My string of good news was snapped this morning when I received an email informing me that my article submission for the International Council of Traditional Music (ICTM) Yearbook was not accepted for publication. The readers offered some valid criticism and useful suggestions, but I doubt that I will have much time to make corrections for a while.
When It Rain It Pours – And It’s A Good Thing
They say bad news travels in threes, sometimes good news does, too. First, I found out late last week that I’m on the final ballot for two N? H?k? Hanohano Awards, along with Kenneth Makuak?ne, and he’s also up for Hawaiian Album of the Year. To top it off, my composition “N? H?k? Pio ‘Ole” was selected as the theme song for the 30th anniversary celebration for the awards. Over the weekend my daughter found out she was one of thirty students who have been accepted to attend the Curie Academy at Cornell University. It is a week-long program in…
N? Mele No N? Pua
Kenneth Makuak?ne and I have been collaborating on a mele for a new Hawaiian music heritage program, “N? Mele No N? Pua” (which figuratively is defined as “Music for the Generations”). It will feature two, expansive permanent exhibits highlighting Hawai‘i’s rich musical history, an ongoing monthly Hawaiian music concert series, special educational and cultural events, and interpretive displays – all free and open to the public. There is already a plaque with the song up, but it will undergo change as we’ve updated both the lyrics and the music of the song recently. I was surprised to find information on…
No Joy In Fulbrightville
I just received the sad word that my Fulbright application was “non recommended”, which means that it will not be sent to Ireland for consideration by their selection panel. While I’m disappointed I’m not really surprised; the scholarships are highly contested and I’m certain that the applicants that they selected were deserving. Unfortunately they provide no feedback whatsoever, so I have no way of knowing what the strengths and weaknesses of my application were. Not that it matters much. My daughter will be a senior in high school in the 2008-2009 year (the next Fulbright cycle), and we both would…
Hawai‘i Music Awards Voting Begins
Aloha everyone, I’d like to ask all of you who are willing to help support my songwriting partner Kenneth Makuak?ne in the Hawai’i Music Awards. Unlike the Grammy and N? H?k? Hanohano Awards in which voting is restricted to members of the recording industry, the Hawai’i Music Awards are open to everyone with an email address. Go to http://www.hawaiimusicawards.com/ and click on the large “Vote” graphic. You will need to enter your email address and the code that appears in order to vote. The categories are listed alphabetically, and “Makuak?ne” is in the “Traditional Hawaiian” category. You can skip categories…
Hau‘oli Makahiki Hou!
Aloha k?kou and hau‘oli makahiki hou i? k?kou a pau (Happy New Year to all of us). 2006 went by in a blur and I imagine 2007 will go by even faster. We spent the last week of 2006 on Maui visiting my parents, brother and his family, and my wife’s family as well. I was expecting a lot of rest and relaxation but it was more of a working vacation. I did get to meet up with many old friends, colleagues and former collaborators, and planted seeds for a number of new musical projects. Of course, Kenneth already has…
Where Are The Irish Artists On The Grammy Ballot?
I’m a voting member of The Recording Academy, which is responsible for the Grammy Awards. It amazes me how few Irish artists get entered. There are a few this year, including Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh, whom I had only known as a member of Danu. I checked out her website and her CD sounds awesome. I ordered a copy and got a nice email from her. Susan McKeown, Lunasa, and Solas are on the Traditional Folk ballot, and Enya on the Album of the Year, which has hundreds of entries. Any Irish artists I’m missing? I’ll hold onto my ballot for…
Baby Steps Toward Eire
I’ve been making slow progress on refining my topic for Ph.d. research and perhaps narrowing down my choices regarding a location for studies. I just completed a Fulbright scholarship application last week that would go a long way toward paying for my Ph.d. in Ireland. I have been considering the ethnomusicology programs at both University College Cork and Queens University Belfast, but had to chose to specify only one since you are only allowed to chose one country. Care to guess which one I chose? I’ve been told that the applications are whittled down and sent to the host country…
iTunesU class sailing smoothly… for the most part
I have written previously about the University of Hawai‘i system’s participation in the iTunes U program. It allows faculty to create course materials as either podcasts or vidcasts, and make them available through a special area of the iTunes Music Store. I am doing so with my class, The History and Development of Hawaiian Music. At the beginning of the semester we were required to send our course materials to staff at the university’s Information and Technology Services (ITS) staff in order to have materials posted. A few weeks ago they gave us the capability to do it ourselves, as…
The History of Irish Music, The Animated Tale
Be prepared to be amused or offended.