Prague and the Czech Republic; Czechoslovakia; Kronika; Journals

I am contemplating writing a book about Prague, where I lived for three years before the "Velvet Revolution".

A lot of books have already been written. Do we need another one? I have been gathering my materials, but I think I'd probably be better advised to revise my already-written book about Czechoslovakia and the years leading up to the Velvet Revolution: Czechoslovakia, Secret Journals of the Poets' Revolution.

There is no shortage of useful information on the web. This is a very useful resource on Czech film, literature and politics.

Czech Anifest (Radio Prague)

Kenyan Music

 

 Two photos copyright JP

 Two Luo nyatitis (left and right; Ethiopian masenko, centre)

Since I have started on the subject of past travels, here is an example of the kind of traditional music I used to love, listen to and record for educational films and television in Western Kenya. The instrument is the nyatiti, or painted bowl harp. I used to have several, and the leg and ankle bells to match. All in the Horniman Museum, along with the field recordings I made of  Ram Angira playing the nyatiti, and John Wambaya Matanda and Webhukulu Manonge playing the Luhja litungu. My litungu is also in the museum. I imagine that no one is allowed to touch it or play it there. Sad.

Central photo of nyatiti from http://www.joluo.ch/luo.htm

Ethiopian Music (Tewelde Redda and others)

If I had to choose one record to remind me of my 5 years in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, it would be "Ab Tequai Kerebi" by Tewelde (or Tewolde) Redda, featuring Mulatu Astatke and his orchestra.

Listen here

It's a great song for dancing, and for the skista (shoulder dance). It's somewhat confusing, in that Tewelde Redda is an Eritrean guitar hero and the Ethiopiques 5 CD on which this masterpiece was reissued is subtitled Tigrigna Music.

What does it matter? It's great music and it was a huge hit in Addis before the revolution. Eritrea was part of Ethiopia then. You should be grateful that I didn't post my own efforts on the masenko, a difficult one-stringed instrument on which I once had lessons (from Alemaya Fanta), or my attempts to play the tizita tune or "Anchi lij"! My antique masenko is now in the Horniman Museum. You can hear some Ethiopian music I recorded for the soundtrack of a documentary film I made on http://www.interpotts.com/movies/the-cross-makers.wmv, or, more easily, on YouTube : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0N3nJ6AlYg

Here's another Tewelde Redda recording , followed by a more traditional Amhara song, showing something of Amhara culture.

Betam egzer yistlign! Dehina yihunu.

European Union Culture Programme Guide

I am putting this link here so that I can study the programme guide (May 2010 version) in my own time. It may also be useful for others. Good luck!

http://eacea.ec.europa.eu/culture/programme/documents/2010/may/EN.pdf

Nostalgia for Australia (Aussie Doghouse Blues)

I spent seven wonderful years in Australia, mainly in Sydney. My sense of nostalgia is best expressed through this song by the late Slim Dusty, OBE: Camooweal. Should ever I go back to Australia, this is the song I'll be singing, although I've never been to Camooweal itself and I can't remember how much spinifex I've seen. But I did get round most of the country- and I did have the pleasure of meeting the great Slim Dusty.

The song I've always loved most from Slim's vast repertoire may be his least typical, a rockabilly version of  "Aussie Doghouse Blues"  (sorry, I can only locate my own tribute version with acoustic guitar). The wonderful original is available on the album "I haven't changed a bit". I have it on an old (1959) vinyl EP, signed by the man himself in 1996 (above). Since my first posting, I've found this version by Lee Kernaghan.

Life is like a river

The other sound I deeply miss is the didgeridoo. 
It's still the most evocative music in the world, for me.

                                                                       G'day, Jim

 Uluru

Cape Leveque, West Australia

A Slim Dusty song I didn't know: Shearing Shed Blues

Noah Lewis, Ripley Blues

Noah Lewis is my favourite harmonica player. He played with Gus Cannon's Jug Stompers. He died of frost-bite. I travelled all the way to Ripley, Tennessee, because of this tune. I wrote this poem for him.

Noah’s Harp 

The cries of animals excluded,

Drowning in the rising flood.

Prisoners’ wails,

Freight trains heading North.

 

Noah Lewis.

Frost-bitten feet,

Nose frozen to mouth-harp. 

 

For Noah Lewis, Blues Harmonica Player, 1895-1961.

Here's "Noah's Blues".

Want more? "Viola Lee Blues"