Musical Alternative - Spotlight: "First Meta Christmas Show" by Spirit Dazzlers

Written by Michael Schaf
Originally for Classical Music in Second Life

Tonight, I had the privilege of watching the Spirit Dazzlers dance company perform. Their Christmas dance program consisted of a "duke's mixture" of classical ballet to the Nutcracker and routines to modern pop Christmas tunes. Though major advances will be needed in the world of Second Life animation to create a perfectly realistic performance, the hard work of these folks cannot go unpraised, as they carefully crafted synchronized moves in their avatars with planned animations and moves about the stage. I had a blast tonight and hope to see more of this classical medium in our world!

Another company, The Pixel Ballet, will be performing the Nutcracker every Sunday through 1-18 at 5 pm SLT. Give it a looksie!
Read more!

Live Music Review: Izabela Jaworower @ Appassionato Resort

Second Life Music Review
Written by Enniv Zarf (RL: Paul Kwo)
Classical Music in Second Life
Izabela Jaworower
Appassioinato Resort

I heard Young Zeid a few weeks ago and heard Izabela at a duo concert with Young last week. But I wanted to do a review on just Izabela and so I just sat and enjoyed the last concert and didn't review that. For your information their duo concerts are not double stacked streams, they are actually in the same location performing.

She started off the concert with an "encore" piece, Schumann’s "Tramerei" which wasn't on the program. She forgot to put that back in and even forgot to announce it before she played. But it was definitely a delightful treat to hear such a beautiful piece played with such sensitivity.

Izabela's playing has a wonderful sensitivity to her that is both elegant but with vigor when necessary. Her techniques were near flawless and her tone has a wonderful singing quality. It's brilliant to hear her take the stage on her own from top to finish.

This was the second time...

...I heard her play Vivaldi's "Winter" from "The Four Season". She played it last week at the duo concert and she must have worked on it over the weekend cause it's even better then the last time I heard it. Her tone's even more solid throughout the work and there were even less flaws throughout the piece. Don't get me wrong, she was pretty darn good to begin with. But this performance was definitely on a different league then the last one. It's absolutely fantastic. She had such a wonderful feel for the entire piece today and just sounded like she was totally immersed in the sonic world of Vivaldi. She was able to create both the delicate moments with beautiful singing tones, and flew away with full on vigor virtuosity when appropriate.

She then performed Bach's famous "Air on G String" with just deep passion in a very soulful manner. I almost wouldn't mind if she totally played it without the backing tracks for these pieces. She has such a rich tone in her lower register that I can listen to and enjoy all on its own. I have a special affinity for the G-string on the violin. It really is my favorite string on the instrument and Izabela does not disappoint.

The Szymanowski is a haunting piece and Izabela delivers a chilling performance that is appropriate for the program for this winter season. My one problem is the balance between the piano and the violin. The piano sounds very distant while the violin sounds very close. I would prefer the piano to be more present. It's just a tad bit too far off in comparison that I lose some of the watery effects that it's trying to carry. I much prefer the balance on her performance on Franck then I did on this. But Izabela speaks just so well with her instrument on this piece where her understanding of the message is absolute. This is the kind of music we need to hear more of.

Izabela just speaks so well with her instrument no matter what she plays. Her sounds carry with it tremendous weight and power. And she does them with such passion that even when she's by herself with no accompaniment we wouldn’t have missed them. She moves from era to era, style to style with ease and grace. She delivers a fantastic performance of both classics and lesser-known works. She offers a wonderful contrast from Young's playing that is definitely worth listening to.

By the way, here's her entire program.

"Tramerei" from "Kinderscenen"........R. Schumann
"Winter" from "The Four Seasons"....................... Antonioa Vivaldi
"Air on G String".......J.S. Bach
"Arethusa Spring" for violin & piano.............. Karol Szymanowski
"Polish Capriccio" for solo violin,
"Oberek"................................................................ Grazyna Bacewicz
"Polonaise Brillante" in A Major ......................Henryk Wieniawski
"Sonata" for violin and piano .....................................Cesar Franck
Read more!

Music Review: The Schumann Duo @ Amadora Recital Hall

Second Life Live Music Review
Written by Michael Schaf
Originally from Classical Music in Second Life
The Schumann Duo
Amadora Recital Hall

[NOTES FROM ENNIV ZARF: This review is written by Michael Schaf who is a choral conductor living in the United States. More info about him coming soon.]

Tonight, I had the pleasure of hearing the Schumann Duo playing their benefit concert for Toys for Tots.

The concert featured a series of pieces for a variety of instruments accompanied by piano, including the oboe, the English horn, the bass oboe, and not the least of which was the saw. Yes, the saw! The duo made some clever choices, presenting a number of pieces with the saw as the feature instrument, being played with a string bow to produce some interesting undulations.

I have to salute this double-reed player's skills. His accompanist noted that he played for many years as first-chair oboe for the L.A. Orchestra, no small feat to accomplish. His mastery of the instruments was amazing. Lovely control of dynamic, articulation, and artistry. In particular, I was touched by the performance of Edward Elgar's "Salut d'amour" on the English horn. The sensitivity given the piece by the duo drew me in a way I did not expect through a digital universe. I guess it goes to show that music can be beautiful through any medium if handled well. Thank you so much!

The saw on the other hand...

...ha ha ha ha. I find myself unable to embrace it. The technique of the player is certainly not to be questioned. He knew what he was doing, but I suppose the novelty of the instrument didn't win me over. It was cute to play "Hark! The herald angels sing!" on the saw and make everyone smile, but I wouldn't expect John Williams to add a part for it in any of his coming movie scores.

Another thing that perplexed me was the way in which the literature was presented. Most of the pieces were very short, less than 2 minutes in length, with just a few going longer. I admit I'm not a fan of lots of talking in a classical recital, where this recital had 1.5 minutes of music followed by 2 minutes of talking, making for a somewhat choppy experience. The duo played a lovely arrangement of "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel" for bass oboe and piano that I thoroughly enjoyed hearing, but it felt like barely an introduction to so much more. I was sad that it ended so soon. Let's hear the Milhaud Sonatina next time so we can revel in your gorgeous sounds, whaddaya say?

In short, the Schumann Duo are an excellent pair of musicians and a welcome addition to my second life. In spite of a few minor differences in opinion, I look forward to hearing them again.
Read more!

Live Music Review: Thom Dowd & Gorse Ferraris @ Cairo

Second Life Live Music Review
Written by Enniv Zarf (RL: Paul Kwo)
Classical Music in Second Life
Thom Dowd
Gorse Ferraris
Cairo Theatre
4.5 stars out of 5 stars

I wonder how many of you really know what kind of music really exist in Second Life. I am sure some have touched and experienced a huge amount, but I'm sure most people only go to what they would usually go in real life. Well here is something that is totally off the radar of must people even in real life, early music. To be specific Renaissance music.

Though most of us have seen these Renaissance fair on TV shows and movies. Sorry "A Knight's Tale" doesn't count since they played more Hip Hop then they did Renaissance. Though I guess the roots of them all are the same. No matter though, how many of us actually really attended a live Renaissance event?

Well here's your chance to tell your friends that you are cultured and educated in music and life. Thom Dowd is an avid promoter of early music. He is also the founder of the group Early Music in Second Life. And he has a ton of recordings released online for purchase so if you are looking for some Renaissance music for your role plays, you know where to go now.

I don't know of that many other...

...early music performers in Second Life, but I have came across a couple while working with the Second Life Shakespeare Company as their voice director. Yes I directed the voice performance of all the SL Shakespeare Company's Shakespeare productions of Shakespeare works so far. If you've never caught one of those, well makes sure you do when they perform again. In fact if you've never seen a Second Life theatre production by SLSC, Act Up or Avatar Repertory Theatre, you are totally missing out on some really mind blowing experiences.

Well Thom (real life Thomas Coard) is definitely one of the best Renaissance music performers in Second Life and he performs live with Gorse Ferrari today, and the delivered very sweet tunes by a wide variety of Renaissance composers. The performances were all wonderfully performed though not totally flawless as some of the other classical musicians here are closer to. But they sure are darn close to. The tones both him and Gorse produce out of their recorders are just absolutely beautiful.

Thom certainly draws a great crowd to his concert, 41 avatars at the bottom of the hour. Of course many of them are very familiar faces of the Second Life Classical music community. Still it's wonderful to know that there are great supporters of early music in Second Life. Seriously there is no excuse to not at least check out these other types of music even for ten minutes when it's free and you can do it at the comfort of your own living room.

When Thom and Gorse performed works of the great Renaissance composer Josquin des Prés, it was just gorgeous. The two of them just blended so well together and created a very wonderful sonority that was just a delight to hear. He also referred to his blog that has articles about the composer so if you're up for a quick history lesson, check it out. I can always use a refresher course of music history, or does that bring back up all my memories of these crazy music history classes back at college. I remember one class where I had to listen and be able to identify and discuss near 80 tracks of music for one exam, and the ID section was like only one tenth of the test. But that's what I get for doing music.

Of course in the holiday season, no concert would be complete without Christmas music. But it is of course much more fitting for an early musician to play them. And boy are they haunting and beautiful. His duet performance of "God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman" with Gorse was just fantastic and just so fitting. It just reminds us that music doesn't have to be all that jazz, and it doesn't need to be filled with an army of people with a bunch of different instruments. Two simple recorders will do just fine. But speaking of recorders, though he sounds beautiful, the recorder animation is not on par with his playing. I think he deserves a better animated recorder. I will just say that the hand positions and the swaying from side to side is just not at all flattering to Thom's performance. But then who cares really, all we really care about is the music here and the rest is just for show.

In the end, Thom creates wonderful sounds that is stylistically correct with the period as well as beautiful and charming. This holiday season is definitely the perfect time to check out his music. But you are not likely going to find his posting at your normal Live Music groups. You'll either have to join the Classical Music group or you will have to contact Thom directly for his upcoming concert. Either way I think he'll be a delightful treat for your ears this holiday season to listen to such wonderfully simple music to take us back a little and relief ourselves from the chaos of holiday shopping.
Read more!

Madrigals at Christmas

Youtube Link

Many local high schools and universities hold a madrigal feast at this time of year, but many of us probably don't know why. Madrigals are an early form of choral music sung primarily in Europe in the Medieval and Renaissance periods of history. Madrigals are sung in many languages, the most common of which are English, Italian, and French. Nobility would have periodic feasts at their court to entertain their guests among the nobility or for their own amusement. Court usually included an elaborate meal with various courses and entertainment between those courses. The iconic court jester was the comedian of sorts who provided much of this entertainment, but singing was also a major part.

Visit Youtube Link to hear a performance of the well-known madrigal "Fair Phyllis", as sung by the King's Singers, the premier madrigal chorus in the world.

Madrigals were sung either by the nobles themselves at their dinner table or by the middle class entertainers, including the jester. Madrigals often have texts with double entendres, discussing presumably innocent texts about birds, flowers, and such, coded with keywords to represent sexual solicitation. In the Italian language, for example, the verb "morir" means both "to die" and "to climax sexually". Therefore, an Italian madrigal with a text about death was a very sad song to the uneducated peasants but one of great excitement to the self-important nobles.

We celebrate these madrigal feasts at Christmas because of the tradition of the twelve days of Christmas. In English culture, particularly, 12 nightly feasts were held every year at Christmas, starting December 25th and ending January 6th, the traditional date of Epiphany on the church calendar. Holding 12 feasts for 12 consecutive nights was a tremendous undertaking, having to prepare a large animal daily for eating, like a boar or turkey. Therefore, it was an event of significant importance. Many of traditional holiday carols today descend from this tradition, like the infamous carol "The 12 Days of Christmas". The partridge in a pear tree, the two turtle doves, etc., were gifts given the lord of the manor by the people of his estate over each night of the period.

Now, why I would post a blog like this on a music review site? Quite simply because there is nothing on SL to review with madrigals or other choral music! Our diverse population would have to have some interest in this music! Right now, my avatar is resting at an amazing shopping SIM full of diverse and rich medieval merchandise, but the radio is playing is hip hop?! I encourage my fellow choral musicians to branch into this amazing universe with some of the music we hold dear!
Read more!

Music Review: Young Zeid @ The Ocean Amphitheatre

Second Life Live Music Review
Written by Enniv Zarf
Classical Music in Second Life
Young Zeid RL Piano Quartet
The Ocean Amphitheatre SLURL

Well back to my classical roots for this one, and I mean way back. Young Zeid is about as classical as it gets, and in an amazing way.

Now before you ignore this post cause it's classical music, I would love for you to just give it a chance. You don't have to stay for the whole concert, but maybe just one or two pieces. Check it out, I mean isn't that's what's fantastic about Second Life. With a simple click, you can experience some amazing music and other things that you would otherwise never have a chance to. It's one thing to pay US$50-$200 for a ticket to the LA Philhamonic for a night of a Mahler Symphony, but people, we are talking about free, a click of the mouse, you can hear something totally different for maybe even once for five minute. Then like my friend Bosco who came to my concert last night said, no one can say you are not cultured!

Well if you do choose to go to any classical music concert, Young Zeid IS THE ONE TO HEAR! His sound is just beautiful, rich and he speaks brilliantly through his violin!

Young Zeid's (I thought about referring to him as Zeid in most Classical review, but SL last names are shared by so many people I jus thought it may lead to some major confusion) is of Chinese descent, woo, same as me. But unlike me, he grew up in China and studied violin professionally in Beijing Central Conservatory where his father was also once the President of. But don't let that make you think he got in out of nepotism. Although according to Zeid that he was known in his school as a trouble maker, he was even better known as an extraordinary violinist. Extraordinary enough to have a movie made after his childhood!

Well Young Zeid's program tonight includes some very challenging pieces in the violin repertoire, ranging from Bach to Beethoven, Kriesler to Bartok.

J.S. Bach- Adagio in g minor for solo violin
N. Paganini- Sonatino in e minor
F. Kreisler- Rondino
F. Kreisler - Liebesleid
F. Kreisler - Liebesfreud
E. Elgar - Salut d'Amour ( Love's Greeting)
B. Bartok- " Roumanian Folk Dances "
V. Monti- Czardas
L. Van Beethoven- Sonata No.5 ( spring )

Young started today's concert with a wonderful Bach Adagio and it was just absolutely gorgeous. He took his time and delivered Bach with such grace and dignity that would make Bach proud (well I guess I wouldn't know what Bach would be proud of, but you get the point).

Then of course no true virtuoso violinist would dare to perform without at least something by Paganini. Best part is that Young Zeid actually gave us a little background of the composer and the works and wha they are known for (for those of us who may not have had these crazy music history classes back in college - well I did, but it's still nice to be freshened up).

Young's violin just speaks so beautifully from the start to the finish of the concert, whether he's playing some amazing melody, or racing through with runs or double stops, or even pizzicato-in the heck out of the violin, he's just fantastic.

Throughout the performance of the Kreisler works, Young takes a lot of liberty and really enjoy his rubatos in playing. It's wonderful to be able to sit down and actually enjoy the music not feeling I'm in a hurry to get anywhere or to have to finish something.

I think that the microphone Young is using made also his sound from the earlier parts of the twenty century really giving you a really classic feeling, transporting you back to the golden era of art music in the states, and where family gather to listen to the music of wonderful artists over the radio as if he was playing at the Radio City Music Hall in NYC. It really is something special and different and very wonderful just to get away from it all. The music with the way his violin comes across just made everything to be so much more carefree.

A big bonus is that the Ocean Amphitheatre is a beautiful setting to listen to Zeid perform. It's simple in design, but looks very elegantly made. Put the sunset right in the back of the stage and the water ripples underneath and glistening off the shore, it's just a great setting for classical music. Though I doubt any violinist would ever want to take their super expensive violins to a concert right over the ocean where the humidity could totally ruin their instrument. But hey we are in Second Life, so we can!

It is also amazing that Young is near perfect in his playing. He delivers near flawless performance on practically everything he played today. He did take an extremely huge risk performing the Bartok, with the huge amounts of harmonics which are just near impossible for anyone in the world to do perfectly. Young delivered those harmonics in Bartok in a fascinatingly eerie manner that was effective to carry through that section. Kudos to you Young for daring to deliver that via a music stream! Ladies and gentlemen, that is one of the gutsiest thing I've heard by any musician in Second Life! The Bartok was just haunting and full of live as I would imagine Bartok to be played.

The one drawback if there is any at all is that Zeid is at times playing with a CD track though sometimes he does play with a real person. And whenever he plays with a real person, the music is just so much nicer. But it's nice no matter what. I sure hope that he will be able to play more in Second Life with a pianist on a grand piano. Though even just as it is with only parts of the concert played by a pianist on an electric piano, it's still good as the pianist is really working hard at the piano to try to get as much subtleties as he can out of the limited instrument.

Well I have played the violin for near 8 years when I was a kid, all the way up to Bach's a minor concerto. It's just fantastic to hear a wonderful violinist who is actually willing to grace our Second Life with his elegant and beautiful sonorities. I know it is always difficult to get great musicians to perform in Second Life, but they really should. It is such a fantastic way to reach a global audience in a very effective manner. Granted there is a lot of grass root efforts that needs to be done, but it is possible and one can really reach a ton of people here over time and build a good group of supporters. And whoever says classical music is dead have not ever attended a classical music concert in Second Life. Young Zeid draws a crowd that rivals any other musician in Second Life.

Young Zeid is definitely a performer that I recommend everyone in Second Life must check out at least once - and did I mention he's got a good sense of humor! Though do definitely stick around long enough to hear both his uptempo and slower works performances if you are planning on only "checking it out." But something tells me you are most likely going to stay longer then you planned. And whether you like or dislike Classical Music, you have to at least listen to him and know that musicians of this calibar do in fact exist and perform in our wonderful Metaverse!
Read more!

Music Review: JeanChristophe Chevalier @ Star Bar Martini Jazz Club

Second Life Live Music Review
Written by Enniv Zarf
Originally from Metaverse Music
JeanChristophe Chevalier
Star Bar Martini Jazz Club

I love a guitarist, especially as a solo instrument. I think the instrument can really speak, but is so often overshadowed by singers and songs that we don't listen to the guitar enough. (I love the fact that he flats out says in his profile that he's "not a singer (even if [he] sings in the bathroom!), just a music player." Kudos to you JeanChristophe!

So I'm glad to find JeanChristophe Chevalier and his guitar playing. He's a French musician, 47 years old and have been playing since he was 6. By the way, I also just realized that I'm in European time right now so that's why there are a bunch of names I haven't really seen since I don't really pay attention to what's going on in SL Live Music when it's in the middle of the day. Well I never paid enough attention to it anyways before this site, so it's a great thing for me right now.

Now comparing JeanChristophe with another great Second Life guitarist Joaquin Gustav, he's different. He is much lighter in his performance. His music is much more pure and light while Joaquin is a bit more heavy mostly because of the Latin choice of repertoire too. They are both great, just different. I think JeanChristophe's music is just perfect for me the way it is. I absolutely love it.

I really feel like I'm sitting at a private studio, listening in on a real gem in SL. You know I have noticed more and more that a lot of the great instrumentalist often have a turn out that's smaller then even the worst of singers in SL. It really is a shame. I just wish that everyone will give non-singers a chance too given especially there are so many bad singers here. Of course there are great ones too like Blue4u and Katia. But these instrumentalist are usually great, or at least pretty good.

JeanChristophe is really good, and I would say one of the best musician I have heard in SL. It's just so musical, the way he plays everything. It's all very sweet and very elegantely played. Nothing is really forced. Every note that comes out is meaningful and thought through. His guitar just speaks beautifully the variety of things he's played. He even changes his inworld guitar to go along with his RL changes.

Later on in his set (well I was only there for the second half ya know. I gotta keep reviewing stuff), he played a wonderful Celtic piece. And my was it gorgeous. The simplicity of his music is just absolutely charming and brilliant! Seriously, take your date to his concert and you and your date will be charmed and taken to a totally different world where life was good and simple!

Do check out JeanChristophe, really I recommend him with my highest recommendation in SL. His music is just wonderful. I think I just have to give him a bit more linden love for his music. Wish I could give more, but I got too many concerts to go to and I'm a poor musician here.

Well I'm officially charmed. I don't know how I can go to another concert after this!
Read more!

Music Review: jaynine Scarborough @ Appassionato Concert Hall

Second Life Live Music Review
Written by Enniv Zarf
Classical Music in Second Life
jaynine Scarborough
Appassionato Resort SLURL

I am a classically trained musician so any time there is a classical musician on and I'm free on Second Life, I try to pop over and support them.

I did pop over at the beginning of the concert to hear her, but left to another concert since it was having a late start. But now I'm back!

Jaynine performed a mix of classic and folk songs in the concert today, and her voice is gorgeous. To top it off she plays her own guitar to accompany her own singing of even some opera tunes. That's really a rare find. Fantastic.

Today she sings at the Appassionato Resort, which is ran by Young Zeid and Izabela Jaworower both real life violinists. I'm very happy to know that there are a few very fantastic classical venue here with wonderful classical musicians. In general classical concerts tends to be more reliable in quality, but there are the occasional fluke like an earlier review I did, but I won't go into that again.

Jaynine definitely has a wonderful classical voice, very powerful and very dramatic. I do wish that I could hear her live in real life one day, but I'll settle for even Second Life any day.

Along with her singing, Jaynine has a very beautiful tone in her guitar playing. It does compliment her singing today, especially many of her folk songs. They just carry through this really wonderful sweetness that really resonate and echoes the feel of tranquility of the great open outdoors. I absolutely love folk songs. The simplicity of these music are just divine.

Jaynine does have her own style to her singing and adds definitely her own touch to the music and song. The way she takes brings out the wonderful harmonies, especially the distant chords are just special and heavenly. Her sustain notes are solid and carries fluidly from one to another effortlessly. What more can I ask for on a beautiful Tuesday morning then a lovely voice carrying through solidly beautiful folk songs!

Later in concert, she performed a fun dance song that's just funny in a very good way. It's absolutely a treat to hear a well trained, well rehearsed classical musician doing a funny song and just having a fun time.

To top it off, she even sings Beatles, and her take on it is just so different and unique. It really is different to hear her do Eleanor Rigby, it's just nifty to hear some of the stuff she does with her voice. She really takes her liberty, mixing in her classical training with some pop elements and even some contemporary vocal techniques delivering just simply a fascinating yet still fantastic rendition of this classical Beatles song. Though someone at one point said Paul MacCarthy sucks compared to this in open chat, I would say it sure is a different experience, one that should be experienced by anyone who just loves music and wants to hear boundaries broken and lines crossed.

Don't think of jaynine as your typical Classical artist that your parents knew from the opera house. Jaynine will surprise you with just about anything and everything that comes out of her mouth is guaranteed to be awesome.

Whether you are a classical music lover or just a voice lover, I think you will love Jaynine's singing of folk songs. Somehow I always envision scenes from Lord of the Ring whenever I hear these sorts of song sung in this beautiful manner. It's not heavy classical. She doesn't give me the let's vibrato the heck out of the voice type of singing. She understand the nature of folk songs and delivers them with elegance and grace.

So if you are looking for something sweet, something beautiful, something fun and fantastic, delivered by a wonderful musician and a brilliant performer, I highly recommend Jaynine to anyone who loves a great voice in Second Life.
Read more!

Enniv Zarf's Concert Recap - Nov. 29, 2008

Written by Enniv Zarf
Metaverse Music
Second Life Live Music
Enniv Zarf's Home

Alright, I finally have some time to write up a post about my own playing today, it was definitely a crazy concert.

Now since I am writing this myself, I can't really be reviewing my own music. It just wouldn't be fair now would it. I am sure some people like it and some will have their own thoughts and opinions about it. Nevertheless it's still my own music so I won't review it. But if you were at the concert and want to drop your own review, please feel free to make a comment here. Just please keep in mind that if you do so anonymously, I may remove some if they are extremely inappropriate since there's no one to trace it back to...lol. Ok I really won't unless if there are foul language used!

Well today, I literally played for an entire hour non-stop, ok, it was 50 mins, I checked, cause I have the recording, which I am planning to release.

Well it was definitely different and I didn't know what to expect if anyone even stayed till the end. I was like thinking will I finish and turn to the audience and they'd be completely gone cause they didn't get what I was doing. I mean I'm here playing a 50 minute epic improv!!!! Who in the world does that!!!!

Apparently I do, and I did.

The concert was amazing and Gwen's sculpture is just as amazing as ever - Fire Heart was the end result.

We started with 1 prim, I asked her to rez out a single prim and then I'll start improving to just 1 prim...and I did. I told her I could play to anything, and play to anything I did!

I did try to bring some coherency to the entire performance by bringing in recurring themes and ideas so that it doesn't sound like a 50 minutes stream of consciousness. And much of that is derived from that single prim concept of the sphere and the circular motion that is created from the idea of the sphere.

Throughout the concert I did explore the different parts of the sculpture, the new ideas being introduced, along with techniques Gwen used, and colors and sizing and everything else.

The concert was just fantastic fun to play, cause rarely do I get a chance to play 50 minutes straight. The time did pass right by too, and I didn't even realize it. Just watching Gwen create and just feeding off of that really was tremendously helpful in trying to get the music to continue to go and move.

Now I'm just trying to figure out the best way to release this recording which I am pretty certain I want to be doing, but I still need to figure out the best way. I'm pretty sure though it would be a Second Life only release, since I'm not sure if it's viable to release in RL at all.

Well I look forward to my next concert, which I have to post soon about it, and start pushing that concert. It's just one after another here!!! Dec. 3, 2008, 8pmSLT everyone!!! See you at my gallery!!!
Read more!

Review: Joaquin Gustav @ CATs Club

Written by Enniv Zarf
Second Life Indie Music Review
Joaquin's Website
CATs Club SLURL

Joaquin Gustav have got to be one of my favorite if not the favorite guitarist in all of Second Life, and I'm very glad to have caught the IM about his music today!

Origianlly from Argentina, I believe Joaquin is actually still there and streaming from there, which is a definitely change of pace from most musicians in SL who's from the US or Europe that I know.

Joaquin plays classical guitar, but performs a lot of pop tunes along with various latin mixes of music.

It's always different to listen in on a live stream of a non-native English speaker, though his English is very good. He does have his Latin American accent which is also a nice different sound and works very well with his music of course.

Listening to his performance almost feels like I'm standing in the middle of some South American plaza and is a very fun feel. I did arrive about 35 minutes after the hour to his concert so I didn't hear the beginning and I think he was kind of at his bottom of the hour slow down so not a whole lot was really happening when I first got there.

Later in the hour he also sang a Bassa Nova tune that was pretty fun to listen to. Now although I would not put Joaquin among the greatest singers alive, but he is fun to listen to and fitting to what he's playing. And he didn't have any pitch problems that I hear in even some of the actual performers who are known as singers. Joaquin's singing did however really transported me off to a different world, making me feel like I am in a different land, experiencing a different culture. And I think this is actually the first time I heard him sing, or maybe I just didn't remember the other times since usually he only plays guitar.

His guitar playing techniques is flawless and just exceptional. The tones that comes of his guitar is just pretty and beautiful all the way. It's like little bursts of heaven in little bubbles popping, releasing those little tasty tidbits of wonderfulness through the computer monitor.

So if you ever want to hear a great guitar player on Second Life, Joaquin is definitely on my must listen to list of guitarists to listen to in the Metaverse!

Alright I get to enjoy another 10 more minutes of Joaquin's music before I head off to yet another online concert on this Black Friday. I guess no photography for me today!
Read more!