5 Cool Instruments - 5: The Double Bass

So me and my brother were having a, shall we say, lively debate about the coolest instrument and I thought I would produce a count down of the 5 coolest instruments in my humble opinion.

Now I not one man's 'cool' is another man's 'square', so we will do the cool test:

The following image is an example of the kind of cool we are aiming for:



So now we know what cool is. Thus we have the double bass. One of my favourate instruments and undeniably cool; it's got ROOTS in the some of the greatest music genres of all time (see below) it has a lush, smokey and sensuous sound (see from the jazz solo), but it is also suprisingly versitile(see remaining links - esp. Stanley Clarke!!!)

Marco Panascia solo jazz bass Blues in F by Charlie Parker (August 29, 1920 – March 12, 1955):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I4Hx0VfUbTw

BLUES, BABY! - Willie Dixon - Bassology (1966):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UcqqyL-Y6Go&feature=related

Tony "Slash" Redhorse from The Rocketz = rock 'n' roll (2009):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xIcndVBLSc

The sensational Stanley Clarke discusses the double bass (2007):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Py3jT0uaZw0&feature=related

However, as Stanley Clarke says it is slightly limited by its sound and shape -- it is also prone to be tarnished with the brush of novely music which, whilst not always *totally* awful, is certainly not cool in the Kia Ora sense(see The Baseballs). But if it is played by something who really knows what they are doing, then it can be thoroughly interesting, unusal and entertaining.

So double bass. Number 5.

Night on Bald Mountain: Episode 1

Hey folks!

Inspired by the writings of Kayleigh and other literary-herberts, I thought I'd give poetry another go - plus I'm feeling particularly angsty at the moment :)

This poem is inspired by / rips off a lot of things: the classical piece by Modest Mussorgsky and the Fantasia movie. I will also use it to respond to poetry of Samuel Taylor Coleridge and fiction of Neil Gaiman. We'll see how it goes; this is not normally what I write about. Cheers. SM

Night on Bald Mountain
I.
A green glow threw the crags of Bald Mountain into light. Spikes of rock jutted against the sky, a wash of blue and black, light emitted from the mountain’s roots, outshining the full moon that hung round as cheese nestled in the veins of cloud.

It was midnight. Not a soul was stirring in the peasant village nestled at the foot of the mountain. The publicans had all reeled home to their wives and their beds, the taverns doors closed, the chestnut seller’s coal extinguished and his barrow parked in the stable.

Not a soul was stirring in the humble peasant village, save one. Jarred awake by some evil, abstract and instantly forgotten dream I arose from my chamber to take a turn about the garden and clear my head – grumbling all the while; blaming the reveries on the richness of my supper.

Looking back on that fateful night, I believe that my soul had some foreknowledge of the events about to ensue, a foreboding felt deep within my sub-consciousness that worried and warped my lonely dreams. Whether right or no, I found myself awake and starring up at Bald Mountain.

Starring up at that imposing sight, the breath-taking mass of immovable rock of inconceivable scale, an overwhelming feeling of insignificance hit me in the chest and its sting brought tears to my eyes. I could not explain it, but I felt confronted and humiliated, heart-broken, spurned to the edge

-- not banished to the perimeters of society, but of existence itself, the perpetrator of some metaphysical crime, a desecrator of the laws of the universe. Those were my feelings, (as best I could describe them) as I looked up at that terrible grey mount that filled the world, its sharp stabs raking the sky.

The Music of Ren and Stimpy #7

Ok, this might be spiralling out of control a bit ...
As well as being on the 'Clockwork Orange' soundtrack with a load of other classical music (natuarlly), sections from Gioacchino Rossini's 'The Thieving Magpie' can also be found lurking in Ren and Stimpy -- I actually found it in the 'Space Madness' episode when Ren is having a steaming-hot, anti-gravity bath.



Next, we have a series of American-style marches courtesy of Sousa such as Semper Fidelis, , Stars and Stripes Forever and The Liberty Bell March for all those patriots out there.



And obviously you've got to have the cat theme from Peter and the Wolf (Prokofiev, Sergei) to represent Stimpson J. Cat:



Well, there are many that I have missed - but I think my brain will explode if I do any more. See the links I put up during the second post for more and better details:

http://stevegrins.blogspot.com/2010/06/music-of-ren-and-stimpy-2-tchaikovsky.html

SM

The Music of Ren and Stimpy #6

I'm so glad that I've found this! Modest Mussorgsky: Night on Bald Mountain.

Now this is a powerful tune! Again, this can also be found on an Earthworm Jim soundtrack - this time from the first game, a level called 'What the Heck?'. After the climax the music changes to elevator music occassionally punctured by screams of agony. Great level!



I can also remember that this is in a episode of Ren and Stimpy. You know, it might even be the episode in which Stimpy erases history but pressing an irresistible red button.

The Music of Ren and Stimpy #5

Richard Wagner:Ride of the Valkyries:



Used alot in cartoons -- notablity in the Looney Toons masterpiece 'What's Opera Doc?'


But then the tune is used in everything from Casper to Apocalypse Now ...

Returning to space with the 'Blue Danube Waltz' by Johann Strauss II. This is a classic that has accompanied various cartoon characters and, of course, 2001 Space Odessey...



Johann Strauss II 'Tritsch-Tratsch-Polka': sounds like running down a hill. Used in chase scenes everywhere: from the James Bond film 'Moonraker' and Tom and Jerry cartoons.

And now we are going into proper Tom and Jerry territory with Aram Khachaturian's 'Saber Dance' (from Gayane). It's about to get frantic! A classical mosh pit anthem.



Thus ends the frantics

SM

The Music of Ren and Stimpy #4

I am loving the waltzes at the minute! Moving on to Léo Delibes and the Coppelia Waltz. This is very Ren and Stimpy: smooth, gliding with bold flourishes and a brilliant ending. Closing my eyes I can see the ballet played out; the complex relationships between the moving bodies, the drama and the pomp - all of which can be seen in a good episode of Ren and Stimpy.

OK, if you have ever seen a cartoon and one character creeps up on an unsuspecting prey, they will have been accompanied by Delibes' 'Pizzicato'. When you hear it you will understand.



Speaking of pomp, we move on to Elgar's Pomp and Circumstance Marches. EVERYONE will have heard No. 1. from some wedding or another.

Charles Gounod - Funeral March of a Marionette: Ren and Stimpy are walking. They walk over various challenging terrain: mountains, desertsm - perhaps as members of the Royal Canadian Kilted Yaksmen. Ren and angry as usual and Stimpy is trying to console him.



Edvard Grieg (we're in for some good tunes here!) - Peer Gynt Suite No. 1 - Anitra's Dance: agian, this is a great piece of music that would be played whilst dialogue is happening, like in the kitchen or somewhere. Really nice, really subtle fine art.
Grieg 'In the Hall of the Mountain King' A.K.A. the Alton Towers theme tune. Had a million covers - including a techno remix (which is probably awful) and by metal string quartet Apocalyptica. Heavy!
'Morning': a beautiful piece of music that has been and always will be used to signify the sun dripping into the sky, animals unfolding from the shadows and bushes and someone sitting up in bed and stretching.

The Music of Ren and Stimpy #3 / The Music of Earthworm Jim

'Funiculi Funicula' by Luigi Denza will be played at my wedding. No doubt. This tune signifies a proper knees-up-mother-brown. Other raving nerds will instantly recognise this from the 'Italian Medly' soundtrack of Earthworm Jim 2, level 'Puppy Love' in which Jim has to transport a small army of pink/purple puppies from one tall building to another using a giant marshmellow. More fun than you can shake an X-Box at.

See this played on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LuDDvXJDwxQ



On researching EWJ via wikipedia ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earthworm_Jim_2#Soundtrack ) I remembered that the game also throws up some classics:

'See Jim Run, Run Jim Run' - according to YouTube comments this is Chopin, I'll get back to you on that..

and of course, the legendary 'Blind Cave Salemandar' soundtrack is Ludo: "Moonlight Sonata" 1st and 3rd movements

Not to mention the various Tangos and Polkas, the perfect soundtrack for gliding across abstract landscapes using snot as a parachute or fighting giant reanimated t-bone steaks.

What a rich cultural tapestry we weave.

SM

The Music of Ren and Stimpy #2 Tchaikovsky Special

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky: Ren and Stimpy use Mr. T A LOT, but there are some proper CLASSICS which are the staples of not just R&S but EVERY CARTOON EVER. You can tell I'm excited cuz I'm a-using capitals.

So: "Sleeping Beauty" (Waltz) is pretty much Disney's but it is a cracking dancing choon, a heady, blissful melody. Reminds one of cavorting in space.



Second is Swan Lake. Not sure where this comes in the ballet, but THIS ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ph3h2IJAsgk ) just screams Ren & Stimpy just from the plucky intro. Again, another barn-stormer.

A Big Finally then is, of course, The Nutcracker Suite. If I could pick one piece of music to describe my memories of R&S, the 'Dance of the Reed Flutes' would be a seriuos contender. It is just matches the content of the show perfectly. You can imagine them in the kitchen with their Powdered Toast (!) as you listen to this tune. 'Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy' is a bit over-done, but still a classic. Very Christmassy and mischievous. Again, the 'Russian Dance' is very Christmassy - probably more Home Alone or Jingle all the way than Ren and Stimpy in my book (anyway). Quite a good tune though; you can imagine everything spiraling out of control. To finish off the Tchaikovsky chapter we have 'Waltz of the Flowers'. Again, a proper tune that is a tad overplayed (?). A brilliant harp bit at the begining and a catchy tune that you will be whistling for days. It gets you waltzing around the room with the lamp imagining that you are in a ballroom. :)

For more Tchaikovsky tunes that are used in Ren and Stimpy see 'Music of Ren and Stimpy' ( http://wikibin.org/articles/music-of-ren-and-stimpy.html ) which is where I have stolen most of my information.

Whilst on the subject also check out this blog which started it all for me:

Secret Fun Blog - I found this whey-back-when I was at university. It was and still is the best thing ever. This guy is a true hero. If you are a Ren and Stimpy fan check it out!:

http://secretfunspot.blogspot.com/2006/11/ren-stimpy-production-music.html

The Music of Ren and Stimpy #1

So I was thinking about Ren and Stimpy - particularly the awesome music in it. There are some great links to it all which I will put up later, but I thought I would trawl through the mass of classical music used so brush up on the classics. Ren and Stimpy was an amazing program. Fine art and a cracking children's cartoon.

In no particular order:

#1 Camille Saint-Saëns: The Carnival of the Animals ("Aquarium" - a wonderland-style piece that reminds me of ice caves and "Fossils" - a fun, skeletal xylaphone piece that has the flavour of an early Mickey Mouse cartoon) brilliant music already!

#2 Johann Sebastian "The Big Dog" Bach: Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring (something you would hear at a wedding), Toccata and Fugue by Bach (Transelvania theme tune - brilliant, brilliant music)

#3 Luigi Boccherini - Menuet, from String Quintet No. 5 in E. ... also known as the Smarty Arty theme tune. Legend.

#4 Frederic Chopin: Funeral March -- who knew??

#5 Jeremiah Clarke: Prince of Denmark's March (a.k.a. "Trumpet Voluntary) -- again, very weddingy

Super Powers

This is an excuse to put a video on the blog really. I like the design. Like Ren and Stimpy, which is in turn a shout-out to the Hannah-Barbara style design.

The jokes are alright I guess. Constantly making fun of Karl Pilkington.



The Flinstones



Ren & Stimpy

Blog News

Holla peeps,

3 things:

1.) I'm happy to announce that my friend and brother Danny 'Wonletong' Wong has joined the blogging community. He's one of the coolest guys I know; no doubt his blogs will be entertaining, insightful, spiritual, cooler than beans. Ch-ch-check it out:

http://wongletong.blogspot.com/2010/06/friday-fellowship-beatitudes.html

2.) Secondly, if you want to read a blog written by a man / badger who knows what he's talking about, why not have a read of Mr Paul Rockbadger's blog; a smorgasbord of wit and wisdom:

http://paulhuxley.blogspot.com/



Rock.



Badger!

3.) Finally, I'm very happy to recommend a fellow artiste Kayleigh, who will undoubtably enjoy all the Neil Gaiman pictures, etc. She is a writer (give generously!)Read her blog, read her writing -- just like old times!!:

http://kaye-harper.blogspot.com/

Cheers,

SM

Wit & Wisdom from E. M. Forster

"Spoon-feeding in the long run teaches us nothing but the shape of the spoon."

(Quoted in the United Press International)

The dinner guests of my dreams: Amanda Palmer and Neil Gaiman

Amanda:
http://www.myspace.com/afp
http://blog.amandapalmer.net/

Neil:
http://www.neilgaiman.co.uk/
http://journal.neilgaiman.com/

Mere Christianity #1:

So reading 'Mere Christianity' Chapter 1. It talks about something Lewis calls 'The Law of Human Nature'. As far as I can tell from a little read, this means that:

1. There is a kind of law / morality / justice that we all understand
2. Even though we understand it, we are constantly 'breaking the law' and justifying our actions.

At least this is what I got from it. It is easy to be cynical about this kind of generalisation (I know I can be), but if we are judgemental about this kind of stuff then we are hypocritical, if truth be told.

Reading this reminded me of Romans 7 (I had to Google it) which talks about how rules are put in place to show us our short comings (Romans 3.20); why we need a little help:

No one has the right to judge someone else without being a massive hypocrite:
'For in passing judgement on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the same things.' (Romans 2.1)

I'm not sure of the practicalities of this -- what if you are a high court judge? etc. -- but at least in my day-to-day living I can be honest about what I believe and make sure people know that I am not a prudish hypocrite. Mission.

(Reading Romans is, frankly, confusing work sometimes!)

But what I do understand:

'... all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus...' (Romans 3.23)

Ok, so there is a lot of jargon that I myself will have to bust before I can get this properly:

sin = an ugly word that reeks of hypocracy and preachiness. Means doing something seperate from God's way. Our natural setting.

justification = http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Justification_(theology)

redemption = http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Redemption_(theology)

So there are two things that people could find hard:

1.) Admitting that they are being hypocritical / doing bad things
2.) Being willing to accept the free gift of grace

How we are going to deal with these things is a whole different ball game. I guess admitting that they are there in the first place is a massive, massive leap.

That will do for now. This is a huge thing that I can't imagine people reading. It is more for my benefit thinking this stuff through.

SM

Friends in Places

I love having amazingly talented friends. If you like poetry or music, El and Andy have recently created nice new websites show-casing their shizzle.

Check them out:

El: http://elgruer.com/

Andy http://andyhudsonmusic.com/

Both good to the extreme.

I am also massively pleased to post about Ham's band The Lost Girls ( http://www.myspace.com/thelostgirlsuk ). Definitely a Slits, X-Ray Spex grrl punk vibe. But then they are a bunch of girls. And Ham. Def some DKs in their as well. Very good. Can't wait to see them live.

It's all just so overwhelmingly fun.

SM

Back to holiday

Right so I'm back! I've finished the PGCE and got a job all lined up for September. There are several things that I would like to cover in the blog in no particular order:

1.) Post my thoughts on social networking sites - I'm doin a talk for the University of the Third Age on the subject this week which will be great fun and it would be nice to put this up on the blog. 'Researching' sns reminded me how cool blogs were, that is why I also want to...

2.) ... remind everyone of the great blogs of my friends and also the celebs I stalk via blogging. Life goes on and it is great to catch up on the posts that I have missed.

3.) I want to get back to the roots of my faith. I have started reading 'Mere Christianity' by CS Lewis and I plan to document my reactions to the bitesize chapters.

4.) Use the blog to comment on my summer reading. I've just finished Jaws which I borrowed from James' parents ages ago and I'm halfway through 'Fear and Loathing in Las Vagas'. Both books have been nice and easy to read (if occasionally a bit too graphic for my taste). I also read a bit of Murakami which was good -- but again I've been warned about the 'dodgy' bits ...

5.) Maybe talk a bit about teaching? It is / will be my job, after all.

SM