Spaghetti western orchestra

[SeanSeanSean]

Last night, June 28th was the kickoff of the Montréal Jazz festival. I went, of course to see this new novelty act as they were billed as doing an hommage to Ennio's music and sounds. And they do, right at the beginning they bow to the Maestro' genius.

The Spaghetti western orchestra, are 5 guys from Australia. (Probably the only place on earth where the western is still alive and well). These guys are multitalented musicians as they are surrounded by more than 20 different instruments and even more props. Anything to recreate the sounds of the spaghetti western. And I mean anything: a corn flake box with a microphone jammed into it to recreate steps in the bush, and a real bush to recreate ruffled leaves, bottles, dishes, squeeky hinges...all sort of oddities (including their voices with grunts and chants) who's sound blend with the music. The oddest maybe the slapping to a pulp of a head of cabbage to recreate a fist fight...highly effective.

As for the music, you'll love this Peace: they start off with Harmonica/as a Judgement, extremely well done. Their ecstasy of gold is right on. Instead of the soprano solo they play a mean harmonica, also very effective. But OUATITW theme is mind blowing. The soprano solo is recreated with a contraption with an antenna and as the performer moves his hands he gets a higher pitch.

This show is unique and you know these guys love Morricone's western music.  They are consumate musicians, comedic actors with a theatrical flair. They even promote audience particpation (ex. to recreate a bussling saloon).

http://www.kewego.fr/video/iLyROoaftXbt.html

http://www.ennios.com/



A must see act for sure. They are here for a week at the Jazz festival but look out for these guys if they go on tour in North America. I suspect NYC is next.

[tucumcari bound]

Cool read. Thanks for posting SeanSeanSean!

[The Peacemaker]

That was awesome!!!


Thanks for posting that! Wish I was there to see it in person.

[cigar joe]

The soprano solo is recreated with a contraption with an antenna and as the performer moves his hands he gets a higher pitch.

Its called a Theremin

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L%C3%A9on_Theremin

[The Firecracker]

Its called a Theremin

There is a wonderful documentary on this instrument by Steven M. Martin called "THEREMIN: AN ELECTRONIC ODYSSEY".

[SeanSeanSean]

Its called a Theremin

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L%C3%A9on_Theremin

Thanx Joe for the 411.
As we say in Québécois french: I'll go to bed tonight a little smarter.

[cigar joe]

 

[SeanSeanSean]

Again, if this show passes through your home town, don't miss it!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GrenPqXgdBk

[cigar joe]

very cool, I'll be watching for it!

[Bill Carson]

It would be beautiful to see that... 

[archangel]

hi, sounds like a theramin to me.
both Rosza and Herrmann utilized this instrument as well.
today, you can easily produce this with any basic synthesizer.
archie.

[Bill Carson]

hi, sounds like a theramin to me.
both Rosza and Herrmann utilized this instrument as well.
today, you can easily produce this with any basic synthesizer.
archie.

Today... Today you can "produce" what ever you want, with synthesizers, computers...    That`s not the same...

In those days, such things could "produce" only the true geniuses, like Morricone...

That`s art!

[noodles_leone]

that's amazing. THis is the kind of work Morricone would appreciate i think... Inovative, new sound, same spirit as his work...

[archangel]

Today... Today you can "produce" what ever you want, with synthesizers, computers...    That`s not the same...

In those days, such things could "produce" only the true geniuses, like Morricone...

That`s art!

the theramin is a real musical instrument, mr theramin invented it in the early 1900's.
ANY modern synthesizer (from the mini moog onwards -1971) can easily produce this sound.
it is a basic sine or triangle wave with vibrato and note portamento (the sliding effect).
it is not true that "these days you can produce anything you want on a computer.
you STILL have to program the part and PLAY it just like with a normal musical instrument.
i write/record music for a living (45yrs) and it's JUST AS HARD to write quality music via a computer as it was/is with real musos.
i do both.
it's ONLY ART if someone else says so. to me, it just WORK!.
archie.

[noodles_leone]

I agree with you, Archie...