Emily Cat 176

  I heard this question asked in a You Tube video last week and it got me thinking. How could a key be sad.  Being a patron rather than a musical artist l don't really know the keys or how to read music. It is another language to me. So l asked someone to play D minor for me on a guitar which he did. Then he played some music that was in D minor. Next l asked a singer about D minor and she told me that all the lower keys can be hard to sing. So l started searching for, and listening to, songs written in D minor. There is something that permeates through them all. Is it sadness ? I would say melancholy. Here are 3 examples. Play them and let me know what you think. https://youtu.be/rOjHhS5MtvA?si=0_pZnLxISrNKclem Beethoven 9th Symphony https://youtu.be/My2FRPA3Gf8?si=5dflxikOYv1_rpGN Wrecking Ball Miley Cyrus https://youtu.be/8UVNT4wvIGY?si=qkLin6DV18rbMu44 Somebody l Used to Know Goyte

Bel Canto means beautiful singing. On Sunday l heard beautiful singing. An all female Bel Canto Choir.  This was the first time l heard a choir sing live and what a treat. Hearing all those voices singing in harmony. filling the air with waves of beautiful sounds. The voices ranged but blended as one. It really was good. The choir was supported by accompanists, the flute and percussionists. The special guest was Lachlan Redd The conductor, and artistic director is Margaret Brown. All in all a good afternoon. Bel Canto Mt Eliza stage 3 concerts a year and their next performance will be at Christmas. I will leave their website details below www.belcantochoirmteliza.com.au  

The website this week, news and what's on next week.

  Arts Centres Arts Centre Melbourne Bernadette Robinson DIVAS 27/08-02/09 Ballet International Gala IV 27/08 Ascent 29/08-02/09 Luther in Concert 30/08 Capriccio 31/08 ( at Palis Theatre) Dirty Dancing in Concert 31/08-01/09 Bravo Bellini 02/09 Postmodern Jukebox 02/09 artscentremelbourne.com.au Frankston Arts Centre Rhythms of Ireland 01/09 artscentre.frankston.vic.gov.au Blues Clubs Hume Blues Club Carloua 31/08 humebluesclub.com Birds Basement James Morrison in Concert 31/08-02/09 birdsbasement.com Jazz Clubs pariscat.com.au Uptown Jazz Bernard Alexander Quartet 28/09 Eugene Ball Quartet 29/09 Brett Williams Trio 30/09 uptownjazzcafe.com Theatres Drum Theatre On the wings of a song 27/08 Alchemy Dance Company 02/09 drum.greaterdandenong.vic.gov.au Bunjil Place Death of a Salesman 31/08 Rhythms of Ireland 02/09 www.bunjilplace.com.au Regent Theatre Moulin Rouge 20/08-31/12 Becoming Eliza 26/08 marrinergroup.com.au Forum La Dispute 27/08 forummelbourne.com.au Forty Five Downstairs Me

I don't drive. Haven't for years. My main form of transport is buses and l am extremely grateful for the public transport around my area.  Sometimes the bus driver will have the radio on. Sometimes it's a passenger who is playing their own music on their phones, usually loudly. Last week it was the bus driver who had the radio on. A song started playing and l didn't notice it at first but then l could hear it and l remembered it. I remembered always liking it but not remembering who sang it. So as soon as l got back to the house l googled it.  Lightning crashes - Live Now it's an earworm in my brain. Do you remember this song? Do you get songs stuck in your brain and then walk around all day humming the tune? That is truly an earworm.

  What a good day. Yesterday l toured McClelland Gallery with friends and even had a good lunch.  These photos were taken in the outdoor gallery. Very interesting. I spent the time wondering how the ideas came to the sculptors and creators of these pieces. David Wilson - Around the Mirror John Kelly - Alien Untitled but we think it is Joan Sutherland So many different pieces and materials used. Pieces large and small. This is just a few of the 96 sculptures that are spread throughout the park. McClelland Gallery is a not for profit organisation that is opened Wednesday to Saturday with music every 3 weeks. All set in natural bushland. A good day was made better by talking to a local artist and illustrator, Zoe Kellin. I am not sharing any pictures of her work as l did not ask for permission to do so, but l really do suggest you check her work on Facebook and Instagram. Striking designs and so much vibrant colour.  mcclelland.org.au zoe kellin creations - facebook and instagram

  Arts Centres Arts Centre Melbourne Miss Peony 02-20/08 Bloom 18/07-26/08 The Man from Snowy River 19/08 Jazz at the Lincoln Centre Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis 20/08-25/26/08 Bernadette Robinson: Divas 24/08-10/09 artscentremelbourne.com.au Frankston Arts Centre The Fleetwood Pac 19/08 artscentre.frankston.vic.gov.au Kingston Arts Centre Mordialloc Jazz Orchestra Jazz-a-Oke 23/08 kingstonarts.com.au Blues Clubs Bird's Basement Rewind 80's 19/08 Kurt Elling and Charlie Hunter 22-26/08 birdsbasement.com Hume Blues Club Bill Barber 24/08 humebluesclub.com.au Jazz Clubs Paris Cat Jazz Club Paris Nocturne 19/08 The Romans FJ Chantar Mitvalsky 19/08 Chamber Orchestra 20/08 Angela Librandi 24/08 Isadora 24/08 Nadira Farid 25/08 pariscat.com.au Uptown Jazz Brett Williams Trio 19/08 The Eugene Ball Standards Quartet 23/08 Sorcha Abuquerque Quartet 24/08 The Sam Keevers Trio 25/08 uptownjazzcafe.com Galleries McClelland Gallery The Consort of Melbourne: Songs of Heart and Soul 20/08

 This was me as a child. I have always loved books and reading.  Recently l read a very interesting book. A mystery that was a real page turner. This is a 5 star book that draws the reader in and keeps them engaged. Good writing, a good story and it is told well. Who to Believe by Edwin Hill. It will be published on the 23rd January, 2024. Put the date in your calendar. Now onto Japanese Myths and l'm also reading a book by Ann Cleeves and, there's a new Robert Galbraith book coming out next month. A great time to be a bookworm.

  Over the weekend l went and saw the Australian Chamber Orchestra perform Dvorak's Serenade. What a treat. It was such interesting music.There is something about a violin when it is played well. It almost sings. This is an orchestra of string instruments and they all sang.  I have been told before that classical music is followed mainly by older people. Well, the large appreciative crowd over the weekend was a mixture of all ages. I took this photo before the performance started and l suggest you look carefully. The stage was almost empty. No chairs. This is an orchestra that performs while standing. The violins face the violas and cellos. I've never seen an orchestra perform like that before. It certainly was an interesting way to see the two sides play together and off each other all the while the bows were flying into the air. The Australian Chamber Orchestra are touring Australia. Check their website for all the details. I will definitely be at another ACO performance next

My first video. I can only get better:)

  Arts Centre Melbourne Australian Chamber Orchestra - Dvorak's Serendade Hamer Hall 13/08-14/08 Bloom - Playhouse 18/08-26/08 Miss Peony - Fairfax Studio 02/08-20/08 Leading Ladies - Hamer Hall 12/08 The Man from Snowy River 17/08-19/08 artscentremelbourne.com.au Athenaeum Theatre Bel Canto Spectacular 19/08 athenauemtheatre.com.au Bird's Basement Mahalia Barnes and The Soul Mates 11/08-12/08 Hammond Harmonix Trio and Guests 16/08 Ramble Tamble 17/08 Karen Lee Andrews 18/08 birdsbasement.com Brighton Theatre Company Fracked 18/08-02/09 brightontheatecompany.com.au Bunjil Place Bjorn Again Thanks for the Music 2023 Tour 12/08 Australian Poetry Slam Heat 17/08-18/08 Daytime Music Theatre Opera Gala 18/08 bunjilplace.com.au The Butterfly Club Chi Chi 17/08 Mystery Radio Theatre 19/08 thebutterflyclub.com The Drum Theatre Death of a Salesman 15/08 The Grigoryan Brothers This is Us 17/08 Victorian State Ballet The Snow Queen 19/08-20/08 drum.greaterdandenong.vic.gov.au Forty Five D

  It begins with a piano and stool on stage. Amir Farid walks onstage and places his hands on the keys. Nothing else, no need for anything else. He begins with Schubert Moment Musicaux No 2 in Ab, D,780.  This is followed by Kerry Piano Sonata No 2 (2021) and finishes with Schumann Carnaval Op 9. I don't know a lot about classical music. I don't really know what all the letters and numbers mean, but l can recognise the wonderful talent playing for me and the appreciative crowd. The 3 pieces differ but in all of them Amir Farid's playing brings the music to life. His technique and feel for the music is so good.  He is a world renowned pianist who is now based in New York and l am so thankful that he was willing to come out into the suburbs and perform for us. Thank you Amir Farid and thank you Peninsula Music Society Inc for staging this performance. Amir Farid is playing at the Paris Cat on 10/08/23. www.amirfarid.com pmsmusic.asn.au

  It's Friday again and what's on this week. August is looking like a good month for the arts here in Melbourne. Frankston Arts Centre Strictly Ballroom 28/07-05/08 artscentre.frankston.vic.gov.au Southbank Theatre Escaped and alone and what if if only 07/08-09/09 www.mtc.com.au Her Majesty's Theatre 2:22  A Ghost Story 25/07-20/08 www.hmt.com.au Athenauem Theatre Luke Kidgell Happy Hour 03/08-08/08 anthenauemtheatre.com.au Amir Farid Solo recital @Mornington 06/08 Tango Noir @ Paris Cat 10/08 www.amirfarid.com Paris Cat Numerous acts with tickets to most shows selling fast. Check the website www.pariscat.com.au Birds Basement Yacht Rock Revival 05/08 Hammond Harmonix Trio and guests 09/08 Emily Williams-Woman of Colour 10/08 Mahalia Barnes & The Soul Mates 11/08-12/08 birdsbasement.com Malthouse Theatre Telethon Kid 28/07-13/08 malthousetheatre.com.au Red Stich Theatre Momument 09/08-03/09 www.redstich.com Fortyfive downstairs Kersoene & Sirens 02/08-13/08 fortyfiv

 Six Shooter Records is an independent record label based in Toronto Canada. It began in 2000 and if you look at their site you will see all the different artists they support. So how do l know about Six Shooter Records? One band, The Dead South.   This is one of 2 The Dead South Records that l ordered from Six Shooter Records and they shipped them from Toronto Canada to Melbourne Australia. They arrived in one piece and made me rediscover the love of vinyl records again. I don't have a fancy record player, in fact it's quite plain. As you can see nothing fancy but what a sound. There is something magical about vinyl that is quite unique and l have found all kinds of vinyl records. Mainly at op shops. I bought this one today for $3.00. So thank you Six Shooter Records for reigniting my love of vinyl and for supporting all those artists. www.sixshooterrecords.com