Tag Archives: Music

The Landfill Harmonic: Music of the Human Spirit

15 Saturday Dec 2012

Posted by in Inspiration, Music

≈ 6 Comments

Tags

, , , , , , , , ,

This story takes place the slums of Cateura, Paraguay with a youth ensemble called The Landfill Harmonic. Their modest town is built on landfill, and the residents make their living recycling the garbage that is dumped there. In their town, a violin is worth more than a house.

LandfillHarmonic2

Yet even in these harsh conditions, the beauty of music has become the main stay for a determined group of youth. Their instruments are made from recycled trash, but you wouldn’t know it by the pride they take in them or the beautiful music they produce.

Take nineteen year old Juan Manuel Chavez’s cello that is made completely of pieces found in the dump, built for him by the local men. Yet when Juan lovingly plays the J. S. Bach Cello Suite on this recycled instrument, the music is exalting.

LandfillHarmonic3

The following quote by Favio Chavez, the Orchestra Director of The Landfill Harmonic encapsulates the power of the human spirit to rise above adversity:

The world sends us garbage. We send back music.

Watch the following video. Then if you’d like to spread a little joy this holiday season, share the video and its story with others. You can show your support for The Landfill Harmonic with a Like on their Facebook page too.

Recycled Instruments Bring the Joy of Music

What impressed you most about this story?

Caring is sharing! Pass on the love.

Sound Bender

06 Friday Apr 2012

Posted by in Book Reviews

≈ 6 Comments

Tags

, , , , ,

Here’s an awesome story that’s all about the Mystical Power of Music … the middle grade novel, Sound Bender, by Lin Oliver and Theo Baker.

Review Redux ~ by YA Books Central

Sound Bender, by Lin Oliver & Theo Baker

After their parents’ plane goes down over the ocean, Leo and his brother Hollis are forced into the custody of their rich and enigmatic uncle Crane, a dealer of rare and probably illicit antiques. But almost as soon as he’s settled–or as close to settled as he can get in the bleak Brooklyn mansion, surrounded by his uncle’s dubious staff–Leo receives a mysterious package his father put together long ago, to be opened on his 13th birthday. With the package, Leo discovers he has an amazing ability. He can hear the history of any object by touching it. But when Leo finds a strange helmet buried among his uncle’s artifacts, and hears a pained cry coming from it, a mystery unravels as to its origin. (Goodreads Synopsis)

Click this link to read the awesome review by YA Book Central.

Have you read any books  that focus on the mystical power of music?

If so … do tell!!!

Music Magic … and a Giveaway WINNER!

04 Wednesday Apr 2012

Posted by in Andre Rieu, Dancing, Music, Sarwat Chadda, Waltz King

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

, , , ,

In keeping with the Mystical Force of Music I talked about in my previous post, these videos of Andre Rieu and his orchestra show the true Magic of Music. The ability to make us smile…

Yackety Sax and All That

One toe tappin’ time!

Colonel Bogey … You try NOT whistling…

The people in the audience aren’t the only ones having fun here!

Get Down with Glenn Miller

WARNING: This video has been known to result in serious Smiling and Dancing!

Devil’s Kiss Giveaway WINNER!

And the winner of the signed copy of Devil’s Kiss by Sarwat Chadda is…

…DRUM ROLL…

Tami Clayton

Please step up and send me your snail mail information!

*** Tosses Confetti ***