What makes a song sound ‘Christmassy’? Musicologist explains

Samuel J Bennett, Nottingham Trent University

Within the first notes of many classic Christmas songs, we’re transported directly to the festive season. Why is it that it’s these particular pieces of music that get us thinking of the holidays?

In his book Music’s Meanings, the popular music researcher Philip Tagg explores the ways in which we as listeners construe the music that we hear. Tagg applies semiotics, the study of how we interpret signs in the world around us, to music. These signs may be viewed differently by different people and may change their meaning over time.

To illustrate this concept, Tagg cites the example of the pedal guitar, originally drawn from Hawaiian musical tradition and carrying connotations of the islands. Eventually this instrument found its way into country music, so successfully that Tagg argues at this point, we are likely to immediately think of country music when hearing the instrument, without the concept of Hawaii ever crossing our minds.

As the pedal guitar may place us immediately within the realm of country music, there is one instrument that will likely do the same for Christmas – sleigh bells.

Sleigh bells

From light orchestral pieces such as Prokofiev’s Troika (1933), right through to Ariana Grande’s Santa Tell Me (2014), sleigh bells have long acted as convenient shorthand for composers to tell their listeners that this piece belongs to the Christmas canon.

The reasons for this link stem from the non-musical world. We associate Christmas with the winter season and snowy weather. Sleighs, through their use as transport in such weather, developed a direct associative link with Christmas, and as a result, so did the bells used to warn pedestrians of their approach. As with Tagg’s pedal guitar example, we’ve reached the point where we generally link sleigh bells directly with the concept of Christmas, rather than thinking of the intermediary idea of the sleigh at all.

Santa Tell Me uses sleigh bells to evoke a Christmassy sound.

There’s a link to the wider instrument family of bells too. Through the practice of churches ringing out their bells, particularly in celebration of the birth of Christ, larger bells have also developed a presence, not only in Christmas music, but in Christmas decorations and art.

Last year, the UK Official Charts Company published a list of the “top 40 most-streamed Christmas songs”. If you were to listen to the list, you’d find bell-like sounds in the majority of them, from the glockenspiel-like introduction of Mariah Carey’s All I Want for Christmas Is You (1994) to the synthesised tubular bells of Band Aid’s Do They Know It’s Christmas (1984).

There are other musical elements which help spread the Christmas cheer, from lyrical melodies to strident brass parts. Most of these elements though, have one thing in common. They aren’t modern sounds, or particularly common in modern pop music, and instead, they remind us of the past.

The nostalgia of Christmas

Christmas is a nostalgic holiday, in more ways than one. The word “nostalgia” initially referred to a type of homesickness, rather than the fond remembrance of a hazy past time that we more commonly use it to refer to now. But both senses of the word can be used to describe the feelings we associate with Christmas.

It’s a time where many of us travel home to family, taking not only a geographical trip, but a temporal one, immersing ourselves in a world of well-worn tradition and familiarity, where the pace of our day-to-day life doesn’t apply.

Artists know this, feeding our nostalgia through music, lyrics and visuals which evoke the past. This is possibly why most Christmas albums consist of interpretations of past holiday classics, rather than original material. It’s a straightforward appeal to the nostalgic and the familiar; if we already know a song, it’s easier to immediately latch on to this new recording. Some artists though, take the nostalgia trip one step further, emulating what is arguably the ultimate Christmas style of music – the easy listening crooner song.

Billie Eilish performs Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas in 2023.

Whether it’s Bing Crosby or Nat King Cole, the warmth of a crooning voice nestled among light orchestral instrumentation has become inextricably linked with Christmas. It’s a sound that, unless you have a personal affinity with the style, you’re unlikely to hear much outside of the festive season.

It’s telling that when Billie Eilish performed a version of Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas on Saturday Night Live in 2023, she eschewed her usual synthesised sounds in favour of a traditional trio of piano, drums and upright bass, and delivered the vocal in a gentle, warming tone. It all conspires to make us think of some imagined, simpler past, with chestnuts by the fire and picturesque snow settling outside.

Finally, we return to that list of the most-streamed Christmas songs. There’s one artist, and indeed one album, that makes the top 20 with two entries – Michael Bublé, with his 2011 album Christmas. Checking this album against our list of Christmas musical elements reveals a clean sweep. It’s crooned from top to bottom, features lightly orchestrated versions of classic Christmas songs, and yes, includes sleigh bells. It doesn’t get much more Christmassy than that.

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Samuel J Bennett, Senior Lecturer in Music Production, Nottingham Trent University

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

Read More........→December 17, 2025

Trance Effect to perform at Big Mountain Music Festival

Kohima, October 11 (MExN): Nagaland’s pop-rock sensation Trance Effect is set to represent India at the Big Mountain Music Festival (BMMF) one of Southeast Asia’s largest and most celebrated outdoor music festivals. The highly anticipated event will take place at Ocean Khao Yai in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand, drawing music lovers from across the region.

Renowned for its expansive setup and electrifying atmosphere, BMMF features hundreds of artists performing across 14 stages, showcasing a vibrant mix of genres including Thai pop, rock, folk, and international acts.

Trance Effect’s participation marks a proud moment for Nagaland’s thriving music scene, as the band continues to break boundaries and reach global audiences.

Trance Effect is managed by the international artistes agency Soundpuzzle, which has been instrumental in connecting the band with audiences beyond India. Their upcoming performance at BMMF marks another milestone in their journey, reflecting both the band’s artistic growth and the expanding global recognition of music from Nagaland.

 

Trance Effect to perform at Big Mountain Music Festival | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com

Read More........→October 24, 2025

Parents Should Sing More to Their Babies For the Positive Impact on Infant’s Mood–And Their Own

Getty Images for Unsplash+

Many parents know that babies love to be sung to, but there’s been limited research into the longer-term effects of mothers and fathers singing to infants.

The new research shows that parents should sing to their babies more often because it really does have a positive impact on a child’s mood—and it also can benefit the health and well-being of moms and dads too.

Published in the journal Child Development, the study from an international team of scientists from New Zealand, Canada, the US and Netherlands, looked at the results of using a music enrichment intervention program that encouraged caregivers to sing more frequently to their babies.

The study was conducted with 110 parents and their babies, who averaged around four months old—with most of the caregivers participating from the US and New Zealand being white, educated, and above the poverty line. Study participants were randomly assigned to the intervention or a control group for the main portion of the study which lasted six weeks.

Parents in the intervention group completed a brief, smartphone-based music enrichment program designed to help them sing more often to their babies. They were given access to six instructional videos of simple songs presented in karaoke style, with lyrics synchronized to a bouncing ball and sourced from vintage songbooks, specially made for caregivers with limited music training.

Additionally, participants received a child-friendly songbook that featured infant-pressable buttons which activated song playback, accompanied by illustrations and lyrics for parents to sing along.

Weekly email newsletters also introduced ideas of how to incorporate singing into daily caregiving routines and presented research findings relevant to the benefits of musical parenting.

Throughout the study, the participants completed smartphone surveys up to three times daily, reporting on both baby and parent mood, stress, sleep quality, and music use.

The findings reveal positive causal effects from simple, low-cost interventions—such as increasing baby-directed singing. The interventions improved health outcomes for both babies and their parents during the four-week intervention.

“Our main finding was that the intervention successfully increased the frequency of infant-directed singing, especially in soothing contexts, and led to measurable improvements in infants’ general mood as reported by caregivers,” said Dr. Samuel Mehr, of Auckland University, New Zealand.

“One interesting finding was how intuitively caregivers incorporated singing into soothing routines for their infants, even though the intervention did not explicitly instruct them to use singing for this purpose.”

“Encouraging parents and caregivers to sing more frequently to their infants can have a positive, causal impact on infant mood. Because infant mood is closely linked to parenting stress, caregiver-infant bonding, and later social-emotional development, such a simple intervention could have meaningful downstream benefits.”

“For pediatricians and professionals working with families, recommending increased infant-directed singing is a practical, accessible strategy to support infant well-being. It’s easy to do, requires no special equipment or training, and is accessible to everyone.”

“Singing is a universal practice—parents from almost every culture and throughout history have intuitively used singing to soothe and connect with their infants.

Dr. Mehr says that, despite the intervention lasting only four weeks, the team observed “clear benefits” for infant mood.

“Such positive effects may be even more pronounced with longer-term, higher-intensity interventions—and may also extend to additional aspects of infant health beyond mood.”The research team is now working on longer follow-up studies comparing the effects of singing, listening to music, and reading on the mood of babies. Parents Should Sing More to Their Babies For the Positive Impact on Infant’s Mood–And Their Own

Read More........→June 04, 2025

Girls Dancing to Music by a River, 1870

"The Mill: Girls Dancing to Music by a River", Edward Burne-Jones, 1870-1882, The Victoria & Albert Museum

Inspired by the art of the Italian Renaissance which looked to Classical subjects, this painting by Edward Burne-Jones (1833-1898) is entitled “The Mill: Girls Dancing to Music by a River.” The subject, clearly, is actually a depiction of “The Three Graces.” They’re dancing to the music of Apollo. Burne-Jones used, as models friends, and relatives of the prominent art collection Constantine Alexander Ionides. The woman on the far left, one Mary Zambaco, was for awhile, a lover of Burne-Jones. She was also Mr. Ionides’ granddaughter. It didn’t end well. In fact, in another painting of the same year, “Phyllis and Demophoon,” Burne-Jones inscribed of Zambaco, the epigraph “Dic mihi quod feci? Nisi non sapienter amavi” (Tell me, what have I done? Except that I have not loved wisely). The composition was started in 1870. But, it appears it wasn’t delivered to Ionides immediately. Burne-Jones took twelve years to finish it. Some feel that the artist developed an attachment to the painting because of his relationship with Zambaco. It was presented to Ionides in 1882 after being displayed at the Royal Academy. The inventory of Ionides’ collection as of 1882 lists that he paid £905 for “The Mill.” Source: Article

Read More........→March 15, 2014

‘Fitness helps you be positive’

Singer Sophie Choudry teaches us how to gorge on rasmalai, tiramisu and the like and still stay fit as a fiddle!: HEALTH FIRST: Sophie Choudry with her trainer

Manpriya Singh: Her Whatsapp status reads ‘Stay Positive, Stay Grateful’, a state of mind she first and foremost aims at achieving through fitness. A certain size, a certain shape, figures and numbers can come later. Sophie Choudry truly believes, “Fitness helps you be positive in life.” Former MTV VJ and singer gets all candid on her sugar cravings, fitness routine, sleep patterns and much more.

• Fitness as she knows it...For the past three years, I have been working out with the amazing fitness guru Yasmin Karachiwala and over the past two years we have only focused on Pilates, an exercise form I swear by! It is perfect for strength, flexibility and above all for someone like me who had to recover from two slipped discs! I feel fitter than ever. Thanks to Yasmin, Pilates and my Physio Hemakshi, I could perform the way I did in Jhalak in spite of my previous injuries! I also do some cardio in the form of treadmill or elliptical even for 20 minutes every time I go to the gym.
• Gym all the way: Absolutely! My day feels incomplete if I don’t workout but I’m someone who needs a personal trainer.
• Diet... through the day: My morning begins with a glass of warm water! Fortunately for me, I enjoy healthy food. I don’t really like fried or oily food, I don’t eat rotis very often either. Recently, I have become pretty much gluten-free; something I never thought was possible. Breakfast is some papaya followed by either egg white omelette or oats porridge with full fat milk and cranberries. And a coffee cup without sugar. Around midday I have a glass of narial paani and a handful of nuts. Lunch is always some grilled chicken and a salad usually with avocados. We also have some baked sweet potato. On my vegetarian days I have a quinoa patty and a salad. And if it’s desi food then some rice, dal and a couple of sabzis. At 5.30 pm, most people tend to crave for naughty foods. I have a tea without sugar and either some roasted makhanas or a protein truffle. Dinner is by 8 pm and it’s usually a soup and some veggies or my new favourite is brown rice with some vegetable and maybe a few pieces of chicken. I have green tea at least once a day. At any point if I feel hungry, I have a fruit like an orange or apple or something seasonal. I make sure I never starve or go for long periods without eating!
• Absolute morning person: I have always been a morning person! No matter what time I sleep I am up before 8 am even if I have slept at 4 am. Nonetheless, being in Mumbai and in my line of work, one has to be a night person as well because shows, appearances, even shoots happen at night. I’m flexible to be honest but if I’m home, I’m in bed by 12.30 am latest.
• Bring it on: That is my weakest point. I have a huge sweet tooth and love everything from tiramisu to rasmalai. I have learnt to have sweets in measure. On my show days, I eat as much sweet as I like because performing live for up to 2 hours needs a lot of energy. On other days, if I really crave sweet I have very dark chocolate and if I go out, I share a dessert with a friend.
• Fitness Vs figure: Fitness isn’t about being skinny, it’s about being healthy. You get fit because you want to lead a healthy life and look good too. Consistency is the key. No point working out like a crazy person for a week and then not working out for rest of the month. Make fitness a part of your lifestyle and make it fun. Trust me, you will look and feel better about everything in life.
• The body basics: I truly believe fitness helps you be positive in life. Eating healthy is good for you on the inside and helps you look better on the outside. Don’t deprive yourself or do anything extreme. Just be sensible and consistent and you will be fit forever! And remember life is short so once in a while it’s ok to cheat! manpriya@tribunemail.com ‘Source: http://www.tribuneindia.com/’

Read More........→February 25, 2014

Preserving purity of song and dance

The institution was founded in 2001 by Satyavani with hardly five students. It was her Guru’s intense desire to disseminate the invaluable bounty of knowledge that prompted her to build an institution. She was under the tutelage of Dr Thankamani Kutty at Kalamandalam, Kolkata. In her own words: “It has always been my intense desire to light the fire and passion for dance in at least some students. It is like lighting torches, big and small, with one mother torch that I felt as a student and that is how I work towards kindling the passion in my students”. Today the institute is 50-strong and thriving. Bharatanatyam in Chidambaram style is the forte of Satyavani. Whatever the music or song, the purity of the style is not compromised. The repertoire of the day includes traditional items like Puspanjali, Alarippu and Jatiswaram. They also included some experimental numbers like fusion version of Swati Thirunal’s Tillana, Guru Padukastakam by Adi Shankara and Madhura Shakam by Sripada Vallabhacharya. Source: The Hans India, Image: flickr.com

Read More........→November 27, 2013

The Musical Benefits Of Ayurveda

Music is a universal language. It influences all levels of human existence. It is a medium for communication, which can be both a pleasant and healing experience. Modern science and medicine are now rediscovering the healing powers of music. And music therapy -- the specialized use of music in treating persons with special needs in mental and physical health, rehabilitation and special education -- is gaining ground. In the West it is now an accepted form of treatment even within orthodox medical practice. Music is an age-old part of Ayurveda, the holistic science which promotes a happy and healthy lifestyle. From time immemorial, music has been a part of Indian culture. In the Vedas too, music

has an important place. The 'Samveda' is full of music. The doshas like Vata, Pitta and Kapha can be controlled effectively by Music Therapy. Great composers of Indian classical music have attempted music therapy down the years. Legend has it that classical music maestro Thyagaraja brought a dead person back to life with his composition. It is believed that music stimulates the pituitary gland, whose secretions affect the nervous system and the flow of blood. It is believed that for healing with music, it is necessary to vibrate the cells of the body, for it is through these vibrations that the diseased person's consciousness can be changed effectively to promote health. The right kind of music helps one relax and refresh. Even during the course of working, light music improves efficiency. Listening to music helps control negativeaspects of our personalities like worry,  bias and anger. In addition, it can help cure headache, abdominal pain and tension. Music therapy is one of the most effective ways of controlling emotions, blood pressure and restoring the functioning of the liver. The Raga Research Centre in Chennai,India. is currently making a comprehensive study of Indian ragas and evaluating their therapeutic potential with the help of musicians, doctors and psychiatrists. It is believed that classical Indian ragas can benefit a whole host of conditions ranging from insomnia, high and low blood pressure to schizophrenia and epilepsy. It isbelieved that there are other ragas that can help fight ageing and pain, too. Music is capable of improving happiness, peace, health and concentration. It is however important to know the method and duration for which Music Therapy is to be administered. This knowledge can be obtained through regular experiments and experience. The first step towards this is the correct diagnosis of the disease and then the selection of the precise raga that will be helpful. Procedure, discipline and a systematic method will help achieve this goal.Source Photobucket: Image1, Image2 Image3, Source: Music in musical therapy

Read More........→May 25, 2013

The Musical: Walk on by Beeage

Watch a delightful musical video on sweet little fairy & her all joyful stuffs, so be ready to visit an amazing wonderland

Read More........→March 25, 2013

Music makes people more productive at workplace: study

Express India, London:  'Moderate' background noise like music or even chatter is better than silence to spark creativity at work, an Indian origin researcher has said. And the right level ideal for work is 70 decibels, which is about the same as the noise made by a car driving past, it added. It’s the 'Goldilocks Principle' said business professor Ravi Mehta who studied the way a brain processes information against different levels of background noise. Not enough noise and the mind tends to have little or no stimulation. Too loud and the distractions are too great. The middle is ‘just right’, said Mehta, of the University of Illinois. As a guide, 70 decibels is about the noise made by one ordinary-sized car going past - a stream of traffic, by comparison, would make around 85 decibels. A lorry’s horn beeping would make 110 decibel but a conversation at a nearby dinner table would be more like 60 decibels. “A moderate level of noise not only enhances creative problem-solving but also leads to a greater adoption of innovative products in certain settings,” said Professor Mehta. “It turns out that around 70 decibels is the sweet spot. If you go beyond that, it’s too loud, and the noise starts to negatively affect creativity. ‘It’s the Goldilocks principle - the middle is just right.’ “An increased level of distraction makes you think ‘out-of-the-box’, what we call abstract thinking or abstract processing, a hallmark of increased creativity. “But when you start to go beyond that moderate level of noise what happens is that distraction becomes so huge that it really starts affecting the thought process,” he added. It means that for those who like to work on their own, for instance, they would be better off in a moderately busy coffee shop than at home in silence. “This is research that people can relate to almost immediately. ‘I’m working in a coffee shop - how does the background volume of the music affect my performance?” he said. “Instead of burying oneself in a quiet room trying to figure out a solution, walking outside of one’s comfort zone and getting into a relatively noisy environment like a cafe may actually trigger the brain to think abstractly, and thus generate creative ideas,” he stated.Source: Express India

Read More........→March 22, 2013

Mariinsky presents extensive program in Spain

Photo: RIA Novosti

St.Petersburg’s Mariinsky Theatre presented the concert version of the opera Iolanthe at the Gran Teatre del Liceu in Barcelona on Thursday. The title part was performed by Russian operatic soprano Anna Netrebko. The itinerary of the Mariinsky Threatre’s current tour of Spain includes five more cities, the last one being Santa Cruz de Tenerife, the capital of the Canary Islands. The Mariinsky company will perform Tchaikovsky’s First Piano Concerto and Shostakovich’s Tenth Symphony, and will present the world premiere of Clarinet Concerto No.2 by Nino Diaz. Source: Voice of Russia

Read More........→March 20, 2013

Russian fairy-tale at Viennese Ball

The Russian ball in Vienna appointed on the 7th of February promises a fairy-tale to its guests. This festive night at the formerly imperial and now presidential residence of Hofburg is, on the one hand, part of the traditional Viennese ball season and, on the other, a beautiful introduction to an exchange of cultural seasons planned between Russia and Austria for the next three years.

By Karina Ivashko: This  will  be  the  seventh  Russian  ball  in  the  Austrian  capital.  It  always attracts attention, and not only of Austrians interested in Russian history and culture. This time, for example, guests are expected to arrive from 13 countries, the hostess of the ball Nathalie Holzmueller said in her interview with The Voice of Russia. “Just imagine the imperial palace which is called one of the most elegant palaces in Europe. Imagine the room with chandeliers given by Russian Emperor Alexander I to the Austrian monarchy. It was at the time of the Congress of Vienna 1814-1815, which is known to have determined the fate of Europe. Alexander I lived in Vienna for a long time and took part in that congress which came down in history as a ‘dancing congress’. Three is a suite of rooms in Hofburg that bears Emperor Alexander’s name.” The figure of Johann Strauss Jr., the Waltz King, became the symbol of cultural relations between Russia and Austria in the 19th century. He spent 11 summer seasons in Russia performing with his orchestra and also Russian musicians in the palaces of St. Petersburg and its environs, such as the Czar’s Village, Pavlovsk and Peterhof. At present residents of St. Petersburg hold and international festival called The Great Waltz in memory of those seasons. At the turn of the 21st century Russian musician and conductor Vladimir Fedoseyev had an impact on the Viennese musical environment. He was the main conductor of the Vienna Symphony Orchestra for 8 years. The Russian ball in Vienna did not emerge out of the blue either but was evoked by impressions of today’s cultural life in Russia. Nathalie Holzmueller, a native of Russia and a graduate of St. Petersburg Conservatory, says: “Several times I was a guest at the Mariinsky Theatre balls called White Nights Balls in the Catherine Palace in the Czar’s Village. I was stupefied with the splendour of the throne room, smart and elegant guests, wonderful ornaments, delightful tables, flowers and the Mariinsky Theatre orchestra with Maestro Gergiev and the best soloists. The fireworks and ballet on the ponds were mind-boggling. As a child I always dreamed of being invited to a real ball, so I developed a passionate desire to organize something similar and persuaded Valery Gergiev to throw a ball in Vienna, the European ball capital.” Maestro Gergiev liked the idea. The first three Russian balls were under the auspices of the Mariinsky Theatre which showed its young talents in Vienna. With time the circle of performers grew wider and balls started to be dedicated to a certain theme. This year’s theme is The Russian Fairy-Tale. It is a fairy-tale and also a dream come true. The hostess will play the part of a fairy and wonders of performing art will be demonstrated by the Bolshoi Theatre soprano Dinara Alieva, The Indian Summer vocal group from Moscow and The Merry-Go-Round children’s dancing workshop from Vienna. The sponsors’ aim is not only to make people happy but also to show the Russia which they know and love, without stereotypes and primitive iconic images. Austrian journalists call the Russian Ball a symbol of Russian culture abroad. Its hostess Nathalie Holzmueller assures that most Austrians are delighted with Russia and interested in it. Source: Voice of Russia

Read More........→February 15, 2013

Samba time! Brazil’s Carnival erupts in an explosion of colour as millions thunder through the streets for the start of the five-day fiesta

Parade: Members of the Mancha Verde samba school at Sao Paulo's Sambadrome

Brazil's Carnival celebrations opened with a bang yesterday as hundreds of thousands took to the streets to enjoy the start of the country's famous parades and street parties. Korean popstar Psy, whose "Gangnam Style" single with its signature dance moves has made him a global phenomenon, performed to huge crowds in Salvador, Brazil's third-biggest city, last night. Other Brazilian and foreign celebrities, including US actress Megan Fox, are flying out to liven up the celebrations in Rio de Janeiro and

Got rhythm: a queen of the drums of the Rosas de Ouro samba school performs during the first night of Sao Paulo's Carnival parades

elsewhere. The five days of street parties, balls and parades traditionally shut down most of Latin America's biggest country, luring millions of locals and tourists to celebrations across the country. Rio alone is expected to attract 900,000 tourists and generate US$665 million for the local economy this year.
The different carnivals, which take place in Sao Paulo, Pernambuco, Minas Gerais as well as Rio and Salvador and numerous other cities, each showcase their own type of music such as samba, samba-reggae and funk samba. Last night parades began in Sao Paulo's specially built Sambadrome, a spaceTechnicolor samba: dancers from the Rosas de Ouro samba school perform in Sao Paulo in the small hours of this morning

designed for parades. The annual event takes place in the days leading up to Lent, the 40-day period before Easter. It began yesterday with the the mayor of Rio de Janeiro symbolically handing over the keys of the city to King Momo, the ceremonial figurehead of Brazil's best-known Carnival celebrations. But this year's festivities are taking place under the pall of the recent nightclub fire that killed 238 people in the southern city of Santa Maria. Sixty-five others are still hospitalised. On Thursday evening President Dilma Rousseff attended a mass in honour of the victims of the disaster at the cathedral in Brasilia, the capital. 

Weird and wonderful: members of the samba school Rosas de Ouro Special Group at the Sambadrome

Big band: drummers from the Mancha Verde samba school make some noise in Sao Paulo

Source: Travelfwd+, open images in new tab or window to find its source of sharing

Read More........→February 09, 2013

Tchaikovsky's Sleeping Beauty gets ovations in Morocco

Pyotr Tchaikovsky’s Sleeping Beauty ballet, Photo: RIA Novosti

A renowned Russian ballet troupe, Moscow Classical Ballet, performed Pyotr Tchaikovsky’s “Sleeping Beauty” at the Mohamed V National Theater in Rabat yesterday night, accompanied by the Royal  Symphony Orchestra of Morocco under the baton of its founder and chief conductor Oleg Reshetkin, who 

Reference Video: Tchaikovsky's Sleeping Beauty Ballet

founded it in 2007. The public gave the dancers and the musicians a standing ovation. Source: Voice of Russia

Read More........→January 19, 2013

Peking Opera, now fully translated in English

A media briefing is held at the Diaoyutai State Guest House in Beijing on Oct. 19 to celebrate the launch of The English Translation Series of 100 Peking Opera Classics.
Peking Opera, long a cornerstone of Chinese traditional culture, will now be more accessible to foreign audiences via a new series of published English translations. The project, entitled "The English Translation Series of 100 Peking Opera Classics" is co-written by the Renmin University of China and the Beijing Foreign Studies University and co-published by the Publishing House of the Renmin University of China and the Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press. The project, backed by state investment, drew from a stunning range of humanities, social science, English language research and translation resources of Chinese universities and Peking Opera circles. The Ministry of Education plans to utilize the project to promote cultural exchanges with other countries. 191 diplomatic envoys from 82 countries attended a media briefing at the Diaoyutai State Guest House in Beijing chaired by Chen Yulu, president of the Renmin University of China, on Oct. 19 to celebrate the launch of  the  series. Attendees were presented with a copy of the newly published work. Speaking at the conference, Sun Ping, editor-in-chief of the series, gave a brief introduction of the project, which began in September 2011. The English Translation Series uses a combination of books and videos of stage performances to combine the static and dynamic states to fully represent the artistic intent of the operas. A prominent feature of the series is complete bilingual and stereoscopic visuals, Sun said. "The whole translation series includes 100 classical Peking Opera plays which have been classified into 10 parts, each consisting of 10 plays. Each play has its own volume including preamble, script, music score, and dressing guide," Sun said. Editors of the series invited famous experts and scholars, including 96-year-old Guo Hancheng, opera artist and researcher of the Chinese National Academy of Arts, and 92-year-old Xu Yuanchong, translator and professor of Peking University, to be its advisers. "It was designed as a century project of the country, and State Councilor Liu Yandong attended its opening ceremony," Sun said. Sun, who is also a famous Peking Opera actress and executive director of the Research Institute on Chinese National Opera of the Renmin University of China, said that language was often the first hurdle and biggest obstacle in cultural exchanges. "The success of the project will accumulate valuable experience for Chinese operas to [gain prominence] in the world," she said.Source: China.org.cn

Read More........→December 30, 2012

Hornbill festival - An Exotic Tribal Experience

By Dr. Yan Murry: Around the end of November, as the winter chill slowly sets in, there is a buzz of activity in Kohima, the hilly capital town of Nagaland. Preparations begin for the annual Hornbill festival which commences from the first day of December. The nearby Naga heritage village at Kisama where the festival is held is all spruced up to accommodate the hundreds who will join the merry making in the next few days. Over the years, Hornbill festival has gone on to be a benchmark event for showcasing the vibrant Naga culture. Organised by the state's Tourism department every year since 2000, it has placed Nagaland’s beautiful mountainous capital at par with other well known North East tourist destinations like Shillong and Gangtok. Nagas are a vibrant and colourful people comprising of over 18 tribes, each having their own  showcase their unique language, dances, customs and  traditions. With  Nagas  descending  at one place to respective tribes, the Hornbill festival has become a window for tourists to peek into the uniqueness of Naga culture. It is a once in a lifetime opportunity for anyone who wishes to know the Nagas more. December and January are important months for Nagas from merry-making point of view. With Christmas approaching, the predominantly Christian state wears a festive look. Homes are brightly lit up with decorations and Christmas music fills the air. Tourist friendly: Nagas by nature are friendly people and once they know you’re a tourist and heading for Hornbill festival, they’ll make sure all your queries are answered. English is the official language of the state. Nagas understand and speak Hindi well too. Why Hornbill? :The hornbill is a bird most admired by the Naga people for its qualities of alertness and grandeur. This majestic bird is linked closely with the social and cultural life of the Naga people, as is evident in tribal folklores, dances and songs. The awe and admiration for the bird is symbolically displayed on almost all traditional tribal headgears worn during festivities. Morungs: At the festival venue Kisama, one will find many traditionally built Naga huts called Morungs. The Morung has a fascinating legacy attached to it. The pride of the village, the Morung is embellished with hunting trophies and fine wood carving in its doorway. This all-male dormitory, where a young lad of 6 enters and leaves when he weds, is where the village’s sacred hunting trophies, daos, Spears and shields of the village are kept for safe keeping. It is in the Morung where the boys learn the ancestral folksongs and folktales, where decisions of war and peace are taken, but it is also a refuge for the village culprits. Activities galore : There is never a dull moment once the festival starts. You can choose how to keep yourself busy. One can enjoy the colourful dances, food fairs, indigenous games and ceremonies, flower shows, Cultural medley - songs and dances, Fashion shows, Miss Nagaland beauty contest, Traditional archery and Naga wrestling.  Alcohol is not freely available in Nagaland but you can try the local rice beer. Tribal Shopping: Get ready for some “tribal shopping”. During the day, you’ll find many shopping stalls at the festival venue. Nagas design beautiful handicrafts out of wood and bamboo. Also available are beautiful hand-woven shawls of the various tribes, lovely dried flowers and artwork by local artists. Musical delight: Nagas are a music loving people. If you are a music freak, the Hornbill festival will be a treat. One of the major attractions of the festival is the Hornbill National Rock contest which boasts of being the longest music festival in the country. As the sun sets below the horizon, musicians from around the country belt out their best numbers in front of an enthusiastic and packed audience. 'Joint Family' from Delhi, 'The Hobos' from Kolkata, 'Verbs' from Shillong and local band 'Off' have won previous editions of the contest. The notion that Nagaland is an unsafe destination tucked away somewhere in remote Northeast India is untrue. People with 'limited understanding of the hill state and its people' are to be blamed for focusing more on the “Naga political problem” and not on the cultural richness Nagas have. Thankfully, as more and more tourists visit Hornbill festival each year, Nagaland and its people are being appreciated more. So, if you’re in the mood for some exotic tribal adventure, Hornbill festival should be your choice. Plan your trip well and get ready for a fun filled and exciting journey to the hills of Nagaland. Source: Hornbill Festival

Read More........→December 03, 2012

Are pubs the new culture hubs?

Intellectual discourse, avant garde art, evening music performances — pubs are slowly maturing into cultural exchange zones with youngsters looking for more than just an alcohol high. Stand-up acts, photo exhibitions, live music (that is experimental and not just Billy Joel-Piano Man type), art installations, plays, all mix well with alcohol it seems, contrary to what the right brigade will have us believe. Sabrina Price, a karaoke singer from Bengaluru, says, “Pubs are definitely becoming a place for cultural activities — they’ve got music, board games and performing artistes coming in.” Barriers are broken in more than one way, she says as, “In a pub, unlike a coffee shop, I could enjoy the show and also have a drink without having to be prim and proper as is required in typical culture spaces.” Bharatanatyam danseuse Anita Ratnam says, “This is similar to the legendary White Dog café in Philadelphia, where authors, stand-up comedians and campaigning politicians shared time and a platform to speak their mind. Gen-Y today is congregating at social centres where they meet and greet, have some food and drink, and can indulge in an eye-catching performance or art.” Does it place the artiste, who caters to a typical culturally vested crowd, in a tight spot? “Art like mine is not compatible with these new venues, but it is time for inventive, adaptable and creative artistes to recognise this valuable audience base and build appropriate culture capsules to catch their attention. The lines between high art and popular art are also blurring. It is all about eyeballs and how we can catch them,” says Anita. Ajay Krishnan, a theatre artiste who staged a series of plays in restaurants and pubs across Bengaluru recently, says, “Coffee shops haven’t lost their charm but are now a setting for people of a different generation.” In Chennai, too, the historical “sabha” culture is slowly changing. Book reading sessions and art walks are gaining popularity. At the Park’s New Fest curated by Prakriti Foundation, Ranvir Shah, the curator, showcased poetry entwined with music and dance. These capsules are all about culture meeting casual comfort. The ambience lends itself to being informal and inclusive, says Narendran Subramani-am, a drummer. “Unlike at sabhas or big auditoriums, people needn’t dress in pure silk saris or drip jasmine flowers in their hair to prove their appreciation of culture. True lovers of music and art can revel in it in a casual setting. This takes away the elitism in appreciation.” Deepali Narula, CEO, F Bar and Lounge, New Delhi, says, “There is a change in the mindsets of people now and more people are opening up to the idea of trying out various places in the city. When we started this place, our main focus was nightlife but we also encouraged the creative crowd to come in and showcase their talent. From photo-exhibitions to book launches and art exhibitions, a lot of cultural events happen here. In fact, we started the concept of a ‘celebrity’ in focus, where we have people showcasing their artworks, sculptures, fashion-related installations etc. These events witness an eclectic crowd.” In Kolkata, the scene is fast changing with chai addas turning into slick tea lounges and hookah bars, frequented by an intellectual gathering of poets, writers, musicians and painters. Dotting Kolkata’s Park Street stretch are pubs like Bar-b-q, Roxy, Someplace Else, Aqua, Shisha, et al. From live-band gigs to music album launches, movie promos, stand-up comedies and talk shows, the pubs have them all on their events list. “The Roxy bar at the Park hotel hosts comic acts and skits where reputed artistes like Neville Shah come in to enthrall audiences. And yes, book releases also happen quite a lot in pubs,” says ace stand-up comedian and screenwriter Anuvab Pal. Today’s exuberant lounge bars are designed elegantly, eye-catching through their infusion of warm, contemporary design and engineered interiors with easy flowing space. While singers like Bappi Lahiri and Babul Supriyo have entertained at Tantra on Park Street, new-age comedians like Vir Das and Cyrus Broacha frequent places like Incognito. Author Amit Chaudhuri, apart from unveiling his literary titles, has also unwrapped his electro-classical CDs and performed from playlists live at the scintillating Someplace Else in Kolkata. In recent times, the HHI pub has featured names like the Sufi rockband Wagah Road, Japanese guitarist-crooner Mc Chon, stand-up comedian Sorabh Pant, ambient acoustic band Ashmaan, singer-duo Mistie & Flavian, acoustic duo Crystal Glass, et al. Gathering together all the elements essential for a pleasant evening out, pubs today welcome the young crowd that can hold their drink and conversation well. It remains to be seen if pubs can take over from traditional cultural spaces that firmly hold a certain sensibility and sanctity, but they reaffirm the belief that art can be for everybody. Source: Deccan Chronicle, Image: flickr.com

Read More........→October 15, 2012

Tokyo Jazz Festival grabs Ornette Coleman for headlining spot

New groove: Guitarist Gilad Hekselman will be the main attraction at the Tokyo Jazz Festival's "Taste of Israel" program at the Cotton Club.

By JAMES CATCHPOLE: Jazz fans in Tokyo are already a lucky bunch, but when the Tokyo Jazz Festival (TJF) announced Ornette Coleman as this year's headliner it became clear — we're downright spoiled. "We've been trying to get him to come play the festival for years," says Atsuko Yashima, TJF's executive producer. "At his age (82), coming all the way to Tokyo for a gig is not easy. We're thrilled we could feature him." Coleman will headline the festival's "Jazz Roots" program at Tokyo International Forum Hall A on Sept. 8. He'll join an already impressive bill that night, but stands out as a major coup for the festival's 11th edition. The Texas-born musician is now known as a visionary and innovator, but was originally accused of being a phony. His style of soloing, which lacks a harmonic background, can sound shrill to many who are new to his music. This has made him one of the most controversial figures on the jazz scene over the last 50 years, with critics and peers leveling charges that he couldn't really play his instrument. Even trumpeting giant Roy Eldridge was quoted as saying, "I've listened to him high and cold sober. I've even played with him. I think he's jiving, baby." As time passed, though, Coleman's technique and complex musical theory of harmolodics came to be regarded as genius rather than lunacy. His tone on the alto saxophone is a primal, blues-soaked wail that has become a part of the legacy of 20th-century jazz. Even on his most dissonant recordings, the artist's complete mastery of melody and deep feel for the blues comes through (the latter a product of his R&B background in Texas). With more than 50 years of live performances behind him, Coleman's shows are usually unpredictable. It's common for him to pull out songs from early in his career from albums such as "The Shape of Jazz to Come" (1959) and "Change of the Century" (1960). His gig at Orchard Hall in Tokyo in 2006 is still reminisced over by local jazz aficionados, and recent reviews of shows in London have been ecstatic, with British newspaper The Guardian calling his gig a "thrilling journey." Coleman will play with his double-bass quartet alongside his son, drummer Denardo Coleman, and since this may be his last time in Japan, it could be the can't-miss jazz gig of the year. The "Jazz Roots" program has the most enticing lineup for hard-core fans. Opening the Coleman-topped bill will be pianist Makoto Ozone, whose Jazz Journey show is set to feature noted musicians Ellis Marsalis, Christian McBride and Jeff "Tain" Watts. Ozone has been playing with the talented rhythm section of McBride and Watts for years now, and his Tokyo Jazz Festival appearance will give him the opportunity to share the stage with Marsalis, the patriarch of one of America's most notable music families. Ozone, McBride and Watts are set to extend their festival performance into a short Japan tour as a trio as well, hitting venues in Nagoya, Osaka and Iwate Jazz in the prefectural capital of Morioka, so it looks like jazz fans in Tokyo won't be hogging all the fun. With last year's so-called world acts proving to be a popular addition to the side stages, this year five countries are being profiled in addition to the bigger American acts at the main hall of the International Forum. The Cotton Club and the plaza outside the main venue will feature artists from The Netherlands, France, Norway, Australia and Israel. Guitarist Gilad Hekselman is Israeli, but relocated to New York in 2004. Hekselman should put on a particularly interesting show as he has been getting some very good press from his gigs in New York, which boasts the most competitive jazz scene in the world. Hekselman will be joined by frequent collaborator American Mark Turner on saxophone for this, his fourth visit to Japan. "I'm always happy to come back," Hekselman tells The Japan Times. "I love the audiences, the culture, the people and, of course, the food! For me as an artist, it means a lot to feel that our music touches people and that it's appreciated." This kind of international pairing is becoming more commonplace in jazz as musicians link up via the Internet, relocate and collaborate together. Some critics have voiced concern about a kind of blandness that could come from this leveling off of global scene, which they worry would reduce it to ethnically accented background music streamed in the hip cafes of New York or London. However, such globalized shows at the festival have previously only succeeded in reaffirming jazz's legacy as an open-minded music genre, and it's encouraging to see festival planners continue down this road. Something that has been happening at jazz festivals worldwide that has come under more criticism, however, has been the addition of bigger-name acts to lineups in an effort to draw in more punters. Die-hard fans (and some musicians) have been adamant in their opposition to this trend and want to keep jazz front and center, but financial realities look likely to make the "big-name draw" a continuing part of the show. Tokyo Jazz Festival does a fairly good job when it comes to picking more well-known artists. This year's "The Songs" program features gospel group Take 6, soul giant Ben E. King and songwriting master Burt Bacharach. The lineup likely targets an older music fan, although younger customers may be familiar with King's hit "Stand By Me." His set will also feature Yoichi Murata's big band, which should be interesting. King is of course best known for his soul music with The Drifters, but he has been performing with jazz bands for more than a decade now. Finally, "The Groove" program on Sept. 9 will likely appeal more to younger audiences, with the American-Israeli Balkan Beat Box joining local favorites Soil & Pimp Sessions for a set. U.S. horn gods Tower of Power follow; they play annually in Tokyo and it's always one of the hottest nights of the year. Funk-rock pioneers Rufus will close out the program with the Tower of Power horn section, and Tokyo artist Shikao Suga is scheduled to join in. That might not make up for former Rufus member Chaka Khan not being there, but the set should still be great. Finally, the main hall events conclude with the Sunday night "Put Our Hearts Together" program. Don't be put off by the smooth-jazz sounding title. The name comes from a project carried out by jazz pianist Bob James in the aftermath of the Great East Japan Earthquake. Grammy Award-winning bassist and vocalist Esperanza Spalding will take the stage first, followed by Japanese fusioner Casiopea3rd. The Bob James Quintet will close out the night and the set will feature plenty of special guests. One of the more notable names on the roster is Japanese pop star Seiko Matsuda. How she fits in with James and his group is a bit of a mystery at the moment, but as a pop draw she should be a surefire success. The Tokyo Jazz Festival takes place Sep 7-9 at Tokyo International Forum Hall A, Tokyo International Forum Plaza and the Cotton Club in Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo (starting times and ticket prices vary). For more information, call (03) 5777-8600 or visit www.tokyo-jazz.com. Source:  The Japan Times Online

Read More........→September 19, 2012

Golden Ring festival opens

The International folk festival Golden Ring is opening in Russia. It will bring together artists from Brazil, Italy, Sri Lanka, China and other countries from around the globe.

Russia will be represented by artists from Vladimir, well known not only in their native region. The ensembles will present various styles and genres of popular artistic culture including instrumental, music and singing, dancing, and folk theater. The organizers say that the main purpose of the festival is to promote indigenous cultures. TASS, Source: Voice of Russia

Read More........→September 15, 2012

Behind the curtains of shadow theatera

By: There are over 50 works of decorative theater art from the state and private collections of Russia and Indonesia. Some exhibits come from the State Museum of Oriental Art. “We really liked the idea of exhibiting Indonesian puppets and masks from our collection on the premises of the Museum of Decorative and Applied Art,” said deputy director of the State Museum of Oriental Art Tatiana Metaksa in her interview to the Voice of Russia. “It is wonderful when a museum dedicated to Russian art exhibits works from one of the beautiful Oriental countries.” The theatrical culture of Indonesia, which is one of the largest island countries in South East Asia, is practically unknown to the majority of Russian viewers. However, historically, theater performances became one of the main ingredients of the spiritual culture of the residents of the Malay Archipelago and the Islands of Java and Bali. The word “wayang”is used to denote both a theater performance and theater puppets. One of the main exhibits on show is a painting several meters wide that depicts episodes from a Javanese fairy tale about the adventures of the young knight Panji and his beloved princess Sekartadji. Such paintings are used for the performances of wayang
master  beber, during which –  the show accompanied by some music – tells Panji’s story by showing paintings that were wrapped around two vertical poles. It could be said that such performances in the past were the equivalent of today's cartoons. But they mostly remind one of a show of diapositive photography that was so popular in the 20th century. Today the art of wayang beber is almost extinct. Only two sets of ancient paintings dated around the 17th –18th centuries have survived to this day, and are considered to be sacred relics that possess magic powers. Performances that use these ancient paintings are held only during especially important ceremonies. The state of the paintings is quite poor, that is why about ten years ago their owners allowed them to be copied in order to preserve the unique heritage and let as many people as possible see them. One such work based on the scroll from the Javanese district of Pachitan is on show at the exhibition. Nonetheless, the exhibited work is still just a copy of the original scroll. Some details, the decoration of the background and the coloring of the canvas exhibited at the Museum of Decorative and Applied Art, are a product of the imagination of the artist who made the modern version. However, the composition as well as the basic artistic methods mirrors the original. According to Tatiana Metaksa, the good characters have “refined facial features: thin lips, thin noses, almond shaped eyes, while bad characters to the contrary are traditionally portrayed with thick red lips that are too big in size.” The story of Panji was also popular with the dancing drama show called wayang topeng, the masks from which are also exhibited at the museum. The actors themselves do not talk since they are holding the part of the puppet with their teeth that is attached to the inside of its mask. The show master tells the story for them. The only exclusion is the fool who wears the mask and makes the audience laugh. In 2003, UNESCO granted wayang world heritage status, thus acknowledging the importance of this type of theater. Photos provided by The All-Russian Museum of Decorative, Applied and Folk Art, Source: Voice Of Russia

Read More........→September 12, 2012

Guelph Jazz Festival Seeks Volunteers

GUELPH, Ontario - August 16, 2012 - University of Guelph News Release - Guelph Jazz Festival organizers are looking for volunteers for the 19th annual festival and colloquium, which will be held Sept. 5 to 9 in venues around the city of Guelph and at the Macdonald Stewart Art Centre (MSAC). Started in 1994 by University of Guelph English professor Ajay Heble, the Guelph Jazz Festival offers jazz performance and education and is considered among the most visionary musical events in Canada. U of G sponsors include the schools of Fine Art and Music, Languages and Literatures, and English and Theatre Studies, the MSAC and the Central Student Association. Volunteer duties include hospitality services, box office and merchandise sales, beverage sales and service, and festival promotions/materials distribution. Volunteers are needed for free jazz events being held Saturday, Sept. 8 at Market Square in front of City Hall. You may complete an advance online application. For six hours of service, you will receive a complimentary ticket to a festival event, a T-shirt and an invitation to a volunteer appreciation party. Considered one of Canada’s most influential music festivals, the Guelph Jazz Festival has earned critical acclaim for presenting innovative jazz and creative improvised music in a community setting. It’s the only festival in Canada that includes free workshops, lectures and panel discussions on the influence of jazz on society and culture. The festival has received the Lieutenant-Governor’s Award for the Arts and the Premier’s Award for Excellence in the Arts administered by the Ontario Arts Council. For more information about the festival and volunteer opportunities, visit the website or e-mail volunteer@guelphjazzfestival.com. Source: Take Advantage of Your Seniority

Read More........→August 18, 2012