Today we present a programme of a wide variety of music inspired by, but not limited to, Beltane.
Beltane or Beltain is the Gaelic May Day festival. Most commonly it is held on 1 May, or about halfway between the spring equinox and summer solstice. Historically, it was widely observed throughout Ireland, Scotland, and the Isle of Man. In Irish the name for the festival day is Lá Bealtaine, in Scottish Gaelic Là Bealltainn and in Manx Gaelic Laa Boaltinn/Boaldyn. It is one of the four Gaelic seasonal festivals — along with Samhain, Imbolc and Lughnasadh — and is similar to the Welsh Calan Mai.
And tune in at noon or 4pm Pacific Time / 8pm or midnight in the UK — for the latest edition of our Second Life travel show, Where Have You Been? — where we visit the preserved region of Svarga and discuss SLRPS. Details here.
Tune in for the latest episode of our exciting radio serial from our friends at ZBS Foundation: The Incredible Adventures of Jack Flanders! There are 10 half-hour episodes, one every Friday at noon and 4pm Pacific/SLT.
THE INCREDIBLE ADVENTURES OF JACK FLANDERS
In the dead of night, a large shipping crate is delivered to the home of our hero Jack Flanders. Opening the crate, Jack discovers a green velvet overstuffed chair. Each night at the stroke of midnight, Jack sits in the soft, comfortable chair which comes alive, luring him onto its velvety realm. Everyday reality fades away, and Jack finds himself in a strange, other-world of magic, pirates, and sorcery where huge puffballs cling to ceilings and walls, masted sailing ships with wings fly the skies and islands float in the air…
We’ve uploaded two more programmes to our “Listen Again” facility on Mixcloud: Tarot @ Teatime Episode 30, on 3‑card spreads and Layering; and Where Have You Been? Series 2, Episode 8: Serenity Valley.
In Episode 31, we delve into the various technologies that needed to come together to make Tarot cards as we know them possible. We discuss how the tools, materials and techniques invented in China informed the development of material culture in Renaissance Italy and France, and led to the evolution and development of Tarot cards. We consider the coming together of a very specific combination of technologies and cultures, that resulted in Tarot emerging from the fertile soil of the Renaissance — and what made the environment so perfect for the evolution of this game at this specific era. As we’ll see, Renaissance Italy created the perfect environment for the emergence of the Tarot deck as playing cards.
Episode 31 premieres on Thursday April 28th at 12 noon and 4pm /SLT Pacific Time (8pm and midnight in the UK) and is repeated at the same times on Sundays and Thursdays up to and including May 8th.
Image: Cards from the Sola Busca deck (1491), a major influence on Pamela Colman Smith.
Just after 12 noon and 4pm Pacific/Second Life time on Wednesday and Saturday beginning April 27th (for two weeks) tune in for the latest edition of “Where Have You Been?” where we take a look at places to visit and things to do around the Second Life Grid.
In Series 2, Episode 9, we visit a fabulous location from the dim past: Svarga. It was created in 2006 by Laukosargas Svarog, and even in those days it was a must-see destination — an excellent example of the virtual builder’s craft. It’s immersive, and uses a rich mixture of shape and texturing to evoke the world of the Gods from Slavic mythology.
It’s one of the regions preserved by Linden Lab as being of special historical interest — and we also discuss the SLRPS (Second Life Region Preservation Society) and some of the other historic regions preserved under its banner.
And every four hours from 4am Pacific, catch Engines of Our Ingenuity from the University of Houston — a radio programme that tells the story of how our culture is formed by human creativity.
Today, Saturday April 23rd, we’re presenting a programme of keyboards-based Jazz. While many of the pieces we’re playing today feature or include the piano, there are also some recordings featuring other keyboard instruments, including some inspiring pieces on synthesiser. Keep an ear out for Alan Haven’s Image, a late-night Radio Caroline closing tune back in the day; Cambridge-based David Rees-Williams and his trio’s interpretations of classical works; two albums by Billy Barber, one (Shades of Grey) on piano and the other (Lighthouse) on electronic instruments; and some marvellous performances by Ian Lynn including his classic album Forgotten Summer.
Don’t miss “Engines of Our Ingenuity” every four hours from 4am Pacific.
The fourteenth Fantasy Faire, in aid of the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life, is now open, with some amazing fantasy regions and a whole lot of partying! In that latter vein, on Friday, April 22nd at 1pm Second Life Time, join VCRadio’s Elrik Merlin for two hours of classic rock, at The Fairchylde, the Fantasy Faire flying ship party venue.
Man of La Mancha premiered in 1965 with music by Mitch Leigh, and lyrics by Joe Darion. It is adapted from Dale Wasserman’s non-musical 1959 teleplay I, Don Quixote, which was in turn inspired by both Miguel de Cervantes life, and his 17th-century novel Don Quixote — considered by many to be among the greatest novels of all time. It tells the story of the “mad” knight Don Quixote as a play within a play, performed by Cervantes and his fellow prisoners as he awaits a hearing with the Spanish Inquisition.
Today’s programme — Wednesday April 20th — focuses on brass instruments, with genres that range from Early Music to contemporary pieces.
Thus the genres range from ancient and early music, through Baroque and classical, to Victorian brass bands, to ragtime, trad jazz, a touch of big band, right up to modern works including a marvellous suite of pieces for wind band inspired by the works of Shakespeare.
This will all lead to some remarkable juxtapositions — and a few surprises.
We’ve uploaded two more programmes to our “Listen Again” facility on Mixcloud: Tarot @ Teatime Episode 29, on 1, 2 and 3‑card readings; and Where Have You Been? Series 2, Episode 7: The Ribong Gallery Artspace.
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