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Starring Grammy Award Winner Eugene
Friesen "A great approach for presenting the importance of music and creativity to people of all ages." -Dave Brubeck Grammy Award winner Eugene Friesen, featured in concerts all over the world with the Paul Winter Consort, is also known as CelloMan. Here he collaborates with Robert Faust, artistic director of the Faustwork Mask Theater, and combines a rich mix of music with magnificent masks to inspire and educate viewers of all ages about music, history, geography, social studies and ecology. Produced by EarthVision, Inc. 08DR IJSCA 50 min. |
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"Recommended. Aimed at elementary grade viewers, this
light-hearted production focuses on nine general topics alternating between
the ways various families of musical instruments make their sound and some
elements of music." -School Library Journal Some zany characters, a variety of sounds, and music from around the world will inspire and engage young children to learn basic musical elements, such as rhythm, melody, and emotion; also to become familiar with musical instruments from the woodwind, percussion, brass and string families. The nine segments include: The Woodwind Family; Rhythm; The Percussion Family; Melody; The Brass Family; Music and Math; The String Family; Written Music; Emotion in Music. Produced by TV Ontario. 08DR PI 30 min. |
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Bronze Apple Award -NEMN
Awards "Recommended. This documentary includes interesting insights into only into gospel music, but it also shows how such choirs are established and operate. For anyone who hasn't heard a real gospel choir this program is bound to be a delight. Songs performed by the choir are interlaced with interviews with choir members, glimpses of rehearsals, and wonderful eavesdropping into conversations between the director and his choir, as well as between individual choir members." -EMRO Review In this rousing documentary we see, hear and feel the story of the Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir, a year-round, inter-racial gospel choir. Their story is one of togetherness and community; their song is gospel. The program expertly weaves meeting members of the choir and its director in-between rehearsals and performances of many great gospel songs. Produced by Skip Brown Productions. 08DR JSCA 60 min. |
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"Recommended. A good deal of information, skillfully
recapped and demonstrated, will help beginners picture the concept of
jazz." -Library Journal Jazz musician Randy Sabien and his quartet use visual metaphors, such as, humorously comparing Improvisation to football or Swing to jumping rope, and viewers in a matter of minutes begin to understand what jazz really is. 08DR IJSCA 30 min. |
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"Recommended. There are over 20 selections digitally
recreated from 78 rpm recordings that play while tour guide McCusker visits
the places where jazz was first played, talks about how jazz music came
together, and gives more detailed information about the early pioneers in
jazz. The viewer sees the places where the musicians lived and learns about
the culture that produced 'America's original music.' The historic value of
the film is excellent, as is the quality of the musical selections."
-EMRO Review This program presents the story of jazz as told by New Orleans' local, John McCusker, whose popular "Cradle of Jazz" tour takes viewers to the places where the evolution of jazz began and where its pioneers lived. Here we see the homes and learn the history of great musicians and composers, such as Louis Armstrong, Jelly Roll Morton, King Oliver, Charles Bolden, and the Original Dixieland Jazz Band, who helped turn jazz into a major art form. Filmed in the Crescent City during the French Quarter Jazz festival and the Spring festival of Mardi Gras, this documentary is a celebration of the city, its music and the happy people who congregate there to have a good time. And thanks to the efforts of acclaimed restorer Robert Parker, we hear excerpts of original classic jazz recordings. Produced by Stefan Sargent. 08DR JSCA 52 min. Associated Program: Legends of Louisiana |
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"Highly Recommended. This is a fascinating look inside
the mind and philosophy of a modern music composer. Sir Tavener is very
vocal about his beliefs, his philosophy of life, and what he feels the
modern Western world has lost in its rush for materialism and success. His
philosophy of music is that everything is inspired, and that if he has to
work to produce the music, then it isn't divinely inspired. As part of the
"Introduction to Music Series," this is an excellent addition. Tavener's
blend of Eastern and Western musical traditions is indeed unique and
inspired." -EMRO Review This is an uplifting study of the music of one of the most popular composers of our times, Sir John Tavener. His music has been inspired by the tones and modes of Byzantine music, and yet it speaks to the hearts of our times - some has been recorded on the Beatles' Apple label. His compositions are a blend of ancient Christian tradition along with the sacred music of India and the Muslim Sufis of Tibet. A serious composer, yet we discover he has an engaging humor that combines with his reflective spirit. Produced by TSI, Inc. 07DR JSCA 60 min. |
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"Recommended. A reflective documentary about the
inspiration and vision of five accomplished women musicians/guitarists
trying to make it in today's male-dominated music industry." -EMRO
Review Five women, Terri Winston, Karen Almquist, Jackeline Rago, Lynn Vidal, and Carrie Baum, describe their influences and their struggles in attempting to make a living in the music industry. Their types of music are: "alternative"; "slide blues"; "Latin jazz/traditional"; "Celtic/blues"; "rock." Produced by Marla Leech. 07DR JSCA 16 min. Associated CD: Jennifer Spingla: Right Here in Front of You (CD) |