Welcome To The Creative Act

A pro-musician making sense of the creative process within the context of his life experience.

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

La Malaguena



Liona Boyd's guitar performance of Lecuona's 'Malaguena' is the closest to his piano arrangement that I have seen on YouTube. I have found the others to be good but somewhat cliche. I used to perform this piece but after years of getting requests for it, I grew tired of the version I was playing as well as the requests and stopped playing it. When people ask for it, I offer to perform Leyenda or Spanish Dance #5 instead. I might revisit and restudy the piece after hearing Ms. Boyd's rendition!

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

3 STRING SLIDE CIGAR BOX GUITAR



I won an Ebay auction for this very same 3 string cigar box guitar a while back for only $80! I'm really enjoying it. I'm currently researching cigar box guitar construction and hope to make one when my schedule lets up a little. The cigar box guitar community reminds me of the native flute community in a lot of ways except that the 'CBG' community seems to have more 'MOJO'!

Monday, July 19, 2010

Prayer to the Sun

A song to celebrate the Sun that pours light over all living things on this Earth.

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Enjarre: San Francisco de Asis Church



Each year, parishioners and volunteers replaster the San Francisco de Asis Church in Ranchos de Taos, New Mexico USA. Using traditional adobe — sand, clay and straw — this method has served the church and its Roman Catholic congregation for almost 200 years. The quote at the end of the video is moving.

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Pueblo Anthem

http://www.indianpueblo.org/19pueblos/index.html

The front page of the 19 Pueblos website has a great 'Pueblo Anthem' that recites the Pueblo names in their original languages. It's composed and performed by Emmett Shkeme Garcia.

Monday, July 12, 2010

The Story of Your Enslavement



I don't know how to adequately describe this compelling video. It's seeks to give an overview of freedom and enslavement throughout human history. What is freedom? What is enslavement? Are we as human beings capable of living free lives given the power the State has over us? Is our freedom merely an illusion granted us by the powers that be? Where is our power? What is the cost of waking up from the illusion and walking away? When I first viewed it, I had one of those 'Matrix/Blue Pill/Red Pill' moments!

Saturday, July 10, 2010

American Holocaust of Native American Indians - Compared to Jewish Holocaust by Nazi Hitler, Rascism



History is a circle, a hoop, bound to repeat itself. Why? I think it is because humanity essentially remains the same throughout history and is driven by the same base emotions. Every generation fools itself into thinking it is the most enlightened that has ever lived. History eventually reveals each generation's folly. - Ronald Roybal

Thursday, July 8, 2010

Sacred Talk



Listen to Garrett Drapeau, a young man who enlightens us all with his Sacred way of talking. His friends Migizi and Dallas have potty mouths, though. Anyway, Garrett is a really 'speerchul' guy and he is obviously destined to offer Sacred Talking workshops in Sedona!