The Roving Musicologist

Drunkaholism (Budapest)

Some people have a drinking problem, but I seem to be addicted to drunks.  They cry out to be recorded, because all their gestures seem so grand to them at the time.  Religion provides the other pole, presenting itself as grand even when completely sober, and most things posted here reflect the practiced channels it facilitates or the undirected and novel energy of someone that has forgotten what they were so worried about before they started drinking.  If it’s a good day maybe they mix.

Travel post #17: Thai Karaoke Hypnosis Therapy

Finally something that rocks!

Giant Kittens and Karaoke are two of the prime ingredients for Thai night ambiance.

Many times, the batteries run out.  That’s it, give up, moments gone.  Not this one, though.  I had time to go downtown, buy batteries, and come back.  They were still at it.  They invited me in for a few drinks…and musicologist gold.  Then they asked for money and the moment was over.

The Karaoke was done with live instruments.

Travel Post #14: Radio Chant Outside the Ashram (Pune, India)

The Small Machine made the noise, drawing power from the socket.

Travel Post #9: Selling Bread on the Streets of Istanbul

It’s not easy to get noticed when you’re selling bread.  There are many people in Istanbul rolling around carts full of a bread that is in the shape of a ring.  You can hear the calls all over the city, and where I was sleeping was on this guy’s particular route.  Towards the end of the track, you can hear another guy with a completely different call coming into the street just as the first merchant was leaving.

Another, Inscrutable, Language

Sometimes it may be better to not understand what is being said.  When recording sounds and noises, the actual meaning of the words might get in the way of the plaintive tones of the voice.  Maybe this would be the case for a listener that understands Turkish.

I never read the plaques explaining the silent green sarcophagi, because they had some strange effect on me that was outside of their historical context.  It wasn’t intentional to avoid the information, but later I linked the them to the tones of the man selling bread.

Travel Post #7: GFF part 2: The Old Man

I’m always trying to find old men playing any kind of instrument.  I don’t like it when people can sing too well, when their voices can handle any note with ease.  Playing traditional music makes some people work…they can’t change the notes around to fit their range.

There were about fifty people onstage when this guy played.  Various people would play together during the set, and sometimes the entire orchestra.  Then there were a few two minute solo songs.  This guy came forward, did his thing, and then rejoined the line, like it was no big deal.

This is probably it for the traditional music posts for awhile…I am currently in Turkey which abounds with interesting street noise.

The lucky charm of an Albanian bus driver.