tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-71655288896276776452024-03-05T04:17:52.624-08:00Music IslandKate Mirandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17740956164355102313noreply@blogger.comBlogger161125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7165528889627677645.post-12518078984401866242012-09-24T01:36:00.000-07:002012-09-24T01:38:29.701-07:00New article on music in Second Life <a href="http://hplusmagazine.com/2012/09/19/invited-essay-future-of-work-musical-performance-in-virtual-reality-music-island-five-years-of-virtual-concerts-in-the-park/?utm_source=buffer&buffer_share=a6b29">Music Island: Five Years of “Virtual Concerts in the Park”</a><br />
An article I recently published in my default identity in H+ magazine.
Kate Mirandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17740956164355102313noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7165528889627677645.post-20499552048835588482011-12-03T19:22:00.000-08:002011-12-04T06:36:23.180-08:00A vibrant and busy December Schedule<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AiMF18GhiZc/TtroC_GC2aI/AAAAAAAAIiY/kp3QjXAUMsU/s1600/Winter.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 271px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AiMF18GhiZc/TtroC_GC2aI/AAAAAAAAIiY/kp3QjXAUMsU/s400/Winter.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5682109017875470754" border="0" /></a><br />For the latest schedule and information on the web visit http://musicisland.spruz.com<br /><br />Sat Dec 3, 2 pm SLT<br />Voodoo Shilton, guitar<br /><br />Wed Dec 7 6 pm SLT<br />Duo Appassionato, violins/viola<br />Winter holiday concert<br /><br />Sat Dec 10 2 pm SLT<br />Tip Corbett, composer, pianist<br /><br />Sun Dec 11 1 pm SLT<br />Kain Scalia, tenor<br />Once Upon a Winter<br /><br />Sat Dec 17, 11 am SLT<br />Let's Talk Classical Music<br />A Classical Christmas<br />with host, Aelthing Aeon<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JRqWHtsx9Jg/TtuFMmQwPCI/AAAAAAAAIjY/KFY2Nd7xjo4/s1600/schumanndec_2012sign.png"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 291px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JRqWHtsx9Jg/TtuFMmQwPCI/AAAAAAAAIjY/KFY2Nd7xjo4/s400/schumanndec_2012sign.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5682281806333754402" /></a>Sun Dec 18, 2 pm SLT<br />Schumann Duo<br />piano, oboe and surprises<br /><br />Wed Dec 21, 1 pm SLT<br />Fingersatz Barbosa, classical guitar<br /><br />Sat Dec 31 12 pm SLT<br />NEW YEARS REZZ-OLUTIONS<br />Cypress Rosewood, ambient musicKate Mirandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17740956164355102313noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7165528889627677645.post-64543453235250352112011-11-20T19:29:00.000-08:002011-11-20T19:50:34.490-08:00November 27 Women in SL MusicWhat's this?<br /><br />No concert at Music Island this week?<br /><br />Yes, but wait!<br /><br />It's time for the annual festival of SL Women in Music offered in partnership with Ohio State University's Department of Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies. This year the festival will be a kick off event for16 Days of Action against Gender Violence with events in RL and SL both.<br /><a href="http://slurl.com/secondlife/Minerva/10/10/29/">http://slurl.com/secondlife/Minerva/10/10/29/</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pEca55HIUTA/TsnJTacTDVI/AAAAAAAAIiI/pZ-3zZfnnTs/s1600/Women%2527s%2Bfest%2Bposter%2BTake3.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pEca55HIUTA/TsnJTacTDVI/AAAAAAAAIiI/pZ-3zZfnnTs/s400/Women%2527s%2Bfest%2Bposter%2BTake3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5677290140629929298" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">11 am Cindy Ecksol, folk </span><p style="font-weight: bold;"> 12 noon AMFORTE Clarity, rock</p><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span><p style="font-weight: bold;"> 1 pm Prowess Rayna, piano</p><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span><p style="font-weight: bold;"> 2 pm SonyaJevette Charisma, blues</p><span style="font-weight: bold;"> 3 pm Choo Choo Chicks, vocal trio with live ensemble..</span><br /><br /><p> <strong>DETAILS: </strong></p> <strong>11 am Cindy Ecksol - American Folk</strong><br />Cindy Ecksol has been making and teaching music with voice, autoharp, fiddle and a variety of other instruments for as long as she can remember. She is particularly interested in traditional music of many varieties, and her repertoire includes everything from Irish tunes and Israeli dance music played on autoharp to dark Appalachian fiddle tunes from the mountains of West Virginia. But her playful side can't resist amusing modern songs about real life, which somehow co-exist with folk songs from long ago.<br /><br /><strong>12 pm AMForte Clarity - Rock and Blues</strong><br />Driven to succeed, A.M.Forte has sought out different avenues for exposure. As a singer/songwriter, she will never give up in her dreams . With Punk/Rock/Pop flairs, this artist has influences that include, U2, Nirvana, RadioHead, Alanis Morrissette, Coldplay, MCR, AAR, The Cranberries, Our Lady Peace and Elliott Smith. She WON the Best of SL Magazine Musician of 2009 Ministry of Motion Contest!<br /><br /><strong>Visit her at the following Websites:</strong><br />http://www.amforte.com<br />http://www.myspace.com/amforte<br />http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFMvM0JSOXc<br /><br /><strong>1 pm Prowess Rayna, piano</strong><br />Prowess Rayna, a true artist on the piano, began playing at 3, composing at 7 & performing professionally by 14. Countless souls have been uplifted by her sensuous, passionate expression, fluid technique & beautiful melodies. Her reputation flourishes as she shares her evolving talents with live music lovers in SL<br /><br /><br /><strong>2 pm SonyaJevette Charisma</strong><br />The words sultry, cool, and eccentric best describe the singer, songwriter, and musician Sonya Jevette. She grew up singing to the great R&B tunes that dominated the airwaves in the seventies. As a teen she honed her vocal talent through the church choir. Winning a talent contest at the age of seventeen was the beginning of Jevette's journey. From there, she went on to win dozens of competitions. These successes translated into media attention from radio & newspaper with appearances at over one hundred festivals.<br /><br />Jevette combines her rich, passionate voice and her gut-wrenching lyrics with classical, latin and jazz style guitar. Jevette's configuration produces a style that can only be described as unique.<br /><br />http://www.iTunes.com/sonyajevette<br />http://www.cdbaby.com/sonyajevette<br /><br /><strong>3 pm The Choo Choo Chicks</strong><br />The Choo Choo Chicks are sassy, sizzling jazz and blues live from Red Lotus Records in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Tight harmonies and a kickin' rhythm section are the hallmarks of this group, who perform original music written by lead singer Angua Ashbourne and cover the classics from Robert Johnson to Lady Day.<br /><br />Weblinks: www.redlotusrecords.net http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B5V0F-9xMuoKate Mirandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17740956164355102313noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7165528889627677645.post-23041029635052314202011-11-18T07:06:00.000-08:002011-11-18T07:12:06.737-08:00Nov 19 "Let's Talk Classical Music" with Aelthing Aeon<h3>Let's Talk Classical Music<br />November 19 @ 11 am SLT<br /><a href="http://tinyurl.com/3drkgv3">Music Island, Sea Turtle Island</a></h3>Like to listen and learn about classical music? Aelthing Aeon, a guest lecturer with the National Federation of Recorded Music Societies (UK) will present an informative talk on selected classical recordings. This month's topic "Innovation and Conservation in Early Music".<br /><br />The format for this series is selected recordings on the SL music stream accompanied by informative text chat by the host. Questions and comments from the audience in text are welcome during the presentation.Kate Mirandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17740956164355102313noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7165528889627677645.post-89668284939504037292011-11-18T06:54:00.000-08:002011-11-18T07:13:10.327-08:00Nov. 20 Atheene Dodonpa: Songs of the Anunciation & Advent Season<div style="text-align: center;">Atheene Dodonpa, soprano<br />Early Songs of the Anunciation & Advent Season<br />(live concert in 3D virtual reality)<br />Sunday November 20, 2011<br />12 noon SLT (Pacific Time)<br /><a href="http://tinyurl.com/3drkgv3">Music Island, Sea Turtle Island<br /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MsnmpYIXvt0/TsZyrA8iEeI/AAAAAAAAIho/DKMoOOY_4wY/s1600/atheenenov.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 278px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MsnmpYIXvt0/TsZyrA8iEeI/AAAAAAAAIho/DKMoOOY_4wY/s400/atheenenov.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5676350463660921314" border="0" /></a><br /></div><p>Atheene Dodonpa is the pre-eminent wandering minstrel of Second Life, entertaining townsfolk and castle dwellers alike with authentic music from many cultures delivered in her thrilling soprano, accompanying herself on period instruments and illuminating the audience with warm, engaging, explanatory chat.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 153);">PROGRAM:</span><br /></p><p> <strong>Songs of the Annunciation and the Advent Season</strong></p> <p><br /><strong>4 Early Syrian hymns</strong><br /></p><ul><li> <em>Yawnu Tlitu</em> (Little Dove, Birth of Christ)</li><li> <em>Qurbone Qarebun</em> (Prayer of the Priests)</li><li><em> Enono nuhro shariro</em> (I´m the true Light)</li><li><em>Ayn Qai</em> (People died in faith)</li></ul><p> <br /><strong>6 songs from the Laudario di Firenze</strong><br /></p><ul><li><em>Laude novella </em>(Virgin Mary)</li><li><em>Voi ch´amate lo criatore</em> (Virgin Mary´s lament)</li><li><em>Novel canto dolce sancto</em> (Apostle Thomas)</li><li><em>Peccatrice nominata</em> (Mary Magdalene)</li><li><em>Sancto Marco glorioso</em> (Evangelist Mark)</li><li><em>Sancto Symeom beato</em> (Simeon who saw the baby Jesus)</li></ul><p> <br /><strong>3 songs by Hildegard von Bingen</strong><br /></p><ul><li><em>O quam preciosa</em> (Virgin Mary)</li><li><em>O nobilissima viriditas </em>(Praising the virginity)</li><li><em>Mathias sanctus</em> (Evangelist Matthew)</li></ul><p> <br /><br /><strong>The Florence Laudario</strong> is a collection of monophonic hymns dating from the 14th century, and is only one of two extant that include the written music, the other being the Cortona Laudario from the 13th century. The Florence Laudario belonged to the Company of Santo Spirito, an ensemble of “laudesi” (much like a group of cantors, or even a schola), which sung the compline service every evening for the Church of Santo Spirito. A church of any renown had its company of laudesi whose chief job it was to help the congregation sing the hymns, the way we still use cantors today. Hymns were composed with a ritornello (“refrain”) that was easy enough for the congregation to learn. All text, notably, was in the vernacular, not in Latin, again providing the congregation with access to the language. This is probably why these hymns are still around in some version or another. Unlike the Cortonese who kept their laude simple, the laudesi of Florence, being Florentine, of course refined and ornamented their laude such that only trained singers could successfully sing the complex bits. However, the ritornello was always there to return to, and the congregations could, and would, join in.<br />-<a href="http://www.google.ca/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=%22laudario%20di%20firenze%22&source=web&cd=25&ved=0CDEQFjAEOBQ&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.clausura.org%2Fprograms%2FGloria_12.2010.pdf&ei=f6XFToeCKsjd0QH8u4XmDg&usg=AFQjCNG9u8RjTHYZU6IVpvPoHRCEGFfLkw&sig2=igE_Akpw9Rn9eTf8haSYww&cad=rja"> Amelia LeClair</a></p> <p> </p> <p> <strong>HILDEGARD VON BINGEN</strong>, <span class="st">(1098-1179), </span><span class="H_body_text"> was a remarkable woman, a "first" in many fields. At a time when few women wrote, Hildegard, known as "Sybil of the Rhine", produced major works of theology and visionary writings. When few women were accorded respect, she was consulted by and advised bishops, popes, and kings. She used the curative powers of natural objects for healing, and wrote treatises about natural history and medicinal uses of plants, animals, trees and stones. She is the first composer whose biography is known. </span>Clearly a force to<br />contend with, she wrote books and letters on all of the above topics, traveled widely, and penned what is arguably the first opera in western music, the “Ordo Virtutem”. <span class="H_body_text">She founded a vibrant convent, where her musical plays were performed. </span>Her music is radically different from the chant that surrounded her: she takes great leaps of fifths followed by fourths frequently (thus spanning an octave), and the expressive writing is not meant for the faint of heart. She obviously had very well trained singers at her disposal. Her poetry is raw and wonderful, and has no known precedent.</p> <p> <span class="H_body_text">Although not yet canonized, Hildegard has been beatified, and is frequently referred to as St. Hildegard. Revival of interest in this extraordinary woman of the middle ages was initiated by musicologists and historians of science and religion. More controversially, Hildegard's music had been adapted and interpreted by the New Age movement, whose music bears some resemblance to Hildegard's ethereal airs. </span></p> <span class="H_body_text">Her story is important to all students of medieval history and culture and an inspirational account of an irresistible spirit and vibrant intellect overcoming social, physical, cultural, gender barriers to achieve timeless transcendence. </span> For her, Mary, the mother of Jesus, was a frequent artistic theme.Kate Mirandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17740956164355102313noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7165528889627677645.post-72697213156994428352011-11-11T12:05:00.000-08:002011-11-11T12:09:29.126-08:00Saturday November 12 Champagne Rain, piano<span style="font-weight: bold;">CHAMPAGNE RAIN, piano and voice</span> <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 102, 102);"><br />SAT Nov 12 @ 12 PM</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Music Island, Sea Turtle Island </span><br /><a href="http://slurl.com/secondlife/Sea%20Turtle%20Island/56/23/25">http://slurl.com/secondlife/Sea%20Turtle%20Island/56/23/25</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GTrgAXhVNOw/Tr2Al__sBQI/AAAAAAAAIgY/Ens666Dtuv4/s1600/Aug6Concert7.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 313px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GTrgAXhVNOw/Tr2Al__sBQI/AAAAAAAAIgY/Ens666Dtuv4/s400/Aug6Concert7.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5673832495878767874" border="0" /></a><br /><br />ABOUT THE ARTIST:<br />Champagne Rain is an Eastern European born Classical Pianist. She has devoted most of her life to acquiring performing skills at the Kiev Conservatory and has, in real life, performed in the world's most prestigious concert venues, including Vienna's Musikverein Golden Hall. She has recorded 6 CD's of concert and solo work.<br /><br />In SL, she is also sharing her second musical talent, a lovely operatic voice, sharing some of her favorite arias and lieder.Kate Mirandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17740956164355102313noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7165528889627677645.post-76343520943939244482011-11-09T10:06:00.000-08:002011-11-11T12:05:07.297-08:00Conservation and Innovation in Early MusicThree events over the next week will explore this theme:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Nov 13 12 noon Christine Montgomery, violin & compostion</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">"Plugged-In Vivaldi"</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">ABOUT THE ARTIST:</span><br />Chrissie Caulfield is a violinist and composer working principally in contemporary, ambient and rock idioms. She plays electric violin in the Progressive Rock band Catscans, has played solo at various venues including Colchester New Music and will be holding a masterclass in electric violin techniques in that city later this year. She is also a founder member of the contemporary music band ‘Midnight Llama’ based in West Yorkshire, UK. She has toured Europe with the rock band Crippled Black Phoenix and appears on the latest album “Relic” by guitarist Matt Stevens.<br /><br />As a composer, Chrissie is largely self-taught, but has taken tuition and advice from Ben Oliver, John Habron, Scott McLaughlin and anyone else who will listen. Her compositional style is eclectic and takes in a number of diverse influences from the baroque masters to Schnittke, Swedish folk music, Pink Floyd, distortion pedals and the noise cats make when licking foil. She is, as Douglas Adams would have it, “a great fan of science” and frequently uses scientific and mathematical themes in her music, though is not above tweaking mathematical systems for musical effect.<br /><br />She lives in Leeds with a large number of cats, some strange instruments, and possibly too many computers and/or effects pedals.<br /><br />This is what happens to classical music when you remove its inhibitions, lend it to a prog-rocker and then try to play the tattered remains when it comes back two years later covered in cat pawprints<br /><br />http://www.facebook.com/l/wAQGGmtt9AQEGqxUtPqsoJM_0Q4SMmCty0uRrX-KVH5-1sw/chrissieviolin.info<br />http://www.facebook.com/l/fAQH94bDEAQGNluN6kIaT6bP9CPC-LDYLo-YK8IsbNOPQDw/midnightllama.info<br />http://www.facebook.com/l/4AQGNdWpjAQEISPTEtuBssF9ZRn8ddoMiqU-4vnVdjeb7zA/catscansband.com<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Nov 19 11 am Aelthing Aeon, guided listening</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Conservation and Innovation</span><br /><br />Like to listen and learn about classical music? Whether you are new to classical music or an avid collector of recordings, you are always sure to learn something new at this monthly talk. Aelthing Aeon, a guest lecturer with the National Federation of Recorded Music Societies in the UK will present an informative talk on selected classical recordings, including some rare performances on CD. This month, Ael will be talking about and contrasting performances on period & modern instruments.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Nov 20 12 noon Atheene Dodonpa, Early Music</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">ABOUT THE ARTIST:</span><br />Lady Atheene Dodonpa is the leading Lady minstrel performing medieval music in SL. She is a professional musician in both worlds, so her live medieval music moments are guaranteed to be authentic and unique.<br /><br />Lady Atheene accompanies her voice with several instruments: recorders and pipes, bells, rebec, symphonie, bowed psaltery, 5-stringed kantele, organ and celtic harp. Her performances have already been a source of joy for hundreds of people in SL and she will continue to sing and tell the enchanting stories for the recidents of all regions she is invited to also in the future, of course, God willing.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw-xc6-fDlhQldC0UOCFztIT7BhrBnHEcQLRo5feHF1ITSMQQXZFLaQXmnSxMCT_tqsTpeeR9-RLlEluHrBcCP-neo0xpoXaBn5BUZFD-hXiMB7cus_A6azFoLLA0ZZ0LJ-inRsy7wCwE/s1600/atheenenov.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 278px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw-xc6-fDlhQldC0UOCFztIT7BhrBnHEcQLRo5feHF1ITSMQQXZFLaQXmnSxMCT_tqsTpeeR9-RLlEluHrBcCP-neo0xpoXaBn5BUZFD-hXiMB7cus_A6azFoLLA0ZZ0LJ-inRsy7wCwE/s400/atheenenov.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5673831492280407730" border="0" /></a>Kate Mirandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17740956164355102313noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7165528889627677645.post-77726112927574020582011-09-13T08:16:00.000-07:002011-09-13T08:28:46.461-07:00Atheene Dodonpa stars in "Alvido in Abo"Wondering where SL's Atheene Dodonpa has been? Here's the scoop, and the link to a recording. Her summer project was performing in a 1692 <a href="http://areena.yle.fi/audio/1314461475461"> opera </a>Alvido in Abo. Listen online. (If you don't speak Finnish advance about 10 minutes to skip the narrative introduction. )Kate Mirandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17740956164355102313noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7165528889627677645.post-56804219406898344892011-09-10T12:30:00.001-07:002011-09-10T12:33:27.478-07:00Sept 11 "The Language of Peace" 12 noon SLT<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_xagn4_iQHw/Tmu7HoIenNI/AAAAAAAAIbw/vzX6Wyl2peg/s1600/Sandia%2B%2526%2BShrprav%2BSeptember.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 270px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_xagn4_iQHw/Tmu7HoIenNI/AAAAAAAAIbw/vzX6Wyl2peg/s400/Sandia%2B%2526%2BShrprav%2BSeptember.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5650815897172876498" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">"The language of peace"</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">Shprav OODLES & Sandia BEAUMONT, piano, harpsichord & organ </span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">Sunday Sept 11 @ 12 pm (NOON) </span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">Music Island, Sea Turtle Island</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">http://slurl.com/secondlife/Sea%20Turtle%20Island/54/21/23</span><br /><br />PROGRAM:<br />Bartok Grasshopper Wedding<br />Heliodoro de Paiva Tento de IV Tom<br />Bartok BEAR dance<br />Tchaikovsky June Barcarolle<br />Handel Sonatina in A minor<br />Improv<br />Bartok: Slovakian Boys Dance<br />Sondheim: Send in the Clowns<br />Chopin/Beaumont: Cat & Dog<br />Improv<br />Debussy: Arabesque<br />Oodles: Africa LaughingKate Mirandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17740956164355102313noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7165528889627677645.post-63403852776542669412011-09-07T09:22:00.000-07:002011-09-07T09:25:52.785-07:00Is there a creative economy in Second Life?In the context of a maillist discussion, this video was posted, sparking my comments as below. <br /><iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/28561921?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0" width="400" height="225" frameborder="0"></iframe><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/28561921">SLCC 2011 The Creative Economy In Second Live by Sitearm Madonna aka James Neville</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/sitearm">Sitearm Madonna</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p><br /><br />It is interesting to note that Richard Florida moved to Canada, citing in part the Canadian national and Toronto civic understanding of the role of the public sector in supporting cultural assets for the creative economy. Second Life by contrast is a very libertarian, free-enterprise environment with extremely limited public support for the inworld arts community.<br /><br />Different art forms are able to support themselves more or less in a free market system depending upon costs, popularity, and market fluctuations in ticket prices or art sales. Only the "lowest common denominator" in the arts are able to survive solely on earned revenues: pop music, mass-market films, etc. The economic formulas for successful museums, orchestras, opera companies have been remarkably stable for more than 100 years and across national borders although the form of public support may vary. In one nation it is all direct grants, in others there are mail discounts, some offer tax breaks for private/corporate donors or subsidies to concert halls for the provision of free or inexpensive facilities. I can expound in a lot of detail on this topic (and have elsewhere). In 1881 when the Boston Symphony was founded (the first professional symphony in N. America) the Board proposed a business plan to the City of Boston that showed only 50% of revenues coming from ticket sales. The rest of the income was to come from government 25% and private/corporate donors 25%. With slight variations, that is the formula for a successful orchestra today. If government support & private support goes down and you raise ticket prices, people stop coming. If you reduce costs by using lower quality musicians or a cheaper hall, people stop coming. There is no way to beat the formula in the long run. (God knows I have tried, like every other artistic manager in the biz.)<br /><br />Second Life arts is full of dedicated volunteers, curious arts experimenters and trial projects. It is not home to many arts projects that are professional and sustainable. (I can't name one.) Every year that I have run Music Island, I have seen colleagues leave Second Life because their efforts have not been sustainable. Sometimes they leave happy for the good experiences and sad to not be able to continue, other times they leave bitter and disillusioned. Reasons for disillusionment vary. My own series is made possible because I elected to work parttime because I found SL music interesting and restorative. The cost to me and my family was about a $25,000 reduction in income annually for the past two years. Had I taken that step in order to launch.... oh... a chamber series in a Toronto church, I have absolutely no doubt that I could have raised more than enough from Canadian arts foundations & others to pay myself and the artists. However Second Life is a different animal. RL arts funders are interested in RL arts projects in a particular location featuring local or national artists. International virtual projects are too "far out", outside the scope of the funders, and on top of that Linden Lab seems intent on sending a marketing message about the world that is not welcoming to education and culture, but rather highlights the social and game-like elements. Within the virtual world itself I feel there is little understanding by Linden Lab of the vital role cultural assets have played in making the community attractive to its creative class, the damage that has been done to that creative class by driving out educators and non-profits, and the number of arts series, like my own, that are running out of steam. The libertarian philosophy that seems to be at the core of Linden thinking is that if something is worthwhile it will be able to raise its own funding in the free market. History refutes this view. Historically the arts have only flourished with the support of the King, the Church, or democratic governments. I'm not sure which of these the Lindens are most like, but whichever, there is little public arts support available within SL.<br /><br />I'd like to add that I am far from bitter or disillusioned. I made my own decisions and I have found the generosity of the musicians that perform at Music Island, humbling and heart-warming. We are all here for the music and the fans, but persevere despite the Lindens and the crass free-enterprise, commercial & adult-entertainment community they have fostered.Kate Mirandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17740956164355102313noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7165528889627677645.post-48398669154458293842011-09-02T08:58:00.000-07:002011-09-02T11:33:02.680-07:00Labour Day Weekend Events<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TkiTRmdRm9M/TmD_6-FxnAI/AAAAAAAAIag/bNaovaI6oxE/s1600/Chapman%2BLabour%2BDay.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 271px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TkiTRmdRm9M/TmD_6-FxnAI/AAAAAAAAIag/bNaovaI6oxE/s400/Chapman%2BLabour%2BDay.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647795321287318530" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">In Second Life this Labour Day Weekend? Super! Music Island, Cedar Island and Virtual Ability have got together to have a bunch of great events for you to do</span>
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<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Saturday, September 3</span> </span><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">8 am SLT- </span>Labor Literature- readings by Bathsheba Darkfold and Chaoite Resident
<br /><a href="http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Cape%20Serenity/84/123/23">Cape Serenity Library</a> (text and voice)</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">noon SLT</span>- Chapman Zane- Music from the Kentucky Hills and Coal Mines
<br /><a href="http://tinyurl.com/3drkgv3">Music Island, Sea Turtle Island </a>
<br /></span></p><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"> </span><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">1 pm SLT</span> Ronin1 Shippe Art Opening - <a href="http://slurl.com/secondlife/Cedar%20Island/73/149/22">Cedar Island Public Square</a>
<br /></span></p><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;"> </span><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"> <span style="font-weight: bold;">2 pm</span><span> </span>Film and discussion "Salt of the Earth" 1954 at <a href="http://slurl.com/secondlife/Sea%20Turtle%20Island/158/191/60">Sea Turtle Island Lodge</a>
<br /></span></p><div class="im" style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" >Sunday, September<span> </span>4</span> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">All day</span>-Ronin1 Shippe Art Show Continues,
<br /><a href="http://slurl.com/secondlife/Cedar%20Island/73/149/22">Cedar Island Public Square</a>
<br /></span></p></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">11 am SLT</span>- Labor Literature- readings by Bathsheba Darkfold and Ladyslipper Constantine
<br /><a href="http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Cape%20Serenity/84/123/23">Cape Serenity Library </a>(text and voice)</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">1 pm SLT </span></span>Tour of Fenimore Art Gallery, A project of the Fenimore Art Museum in Cooperstown, NY, the repository of one of America's greatest collections of American art and American folk art. All from New England, this is one of the finest assemblages of America's artistic heritage anywhere.
<br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Cape%20Able/110/124/23">Cape Able</a>
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<br /><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yQDhHnqw4WY/TmEASRMYkdI/AAAAAAAAIao/QijYby3nUK8/s1600/Cindy_LabourDay.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 262px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yQDhHnqw4WY/TmEASRMYkdI/AAAAAAAAIao/QijYby3nUK8/s400/Cindy_LabourDay.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647795721552302546" border="0" /></a></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" >Monday, September 5</span></p><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">noon SLT-<span> </span>Cindy Ecksol Concert - "Have you been to jail for justice"
<br /><a href="http://tinyurl.com/3drkgv3">Music Island, Sea Turtle Island</a>
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<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">1 pm SLT</span> Chad Mikado of the National Service Inclusion Project </span><span style="font-size:100%;"> "Contributing our volunteer labour virtually".
<br /><a href="http://tinyurl.com/3drkgv3">Music Island, Sea Turtle Island. </a>
<br /></span> </div><div class="im"><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204);padding-left:1ex"><div><div dir="ltr"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">All day</span>-Ronin1 Shippe Art Show Continues, <a href="http://slurl.com/secondlife/Cedar%20Island/73/149/22">Cedar Island Public Square</a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">5 pm SLT- Labor Literature- readings by Bathsheba Darkfold and Gentle Heron
<br /><span style="font-family:Helvetica;"></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Helvetica;"><a href="http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Cape%20Serenity/84/123/23">Cape Serenity Library </a>(text and voice)</span></p><p class="MsoNormal">
<br />The Labor LIterature will be poetry, short stories, and pithy quotations, with a smattering of labor history included.
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<br /> </div></div> </blockquote></div>
<br />Kate Mirandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17740956164355102313noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7165528889627677645.post-46230611815681596172011-08-12T03:17:00.000-07:002011-08-12T03:19:29.980-07:00Miriam Forsythe concert postponedMiriam Forsythe, scheduled for a concert this week August 13 at noon, has had to postpone her concert due to a flare up of a painful ganglian cyst.
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<br />We all wish Miriam a speedy recovery and hope she'll be back with us soon at Music Island.
<br />Kate Mirandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17740956164355102313noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7165528889627677645.post-76945266735913430062011-08-10T08:52:00.000-07:002011-08-12T03:03:50.032-07:00Saturday August 13 Joaquin Gustav, 2 pm SLT<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pgzaeeWsI3Q/TkKrhDUKmdI/AAAAAAAAIYs/NIvVHbJyYDo/s1600/Joaquin%2BAUG.png"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 271px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pgzaeeWsI3Q/TkKrhDUKmdI/AAAAAAAAIYs/NIvVHbJyYDo/s400/Joaquin%2BAUG.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5639258267735202258" border="0" /></a>
<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Joaquin Gustav, latin guitar</span>
<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Music Island, Sea Turtle Island</span>
<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">August 13, 2 pm SLT</span>
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<br />Joaquin is a highly trained guitarist, born and received his music education in Buenos Aires, Argentina, the birthplace of tango. Out of his fingers comes an array of string sounds that blend the colors of Latin American culture with his own elegant performing style. Inspired by tradition, he is not afraid to experiment with new styles and techniques.
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<br />His wide range playlist includes smooth jazz, rock, tango, milonga, candombe and much more.
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<br />Kate Mirandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17740956164355102313noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7165528889627677645.post-84133550030165946542011-08-07T06:48:00.000-07:002011-08-07T06:51:06.882-07:00Pictures from Champagne Rain Concert<embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="https://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/bin/slideshow.swf" width="400" height="267" flashvars="host=picasaweb.google.com&hl=en_US&feat=flashalbum&RGB=0x000000&feed=https%3A%2F%2Fpicasaweb.google.com%2Fdata%2Ffeed%2Fapi%2Fuser%2Fkatemir%2Falbumid%2F5637881686503691457%3Falt%3Drss%26kind%3Dphoto%26hl%3Den_US" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed>Kate Mirandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17740956164355102313noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7165528889627677645.post-1308660512107486942011-08-07T06:47:00.000-07:002011-08-07T06:48:22.196-07:00Livestream or Record? Musings.Question & thinking out loud about the dissemination of the great SL concerts we have at Music Island:<br /><br />If I have to choose between livestreaming or recording an SL concert, which one is better to focus my resources on? I'm wondering because one person really can't do both well I don't think. <br /><br />Yesterday people attending the Champagne Rain concert were asking me about whether a recording of the concert would be available because they had friends who couldn't get in. When I said that it was on livestream now but not being recorded in entirety they went "Oh Shit, so and so has logged off now and I can't tell them that". Hmmmm. Seems like there's been a communication failure there despite my announcing the Livestream before concerts and occasionally reminding people via group notice. On the other hand Live stream is a new feature to Music Island concerts and maybe they will get onto it if I keep it up. I also have thought about putting a Livestream logo onstage with a URL connection so that people visiting the sim will know the concerts are available on the web (most concerts). <br /><br />Livestream increases the potential audience for an event and it doesn't add TOO much extra work time. I have to set up a separate broadcast computer, check the sound and then zoom back and forth periodically to change camera angles and then it's done. The main thrust of the exercise is to get around the small audience limits in Second Life and my hope is that it will help expand the numbers of musicians performing in SL and also be an appealing facet of any mixed reality project. I cannot use the broadcast software in "record" mode while in Second Life because it gobbles so much bandwidth that SL fps slows to a crawl (especially in a crowded concert setting). This makes what you are recording look terrible. (Talk about the observer effect :-)<br /><br />Screen capture in another computer running FRAPS involves capturing a variety of angles and views of the concert with a view to post production editing in my (new) Sony Vegas software. I now have to means to create much better videos BUT it takes a LOT of work to do so. The raw capture files are also HUGE. But the films create a long lasting record of events that can be shared to inform and promote artists, Music Island and SL music in general. <br /><br />Both require artist permissions which generally are not witheld but I would say most are more enthusiastic about Livestream than recordings but that could just be that my early recordings were pretty crappy (archival only really).<br /><br />I COULD decide on a case by case basis, but I wonder if that might not lead to some feeling shortchanged and hoping for both a film and a broadcast. <br /><br />Is it possible to do both? Possibly but not well. I am currently running 3 computers (1. in SL hosting concert, 2. in SL & broadcasting concert, 3. not in SL but monitoring and tweaking Livestream) and I can see how I COULD do all of these things with my current three computers by monitoring on my hosting computer by adding a screen & turning off SL sound. Then I would do screen capture on a third computer with a 3rd logged on avatar. Another monitor on my main computer would help. But really what I need to do this is a 4th computer and an interested helper.Kate Mirandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17740956164355102313noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7165528889627677645.post-51469092383438137972011-08-01T11:38:00.000-07:002011-08-01T11:39:18.344-07:00Tip Corbett: Video Excerpt from July 30 concert<iframe width="560" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/WbI2J3DDO6Y" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Kate Mirandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17740956164355102313noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7165528889627677645.post-12718538372605722252011-08-01T10:03:00.000-07:002011-08-06T11:51:13.119-07:00Champagne Rain plays Beethoven. Aug 6 1 pm SLT<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ct3ZRojkUGQ/Tjbc_GfFjHI/AAAAAAAAITg/im16nDCiPtc/s1600/champagne_rain_Aug.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 284px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ct3ZRojkUGQ/Tjbc_GfFjHI/AAAAAAAAITg/im16nDCiPtc/s400/champagne_rain_Aug.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5635934960331623538" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Saturday August 6</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">1 pm SLT </span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Champagne Rain, piano</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Music Island, Sea Turtle Island</span><br /><br />Before launching on a South American tour, Champagne Rain will grace us with a performance of an arrangement of the 3rd Mvt. of the triumphant and muscular Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 3 in C minor. Other works by Beethoven, Chopin and Liszt will complete the program.<br /><br />Champagne Rain is an Eastern European born Classical Pianist. She has devoted most of her life to acquiring performing skills at the Kiev Conservatory and has, in real life, performed in the world's most prestigious concert venues, including Vienna's Musikverein Golden Hall. She has recorded 6 CD's of concert and solo work.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Want to learn more about Beethoven before attending the concert? </span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">"Let's Talk Classical Recordings"</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The best of Beethoven</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Aelthing Aeon</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Saturday August 6</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"> 11 am SLT </span><br /><br />Like to listen and learn about classical music? Aelthing Aeon, a guest lecturer with the National Federation of Recorded Music Societies (UK) will present an informative talk on selected classical recordings.<br /><br />This month Aelthing will help us prepare for a performance of the Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 3 by placing it in context of the composer's work and different styles of performance.Kate Mirandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17740956164355102313noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7165528889627677645.post-56369984136502650462011-07-18T16:38:00.000-07:002011-07-18T16:43:19.743-07:00Benito Flores, July 24 @ 12 noon<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OgCDeuydEvU/TiTEerAJLdI/AAAAAAAAIRc/GjB_arBcFF4/s1600/Benito_Sign-July2011.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 282px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OgCDeuydEvU/TiTEerAJLdI/AAAAAAAAIRc/GjB_arBcFF4/s400/Benito_Sign-July2011.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630841465338408402" border="0" /></a><br /><p> <strong>PROGRAM:</strong></p><p><strong>Muzio Clementi </strong><br /> “Batti batti” dal <em>Don Giovanni</em> di Mozart</p> <p> <strong>Andrea Padova</strong><br /> Waterscape in motion*</p> <p> <strong>Ferruccio Busoni </strong><br /> Elegia n. 2 “All’Italia!” (in modo napoletano)</p> <p> <strong>Gioachino Rossini </strong><br /> da “Péchés de Vieillesse” Vol. VII: <em>Album pour les enfants dégourdis </em>- n. 8 Barcarole</p> <p> <span><strong>intervallo</strong></span></p> <p> <strong>Gioachino Rossini </strong><br /> da “Péchés de Vieillesse” Vol. V: <em>Album de chaumière </em>- n. 5 Prélude inoffensif</p> <p> <strong>Marcell Dargay </strong><br /> Légendes no. III “Le pianiste prêche pour soi-même”*</p> <p> <strong>Fryderyk Chopin</strong><br /> Scherzo n. 2 in si bemolle minore - re bemolle maggiore op. 31</p> <p> </p> ARTIST BIO:<br /> Alessandro Marangoni (Benito Flores in SL)<br /> Born in Italy in 1979, studied the piano with Maria Tipo at Scuola di Musica di Fiesole. Besides his musical studies he also graduated with honours in philosophy at the Università di Pavia with a thesis on Fernando Liuzzi’s philosophy of music. He was also a merit student of the Almo Collegio Borromeo, one of the oldest and most important European colleges. After winning several national and international awards, he has appeared in many important musical events in Europe, both as a soloist and as a chamber musician, with performances in Rome at the Accademia di Santa Cecilia, in Florence for the Accademia della Crusca, in Lucca for the Associazione Musicale Lucchese, for the Walton Foundation on Ischia, the Cittadella in Assisi, and the Teatro Verdi in Trieste, as well as at the Engadiner Internationale Kammermusik-Festspiele, Sagra Musicale Umbra, the Italian Cultural Institute in London, the Teatro Dal Verme, Milan, and St John’s College, Cambridge.<br /> <br /> As a chamber musician he has collaborated with some of the most important Italian musical personalities and groups, including Mario Ancillotti, Vittorio Ceccanti, Fanny Clamagirand, Daria Masiero, Stefano Parrino, Quirino Principe, Carlo Zardo and the Nuovo Quartetto Italiano. He won great success in Spain with the Malaga Philharmonic Orchestra and in Bratislava with the Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by the great Italian conductor Aldo Ceccato.<br /> He has recently started artistic cooperation with the Italian actress Valentina Cortese. He is the pianist of the Trio Albatros Ensemble, with which he has won international acclaim: they recorded a cd with Nino Rota's chamber music for Stradivarius. In 2007 he made a recording for la Bottega Discantica of the piano works of Victor de Sabata, for the fortieth anniversary of the great Italian conductor’s death. In December of that year he played in a recital at the Teatro alla Scala, Milan, with Daniel Barenboim, in further tribute to De Sabata. In 2007 he won the prestigious Amici di Milano International Prize for Music. He has recorded all of Rossini's piano music and "Gradus ad parnassum" by Clementi for Naxos.<br /> <br /> For more information, please visit www.alessandromarangoni.com.Kate Mirandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17740956164355102313noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7165528889627677645.post-28885593313911789132011-07-18T16:37:00.000-07:002011-07-18T16:38:18.290-07:00Prowess Rayna July 16, 2011<iframe width="425" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/7xTF087a2xw" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Kate Mirandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17740956164355102313noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7165528889627677645.post-19850483838767079602011-07-15T07:00:00.000-07:002011-07-15T07:09:19.129-07:00Prowess Rayna, Saturday July 16 @ 12 noon SLT<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">STARLIGHT PIANO</span><br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6bBkeimq75A/TiBIga1cfEI/AAAAAAAAIQM/_ydK2tOaN8w/s1600/ProwessJuly-11Sign.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 261px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6bBkeimq75A/TiBIga1cfEI/AAAAAAAAIQM/_ydK2tOaN8w/s400/ProwessJuly-11Sign.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5629579256009620546" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />Prowess Rayna, a true artist on the piano, began playing at 3, composing at 7 & performing professionally by 14. Countless souls have been uplifted by her sensuous, passionate expression, fluid technique & beautiful melodies. Her reputation flourishes as she shares her evolving talents with live music lovers in SL.<br /><br /><a href="http://slurl.com/secondlife/Sea%20Turtle%20Island/57/23/22/?img=http%3A//a1.twimg.com/profile_images/923875814/Music_Island_venue_graphic.png&title=Music%20Island%20&msg=Real%20music%20in%20a%20virtual%20world">Music Island Slurl</a><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">I<span style="font-size:85%;"> am going to try to go back to posting the weekly events here on the blog. I haven't been doing that lately because the listings exist at <a href="http://musicisland.spruz.com">http:/musicisland.spruz.com</a> but some people have asked me to also post the immediately upcoming events here... I'll try. </span></span>Kate Mirandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17740956164355102313noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7165528889627677645.post-35679226570858029242011-07-13T10:55:00.000-07:002011-07-13T15:16:11.486-07:00What is community in Second Life?<span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Recent discussions about a community conference in Second Life made me reflect on just what that community is to me. </span></span><br /><br />My Second Life community doesn't have a capital city in California. It isn't limited by geo-political boundaries. Virtual community lives in the gathered consciousness of groups of beings from across the planet--sharing laughter, ideas, a sense of purpose or a moment of pure beauty.<br /><br />The virtual community that I've come to love is usually a kinder place than the rest of life. We are patient with the crazy, the newcomer and we welcome and accommodate the disabled. We have the pioneering spirit, a lot of us like to make things ourselves (even if they come out a little lop-sided). Our entertainment is home-grown and our musical kitchen-parties and town-hall story-telling podiums have been equally graced by internationally renowned artists and amateurs who simply love the art.<br /><br />We struggle and laugh with translators in order to make people who don't speak the same languages all feel included and marvel at how much we have in common, no matter how far apart we may have logged into Second Life from, how far apart we are on the globe. My Second Life community is less about the technology or business of virtual worlds and more about what people do and share within those worlds. I remember my first meeting in SL was held around one of Robbie Dingo's drum circles. Delia Lake was planning her "All About Water" exhibit (it still exists) and I was a clueless newbie all agog at the idea of a virtual drum circle with an international tribe of environmentalists meeting in this new world.<br /><br />At Music Island we all throw our Lindens in the pot to contribute to the expenses of the musicians who perform for us. We know that we all don't have as much money to spare but we all are able to come together despite our wealth or poverty. That's the beauty of virtual community.<br /><br />One day some of us might chance to meet each other face-to-face but because we've already met soul-to-soul, shared our thoughts and seen the colours of all our dreams, we don't really feel the need.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6mJTZIYqdsxzoTCvypGkvgXkr2q-ajUOzgLI9qC5YpQmZIpLxmme_VeXZBnyJuUqgDVZ2Uyw2qObg9MyJ-Db6U30l3Tw4SKS0Fk6LvRKhApVXzRHEtDgRx4arbT6HXtay4OSGLP9D6uI/s1600/BurmaProtest.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6mJTZIYqdsxzoTCvypGkvgXkr2q-ajUOzgLI9qC5YpQmZIpLxmme_VeXZBnyJuUqgDVZ2Uyw2qObg9MyJ-Db6U30l3Tw4SKS0Fk6LvRKhApVXzRHEtDgRx4arbT6HXtay4OSGLP9D6uI/s400/BurmaProtest.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628905536103461378" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Second-lifers join hands across multiple sims in support of the Burma protest, Jan 2008. </span></span><br /></div>Kate Mirandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17740956164355102313noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7165528889627677645.post-55245491784384950192011-07-13T06:56:00.000-07:002011-07-13T07:10:59.702-07:00SLCC 20011 - Thoughts on why virtual community gatherings should be, ummmm, virtualI have been talking to some friends in Second Life about the upcoming SLCC (Second Life Community Conference). <a href="http://www.slconvention.org/" class="ot-anchor">http://www.slconvention.org/</a><br /><br />For those of you that don't know what that is, some really late announcements have gone out for a gathering in California next month that purports to be a gathering of SL community. These annual conferences have been happening since 2005, all of them have been in the United States and most in California. This year's website frankly calls it the "Official United States Gathering" but the name Second Life Community Conference implies a greater, global, reach. <br /><br />In 2006 when I first joined SL there seemed to be a spirit of making events in the SL of equal or greater focus but in recent years the F2F gathering has stolen focus. Inworld events have been more about streaming in content happening in the RL context. In an international virtual world community I find this counter-intuitive. Other virtual world events manage to reflect inclusivity more, eg: VWBPE (Virtual Worlds:Best Practices in Education) but most serve only a sectoral interest. <br /><br />After 5 years of waiting for the community conference to grow up and embrace the international community that SL really is , I've become a bit intemperate and frustrated I guess. Why do I feel that the focus of a virtual world community conference should be in... virtual reality? (bear with me, I know it seems like a no-brainer).<br /><br /><ul><li>we are an international community, </li><li>we tout the value of virtual spaces, </li><li>there is a global recession, </li><li>this year Linden Lab cancelled discounted tier for educators and non-profits leaving those valued participants short of cash<br /></li><li>Second Life was founded on a somewhat Utopian ideal about bringing people together internationally in an affordable and inclusive way</li><li>we tout the environmental superiority of meeting in virtual spaces</li></ul><br />All these (and many more reasons that I have likely missed) seem to me to indicate that the main annual meeting of the SL community should be virtual with regional livespace events ocuring as people choose and can afford to attend, augmenting and feeding into the international virtual gathering. I have no doubt that livespace meetings are wonderful bonding experiences for those that live near the event or who are privileged enough to be able to afford air-travel in these times. That is not the majority of Second Life residents.<br /><br />It's too late to change things this year but each year it has been the same story of late news to the community and all the key decisions made. Yes there will be inworld events but organizers admit they will not be the focus. "Jump in and help", we are told.<br /><br />I felt two ways about the suggestion from an organizer that in order to be entitled to have a voice in the future direction of SLCC, I become a worker bee at an event whose focus I feel is wrong-headed. Volunteerism is about choice. What are my choices or the choices of people who cannot be a part of the live gathering?<br /><br />Are there just two unpalatable choices here: support SLCC or walk away & shut up? <br /><br />Is there a third choice? Yes, let's talk about putting our efforts into another vision. How about throwing our own grassroots party in SL instead of gluing ourselves to media screens to watch the cool (rich) kids talk to each other. We can show our displeasure by saying "we just aren't interested in what you are saying to each other at an event you have effectively shut us out of". But even better we can develop a better vision of a community gathering based on the grass-roots organizing that SL is best for. I have been speaking to some of my colleagues involved with groups who are particularly shut out due to distance and economics, such as the disabled and First Nations people. <br /><br />Who else is out there that might like to join this conversation?<span role="button" class="d-h a-b-f-i-p-ja-h a-f-i-p-gc-h" tabindex="0"></span>Kate Mirandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17740956164355102313noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7165528889627677645.post-86819358833478745832011-07-09T23:36:00.000-07:002011-07-10T00:44:58.680-07:00What is group spam... or not?Today I received the following message:<br /><br />[17:05] Abbey Zenith: You have been ejected from 'Second Life Library 2.0' by Abbey Zenith.<br /><br />I felt terrible, both hurt and angry. I had sent a single IM message to a group about a classical piano concert that I had been led to believe might be of interest to their members. It was a public service. Far from "needing" the group, I had to think about whether I could extend some invitations to other groups since core group members (1350 in group and 2000 on maillist) usually were sufficient to fill the sim. This seemed like a poor reward for my inclusiveness. I wanted to ban Abbey and five generations of her descendents from Music Island. And then I calmed down and considered why I was angry.<br /><br />The history here is that a couple of years ago I had responded to a competition to propose innovative, educational uses of SL to be featured on Innovation InfoIsland, a project of the Alliance Library system. I created a museum of SL music with considerable hours of work and also programmed several concerts that filled the sim. However Innovation InfoIsland soon bit the dust and the museum exhibits that were so painstakingly created had to be retrieved in a mad scramble to avoid deletion by new owners eager for rent-paying tenants.<br /><br />I was encouraged to remain in the group and publicize concerts to the group. I didn't publicize every concert, selecting those that might be of the most educational interest. At some point my ability to send notices was rescinded. My contact in the group had no idea why, I left it that she'd sort it out and get those rights re-instated. I shrugged and forgot about it and occasionally sent an IM to the group about a concert that might be of interest. Then today after one IM about a classical piano concert I was booted by Abbey Zenith.<br /><br />I have booted people from my group also... when they have begged money of group members or advertised things for sale on the group. I have never booted anyone for IMing about a cultural or educational event that might be of interest to members. I apologize to members of the Librarians group that might miss news of concerts that might interest them. But, please feel free to join the Music Island concert group.<br /><br />It seems that the leadership of the Library 2.0 group is unsure of what types of notices their members would like to receive. I suggest that they get together and articulate a policy. In the meantime, it might be a good idea to not insult and eject potential allies and colleagues.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5zVdzZ32Q4yqD6XyJl6Yxl54kVfwQscXgMzlItH7D3MrlM6_loPoBCmZ37UJ9JPnlDa5MI0VGQu1Xe_0kjSQfXlzjwjv4xZ89q0fU5pszQotUQrTv-i2APRYLfU7TA1tZnhmgqfgFa3A/s1600/Innovation+InfoIsland_002_001SM.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5zVdzZ32Q4yqD6XyJl6Yxl54kVfwQscXgMzlItH7D3MrlM6_loPoBCmZ37UJ9JPnlDa5MI0VGQu1Xe_0kjSQfXlzjwjv4xZ89q0fU5pszQotUQrTv-i2APRYLfU7TA1tZnhmgqfgFa3A/s400/Innovation+InfoIsland_002_001SM.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5627624855872406098" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Music Island museum of music with exhibits of virtual instruments, how-to's of SL music and connections<br />to leading musicians streams, bios, recordings, as it existed before its deletion.<br /><br /><br /></span></span></div>Kate Mirandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17740956164355102313noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7165528889627677645.post-22535467365714482832011-05-09T08:53:00.000-07:002011-05-09T10:21:56.914-07:00Does dissemination trump virtual presence for artists?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FCYTCCF5OFU/Tcgcq4jwldI/AAAAAAAAILI/2Q4BcalytJo/s1600/Rehearsal_001.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 298px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FCYTCCF5OFU/Tcgcq4jwldI/AAAAAAAAILI/2Q4BcalytJo/s400/Rehearsal_001.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604761259325035986" border="0" /></a><br />Last week I read Thom Dowd's notice to the Early Music group with no surprise but with considerable sorrow and regret. The Second Life music pioneer was announcing the migration of his musical activities to Livestream & Livestream/Facebook. The rationale, he reported, was the ability to reach a larger audience. We will miss him in Second Life and at Music Island if this is--as it sounds--a final exit from virtual reality live concert events.<br /><br />Almost two years ago I started to help Thom to research and develop video-streaming of his concerts into Second Life and I wondered how that might affect the magical feeling of "presence" that makes live SL concerts social occasions as opposed to the solitary experience of viewing a podcast on the web. Would it be possible to have that connection when the music was delivered via a flat screen in SL rather than avatar standins for real people? We found that having even one avatar (Thom) as MC at the video concerts connected the audience to the people on camera, and of course avatars were still gathered in one place sharing the concert in livetime, commenting and having their questions addressed. Actually the new format for sharing concerts worked better than I had imagined it would--in part because of Thom's engaging personality.<br /><br />Recently I have been adding livestreaming to selected Music Island SL concerts as a way to give a keyhole into the virtual world for people without SL accounts. I use a second computer and an alt avi as "camera" and begin the broadcast live on <a href="http://www.livestream.com/musicisland">http://www.livestream.com/musicisland </a>as soon as the concert is set to begin. To me this is a way of drawing people <span style="font-weight: bold;">into</span> the magic of virtual reality, perhaps might help them choose to create an account and share a concert live, rather than taking the virtual presence <span style="font-weight: bold;">out of</span> the equation altogether.<br /><br />At the root of the dissemination question are the limitations for attendance at SL concerts. Sim capacities are 30, 40 or 50 avatars in a sim (dependent upon server conditions and sim build & scripts). While musicians might hope to reach 100's or 1,000's via electronic dissemination, I know from coordinating live concerts that an audience of 50 or so for a new music or chamber concert by relatively unknown artists is par for the course. Research continually shows that people attend cultural events because people they know and trust recommend those events, and not because of advertising or hype. Star quality appeal is a rare and fragile phenomenon. This word-of-mouth dissemination is as true in Second Life as it is in meatspace. We tell our friends, our friends tell friends and the reputation of an artist and a musical series in Second Life grows. The commitment of those audience members to a series and the artists they follow in SL are very similar to RL subscribers. But because they are an international audience, the opportunities for new and valuable communication vectors for artists is substantial and proven by a number of international debuts and collaborations within the SL musician community.<br /><br />Will the same connection and loyalties develop via Livestream only? At this point, I am a doubter. While the Livestream stations allow a chat feature during the broadcast, you need to be viewing the action on the station itself to enter text. Embedded livestream windows do not necessarily show chat and entering chat from the embedded windows did not work for me during my one attempt. Chat totally fails to engage me in the same way as SL. I have no sense of presence from knowing that others are in a chat space. Will others feel the same way? I'd like to know your thoughts.<br /><br />How many online fans is enough for the purposes of the artists and music educators currently using? I know that will vary with individual goals. For the Oriscus Ensemble, it seemed enough to gaze out at 35 or 40 avatars from 15 or more nations around the globe.<br /><br />What I'd like to see is parallel development of SL music with Livestream options. It is disappointing to hear some say that avatars are not necessary and an uneeded complication to offering a live musical experience. Am I just a dinosaur SL immersionist, or do others feel that there is a qualitative loss of audience experience to watching a Livestream concert on the flat web? I see it as scant improvement over live television.<br /><br />One of the more difficult to tackle issues that hobbles the promotion of virtual concerts and mixed reality concerts, especially as education vehicles is the "gaming" and "adult content" reputations of Second Life. While Music Island is a PG area and our audience is very engaged and respectful, I have no ability to ensure that some avatar new to our content or new to SL will not behave or speak in an inappropriate manner before I can eject them. Just like a concert venue in RL, such disruptions happen. We toss the person and ban them in future. Why is the fear of such disruptions higher in virtual reality than in a downtown park concert where we know a crazy might disrupt with shouted obscenities? Those of us that are trying to raise the profile of Second Life artistic activity and engage RL arts organizations, sponsors and funders in supporting arts events in SL, really need the help of Linden Lab, starting with representing some of the creative uses of virtual reality on the front page. At one time the picture was balanced but now the dating and shopping aspect of SL predominates. Making new avatars aware that inappropriate behaviour in PG sims can get them ejected and banned should be an orientation station. Most avatars I eject and ban are surprised and shocked, often very angry, a situation that I expect does not aid in their retention. More education about sim appropriate behaviour would help.<br /><br />Linden Lab have been keen to develop ties between Second Life and social media like Facebook. It appears that some SL musicians are saying that they can connect to social media without including the virtual audience at all. The virtual audience will be the losers in this and there will be fewer reasons to log in and stay in Second Life if this becomes a trend.Kate Mirandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17740956164355102313noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7165528889627677645.post-80131525007490816462011-04-17T19:34:00.000-07:002011-04-17T19:37:40.618-07:00Second Life doesn't need to link to social media; it IS social media<span><span style="font-style: italic;">Reprinted here from a discussion from Linked-In on whether Second Life should/can connect with Facebook. </span><br /><br />"From the beginning of my involvement with Second Life I have said that Linden Lab had a "build it and they will come" idea that was mystical and naive because it didn't take into account anything for people to do once they came or to understand why they would want to return or stay. Just looking at nice builds is mighty boring. <br /><br />Linden Lab now seems hot to connect Second Life to Facebook and I have to laugh because they have failed to understand the ways that SL<b> IS</b> a social media. If they did so they would have priorized increasing SL groups before now, perhaps creating two sorts of groups, 1 for land management/perms and another type that is only for social events, arts, community communications. We know SL dating is a big thing, whether it is just to have a date to go SL dancing/clubbing or a way to meet someone as a potential RL spouse. Why did Linden Lab not think of an SL version of OK Cupid. I bet there are a few avatars that would drop a few Lindens to discover their virtual matches and/or SL businesses that would pay to advertise on such a guaranteed popular site. <br /><br />I was invited to a meeting with some Linden marketing people more than a year ago as part of a group of music venue owners. The questions that we were met with betrayed an abysmal ignorance of the music business in general and more surprisingly the music business in SL. Live music is a huge draw. I send out about 2,000 notices to avatars inviting them inworld to attend events through my own list and group, and up to 8,000 more through other relevant groups. I twitter and facebook about events I host, all free publicity for SL. Linden Lab seemed to assume that we were making money on our venues. The fact is that we were all struggling to break even and our motivations for running music series was quite idealistic, personal, or linked to other external motivations. These days I see venue after venue closing, musicians drifting away from SL. My series continues although with slightly reduced audience and levels of support from the audience. The biggest hit for my series was the cuts to educational and non-profit subsidies. A lot of the audience members for classical and jazz performances were in SL as teachers, students or non-profit volunteers. The spin-offs of the reduced participation by that sector are only now being felt and will be felt more so in September. <br /><br />What could LL have done to encourage us?<br /><br /> I've had several thoughts on this. First public quad sims for music events that different arts promoters could apply to use for large draw events. Submit a proposal X weeks in advance and get the sim for a few days. Start a Linden Arts Foundation making a competitive arts granting process available with meaningful levels of funding that would make an actual arts project possible in SL $10,000 to $25,000 would be my guess at the range needed to allow people to actually give up some of their RL income and invest time and effort in an SL arts initiative. Additionally to help existing series access support through other foundations. To do this, Linden staffers would actually have to be informed about SL arts practice. It has been infuriating to many of us over time when we see someone listed as the "best" whatever, when in fact they are far from the "best" but have recently bought a sim and made a big self-promotional noise. I remember a venue being listed as the "best classical venue in SL" when they had never hosted a classical event at anytime. Just as artists gravitate to cities that support the arts and those artists enrich tourism and the life of the cities, so artists will gravitate to the virtual worlds that support them. </span>Kate Mirandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17740956164355102313noreply@blogger.com4