HIP TRACKS #2 Karaoke CDG MALE 2001 POWERHITS

This listing is for a brand new MALE POWER HITS 2001 Karaoke CD&G CD from the HIP TRACKS collection (HTG1002). This factory manufactured CD comes sealed in a heavy plastic jewel case, plays the music without the lead vocals and displays the lyrics on a Karaoke CD&G player. These songs are not preformed by the original artists but are VERY GOOD re-creations. The songs included are as follows:

HTG1002 - POWER HITS 2001 MALE

1- MY SACRIFICE- CREED

2- HANGING BY A MOMENT- LIFEHOUSE

3- IT'S BEEN AWHILE- STAIND

4- HERO- IGLESIAS, ENRIQUE

5- FLAVOR OF THE WEAK- AMERICAN HI FI

6- ROCK SHOW, THE- BLINK 182

7- DRIVE- INCUBUS

8- HERE'S TO THE NIGHT- EVE 6

9- YELLOW- COLDPLAY

10- JUST PUSH PLAY- AEROSMITH

11- ALL OR NOTHING- O-TOWN

12- FILL ME IN- DAVID, CRAIG

13- U GOT IT BAD- USHER

14- U REMIND ME- USHER

15- ANGEL- SHAGGY

16- FOLLOW ME- UNCLE KRACKER

17- DROPS OF JUPITER- TRAIN

Ever wonder how to clean a coffee maker the right way? Drip coffee makers need to be cleaned at least once a month to keep your coffee tasting good.

Cleaning your coffee maker takes away hard water mineral deposits, old oils from previously brewed pots and other impurities that can make your coffee taste bad.

A mixture of 1 part vinegar to 2 parts water is the best way to clean a drip coffee maker. Mix a full pot of the vinegar and water mixture, pour it in your water reservoir and turn the coffee maker on.

Once the mixture has run completely through, it's important to turn the drip coffee maker off and let it cool for 15 to 20 minutes.

Pour the vinegar and water mixture down the drain. If you are cleaning a coffee maker that hasn't been cleaned regularly, repeat this step again with a fresh vinegar and water mixture.

Next, rinse the pot out thoroughly with warm, plain water. Then, fill the water reservoir again with clean water and turn the coffee maker on to start the rinsing process.

To make sure all of the vinegar and water solution is completely gone repeat the rinsing process one more time after letting the pot cool for 15 to 20 minutes.

This is how to clean a coffee maker the right way. Cleaning your drip coffee maker on a monthly basis will make it last longer and keep your coffee tasting the best it can possibly be.

Copyright 2005 Best-Coffee-Makers-Online.com. All Rights Reserved.

This article is supplied by Best Coffee Makers where you can easily shop and compare coffee makers so you can purchase exactly what youre looking for at great values.

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Software Synthesizer Native Instruments Dynamo V1.0 Part 1 - An Introduction To Software Synthesizer

Around 1997, products such as ReBirth RB-338 (Propellerhead Software) appeared, which had a staggeringly accurate emulation of the ubiquitous Roland TB303. Today software synthesizers are taken very seriously. Dynamo V1.0 by Germanys Native Software is indeed one of the most serious music software products I have ever seen.

Dynamo V1.0 is a piece of software for both the Power Macintosh and the PC that turns your computer and soundcard into a powerful synthesizer and audio processing system. It is based on the more expensive Reaktor V2.3 which has a completely modular structure that enables you to create simple analogue synthesizers or complex modular systems which can feature sampling and different kinds of synthesis such as FM, made popular in 80s by Yamahas DX7 and more exotic methods such as delay-line resonance and granular synthesis (a.k.a. re-synthesis).

With Dynamo V1.0 you cannot modify the instruments or build your own, instead you have access to the growing NI Premium Library, which is supplied on the installation CDROM and also on the regularly updated Native Software web site.

From initial impressions, I think that if you really get into Dynamo V1.0 then you may well want to upgrade to Reaktor V2.3, otherwise most will be happy with the massive possibilities that Dynamo offers.

Dynamo can be used as a VST 2.0 plug-in, DirectConnect or stand-alone, using your soundcards MIDI interface.

Installation

The full install (recommended) requires 180Mb of your hard drive, 100Mb of which is a key file so you can run Dynamo V1.0 without the CD in your drive. This speeds up some operations so its the preferred mode of operation.

Copy protection rears its ugly head once again in the form of an occasional request to insert the original CD-ROM into your drive for verification. Not an unreasonable request but an inconvenience I could do well without. Copy protection has become more advanced so this sort of nonsense is no longer necessary. However, it could be worse, it could be a dongle.

System Requirements

As with all software synthersizers, the more processing power you have the better. You can run Dynamo V1.0 on a Pentium 266MHz machine, but you will manage more notes and simultaneous sounds with a faster one.

The minimum system requirements for the Mac are OS 8.0 or higher, 604e/250 MHz, and 64Mb RAM. For the PC you can use Windows 95/98/2000 or NT 4.0, with a minimum of a Pentium 266MHz and 64Mb RAM.

The choice of soundcard can be crucial to your long-term enjoyment, some offer low latency to give an almost instant keyboard response, while others can make playing software synthersizers from a keyboard feel right gooey. This depends largely on the soundcard driver design, and cant always be predicted.

Any Instrument can be used to try out Dynamo V1.0s real-time performance, optimise the Play Ahead setting for your particular soundcard by reducing the setting until you start to get audio clicks, and then edge it back up to the next higher setting.

My SoundBlaster Live worked on the lowest 10mS setting, and playing Dynamo V1.0 from a MIDI keyboard felt very responsive, but other cards may not prove so successful. However, NI also provide downloadable demo versions of their software, and apart from giving you a taster of the sounds on offer, these will also let you try out the products with your own soundcard to see how it performs.

Active Loop Zone tracks are available on Myspace. Further details can be got by contacting Rick Lomas. Rick is currently working on various websites selling mortgage payment protection insurance.

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MTV Unplugged

On March 6th, Julieta Venegas recorded her MTV Unplugged at the Churubusco Studies in Mexico City, where she presented new songs besides interpreting some of her greatest hits in an intimate atmosphere to a live audience.

This production counts on important and interesting collaborations like two time Oscar winner, Gustavo Santaolalla, who accompanied her with the banjo and sang the chorus of the song "Algun Dia (Someday)". Brazilian singer, Marisa Monte featured in song "Illusion", a new and beautiful song that combines the Spanish and Portuguese language.

Also Mala Rodriguez joined Julieta and included a strong hip hop movement to the song "Eres Para Mi (You are for Me)", whereas the vocalist of Porter, Juan Carlos had a unique participation in "Algun Dia (Someday)".

In addition, the very talented Natalia Lafourcade comprised of the orchestra and played several instruments during the night, whereas the talented musician and composer, Jacques Morelenbaum accompanied Julieta on the cello in "De mis Pasos (From my foot steps)".
Customer Review: La re-invencion musical de Julieta Venegas - una joya musical
Este no es cualquier acustico. La multi-talentosa Julieta Venegas aprovechó esta oportunidad para crear una propuesta musical nueva, re-inventando sus canciones, llenándolas de nuevos sonidos a través de excelentes y novedosos arreglos. Ademas, selecionó muy bien sus invitados, basandose en su calidad artistica y no en el nivel de fama de estos. Fue un verdadero "dream team". Para comenzar, tiene entre sus musicos a la tambien talentosisima y multi-instrumentista Natalia Lafourcade. En "eres para mi" invito a la hip-hoper espanola La Mala Rodriguez, (hermosa y sexy por demas!)haciendo gala de su destreza y fuerza en el escenario. Otra agradable sorpresa fue Juan Son. Les confieso que no sabia quien era, pero que voz mas impresionante! Ademas, le tocó cantar una de las mejores canciones de Julieta - "de mis pasos" de su primer disco -. Como si fuera poco, tuvo de invitada a Marisa Monte, para muchos la mejor cantante de su generacion de la musica brasileira. Con su habitual seguridad y elegancia la "tribalsta" se lució como siempre con su increible voz y modo de interpretar. Luego subio a la tarima su antiguo productor, el Rey Midas del Rock en español y ganador de dos Oscares, Gustavo Santaolalla,.Para cerrar con broche de oro, la acompañó en la co-dirección y co-producción Jaques Morelenbaum; ¿quieren una referencia? este violonchelista es el director musical de Caetano Veloso. En síntesis, Una produccion impecable, que la disfruten...

Jewelry is more than just an accessory; its a way to show off your own unique style and personality. In fact, it can very much be considered an art just as much as fashion can. It is really the frosting on the cake when it comes to fashion, after all. Not only to the people who wear it, but to the designer, this is a vision brought to life to express who they are. This is why it is really the more rare artisans who make their own jewelry who should be at the forefront of the fashion world.

As consumers it is our job to make sure that these artisans who are really creating art with their jewelry are able to continue bringing to life these unique creations. Hugo Puerto, a resident of Orlando, Fl, saw this and put his entrepreneurial expertise to the test creating his own company that would market Latin-American artisans work throughout the world.

His company, Innovations Arts, brings these exclusive pieces of Latin-American art to the global community. Allowing this jewelry to be seen world-wide through the use of the internet, helps not only customers to find the unique product they are looking for, but also helps these artisans be able to continue creating their art by giving them a huge new market. The jewelry sold at www.innovationsarts.com can only be found on that website and is not available in stores. These limited collections allow for the customers to know that what they are wearing is unique. Jewelry no longer has to be something to run with the pack, you can now stand out and express yourself while knowing that in purchasing these pieces you are allowing someone else to continue creating the art they love. With a system like this everybody can win.

Cathleen Plazas is a 21 year old college senior studyingPsychology and International Theater. She is also the press director forInnovations Arts and has been working with Hugo Puerto since the company'sfounding. An Orlando native born to Colombian parents, with a keen eye forfashion and a heart for helping others she is very excited to be part ofsuch a great company.

http://www.innovationsarts.com

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Silver or Gold

10 Songs: 1. Better on Paper 2. Silver or Gold 3. To Be Cool 4. Are You Serious? 5. Faces 6. Cold Summer Rain 7. Don't Ask Why 8. Married Man 9. Mother Me 10 Where I Want to Be

Emo music, a rock music variation that is characterized by less guitar chaos and more melodic overtones has created subculture that is a curiously different even among its adherents. A product of the DC area in the 1990s, but with an Austin Texas and Seattle Washington influences, emo (which stands for emotional hardcore) has spawned a new wave of musical disciples mostly in the teen and lower 30s age-group and fueled by music from such entities as One Last Wish, Embrace and Fire Party.

The emo/indie culture, has gathered certain stereotypes in its wake. Remember when Tower Records was a hub for indie and altenative rock music gatherings? Emo music started off with many unsigned artists and Tower Record stores used to be the vortex of indie/emo culture and emo adherents could be easily identified there by their gothic persona.

Chalk-white faces, hair, nails and clothes completely black and Celtic jewelry was and still is the emo signature appearance. Some emo fans also dye their hair into other colors such as blue, green yellow and even red but there is always an aspect of black.

Teens who have embraced the emo subculture can be seen widely spotting fashions that can be linked to the 1950s rock era; ragged tight jeans, black t-shirts with "tattoo" designs and even black suits in some instances. Most emo adherents also spot crosses from the medieval era, mostly Celtic in addition to body piercing in odd places.

Emo teens have raised a furor among conservatives. The emo subculture, which is inherently gothic, has not been received well by a myriad of parents and political groups within the school districts and other academic communities. This gothic persona has been associated with social detachment, school violence, drugs, a record suicide rate, poor grades and even occult practices. In the movies "The Craft" and "The Blair Witch Project" the actors can be seen spotting emo/gothic garments and the lead players radiate a gothic presence.

The rock star, Kurt Cobain, who was idolized by many emo teens, committed suicide on April 5, 1994, after a troubled life and a fight with drugs. Another rock star, Marilyn Manson, portrays a gothic image in many of his public appearances and his lyrics, which have called for suicide and murder, have sparked many protests among conservatives in every field. Perhaps a curious twist is the association of emo and gothic music with vampires. Most vampire movies portray the vampires in emo/gothic clothing and emo music has been heard to lace many a vampire movie.

The emo culture is also closely associated with the punk-rock movement which is rampant in the US and Europe and which has also rapidly spread throughout the rest of the world. Fans can be seen spotting tattoos, body-piecing on the tongue, navel, and eye-brow area and even on their nostrils. Hair is particularly dyed to attract attention. Glues are applied to hold it up and in then 80s the Mohawk style was widely worn by teen punk-rockers.

Traditionally, punk-rockers have not been associated with acts of lawlessness or other criminal acts but in some European countries such as Germany and Russia, punk-rockers have been linked to supremacist groups which have ran afoul of the law after attacking or defaming members of other races.

Emo
Emo Hairstyles
Emo Forums

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Coldplay - Vintage Poster

FREE Penny Lane Gifts magnet with every poster purchase!This Coldplay vintage poster is approx. 24'' x 36''

The Stag Line, a male high school dance etiquette, was certainly indigenous to Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia Canada.

Remember those Cape Breton school dances in the 1960s?

The community hall or gymnasium would be dimly lighted by a few flood lights. Whether the music was delivered by a jukebox, a DJ or live band, the use of a color organ and strobe light was prevalent. Waiting in anticipation of being asked to dance, the teenage ladies were seated along the walls of the dance floor while some of the young girls started things off by dancing with each other.

In Cape Breton this familiar 1960s dance scene now took a radical depart from the norm. The young gents, dressed in typical macho denim jeans 'n jacket, entered the dance hall 'struttin' their stuff'. Then, like "the March of the Penguins", these young males, 2 or 3 abreast, began a deliberate saunter (always in counter clockwise direction) around the dance floor.

This procession of "eligible male dance partners" (hence the name '''stag line''') expanded with more guys joining their buddies in the "dance floor walk about". In short order, this stag line grew to a solid moving procession (2 to 4 wide) of guys. For the entire evening, this organized stag line circled the dance floor, positioned between the dancing masses and the eligible ladies sitting along the edge of the gymnasium.

What was the purpose of this Cape Breton dance-matching ritual?

Being in the stag line, provided each male ample opportunity (multiple loops of the dance floor) to scope out the females, both dancing and sitting. He would spot his next potential dance partner. With both the encouragement and jabs from his immediate stag line buddies, once he worked up the nerve, (usually after 4-10 passes) the male would simply step out of the stag line in front of the chosen sitting lady and request a dance.

Now here is the shear brilliance of the stag line. It really was a simple male support system for those almost always shy and awkward teenage guys working up the courage to ask a girl to dance. If the female response was affirmative, the gentlemen simply escorted her to the dance floor then danced to as many tunes as was enjoyable for both. When the dancing was ended by either party, the guy escorted her back to her seat and then (this is perfect) rejoined his comrades in the stag line parade.

Now, should a female's response to a dance request be 'negatory' or even a little hesitant, the "stag line extracted" male need simply to step back into the line right next to the comfort and support ( or jabs) of his buddies. And likely only a few people even noticed the rejection let alone the valiant attempt. Everyone kept face. And the recovering male, once re-composed, would start the hunt for the next dance partner.

How did the stag line practice get started?

One plausible theory about the origin of the stag line is that at a dance enters the local 'fonzie,tough guy with his entourage of tough guys. Being the top catch for any lady, these tough guys started to strut in front of the ladies seated around the dance floor. Low and behold, the 'regular', 'not so tough', 'but wanting to be part of the tough guy club' guys started following behind these tough guys. And so the 'stag line' was born. The stage line phenomenon appears to have only survived the 1960's teenage generation. Not sure if any photographs have captured this social dance practice.

So the stag line really brought a kind social order to Cape Breton teenage dances. No one got hurt and males learned to deal with rejection and ridicule in a more supportive (sometimes not) team environment.

Maybe stag lines should re-introduced for those over 50 dances. If for no other reason, seniors would get their walking exercise. Picture that.....

Carl Chesal is a business development consultant, trainer, photographer, and avid snowmobiler. He operates BizFare Enterprsie Inc, Foursight Marketing and Consulting, and Foursight Photography, which provide business, marketing, and internet marketing consulting services. He also co-operates a number of e-commerce web-sites with his wife: MyLeatherExpressions.com, PewterExpressions.com and CoolComfortWear.com, which provide Pewter Home Decor, custom leather bags and casual and activewear apparel.

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T-Shirt Black " Latin Rap Equalizer " Music

This is a great shirt. Great gift. All TopExpressions products are made under strict quality controls. 100% heavyweight cotton, weight aprox 9oz.

North America comprises three enormous countries, Mexico, the United States and Canada, plus a plethora of small nations in Central America. Total population reaches more than 500 million. English, Spanish and French are the main languages, not counting original Indian dialects. In comparison, the European Union (EU) has 27 countries as of 2008 with a total population also close to 500 million. GDP per capita is also similar, $25,000 for North America and 26,000 for the E.U.

There is however a huge difference between these two powerful regions; while Europe has shown that it is possible to create a suprastate without affecting local cultures and nationalistic feelings, Canada, the United States and Mexico have limited their cooperation to NAFTA (North America Free Trade Agreement); recent criticisms by presidential candidates notwithstanding, the treaty has benefited the three countries by increasing trade and creating jobs. The question remains: "Is it likely that we will see an alliance similar to the EU in North America in the next 10 years?".

The idea has surfaced recently to adopt a single currency, the dollar, for all NAFTA countries. It is a fact that you can travel all over Mexico and Canada without ever exchanging your U.S. dollars for the local peso or Canadian dollar. So what's holding up the change? One word only, Mexico. Nationalism surfaces in the Aztec country whenever a foreigner suggests changing national symbols, such as language, currency and/or PEMEX (the nationalized oil company). While moderate Mexican politicians attempt to strengthen the ties with Washington, the far left led by the PRD (Party of the Democratic Revolution) organizes public manifestations, occupies the podium in the federal Congress and makes a huge nuisance of itself. As a result, relations between the two countries hover between glacial and warm.

The major thorn in our relations is without a doubt illegal immigration. Since there is no easy solution, except maybe opening the border completely to persons and merchandise, poor Mexicans will continue to seek a better life in the U.S. and American immigration officials will continue returning some of them to their native country. It is an endless and frustrating game of human ping-pong that is costing millions of dollars and thousands of lost lives. Building a wall on the border will of course not solve the crisis; it will only make us look foolish in the eyes of the world.

It is important to go back to historical roots to understand the innate distrust in all things American on the part of Mexicans. Our southern neighbor has lost half its territory to the extremely unfair Treaty of Guadalupe in the 19th century. A heavy-handed United States has always imposed its will on Latin America, beginning with the Manifest Destiny declaration and the numerous military interventions throughout the years. Latin America has been known as the "backyard" of America and until recently, only Cuba had been able to challenge our mighty power.

To answer the initial question regarding a possible supra-alliance among Canada, the U.S. and Mexico requires a good knowledge of history and a profound understanding of the undercurrents of nationalistic forces in the respective nations. The extreme right in the U.S. rejects Mexico as an unworthy political partner; the extreme left in Mexico rejects any possible alliance with the U.S. as a submission to an imperialistic power. Republicans speak of a nation besieged by corruption and of Mexican politicians "bought" by drug cartels. Mexican intelligentsia accuses Washington of not doing enough to crack down on American drug dealers, leaving the main task to the Mexican military.

An American Union in the offing? Not in the next 10 years, not in the next 20 years. It would require a political earthquake in both countries, Mexico and the U.S. (Canada is already integrated into the American political sphere). It would also require for Mexico to equal the American and Canadian levels of prosperity amongst ordinary people, a factor which would automatically solve the immigration problem. Meanwhile, Washington would do well to pay more attention to Latin America and less to other parts of the world. The results would certainly be worth the effort.

I was born many years ago in Geneva, Switzerland, where I learned various languages, including English - the Brit type - before emigrating to America where Uncle Sam was waiting in ambush with the draft. I wasn't a citizen but that did not matter to the government, and I suddenly found myself doing push-ups in front of a barking top sergeant. After 3 years, I married a beautiful Mexican lady who convinced me to live for several years in her country where I learned a lot about Latin America.We now live in Brownsville, Texas, where I teach special education in a local high school.

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Hispanic Heritage - Gloria Estefan Music Art Poster Print, 17x22

Art.com is the world's largest retailer of art prints, posters, photographs, and framed artwork. With our huge selection of over 400,000 prints, you'll easily find the perfect piece for your home, office, or classroom. Our art is printed on quality paper. When you order framed artwork, the piece is built by our team of in-house professionals. Visit our Amazon store today at www.amazon.com/artdotcom to find Special Offers and search for products based on 'Artist Name' and 'Subject Categories' such as Movie, Music, Vintage, TV, Children, Travel, Kitchen, Museum Art, Animals, Floral, Motivational, and Sports. Art.com is dedicated to providing you with high quality products and service by offering you 100% satisfaction guaranteed. We ship internationally to over 80 countries. Decorate your home today with your favorite pictures that express and celebrate your distinct tastes.

Invisible Career-Path Available Only to Musicians

For a skilled musician, there is an additional career path that is invisible to the non-musician. This is an additional benefit beyond the pleasure of playing music, the attention it brings, and the better academic performance than students who do not learn to play a musical instrument. It is a broad range of extra career opportunities that non-musicians never even consider.

But if you're a musician, you can apply. Let's take a look at these careers that are available only to musicians

Education: Are you a musician who has also studied education? If so, there are numerous music education opportunities that may interest you:

Music educator at a college, conservatory, university

Music teacher at secondary or elementary school

Private music instructor

Music supervisor

Choir director

Therapy: Are you a musician who has also studied psychiatry? You can practice the trade of music therapy in a wide array of settings. Some of the sources of employment for music therapists are the following:

Schools

Universities

Nursing Homes

Mental health clinics

Correctional Facilities

Private practice

Business: Ever wonder what it takes to work in business management? Besides business smarts, an ability to talk the language of music will take you places the non-musican cannot go:

Artist Manager or Agent

Talent Agent

Concert Promoter

Independent Radio Promoter

Music Business Entrepreneur

Music Business Consultant

Record Company Executive

Music Publisher

Tour Coordinator

Performance: Actors are more highly valued if they have a musical education. Today, with so few actors multi-skilled as they were in the era of the large studios, this can be a real advantage. Below are some of the jobs for which an actor who is also a musician may "incidentally" be qualified.

Performing artist

Soloist, instrumental or vocal

Studio musician

Background vocalist

Theatre musician

Accompanist

Church musician

Product demonstrator for instrument manufacturer

Movies / Video Games: If you study movies or video game production, a background as a musician will help you prepare for music-related jobs such as the following:

Conductor

Music Composer

Music Editor

Music Supervisor (to scout for music)

Arranger (to determine the mix of song elements per the conductor or producer's specifications)

Sound designer (of effects to accompany music score)

Jingle writer / composer

From education to video games, there are careers available for those who happen to have a background in music which the rest of us never see. Each of these fields requires time and study for proficiency, but they represent a career path that is nonexistent for non-musicians.

Sure, you already knew that playing music could improve your quality of life. Now you know it can improve the quality of your career.

Duane Shinn is the author of over 500 music books and music educational materials such as DVD's, CD's, musical games for kids, chord charts, musical software, and piano lesson instructional courses for adults. His book-CD-DVD course titled http://www.pianoplaying.com/ "How To Dress Up Naked Music On The Piano!" is used all around the world to teach improvisation and music arranging skills. He holds advanced degrees from Southern Oregon University and was the founder of Keyboard Workshop in Southern Oregon. He is the author of the popular free 101-week online e-mail newsletter titled http://www.playpiano.com/ "Amazing Secrets Of Exciting Piano Chords & Sizzling Chord Progressions" with over 70,000 current subscribers. Assisted by Phil Honstein.

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MTV Unplugged

On March 6th, Julieta Venegas recorded her MTV Unplugged at the Churubusco Studies in Mexico City, where she presented new songs besides interpreting some of her greatest hits in an intimate atmosphere to a live audience.

This production counts on important and interesting collaborations like two time Oscar winner, Gustavo Santaolalla, who accompanied her with the banjo and sang the chorus of the song "Algun Dia (Someday)". Brazilian singer, Marisa Monte featured in song "Illusion", a new and beautiful song that combines the Spanish and Portuguese language.

Also Mala Rodriguez joined Julieta and included a strong hip hop movement to the song "Eres Para Mi (You are for Me)", whereas the vocalist of Porter, Juan Carlos had a unique participation in "Algun Dia (Someday)".

In addition, the very talented Natalia Lafourcade comprised of the orchestra and played several instruments during the night, whereas the talented musician and composer, Jacques Morelenbaum accompanied Julieta on the cello in "De mis Pasos (From my foot steps)".

DVD Track List:
1.Limón y Sal
2.Sería Feliz
3.El Presenta - Inédita
4.Algo está cambiando
5.Eres para Mi - A dueto con la Mala Rodriguez
6.Esta Vez
7.Algun dia- Inédita con la participación de Gustavo Santaolalla
8.Mírame bien
9.Lento
10.De mis pasos
11.Andar conmigo
12.Ilusión - Inédita A dueto con Marisa Monte
13.Como sé
14.Mira la vida- Inédita
15.Me Voy
Making of
Customer Review: A must have DVD - Compralo si o si
Como se ha escrito anteriormente este Unplugged es uno de los mejores en lengua castellana hasta la fecha (casi rivaliza con el Hello, el Unplugged del gran Charly Garcia) y consituye un hito en la carrera de Julieta Venegas mostrandonos asi el porque el maestro Joaquin Sabina, el mejor cantautor, ha dicho de ella que es una genia. Tocando con maestria varios instrumentos e imprimiendo sentimiento a cada canción que interpreta Julieta nos lleva por un repaso de su discografia, a la cual le imprime otro matiz, de una manera tan maravillosa que los 15 temas pareceria que acaban demasiado pronto. La calidad de la producción musical es impecable, los arreglos magnificos y los músicos en total sintonía con la idea que Julieta tiene del concierto. Imprescindible en cualquier colección. Gracias Julieta... creo que Sabina ya tiene su contraparte femenina. A masterpiece. So far the best Unplugged of this decade. Julieta performs great and also in a unique way, full of feeling. Ms. Venegas rocks ! Do a favor yourself and order this DVD now.
Customer Review: SUPER TRABAJO,, EXCELENTE,,,
Muy gratamente soprendido por este material, es simplemente estupendo, Julieta se luce en todas suis interpretaciones dandoles nuevo matizes y colores, que decir de sus invitados , todos de primer nivel,,, el que en verdad me sorprendio mucho -y como dice el post de arriba- no conocia en nada a JUAN SON, que voz y que manera de interpretar. me muero por conseguir algo de el,, este dvd es algo que no deje faltar en su coleccion...altamente recomendable...

Cuba is famous for its beaches. People come from around the world to recline in the glorious sunshine and to venture out toward the idyllic turquoise oceans. Of course the biggest beach resort of the entire island is Varadero. Holiday makers visit this particular resort to enjoy more than 20 kilometres of fine white sands and crystal clear water. But beyond these 20 kilometres of beach, there's a whole host of glorious things to see and do for those who want more variety. The city stretches over 14.4 square kilometers, giving us plenty of things to do in Varadero ...

Natural Beauty

Okay, the beach itself is stunning - but this is actually just scratching the surface of the region's aesthetic charms. Indeed, if you do ignore everything but the beach, then you're missing beauty right under your nose; or rather, under the water. Scuba diving is magnificent in Cuba thanks to the island's splendid geographical position, its continental shelf, clear warm waters and vast marine life. With such a large beach, Varadero has 32 established diving sites catering to divers of all abilities and experience, so even if you have never tried it before, you have no excuse not to try donning a wetsuit and exploring the underwater paradise. Most hotels offer diving courses for absolute beginners and a vast array of choice for the more experienced: night dives, cave dives or open sea diving - the choice really is yours! As things to do in Varadero go, scuba diving should be high on your list - it really is an experience!

Parque Reiro Josone is another spot that's worth seeing - and you won't need a wetsuit for this one. The park has been available to visit since 1942 and is a perfect spot to be one with nature on your holiday in Varadero: beautiful trees, a tropical lake and a wide variety of fascinating avian life make this a great spot to visit, and the four restaurants and entertainment facilities means that this is the kind of place you can visit time and time again - and always find something new.

Varadero's caves are worth visiting as well - some can only be visited via the water, but others can be easily visited by those who wish to stay on land - some have even become night clubs, while others remain as great archeological value.

Culture

In terms of cultural entertainment, there are many things to do in Varadero to allow you to get a handle on the city's history and 'feel'. Santa Elvira Church is a particularly interesting structure. Built in 1938, it's an interesting throw-back to life before the revolution, and a fascinating architectural creation in its own rights with an unusual structure of stone and wood, with a suspended half arch.

The Museo Municipal is a good place to start if you want to get a feel of the history of Varadero before mass tourism through the revolution and beyond. If however it's the art that's of greater interest, then the art gallery is a must, featuring paintings, engravings, sculptures and photos by classic Cuba artists, as well as more contemporary figures, including Zaida del Rio and Manuel Mendive.

The Casa de la Cultura is a must visit for culture vultures, home as it is to Los Munequitos de Matanzaz a rumba group of internationally renowned musicians. The area is home to cultural events including poetry readings, music recitals and local trovadores entertaining the Varadero holiday makers and locals.

The Charm of the Market

The highlight for many Varadero holiday makers when they visit the town is undoubtedly the market. This isn't some kind of little market, with stalls filling the area selling everything from cigars, souvenirs, wooden carvings, Cuban figurines, musical instruments and leather works. You just can't beat the big market atmosphere, and even if you're just here to browse, you're virtually guaranteed to leave with a smile on your face.

Although it's not the most varied of resorts, there is a lot more to a holiday in Varadero than just lounging on the magnificent beach. Though that said, you would be missing out to ignore the sands completely - just try not to get sucked in if you want to enjoy the other varied things to do in Varadero!

Emma Lelliott is the general manager of Captivating Cuba, an independent Cuba holiday specialist. With offices in Havana and the UK, Captivating Cuba can help you tailor-make the perfect holidays to Varadero.

80's dance music

Eminem/The Re Up Mixtape Review

Global rating of the product: 5 stars

Drug dependence, the murder of your best friend, the collapse of your marriage can break an individual. After the flood of issues in which Eminem was literally drowning during the last months, many people thought that the skilled rapper would retire from the rap game.
However Eminem is a stand up man with that thick skin that allowed him to resist to life tempests.

Eminem is back with his crew, stronger than ever, bringing to you his new hard worked on CD, the Re Up mixtape.

Joyful violin sounds, gunshots, hammering drum beats starts Shady Narcotics which is the prelude to the mixtape in which Eminem introduces his crew: D12, Obie Trice, 50 Cent, Stat Quo, Bob Creek and Cashis.

From the oldest to the newest members, everyone has his precise place and plays his role in this valuable team work.

Were Back: the shady soldiers are back, more offensive than ever, with razor blades alike words. Big mouth running haters be ready to be punched right in the face. Eminem, Obie, Bob Creek, Cashis and Stat Quo will smash the jealous hoes in the game. Any underground artist aims at becoming mainstream someday: so dont hate, congratulate!

Gunshots, numerous violins, a dark bassline totally situate the context: the arise of a lyrical battle is imminent.

The heat increases as Obie Trice spits lyrical bullets on a Pistol Pistol sample.

As the sky gets cloudy and darker, you can smell the smoke in the air. Bizarre and Kuniva reinforce the roughness of the hell of a murderous ambience. Be ready for war while keyboard, drums and dark murder vocals combined with some gunshots will portray you the Detroit hood like it is.
I think that Bizarre and Kunivas beautiful performance needs to be pointed out. I recommend you the song. Dont sleep on that one.

Everything Is Shady: let Cashis take over in the scurrilous themed song.
The Shady gladiators are teaming up and will leave their enemies lying lifeless, lyrically speaking.

Eminem and 50 Cent introduce you to The Re Up in a rhythmic beat box mode. The song is beautifully rhythmic, Eminems vocal performance is well handled from the beginning to the end. 50 Cent will keep on with the same beautiful spirit that will remind many of you of the Get Rich Or Die Trying album. Good job!

You Dont Know is a classic, already. I reviewed the song and the video a while ago.

Jimmy Crack Corn is based on a Yellow Brick alike musical background. The song is provocative. Eminem humors those who are running their big mouths in the rap game.

Trapped will feature RIP Big Proof as a tribute to the gifted fallen D12 soldier.

When Swifty and Kon Artis unite their talents, bombs are thrown on the scene. Swinging beats, light piano sounds mixed up with violins and keyboars will totally enhance the killa track.

Chord sounds, harpshichord notes, light piano sounds, a good dose of offensiveness, sharp and incisive words will underline Bob Creekwaters good performance. Bob Creek is one of the most underrated Shady Records signed artist, but he is nevertheless talented. Check him out!

I fully enjoyed Eminems Public Enemy track that gets political and offers some insight about assassination plots.
Eminem fully masters his flow and shows some good lyrical skills on the well handled song.

Eminem concludes the mixtape with No Apologies. In a long monologue, Eminem shows some lyrical dexterity and confronts critics. No apologies for being himself and for speaking his mind. The arsenic writer , the lyrical genius is back with some beautiful, poetic lines:

My head hit's the pillow, a weeping willow, i can't sleep, a pain so deep it bellows
But these Cellos help just to keep me mellow, hand's on my head, touched knees to elbow
I'm hunched over, emotion just flows over, these cold shoulders are both frozen, you don't know me

Monotonous piano and keyboard sounds contrast with the sudden introduction of bells and violins. Marshall Mathers voice and lyrics are an outlet for the bottled rage. The song fully enlightens Eminems lyrical mastery. I love the track, because it is unique in its creativity and outshines all the excellent tracks of the Re Up.

Globally speaking the Re Up enlightens the whole Shady Records crews artistic collaborations. Eminem is so sorry to disappoint all the people who nearly buried him lyrically and artistically. The tight emcee is backed by his crew that also shows some good skills.

The Re Up is worth your interest. Id strongly advice you to own it in your hip hop library.

Copyright 2006 by Isabelle Esling
All Rights Reserved

My name is Isabelle Esling. I am an Eminem biographer and a freelance music journalist. I teach English and German at public schools

80's dance music

A Taste of Salsa, Volume II (Spanish & English Language)

In Volume II, Lisa and Andres build on the steps and lead/follow techniques that were introduced in Volume I. In addition, they show you more advanced turning combinations and new ways of moving across the dance floor. They also pinpoint suggestions for developing your own style. In addition, equal attention is paid to both the leads and follows so that you become a dynamic couple and a solid individual dancer. With these new patterns, your passion for Salsa and your confidence on the dance floor will continue to grow.

In this volume, the following steps are covered:
Basic three turn combination
Hand over heart turning combination
Hand over shoulder turning combination
The wrap
Adding style to your dancing
The walk
Putting it all together

With a bit of practice, you will soon become a Salsero.

Instruction for all volumes in the A Taste of Salsa series is given in both English and Spanish.
Customer Review: Great basics
If you are a novice and looking to learn in a correct and structured way, these videos (Vol I & II) are very sound and easy to understand. The videos are introductory, so if you already know the basics, perhaps they are not for you. Don't pay attention to the criticism of those who weren't smart enough to read the description and look for more information about the videos from the internet or the instructors' website. The videos are clearly labeled basic. That's why they are titled "A Taste of...." I gave it four stars because even though the intent to make the tapes universal by making them bilingual is good, it does tend to slow the lessons a bit. Why not use subtitles for the alternate language?
Customer Review: Salsa Instruction Starts Here
For those who wish to learn salsa through videos, this is the one for you. True, there are excellent intructional videos in the market; but without a strong basics, all those fancy moves shown in more advanced videos will not work for you. The dance instructors give you enough tips and alert you of common pitfalls so you can start dancing with proper form and style.

Recently, from an opportunity in the Daily Mail I was fortunate enough to have an exclusive dancing session with none other than the very talented celebrity dancer Vincent Simone. He was simply one of the best teacher's one could hope to meet to learn the intricate steps involved in dancing. Vincent Simone is a World class Latin American dancer and I am a mere novice.

In this chaotic and fast paced lifestyle that we all seem to live isn't it about time that we create a space for ourselves to give more 'me time' and have more fun. What better way than learning to dance by exercising the body and calming our thoughts or more importantly to release the frantic ever active mind into the ever beating heart.

When we are healthy and radiating positive energy we literally attract a feeling of well-being and like a magnet draw pleasurable experiences into our lives. Conversely, if we are tired, stressed or feeling low in energy we may need to learn how to convert the negative energy into a blissful state and dance could be one of the ways to achieve this.

When you are dancing to enhance your mood it may help to visualise the seven colours of the chakras.

RED Passion

Visualise the colour red when dancing the Argentina Tango can help you to access the passion to give more energy and liveliness to this dance. When learning the technique coupled with the accentuated movements and maintaining the powerful posture. Tango is the uniquely intoxicating 'forbidden dance', a story of two people connecting passion and romance.

ORANGE Sensuality

Visualise the colour Orange when performing the Rumba can help with this slow, sensuous dance that has an almost teasing and rejecting quality between the two people involved. It has a rhythmical slow Latin beat with gyrating hip actions and dance expression that is more moody and has a serious quality.

YELLOW Confidence

Visualise the colour Yellow when dancing the Cha-Cha which is a happy, carefree dance expressing dynamic confidence and empowering everyone as they dance these steps. With the Cha-Cha's forward and back movements depicting the essence of give and take between the couple.

GREEN Compassion

Visualise the colour Green when performing the Swing as it is a lively, energetic tempo with accentuated movements of the hips and thighs. Imagine the rhythm of the Swing keeping in unison with the deep resonating beat of your heart.

BLUE Communicative

Visualise the colour Blue when dancing the Foxtrot similar to the blue sky or blue water that ripples downstream and flows with the music. The seductive slow tempo encourages the releasing of control and the willingness to surrender and communicate your deepest emotions.

INDIGO Imagination

Visualise the colour Indigo when dancing the Samba as it is a lively rhythmical dance that requires light-footed, circular movements of the hips and shoulders as you match and mirror your partner. The vivacious pulsating beat of the Samba creates seductive and animated movements that almost appear animal like.

WHITE Elegance

Visualise the colour White when dancing the Waltz with extreme charm, poise and elegance as you imagine Swans floating across the water gracefully creating breathtaking spectacle majestically gliding across the dance floor with ease.

The Art of learning to dance is a step-by-step process of leader and follower that requires trust, respect and timing creating a musical symphony that expresses the spirit of the dance between two people as they move as one.

The freedom that the dance gives releases the body, mind and soul that captivates the imagination of the audience and I am truly hooked on learning to dance.

Susie Newman, author of Simple Guide to the Chakras at http://stores.lulu.com/simpleguidetothechakras designed to show you how to heal and balance the seven chakras coupled with powerful meditations. She is currently working on other projects helping to integrate tools and techniques to encourage awareness and enhance day-to-day living.

90's dance music

Blue Room

Have you ever wondered how piano tuners learn their trade? Most tuners learn the business from a family member. In fact, piano tuning often spans several generations in a family, handed down from father to son.

There are good tuners and great tuners, but in any case they have to learn a craft that is several hundred years old and has changed little.

There are three distinct types of tuners: tuners, repairmen and rebuilders. Usually a tuner works their way up from simple tuning to the more difficult task of repair and then rebuilding.

A tuner can expect $100 per tuning, but if they work for someone else they may take home only half of that. Still, it is a job much in demand.

The average tuning takes at least an hour, and requires quiet and solitude, although the very best tuners, usually working for a large firm like Steinway, can expect to be on call for the most famous concert pianists.

These superstars of the piano business hover backstage at major concerts, waiting for the occasional string to break so they can vault out onto the stage and fix it in front of thousands of people.

One such tuner superstar is Franz Mohr, who was tuner and repairman for two legendary pianists, Vladimir Horowitz and Artur Rubinstein. As an employee of the Steinway Company, he was delegated to accompany either of these two great artists on their world travels, tuning hammer and pliers at the ready, in case something should go wrong, \he most dramatic being a string breaking during a concert.

Mohr became a personal friend of both Rubinstein and Horowitz, was part of their international entourage.

Mohr selected pianos for Horowitz, for Horowitz never took a "company" piano. By this you must understand that great concert pianists are sometimes forced to play on a variety of instruments in their travels. The only solution to this problem of inconsistency is to take a piano with you, and this is very, very expensive, requiring genuine superstar status.

Horowitz had his favorite Steinway 9 foot concert grand, and he kept it at home. When a concert tour came, the neighbors of his New York City Upper East Side townhouse were used to the sight of the immense piano being lowered slowly out the window and onto a waiting truck.

Mohr and other great tuners I have known like Steinway's Heinz Zimmerman were artists in their own right. To tune and repair a piano for a professional pianist is an extremely demanding job, for the results must in fact be perfect. Every key must feel exactly the same. Every key must feel, to the artist, as if they have the same weight, the same feel, the same speed. The process that achieves this at the piano is called "regulation," and may take several days to adjust the thousands of tiny moving parts

There is no better feeling to a great pianist than a great piano, perfectly tuned and regulated, waiting for beautiful music to be played.

By John Aschenbrenner Copyright 2000 Walden Pond Press. Visit http://www.pianoiseasy.com to see the fun PIANO BY NUMBER method for kids.

John Aschenbrenner is a leading children's music educator and book publisher, and the author of numerous piano method books in the series PIANO BY NUMBER.

latin music video

A Taste of Salsa, Volume I

In Volume I, Lisa and Andres present the steps and turns at a pace you can keep up with. They share the "how to's" and "how not to's" for proper lead and follow technique and detail the connecting pieces that are too often left out. In addition, equal attention is paid to both the leads and follows so that you become a dynamic couple and a solid individual dancer. As a result, your Salsa steps will feel more natural and your confidence will grow. This is just the thing for a non-dancer ready to take on their burning dancing desire!

In this volume, the following steps are introduced: Basic step Hand positions - Palms Up and Palms Down Body positions - Open and Closed Side to side step Swing step Transitioning between the positions and variations Combining variations Basic turn combination. Numerous practice combinations

With a bit of practice, you will soon become a Salsero.

Instruction for all volumes in the A Taste of Salsa series is given in both English and Spanish.

The next tape in the series, Volume II, introduces more advanced turning combinations, new ways of moving across the floor and focuses more on styling.
Customer Review: Great basics
If you are a novice and looking to learn in a correct and structured way, these videos (Vol I & II) are very sound and easy to understand. The videos are introductory, so if you already know the basics, perhaps they are not for you. Don't pay attention to the criticism of those who weren't smart enough to read the description and look for more information about the videos from the internet or the instructors' website. The videos are clearly labeled basic. That's why they are titled "A Taste of...." I gave it four stars because even though the intent is to make the tapes universal by making them bilingual, it does tend to slow the lessons a bit. Why not use subtitles for the alternate language?
Customer Review: Save your money!
This has got to be one of the worst Salsa instructional videos I have purchased to date. For the price you get very little. It is repetative and annoying. You only learn 3 steps. I would definately not recommend this video to a beginner.

Origin:

Mambo originated in Havana, Cuba in the 40s. The Mambo was originally played as a Rumba with an emphasis on 2 or 4. Once introduced, it fast led to other variations. Although Mambo did not last long and is only danced by advanced dancers today, it led to other styles that became popular such as Salsa and Cha-cha.

Music:

Mambo is an up-tempo dance rythm, usually around 200 bpm. Mambo, like Salsa is played in 4/4 with all 4 beats being evenly accented. Like a lot of Latin American rythms, percussion forms a very important part of the music.

Dance:

Mambo is probably one of the toughest dances to learn, especially is you are already used to dancing one of the other Latin styles like Salsa. Although the music is 4/4, the stepping is quite different. The steps are taken on the second beat as opposed to the first beat, which is one of the main differences that throw most dancers off. The other difference is that the weight change takes place three times in every four beats whereas only two steps are taken!

Latinos NZ Popularity Scale: 1/10

Mambo is rarely danced in Latin clubs in New Zealand, and is rarely taught in training institutes.

Article taken from Latinos.co.nz (http://www.latinos.co.nz)

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Unfiltered (Acoustic Tracks)

Nang Talung is the indigenous performing art in the south of Thailand. It is a kind of the Thai Shadow puppet theater that formerly spread from southern Thailand to other regions. It has much influence on the lives of the rustic people of Thailand.

As in the past there were no movies, one of the most popular entertainments always enjoyed by a multitude of Thai people was "Nang" or share puppet play. This was subsequently called "Nang Yai" (literally meaning "grand puppet") and "Nang Lek" (literally meaning "small puppet") which was later called "Nang Talung." These two genres of traditional performances can still be evident up to the present days in some precincts of Thailand. But it is not clear whether Nang Yai or Nang Talung arose first.

Nang Talung is the indigenous performing art in the south of Thailand. It is a kind of the Thai shadow puppet theater that formerly spread from southern Thailand to other regions. It has much influence on the lives of the rustic people of Thailand. Nang Talung uses the shadow of puppets in operating. Since antiquity this type of play has ever been held in many civilized countries such as Egypt, Greek, Turkey, India, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand especially in every part of the nation. When the time went by, it is found only in southern Thailand. The provinces of Pattalung and Nakhon Sri Thammarat are the perfect places to see Nang Talung.

It is believed that Nang Talung originated in the reign of King Rama V and appeared in the village of Baan Don Maprao in Pattalung. So the southerners called it "Nang Don" after the district in which it initiated. It is assumed that it is now called "Nang Talung" becaused when it was performed in Bangkok, the people of Bangkok realized that it was from Pattalung and continued to call it "Nang Pattalung", Afterwards, the name was abbreviated to "Nang Thalung" and finally it was abbreviated again to "Nang Talung". Even today, the people of Bangkok still call it this, but the southerners abbreviate it as "Nang Lung" or simply "Nang".

This regional performance of southern Thailand was previously depicted from the episode of the Ramayana epic in India. It was gradually modified to suit the time and preference of the spectators such as its content, hero, heroine and musical instrument while the joker becomes a favorite performer amongst the spectators. The chief of Nang Talung will sit behind a brilliantly back lit white screen made of cloth. His duty is to provide dialogs for every puppet and also narrate the story while the play is proceeding. Nang Talung is nowadays very famous at village festivals, temple fairs and celebrations like marriages and ordination ceremonies.

Each shadow play figure is made of good quality cowhide which has been dried and perforated into different shapes. The figures are elaborately painted with natural and water-resistant colorings. They are held up by bamboo sticks with the mouth and hands movable in tune with the narration. The Nang Talung hall has a thatched roof and three walls. Every piece of Nang Talung is manipulated with rods in order to control their movements and given life by the chief. He will express his feelings on the puppets by the prose or verse during the play. The puppets emerge only in shadow against a white screen with the light shining through from behind.

A Nan Talung troop is composed of two main parts. One is "Nai Nang", the group leader who pilots the performance with simultaneous singing an story telling. Another is the musicians who accompany the leader's action. Performances may be a religious theme or the story from the Ramayana. They may also be particularly composed to include trendy reflections, songs and poems about local events and matters of current interest in the country. Presently, the Nang Talung troop comprises many members and more music than in the past as each troop is trying to modernize Nang Talung and make their group so unique amongst other troops.

Quite similar to Nang Talung is Nang Yai or the grand Shadow puppet play. Nang Yai is conceived as one of Thailand's traditional dramatic art forms that mingles various artistic creations into astounding one. In terms of visual arts, the detailed and elaborate traditional design of the puppets is first drawn by a master artist. Then the design is applied onto a piece of leather and scrupulously etched into almost lace-like proportion. The pieces are mounted onto sticks and they are given life by the master puppeteer in a classical drama performance complete with a live Thai musical ensemble and a singer to provide the narration.

Thailand Culture Blog Writer

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Reggaeton: Hot Latin Hip Hop (Apple Loops - AIFF, REX, WAV)

Over the past several years, reggaeton has emerged from the underground dance scene to storm onto the urban music landscape. Deeply rooted in reggae, dance hall, hip-hop, bomba and merengue, the reggaeton revolution has only just begun. "Reggaeton: Hot Latin Hip Hop" construction kits give you the power to create music with this scorching new Latin sound. Producer Josquin des Pres, along with his Track Star Studios team, once again calls on his vast experience in producing current Hip Hop and Latin music to deliver this authentic collection. So if you're ready to mix up your own brand of hot Latin flavor, turn up the heat with Reggaeton!

It may be that in musical retrospect, from a luxury of twenty-twenty critical hindsight, that Astor Piazzolla will be seen as having done in the twentieth century for the tango what Frederick Chopin did in the nineteenth for the waltz. It is perhaps already an accepted position. With the waltz, Chopin took an established popular form and stretched its boundaries so that what an audience might have expected to be a little ditty was recast to express heroism, sensuality, pride or even occasional doubt. The little dance tune then, in Chopin's slender hands, became an elegant art form, highly expressive, utterly Romantic in its ability to convey human emotion.

The tango represents an apparently different proposition. Already sensuous by definition, there are elements of the romantic towards which the tango need not aspire. If Romanticism placed individual emotional responses upon the pedestal of artistic expression, by the time the tango aspired to truly international currency in the twentieth century, there was no longer any need to worry about an artist's right to make a personal statement.

With the rise of serialism, neo-classicism and, later, minimalism, artistic mores were already, perhaps, heading in the opposite direction, towards a new espousal of rigour and structure. Emotion worn on the cuffs, like concepts plucked from the back of a matchbox, seemed to dominate cultural activities in the latter part of the century whilst, at the same time, Althusser and Derrida, allied with the populism of mass culture, seemed to suggest that there were no new statements, let alone discoveries, to be made. A spectral free-for-all ruled, where distinctions of quality were suddenly both particularistic and individual to the point of exclusion. (This, of course, is necessarily a paradox for people promoting a populist pop culture, since they aspire to mass consumption of a single artistic vision, a statement that by definition cannot be worth more than any other - even randomly selected statement. As a result, those who tend to deny a critic's right to make value judgments must themselves assume that such judgments are perfectly valid in the marketplace. It's a contradictory position, but an essential one for purveyors of pop, since they must continue to describe the form as popular, despite the fact that the vast majority of its products prove themselves to be anything but.) Post-modernists thus hailed the soap opera alongside Shakespeare, a logic that renders a Coca Cola advertisement the greatest film ever made by virtue of its viewer numbers. And then there was Piazzolla, an enigma par excellence.

On the one hand Astor Piazzolla is the quintessential mid-twentieth century composer. Classically trained, a pupil of Alberto Ginastera and Nadia Boulanger, and inspired by the commercial and folk music of his own country, he could have slotted alongside Villa Lobos, Ponce, or even Martinu or Copeland as a contributor to the century's neo-classical-folk music paradigm. But what he did was quite different.

He devoted his compositional energies to recreating and reinventing a popular idiom that was thoroughly specific to his own country, Argentina. The form, of course, was the tango. What is more, Astor Piazzolla concentrated on performance via his own ensembles and he achieved considerable success, albeit local until near the end of his life, over a career that spanned fifty years. But he expressed himself on the bandoneon, a squeezebox that lends itself to staccato, slapping attack, an instrument not peculiar to Argentina, but perhaps only well known to Argentinians. He died in 1992, his Romantic heroism national at best.

It was in the early 1990s that arrangements of Piazzolla's music began to appear on "classical" programmes. By the time a figure as august as Daniel Barenboim recorded his Tangos Among Friends, Mi Buenos Aires Querido, in 1995, they were already becoming established in the repertoire. I personally have heard performances of Piazzolla's music for full orchestra, string orchestra, chamber orchestra, various formats of chamber ensemble, piano trio, solo piano, solo harp, flute and guitar, guitar solo, violin and piano, string quartet, string trio and, of course, bandoneon. But it is surely the chamber group that best fits this music. There is always a toughness to its apparent sensuality that tends to be overstated by the large numbers of a full orchestra. Lack of volume, on the other hand, tends to stress the saccharine.

And if you want to find an exquisite match between the music's toughness and sensuality, its durability versus its novelty, there is surely no better experience than that provided by Camerata Virtuosi, a septet led by violinist Joaquin Palomares and featuring saxophonist Claude Delangle. Their recording of Piazzolla's music features Joaquin Palomares' superb arrangements that capture the music's directness and beauty while preserving its toughness.

A Camerata Virtuosi performance in the Auditori de la Mediterrnia, La Nucia in February 2008 featured all the pieces included in their recording of Piazzolla's music. The group performed all four of the Seasons as a sextet with two violins, viola, cello, bass and piano. These pieces offer Joaquin Palomares a perfect vehicle to display his virtuoso violin playing which communicates the music's line whilst at the same time decorates with highly effective jazz-like riffs. The rest of the pieces were performed by a septet in which Claude Delangle's perfect soprano saxophone bent and teased its way through lambent legato lines. It was playing of the highest quality.

As on the recording, particularly successful were Oblivion and Milonga del Angel. Oblivion is the quintessential Piazzolla, a popular sing-along for the manic depressive perhaps, and not therefore a rarity. But the simplicity and understatement of the piece always works beautifully, even when played twice in the same concert, as in La Nucia. Milonga del Angel is a different kind of piece. Though superficially similar to Oblivion, it manages in its six minutes to develop through its binary form, so that different movements create different moods within the same material. A true highlight.

Joaquim Palomares' violin playing was, as always, more than elegant throughout and by the end the audience had experienced again the genius of Piazzolla courtesy of Palomares' superb arrangements. Great music needs great interpreters, and Piazzolla's has surely found one in Joaquin Palomares.

Philip Spires
Author of Mission, an African novel set in Kenya
http://www.philipspires.co.uk

Michael, a missionary priest, has just killed Munyasya. It was an accident, but Mulonzya, a politician, exploits the tragedy for his own ends. Boniface, a church worker, has just lost his child. He did not make it to the hospital in time, possibly because Michael went to the Mission to retrieve a letter from Janet, a teacher, and the priest's neighbour. It is Munyasya who has the last laugh, however.

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