relation with the flute.
The music echoed throughout the Basilica and echoed into the courtyard of the church as if angels were sending the music into the ears of the crowd. The only disappointment was the music and the echo did not stay in rhythm, this coming from a musician. But I guess not everything can be perfect.
This ensemble and their concert were great, the women's voices harmonized well and one could see that they loved singing as there was a sort of glitter in their eyes. The men were so enthusiastic when singing, they would just sort of jump right in, when it was their turn to add the harmony to the fugue.
And the instruments, one thing I could never forget... harmonized and sweet melodies never making a mistake, thus creating sweet melodies.
Monday, May 31, 2010
Basilique de Saint Denis
The church was founded by Dagobert in the 7th century on the grave of Saint Denis, a patron saint of France. Very quickly the churche became a place of burial for French Kings of the 10th to 18th centuries as well as a place of pilgrimage. The church was never used as a place of coronation of kings, but queens were known to have been crowned there. The abbey church was rebuilt by Abbot Suger in the 12th century, with innovative structural and decorative features commonly seen in Gothic architecture, Suger's model provided insight for other cathedrals and abbeys that would be constructed in Northern France and Europe.
Some famous royalty who are buried in the Cathedral are: Louis XIII to Louis XVIII, Marie Antoinette, Charles of France and many more...
more info can be found here
This site is worth seeing, if you ever have the chance to visit Paris. The trip is even more exciting if you pair the Cathedral, the market (Fridays/Sundays), and then a picnic in the park of the Maison de la Légion d'Honneur!
La Maison de l'Education de la Legion d'Honneur
The houses of Education of the Legion of Honor was founded in 1805 by Napoléon the 1st as a school for girls of military army men. The first of these house was the Ecouen castle in 1807 and was directed by Madame Campan. The coount of Lacepede, the first Chancellor of the Legion of Honor created the second house in the abbey of Saint Denis (the basilica) in 1811.
In order to be admitted in to the school, the girls must be a daughter, grand daughter, etc of members of the Legion of Honor, or those who have received military medals, or those who have received a national merit.
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