Category Archives: Programming
A New Age
Today’s featured music harks back to the musical experience of tuning in to the early “New Age” radio stations on the West Coast of the USA in their heyday in the late 1980s: stations like KTWV, “The Wave” in Los Angeles and KLRS (“Colors”) in Santa Cruz.
You’ll hear a wealth of music of the period, primarily but not exclusively instrumental, featuring both synthesisers and natural instruments. A little more lively than “space music” in most cases, the music is by and large tuneful, melodic and relaxing.
These radio stations and their compatriots in other markets gradually shifted towards “smooth jazz”, “New Adult Contemporary” and beyond, and thus lost some of the atmosphere that the stations originally created. We hope today’s programme will bring back some memories if you were there at the time, and present some harmonious musical vistas if the music is new to you.
In addition, tune in at 12 noon or 4pm SLT/Pacific Time for the latest episode of our series in which we discover things to do and places to see around the Second Life grid — “Where Have You Been?” — and catch “The Engines of Our Ingenuity” every four hours from 4am Pacific.
Image: “235/365 …somewhere there is a boundless universe waiting to be discovered” by rennes_i is licensed under CC BY 2.0. Created by Ukrainian artist Iryna Yeroshko
Where Have You Been? S04E02: MyStory RP
Welcome to the second episode in a new season of “Where Have You Been?”, our series broadcasts on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 12 noon and 4pm SLT, where we highlight places to go and things to do around the Second Life Grid.
This time we discuss a new twist on the idea of Roleplay as we visit MyStory RP, a unique roleplay that engages in growing and preparing food, as well as in other health-related activities. From participating in a roleplay, could you increase your awareness of your own health? Could tending a garden in Second Life make you more food aware? Might you learn to cook things where previously you would have bought prepared foods with all the attendant fillers and preservatives that come with that? We cannot say for certain, but any opportunity to increase awareness has such potential. You can judge for yourself. Tune in to find out more.
Modern Classical Music
Wednesday, 22nd May: Today’s Featured Music is “Modern Classical Music” — but what does that mean, exactly? It’s not simply “modern orchestral music”: most people’s exposure to orchestral music is via movie soundtracks, and they have their own show.
Well, in the context of today’s programme, we’re talking about pieces of music written between around the mid-20th Century until the present day, that aren’t exactly “pop music” (though they may tip a hat to it from time to time).
This is a tricky definition, however. Mike Batt (some of whose work is in the playlist for today: there’s a lot more to his compositions than the Wombles! ) has remarked that there is no such distinction as “popular music” and “serious music” — there’s simply “popular” and “unpopular”, so the definition rather falls at the first fence.
The Magic of The Musical S03E02: It’s Awards Time!
Our original series of The Magic of The Musical, continues today — Saturday, May 18th @ 2pm SLT/Pacific Time. Host Caledonia Skytower explores songs, stories and lore from the world of musical theatre. This episode is now available on Mixcloud.
Join our live audience at Ceiluiradh Glen on Saturday at 2pm SLT — slurl: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Nowhereville/196/131/21 or tune in to Virtual Community Radio here on the web site, plug this URL into a network player: http://main.vcradio.org — or ask your smart speaker to “Play Virtual Community Radio!”
Also today on Virtual Community Radio, enjoy our featured music On Broadway, the latest edition of “Where Have You Been?”, where we visit the Rose Garden in Second Life, at 12 noon and 4pm SLT/Pacific. And don’t miss The Engines of Our Ingenuity from the University of Houston, every four hours from 4am SLT.
This Month: The Nominees Are …
It’s that time of year again in the world capitals of musical theatre — at least in New York and London. April saw the Olivier Awards bestowed for outstanding new musical and revival in London, and June sees both the Drama Desk Awards and the Antoinette Perry Awards (the Tonys) celebrating excellence in musical theater in New York and on Broadway.
Caledonia shares selections from among the shows nominated for recognition, but this year it won’t be easy. Find out why, and learn more about the evolving world of musical theater and the shows that you might want to be looking for in this edition: The Nominees Are …
Where Have You Been? S04E01: RoseGarden
Welcome to a new season of “Where Have You Been?”, our bi-weekly series (ie with a new episode every two weeks), broadcast on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 12 noon and 4pm SLT, where we suggest places to go and things to do around the Second Life Grid.
Our thanks to listener Tama Cub who sent us the SLURL and some information on RoseGarden, which we are featuring in this episode.
Tama says. “It’s a place I always come back to. …it’s a set of four islands that are each themed around the four seasons of the year. There’s a lot you can do on these islands and they make great spots to take pictures!”
As Tama shared, each of the four major islands is themed to a different season, and each of the themes includes some secrets, as well as things to do. Tune in to learn more!
S04E01 – RoseGarden
Owner — LadyRose Writer
RoseGarden – Moderate
Formal Ball to Celebrate Earth Day: May 5th
Sunday May 5th at 1:30pm SLT/Pacific, join us on Willow Grove in Second Life for another of our monthly first-Sunday Formal Balls.
This time we’re celebrating Earth Day (yes, a little late) with 90 minutes of music from Caledonia Skytower and Elrik Merlin.
See you there! Join us in person or on the air…
Your carriage awaits: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Willow%20Grove/92/109/2964
- Or tune in at main.vcradio.org...
Music for Beltane — and more!
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. Interestingly, in the process of Christianisation, no saint was assigned to this day. And interesting, too, Beltane actually began at nightfall the day before, not on the morning of the day itself: it was the night and the day, and not the other way around.
Don’t forget to tune in for an edition of our regular feature, Where Have You Been? — where we take a look at events and places around the Second Life grid. 12 noon and 4pm Pacific Time, 8pm and midnight in the UK. Plus The Engines of Our Ingenuity — every four hours from 4am Pacific.
Vocal Magic
In today’s programme, we present a selection of music featuring the human voice, from Mediæval times to the present.
Both secular and a little sacred music is included, so today’s show will be quite varied, ranging between troubadour songs, Renaissance choral works, traditional English folk-songs sung by artists like the King’s Singers and Coope Boyes & Simpson, and modern works such as those of Karl Jenkins, Libera, The Swingle Singers, The Carpenters, and Donna McKevitt’s haunting settings of Derek Jarman’s poetry.
The programme focuses primarily on lesser-known works and on smaller vocal ensembles, rather than either solo or large-scale performances, but examples of both are also included.
Then later today, join us at noon or 4pm SLT/Pacific for Where Have You Been?, our series on places to visit and things to see around the Second Life Grid, plus Engines of Our Ingenuity from the University of Houston, every 4 hours from 4am Pacific/SLT.
“Petersfield Chamber Choir 004” by dom archer is licensed under CC BY 2.0
The Magic of The Musical: Season 3 Begins!
We’re pleased to announce the start of the third season of our original series of The Magic of The Musical, where your host Caledonia Skytower takes a monthly look at the world of musical theatre with songs, stories and lore surrounding some of our most popular musicals.
Saturday, April 20 @ 2pm SLT/Pacific Time sees the first show of the season: Unexpected Broadway. This show is now available on Mixcloud.
This episode features performances by actors and actresses that you would not have expected to find in a Broadway musical, but they were! In some cases we’ll feature the production, and in some the performance. Who knew that a quirky film actor started out as a dancer for Liza Minelli? Or that “the boy who lived” would appear in the Broadway Revival of a 1961 Frank Loesser musical?
Join our live audience at Ceiluiradh Glen on Saturday at 2pm SLT — slurl: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Nowhereville/196/131/21 or tune in to Virtual Community Radio here on the web site, plug this URL into a network player: http://main.vcradio.org — or ask your smart speaker to “Play Virtual Community Radio!”
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Related Videos (some mentioned in this episode)
Christopher Walken Dances: “Weapon of Choice” Fatboy Slim
Christopher Walken Dances: “Let’s Misbehave” from Pennies from Heaven
1776 (Roundabout 1997) featuring Brent Spiner as John Adams
Jack Flanders in Do Angels Really Have Wings?
Tune in on Friday for the next episode of another exciting radio serial from our friends at ZBS Foundation: “Do Angels Really Have Wings?” - in which Jack Flanders explores Heaven — and Hell!
The complete adventure consists of six short five to ten-minute episodes, broadcast at noon and 4pm Pacific/SLT on Fridays.
Now read on…
