My life in D Hijaz

When you are packing, don't forget your BAND INSTRUMENT!!!!

melissaclarinetchick — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 17:05:10 GMT

'Cause I want to play music with YOU!!!!! Don't forget to bring your band or orchestra instrument to Pennsic. Melody melody melody...let's play music together. Please remember to bring clothespins, music stand and a booklight (for nighttime playing). And your sheet music if you have already downloaded from www.dorku.com New songs for this year: Nassam Alayna Al Hawa Karakas Mahallesi Nubar Nubar Enta Omri Muhabbet -- from the sheet music book Nihavent Longa -- from the sheet music book Sulukule -- from the sheet music book Hicaz Mandira -- from the sheet music book Noladati La Shalom Hine Ma Tov (PERIOD SONG ALERT!!!) Rast Nakis Beste (PERIOD SONG ALERT!!!) We will review: Shashkin -- from sheet music book Nihavent Oriental -- from sheet music book Shisheler -- from Sheet music book Don't forget our favorites: Garoon, Uskudara, Bir Demet, Mevlana, Istemem Babacim, Fire Dance, Hadouni Hadouni, Rompi Rompi, Yeshilem, Zeina, Efem, Nihavent Oyun Havasi. I will have spiral bound books of music for sale. Please bring cash (preferred) or a checkbook to Pennsic. Special Pennsic price $40! Single sheets are available for $2 (limited supply)

Ishtar --- epic

melissaclarinetchick — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 06:07:14 GMT

Saturday's show was performed on some of the BEST quality sound equipment ever. Ever. Ishtar sounded epic. Like we were Pink Floyd circa 1975. Epic...I'm tellin ya. I felt like I was playing at the Hollywood Bowl. BellyRock never sounded better.

Barbeque. bwah ha ha

melissaclarinetchick — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 23:01:03 GMT

http://englishrussia.com/?p=1596

One person's period is another person's cramps.

melissaclarinetchick — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 06:16:59 GMT

Well as usual, nothing is entirely SCA documentable in Middle Eastern music. The Western style of music notation was brought to Turkey by a Polish man named Wojciech Bobowski who changed his name to Ali Ufki Bey. But he was only born in 1610. His transcriptions from about 1650 would not be documentable. And there are only two surviving manuscripts: one in France; one in England. Dimitry Cantemir also scored songs in Turkey around 1690. His scores are technically only documentable to the date he wrote them. Did the songs exist prior to 1600? We don't really know. The genre of Turkish Art music would be similar to the pre-1600 style of music that they would have played. Cantemir's book is no longer in print. I have faith that some of those songs they documented probably existed prior to 1600, but I am struggling to find recordings of those songs or the books these gentlemen wrote. The Bezmara Ensemble disc, which I own, has three SCA period songs on it. Tracks 3, 7 & 8. According to the liner notes, everything else on the disc is post 1600 or a taksim (improvisation). I also own the Lalezar Ensemble CD Volume 1 The Sultan composers. Right now I can't locate the liner notes, but I am pretty sure only 3 of the 14 recordings are SCA period. I have found no written music for these recorded songs anywhere. As a teacher and a music performer at Pennsic, I appreciate and applaud everyone’s effort to look for documentable Middle Eastern songs. However, I come to Pennsic to teach and to play music that everyone can play in a short period of time. The Classical songs that are similar in style to pre-1600 music are not easy for everyone to play. The drum cycles are much longer and more complicated than 4 or 8 beat rhythms and are generally specific to the song at hand. Presently, playing maqsum in 9 out of 10 songs allows everyone to participate since almost all the drummers can play maqsum with proficiency. In addition many of these period inspired songs are 3 pages long in sheet music notation. These aren’t easy songs to learn in a day or even two at Pennsic. Has anyone seen the documentary “Whose Is This Song?” It is the story of Uskudara, a song heard quite a bit at Pennsic. Every single Balkan country, Greece and Turkey all claim it is their melody. When was this song written? Prior to 1600? Possibly. I have faith. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0wmZtxGxXxs To try to bring more period music to Pennsic, I have found 2 tunes that might be period. Hine Ma Tov is a Hebrew song of welcome based upon Psalm 133. The melody is Syrian with no specific date, but *perhaps* it existed prior to 1600. (Have faith.) There is nothing definite except that the song is old. The piece has no rhythm, but I use baladi. (The Jewish liturgical version is sung in ¾ time. Mine is in 4/4 time.) Rast Nakis Beste is attributed to Abdul Kadir Meragi who was alive from approximately 1350 to 1435. Apparently he was a prolific composer but only 40 of his works survive today and it is strongly believed that these surviving works are imitations by other modern composers. So once again, nothing is definite. In this song I have heard a maqsum rhythm that is played over 8 beats instead of 4. I think this will be a song many of the drummers will be able to learn quickly. However the bigger challenge will be for the melody folks. My question to the list is, how does one document period dance moves? I know that my ex-dance mates used paintings, however weren’t paintings of people forbidden during most of the SCA Middle Eastern times in the Islamic world? Didn’t women dance behind closed doors? How could they even be painted? Since paintings are generally a single point in time and not a detailed diagram of a dance move, aren’t dancers also taking a leap of faith? Has anyone tried to document the drum rhythms? I feel as if the melody is being held to a standard that isn’t being equally applied to the other Middle Eastern Arts. Music was an aural tradition. As I stated earlier, music transcription was not an option in the Middle East during SCA times. You can’t paint a song. I am doing by best to bring some sense of period-ocity to live Middle Eastern music at Pennsic. But the dearth of documentation and the difficulty level of Middle Eastern period-like Classical and Art music is working against us. Come to my class, bring any instrument you can play (and your faith) I’ll teach you some tunes that may or may not be period. But I guarantee they will be fun to play.

Good news - good news!

melissaclarinetchick — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 08:10:08 GMT

Ishtar will be opening for Raquy and the Cavemen on November 30 at Your Inner Vagabond!! A little BellyRock tour right here in DaBurgh. It will be a real fun night! Photo is Amanda (my new friend), Liron and Raquy with my band's shirt on. Yay! And even more good news, Ishtar's November 13 BellyDance BellyRock show will feature the dancers Jaya and Berna of Khafif, my old troupe mates from back 'n tha day! More Yay!

Sid and Marty --- aaawwwww yeah!

melissaclarinetchick — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 07:36:27 GMT

http://www.myspace.com/krofft This show bothered me even as a child. It was just a little too weird. Kind of like Land of the Lost. But there were only 3 networks back then...so I watched it.

For what it is worth...I'll post here anyway

melissaclarinetchick — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 06:58:03 GMT

On www.dorku.com, I re-uploaded Mastika for C and B flat instruments. I fixed a few little things in the phrase endings. And then I realized even the turkish guys can't agree even within a SINGLE recording on how to play the tune. Just drink some mastika and play the damn song --- which I plan to do at Pennsic this year. :-) I uploaded a really cool 9/8 called Karakas Mahallesi that I heard on the Trakya All Stars CD. I want to bring that tune to Pennsic. Tonight my band worked on Gameel Gamal (pick your own spelling). It sounds greatly improved over the early 2007 attempt to play it. I tweaked my sheet music to reflect Hossam Ramzy's version using baladi and a double time maqsum (we are playing fellahi - close enough) and employing a break here and there. We also changed the pitch down 2 semitones from the George Abdo version. Feels pretty groovy even with all the rough edges. Until my sheet music is finalized, Gameel Gamal won't be available on dorku. Perhaps I'll get it done before Pennsic. And then there is Alf Leyla Wa Leyla. I really like this overthetop epic Arab piece. I have it scored in G Nahawand, but I am partial to the C Nahawand version by Omar Khorshid. I have to play both versions for a while. For your enjoyment. These people rock.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjs7SpI6gC0

Nassam Alayna Al Hawa on dorku.com

melissaclarinetchick — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 19:59:29 GMT

The Turkish flavored arrangement of this song rocks. www.dorku.com

Facebook

melissaclarinetchick — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 08:16:37 GMT

Folks, I've started being active on Facebook. I'm not ditching tribe, but I need to post stuff somewhere people can actually read it. If you are on Facebook, look for Melissa Murphey. I also started the Facebook SCA and Pennsic Middle Eastern Musicians group. Post events there, talk about songs, whatever.

What a great map!

melissaclarinetchick — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 08:09:13 GMT

http://misfit-robots.com/sca/map/index.html I can now better remember where I "live". I wish there was a map for baronies and smaller fiefdoms.

Middle Eastern Ensemble class at Pennsic 7/30 thru 8/7

melissaclarinetchick — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 06:24:35 GMT

I am teaching at Sheque's Touch the Earth tent July 30 thru August 7, 2008. The time of class is 1PM to 3PM. My class is for all percussionists and musicians. Together we will learn the tunes that make the Haflas hoppin' at Pennsic! ALL INSTRUMENTS are welcome. Please do not be overly concerned with period correctness. Bring your flute, sax, clarinet, trumpet, violin, cello, guitar, etc. Play whatever instrument you feel comfortable playing!! If you play it -- BRING IT! I will have sheet music available to purchase or to borrow in the keys of Concert C, B Flat, E Flat, Bass Clef, and F. If you would like to visit www.DORKU.com to purchase advance sheet music downloads or books, please do so. I have also decided to have two Melody Intensive sessions Saturday August 2 and Monday August 4. These sessions will be aimed at melody musicians and the drumming will be limited to 2-3 helpers. Drummers are welcome to observe those days, but my focus will be on breaking down complicated melody passages and taksim for melody instruments. Sunday August 3 -- Aziza Day with Melissa and Carmine. Everyone come learn this classic tune! (it is in the sheet music book) New songs for this year: Nubar Nubar Enta Omri Muhabbet -- from the sheet music book Nihavent Longa -- from the sheet music book Sulukule -- from the sheet music book Hicaz Mandira -- from the sheet music book Noladati La Shalom Hine Ma Tov (PERIOD SONG ALERT!!!) Rast Nakis Beste (PERIOD SONG ALERT!!!) We will review: Shashkin -- from sheet music book Nihavent Oriental -- from sheet music book Shisheler -- from Sheet music book Remember, whenever you hear my clarinet at Pennsic, you are very welcome to sit in with me and play. :-) Yours in D Hijaz, Melissa the Clarinetchick www.clarinetchick.com

Heading "home" this weekend.

melissaclarinetchick — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 17:40:09 GMT

This will be weird. I am going back to Somerset PA this Saturday with Ishtar to play at Somerfest, a local arts festival. Somerset County was where I spent 17 years growing up. In 1976, my mom moved our family out of Pittsburgh 80 miles to a geographical area called the Laurel Highlands where cows outnumbered humans. There was a lot of fresh air available. As long as nobody hit a skunk on the road. I lived in a cool ranch home where there were no sidewalks and the streets had no names, no letters, only numbers (Route 985, State Road 4130). Sidewalks were for the small towns. I walked often on the "berm of the road". Anyone else know that phrase? In 1976, Somerset County had one movie SCREEN, (not multiplex), one roller rink, one McDonalds, a Dunkin Donuts, a Mr Donuts, a Ramada Inn, one local 24 hour truck stop called Jims, and 3 very short strip malls with Kmart, Jamesway and Fisher's Big Wheel as their anchors. And I lived 10 miles away from that hub of commerce. ;-) Did I mention there was no cable TV until 1983? No big deal, my mom wouldn't buy it anyway. I played with Barbies until I was 14. I played clarinet a lot... I marched in the Somerfest parade every year from 1981 until 1991. I saw the local rock cover band Hit 'n Run play Somerfest when I was 15. Somerfest was the THING to do each summer. The only other serious summer happenings were Berlin Block Party, Somerset County Fair, Mountain Craft Days and the Farmers and Threshermans Jubilee. Yeah...I lived a quaint and idyllic life that could easily be an ABC Afterschool Special. So now a lot has changed in Somerset. There are walmarts and tons of chain restaurants popping up along the Turnpike (I-70/76). Things aren't as idyllic as they used to be. A lot of so-called civilization has come to rural Pennsylvania. Oh well.... Ishtar performs on the Lawn Stage at 4:40PM at Somerfest. Come and see us play if you want some fresh air! http://www.laurelarts.org/ 214 South Harrison Ave. Somerset, PA 15501 Oh, I was interviewed by the local paper, the Daily American. Very few of my highschool friends are on the internet. I hope they read the article if it shows up in the printed news. http://www.dailyamerican.com/articles/2008/07/10/news/news/news331.txt ***contextual note: Somerset is 5 miles from Shanksville where Flight 93 crashed on 9/11.

Help Ishtar! Pre-order a copy of our CD!

melissaclarinetchick — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 18:16:04 GMT

The first 100 pre-ordered CDs will be signed by all 5 band members in silver ink and will include FREE shipping! Reserve your copy today for only $15! http://www.ishtar-music.com/html/merchandise.html (I am having Sam Goody flashbacks....goody got it...)

Having the time of my life

melissaclarinetchick — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 08:43:22 GMT

This past weekend was great. Ishtar toured Maryland...two shows, six BellyRockers and two workshops. All in 36 hours. :-) We rented a van (sigh lots of money), drove 4 hours (Jeff drives real fast - yay) then played at the New Deal Cafe (www.newdealcafe.com) to a packed house. They need to install stadium seating. ;-) The new Middle Eastern menu at New Deal was yummy. DragonSong played a excellent sounding set with their special guests: Daveed, Carmine (on Jeff's bass) and Chip. At the end of the night we all combined forces and jammed away on Garoon and Misirlou. Everyone was up and dancing. It was so much fun! Then we went to Dorian's for more wine and jammage with one fearless cat named Ganesh. On Sunday we headed up to Towson (Tao-sun *not* Tow-son) for two workshops at Nina Amaya's Studio. The workshops were well attended. Mark taught beginner darbuka and I taught Middle Eastern Ensemble. Then we went over to Cafe Spice for the All Seasons Hafla also organized by Nina. There was also an SRO crowd there as well! The hafla opened with an "all skate" with my band and several of my workshop attendees and my friends playing Shisheler and Uskudara together. Ishtar played for specific dancer performances (I can't wait to get the videofootage!) and open floor dance. The open floor dance was CRAZY!!! People were pelting Ishtar with tips. It was the highlight of my musical career thus far. :-) A BIG thank you to my bandmates, Jeff, Mark, Beth and Rob for putting up with my crazy ideas.... Special thanks to Zarifa, Blix and Erskine for letting Ishtar sleep over and giving me coffee! Thanks to our BellyRockers: Zarifa, Noa Reyhan, Jehna, Berna, Nina Amaya and Shems! Thanks to Bridget and Jeremy of DragonSong. Thanks to Carmine, Daveed, and Chip for jamming with us. Thanks to Ariel for seeing my band play even though she was seriously jet lagged. (Next time, you gotta dance!) Thanks to Casey for driving the farthest!!! Thanks to everyone who came to both of the shows and the workshops. I appreciate all your support! We can't wait to come back to the south again.

This Thursday night July 10 - BellyDance BellyRock with Hakan, Nawal and Ishtar!

melissaclarinetchick — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 07:28:50 GMT

Ishtar, fresh from their whirlwind tour of Maryland will be playing the tunes that RAQ da house! On Thursday July 10 at 9PM, Ishtar returns to Your Inner Vagabond for the last BellyDance – BellyRock of the season. Our featured BellyRockers are Hakan, Pittsburgh’s foremost male dancer and Nawal, a magnificent Oriental style dancer whose rare performances are a delight to behold! Cover is $7. BYOB. All ages, children under 14 - $3. Your Inner Vagabond 4130 Butler St Pittsburgh PA 15201 www.yourinnervagabond.com

Hey look I'm on TV....

melissaclarinetchick — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 06:42:13 GMT

Well, sort of.....technically I'm on your monitor. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LuDsvKFBSNo :-) Ishtar is big in Saudi Arabia...well...really just our Enta Omri video. I can't play clarinet wearing a burka and gloves, so guess I won't be on tour there. Speaking of Enta Omri -- sheet music for Concert C and B Flat can be downloaded at www.dorku.com Speaking of sheets over the head -- I really miss playing Moorish Dance. Gaiananda played it at Tribal Rev and I *totally* felt sentimental. Moorish Dance was the first song I ever transcribed with my friend Mavi Kemani. Pennsic 2008 -- the return of Moorish Dance.

Oh so irreverent!

melissaclarinetchick — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 07:02:35 GMT

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pLB15kBvn_c I had this on a Dr Demento collection in high school.

New tunes on www.dorku.com

melissaclarinetchick — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 06:46:50 GMT

Hey everyone! New mp3s on www.dorku.com Bir Demet Yasemin Nubar Nubar Yeshilim New Sheet music! Noladati L'shalom Hine Ma Tov

Maryland...Are you ready to BELLYROCK?

melissaclarinetchick — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 18:41:30 GMT

The Maryland Ishtar BellyRock tour commences on July 5 at New Deal Cafe in Greenbelt MD. Show starts at 8PM! Cover is $8. Bring extra cash or a checkbook, we will have some limited edition Ishtar T shirts available for sale! New Deal Cafe 113 Centerway Roosevelt Center Greenbelt, MD 20770 (301) 474-5642 www.newdealcafe.com Ishtar will be playing for 4 fabulous BellyRockers: Noa Reyhan, Nina Amaya, Jehna and Zarifa! Also performing is Dragonsong with Carmine Guida on oud and dancer Shahrazade. Ishtar performs the classics of the bellydance scene with their own exciting surf rock twist. Their songs will keep you up and dancing all night! Dragonsong's hauntingly beautiful melodies will entice you to move your body in mysterious ways. The New Deal Cafe just got a new kitchen, a new chef and a new menu! Visit: http://www.newdealcafe.com/food/dinner.php I can't wait to eat there! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Sunday July 6 in Towson, MD: Workshops with Mark and Melissa! Get a jump on jamming at Pennsic, come to our workshops! Studio Nina Amaya 1020 Regester Avenue Baltimore MD 21239 Phone 443-834-3191 Beginner Darbuka Technique at 12:30 Middle Eastern Music for ALL Instruments at 1:30 For details visit: http://www.ishtar-music.com/html/workshops.html ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Ishtar brings BellyRock from DaBurgh to the All Seasons Hafla at Cafe Spice July 6 - at 4PM! On Sunday afternoon enjoy some yummy Indian food and some great bellydancing. Ishtar will be performing for Nina, Zarifa, Berna (our girl from DaBurgh) and the amazing Shems! Many more bellydancers featured in the show as well! For details visit: http://bellydance.meetup.com/284/calendar/7534734/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ See you out there somewhere!

Rockin out at Pennsic!

melissaclarinetchick — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 06:33:20 GMT

Hey everyone If you or a loved one is having a party at Pennsic and you would like a bunch of musicians and percussionists (choose yer own term of endearment) to rock the night away, please drop me an email at melissa@clarinetchick.com One warning: I travel Pennsic with a guy who plays amplified bass. If your party is cool with breaking some rules, we are cool with playing at it! We all know Tribe isn't functioning very well. If you private message me on Tribe, please include a standard email so I can contact you. I LOVE playing music at Pennsic, that is pretty much the sole purpose of my existence. See you at Pennsic!

This Saturday June 28 -- Pittsburgh Underground!

melissaclarinetchick — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 05:42:22 GMT

The most eclectic lineup of performers in DaBurgh! Check it out! Hosted by Sadiqa - www.sadiqabellydance.com Sadiqa members: Kari Merlina, Sterling Painton and Joanna Abel Venue: Andrew Carnegie Free Library and Music Hall - www.carnegiecarnegie.com Show starts at 7pm!!! Celebrating Pittsburgh's 250th Birthday with music, dance and spoken word. Featuring all local artists to include: Dance: Balafon - West African B.J. York - Flamenco Margot B. - Hip Hop Sadiqa - Belly Dance Trini and Shawn - Tango Music: B.J. York Ishtar ***hey -- that's my band*** Icarus Witch Man on the Street (Cultivator) Spoken Word: John Thomas Menesini Tickets on sale now via Paypal until Friday, June 27th. http://www.yogaandbellydance.com/pghug.html $10 in advance $15 at the door $5 - children 12 and under

Tribal Revolution 2008

melissaclarinetchick — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 18:58:57 GMT

For the first time in my life as a clarinet player, I was invited to be a music teacher at a real bellydance conference. Wow!!! I had a great time, I got to network with many other talented musicians, teach them some of my tunes and learn some of their songs. I got to rub elbows with Amy Sigil of Unmata and Paulette Rees-Denis of Gypsy Caravan. It was the best experience in my D hijaz life so far. Thanks to everyone who took my workshops, who jammed with me, who said kind things to me and who danced no matter what I played. Thanks Christina and all the fab dancers in Blue Lotus Tribe. We have to do it again sometime!

Jalsah Long Island this Saturday June 14

melissaclarinetchick — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 17:21:10 GMT

Just a quick reminder... Jalsah Long Island in Baldwin, NY! Workshops with me and Carmine! For information visit here: http://www.jalsah.org/sites/Jalsah/Locations/LongIsland/

In Search of....

melissaclarinetchick — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 08:28:18 GMT

Ah Bir Atas Ver These are all rather epic versions...I must say. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hBOHDBpvy2o http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0hCKF8PQD8 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQxhXhC7-zw This version has hot guys dancing! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OROiIAF15yw

For my sci-fi buddies out there....

melissaclarinetchick — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 06:32:42 GMT

Phil rules.