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The Kansas City Sheet Music Collection is an enormous catalog of zoomable, high-rez scans of old sheet music. See how the popular music of years past was marketed with
Black and
Native American imagery as well as
exotica. There are
lovely and
fanciful calligraphic designs, songs of
World War 1 and, uh,
vegetables. There's even a little ditty by
Mark Twain. Plus some
undeniable truths and the
age-old question.
posted to MetaFilter by flapjax at midnite
at 8:47 PM on April 13, 2007
(8 comments)
Mary Uduru of Nigeria. Although we see lots of single-image representations of African poverty (usually in the form of a swollen-bellied child on the brink of starvation) it's rare to find a photo-essay like this one one, which brings us an intimate, informative and non-sensationalist view of the life of the working poor there.
posted to MetaFilter by flapjax at midnite
at 5:25 PM on April 11, 2007
(22 comments)
The National Music Museum has photos and descriptions of a wealth of odd, beautiful and unusual historic musical instruments, including the
schediphon,
trombacello,
Tristan trumpet,
basset horn,
lyre guitar,
ophicleide... plus a few
serpents. And if that doesn't satisfy your curvy horn jones, things get pretty serpentine
here.
posted to MetaFilter by flapjax at midnite
at 4:39 AM on April 8, 2007
(5 comments)
You've all no doubt been wondering who will represent Ukraine in this year's
Eurovision Song Contest. Well, she's a
drag queen, and if
that wasn't enough to
piss off the Ukrainian nationalists, she's also an
environmentalist ("
All of us have heard that nuclear waste from the whole world is planned to be brought into Ukraine. It is horribly!"). Oh, and the
Russians are ticked off, too. Introducing...
Verka Serdyuchka!
[last 2 links to YouTube]
posted to MetaFilter by flapjax at midnite
at 3:04 AM on April 2, 2007
(50 comments)
Burn Hollywood Burn. Some striking photos (from the BBC) of the conflagration that came a little too close for comfort to the iconic hillside sign. Some more details
here.
posted to MetaFilter by flapjax at midnite
at 5:40 AM on March 31, 2007
(19 comments)
Lord (and MetaFilter), forgive me, but
Dog Chases Virtual Ball.
[A one-link youtube post. 44 seconds long. That is all.]
posted to MetaFilter by flapjax at midnite
at 9:20 PM on March 24, 2007
(30 comments)
You really shouldn't miss the snazzy ukulele stylings of the great
Roy Smeck, strummer and showman extraordinaire, who was not only fast as greased lightning, but for whom the ukulele also occasionally functioned as a
wind or
percussion instrument. The man was indeed a
wizard of the strings: just give him a slide and watch him lay down that
Hawaiian sound. And as you'll see
here, he was still going strong in his later years.
[most links to YouTube]
posted to MetaFilter by flapjax at midnite
at 5:30 AM on March 23, 2007
(15 comments)
Spend a blissful 59 minutes and 7 seconds traversing the continent of Africa through her traditional music. This excellent
stream (featuring just the right amount of background info) from the folks at
Afropop Worldwide [previously] features plenty of the kind of effortlessly rolling, lilting rhythmic vibes that make African traditional music some of the most sublime in the world. "So don't expect over-the-top ethnography, just relax and enjoy acoustic Africa."
posted to MetaFilter by flapjax at midnite
at 5:05 AM on March 19, 2007
(11 comments)
Here's a charming interactive site for your kid (or the kid in you):
Kusama's World of Dots.
Brought to you by the Queensland Art Gallery.
posted to MetaFilter by flapjax at midnite
at 11:07 PM on March 17, 2007
(28 comments)
Brooklyn's
Black Fire Percussion: bringing high school marching band drumming to a whole other level of funky expression.
[All links YouTube]
posted to MetaFilter by flapjax at midnite
at 7:52 PM on March 16, 2007
(40 comments)
Members of the Cherokee Nation have voted to
revoke tribal citizenship for descendants of black slaves the Cherokees
once owned.
posted to MetaFilter by flapjax at midnite
at 4:37 AM on March 4, 2007
(117 comments)
Need more cowbell?
posted to MetaFilter by flapjax at midnite
at 9:45 PM on February 27, 2007
(22 comments)
Hailed as the first major development in bicycle design for 150 years, ladies and gentlemen, it's the
Sideways Bike.
posted to MetaFilter by flapjax at midnite
at 6:05 AM on February 19, 2007
(41 comments)
Jim Flora is best-known for his wild jazz and classical
album covers of the 1940's and 1950's. He authored and illustrated
children's books and flourished for decades as a
magazine illustrator.
Flora was also a prolific
fine artist with a
devilish sense of humor and a flair for juxtaposing
playfulness, absurdity and
violence. And it's not widely known, but
he also liked painting
ships.
posted to MetaFilter by flapjax at midnite
at 5:07 AM on February 15, 2007
(15 comments)
Rogue nations? Nah, that's old stuff. What we're looking for now is rogue
swimmers. Well, actually, it's the
dolphins and sea lions that are looking for them. Of course, there's always the possibility that the animals will become the
rogues and terrorists themselves.
posted to MetaFilter by flapjax at midnite
at 5:18 PM on February 13, 2007
(4 comments)
San Francisco, 1967. CBS news is there: "This is the house of a popular local band that plays hard rock music. They call themselves the
Grateful Dead." In between some
seriously heavy-handed editorializing from grand old man of the news Harry Reasoner, you can catch an interview with Garcia and company plus footage of a Golden Gate Park concert. Jump ahead 38 years, and another CBS newsman, a rather more respectful Ed Bradley, pays a friendly visit to grand old man of the 60's,
Mr. Zimmerman.
[links to Google video]
posted to MetaFilter by flapjax at midnite
at 6:46 AM on January 10, 2007
(97 comments)
Added January 8, 2007: The US Navy has a message for you(Tube) concerning the Navy Seals: "They are warrior diplomats and trusted teammates in the war against terrorism. They understand the political and cultural sensitivities of the countries in which they operate."
Added October 22, 2006: This former Marine commander has a message for you(Tube) as well, concerning "cultural sensitivities". Speaking of his part in the assault on Fallujah: "I started to cry... the woman seeing my reaction... put her hand on my cheek and said Insha'Allah... cause these people over there can accept it as God's will... but no, it wasn't God's will, it was my fucking order. I gave the order to fire those rockets into the building, and I killed her family. I have to live with that..."
posted to MetaFilter by flapjax at midnite
at 4:51 AM on January 9, 2007
(29 comments)
In 1933 an unassuming farmer, one Cecil Dill, was thrust into the spotlight for his 15 minutes of fame, on account of his astonishing musical talent. He played his
hands. Just his
hands. He was a practitioner
(actually the first we know of) of the little-known art of
manualism. The hands may be the most difficult "instruments" in the world to play, but there
are those still putting
palms together for the sake of melody. And what better accompanist for a virtuosic pair of hands than a
bicycle pump? And though he really should rethink the afro wig, this guy's rendition of
Purple Haze really must be heard.
[note: most links go to video sites with very flatulent audio]
posted to MetaFilter by flapjax at midnite
at 6:40 AM on January 7, 2007
(32 comments)
Before you do anything else, just
listen to this. That's
eefing, a 100-plus-year-old vocal technique from rural Tennessee that's, well, the original hillbilly beatboxing. The undisputed master of the art was
Jimmie Riddle. His unique skill landed him
recording* and
TV (youtube) work. Want more weird sounds from the deep south? Try
Hollerin & Whoopin and
Ringing the Pig. *
[warning: on the "Little Eefin Annie" page, avoid the "click here to hear Rolf Harris Eeefin'!" link: it's a pesky popup.
posted to MetaFilter by flapjax at midnite
at 5:16 AM on January 6, 2007
(51 comments)
While you compose that incisive comment, or scour the blogs for an interesting post, or photoshop your latest masterpiece, or whatever you do on your computer, perhaps you'd like to do it to the mellifluous strains of some
enchanting Indian vocal music. Learn more
here. Listen to more Indian music of almost every type
(including historic film music from decades past) here.
[previously]
posted to MetaFilter by flapjax at midnite
at 5:14 AM on January 4, 2007
(15 comments)
Back in 2005, they put out a
call for submissions. The call was answered, and a
book was published, the the
world now knows that women can be geeks, too!
"She's Such A Geek!"
posted to MetaFilter by flapjax at midnite
at 3:11 AM on December 31, 2006
(7 comments)
The bouzouki, the saz, chonguri and sarod, the veena and the shamisen, the cuatro and the oud. These and many hundreds more are to be found at the
Atlas of Plucked Instruments. Plenty of guitars, banjos and mandolins as well.
posted to MetaFilter by flapjax at midnite
at 1:09 AM on December 29, 2006
(12 comments)
Of course you know the rhythm box/drum machine has had a profound impact on modern music-making, but how much do you know about its history? Was the
Rhythmicon the very first rhythm machine? Korg's
DoncaMatic (great name, eh?) was one of the first commercial models. Up until 1979 they were all pre-programmed, but Roland ushered in the modern era with the user-programmable
CR-78, and followed it up soon after with the legendary
TR808. Go
here for a fairly comprehensive overview of vintage drum machines
(organized alphabetically, with photos and descriptions/background info). And
here you can interact with a wide assortment of virtual
[Flash] rhythm boxes of the 70's and 80's.
(Knee-jerk Flash haters, go ahead and hate it, but this is one of the best uses of Flash I can imagine.)
posted to MetaFilter by flapjax at midnite
at 9:03 AM on December 27, 2006
(26 comments)
At one time or another you've probably rubbed your finger along the rim of a glass to produce a note. In 1761
Ben Franklin took the idea further with the invention of the
glass (h)armonica. The instrument enjoyed some popularity, but is believed to have caused health problems due to lead content in the glass. Performers complained of loss of feeling in their hands, some even suffered nervous breakdowns. People became very frightened of the armonica, and by 1830 it was all but extinct. But there's been some renewal of interest: they're being
played, and they're being
made. You can play a surprisingly good-sounding
virtual version. Or
listen to a charming rendition of a seasonally appropriate tune.
[more links inside] Oh, and: [previously]
posted to MetaFilter by flapjax at midnite
at 7:09 AM on December 23, 2006
(15 comments)
In April of 1966, there
emerged onto the American pop music scene a singer like no other. Off-pitch and off-tempo, a 59 year-old grandmother would perform rock standards such as
A Hard Days Night and Downtown [link to audio] in a bizarre operatic style. Often considered the worst pop star of all time, she rode the line between farce and reality, as the reputable Capitol Records promoted the so-called "new sound" without cracking a smile. Her name was
Elva Connes Miller, but on stage she was known simply as
Mrs. Miller. Was her recording career one of the cruelest practical jokes ever devised by the record industry?
posted to MetaFilter by flapjax at midnite
at 6:36 AM on December 21, 2006
(25 comments)
"In the monitor booth the sound technician listens to the rehearsal through a loudspeaker, and in cooperation with maestro Ellington, brings the music to its highest sound perfection before transmitting it through the electrical circuits to the recording machine!"
Record Making With Duke Ellington (1937).
[YouTube]
posted to MetaFilter by flapjax at midnite
at 6:45 AM on November 27, 2006
(11 comments)
It's the season once again for the
annual dolphin drives in Japan, the appallingly
cruel (see "Les massacres" video) practice of herding into shallow waters and brutally slaughtering these highly intelligent, self-aware and emotional creatures. There are
those trying to stop it, and should you be so inclined, you can sign their
petition.
posted to MetaFilter by flapjax at midnite
at 5:33 AM on November 20, 2006
(62 comments)
No doubt taking their cue from MeFi's recent 30-bucks-for-the-best-post, YouTube wannabe
Metacafe is offering cash to those whose vids garner the biggest audiences. 2 million views? 10,000 dollars. More on this from
Wired News.
posted to MetaFilter by flapjax at midnite
at 6:47 AM on October 30, 2006
(10 comments)
In 1966 the Tifton Record Company's efforts to cash in on the popularity of the Batman TV show resulted in the release of an LP called
Batman and Robin. Though the jacket credited “The Sensational Guitars of Dan and Dale”, the musicians were in fact members of
Sun Ra’s Solar Arkestra and
The Blues Project. The wonderful folks at
WFMU have made this unlikely collaboration's wonderfully infectious music
available for your downloading pleasure. Very fun, lively stuff, with a warm and rollicking sound. I've fallen in love with it.
posted to MetaFilter by flapjax at midnite
at 6:59 AM on October 21, 2006
(19 comments)
If you're interested in musical instruments from all over the world, Wesleyan University's
Virtual Instrument Museum should not be missed. Instruments are searchable by
type (idiophones, aerophones, etc.), by
materials (wood, bamboo, etc.), or by
geographic region. The photos are very good, and many instruments are represented by excellent MP3 audio clips. And the
exhibits (QTVR movies: drag your mouse to see the instrument from all angles) are wonderful.
posted to MetaFilter by flapjax at midnite
at 8:45 AM on September 25, 2006
(11 comments)
He is the world's tallest cast iron statue. He has a long and sometimes troubled history. His enormous bare
buttocks have offended local prudes and religious leaders for decades. He was
disassembled in 1999 for refurbishing, but now once again, from atop his lofty
mountain perch, this pagan
colossus reigns over Birmingham, Alabama, the virtual buckle of the Bible Belt.
Behold,
Vulcan!
posted to MetaFilter by flapjax at midnite
at 8:45 AM on September 2, 2006
(26 comments)
There's a new site, just up and running, that aims to be the YouTube of How-To. Not exactly overflowing with clips just yet, but it could perhaps become a handy web resource, if people really start uploading stuff, and if the folks running it keep pumping out the in-house productions that so far comprise the majority of the site's content. Anyway, it's already the place to go if you want a tutorial on how to make a California roll, or how to hang a door. And if nothing else, some of these clips are just screaming for a mashup treatment. They're calling it
VideoJug.
posted to MetaFilter by flapjax at midnite
at 7:12 AM on August 28, 2006
(52 comments)
Are you a recently deceased motorcycle enthusiast desiring of a dignified final ride?
You can have it! Want to be carted off to your final resting place in rugged style, in a 4x4 Land Rover like the one you used to tear around in when you were among the living?
No problem! But if you've just kicked the bucket in China's Jiangsu Province and you'd been hoping to wow the mourners at your big send-off with some strippers, sorry, but you
can't do that. Just want to learn a little more about funeral practices around the world? You can go
here.
posted to MetaFilter by flapjax at midnite
at 5:39 AM on August 26, 2006
(11 comments)
Echolocation :
bats use it. So do
whales and
dolphins. And humans? The 14-year-old profiled
here and
here is using it. Learn more about how blind people are employing
perception and processing of the auditory environment: where words like
flash and
tags have an altogether different meaning.
posted to MetaFilter by flapjax at midnite
at 8:25 AM on August 21, 2006
(28 comments)
From Abadan to Zurvanism,
The Encyclopaedia of the Orient is your one-stop shopping mecca for bite-sized info-bits on North Africa and the Middle East.
posted to MetaFilter by flapjax at midnite
at 6:59 AM on August 19, 2006
(8 comments)
genggong, khomus, guimbarde, trumpi... Not ringing a bell? How about
Jew's Harp? Though neither a harp nor associated with Jewish tradition, that's the name that stuck in the
New World.
Call it what you will, this ingenious little instrument is
played all over the planet. It's the focus of at least one yearly
festival, and there's no shortage of great
players out there
twanging and
boinging away. The instrument has a looong
history stretching from antiquity to
house music. In certain parts of the world its playing is the province of
women only, and yes, they've been known to
make the camels cry. Unsurprisingly, they've found their way onto the beloved
YouTube in extreme close-up glory.
BOINNNNGGG!! (Note: some links go direct to bwaaaang-y audio or video)
posted to MetaFilter by flapjax at midnite
at 8:16 AM on August 17, 2006
(21 comments)
Macon, Georgia, the 1840's. African-American Alabama Vest brings his design for a musical instrument to German clockmaker Thaddeus von Clegg. The modern
KAZOO is
born. It sees its golden age during the
Jug Band era. Later it rears its buzzy head on songs by Hendrix, Queen, Red Hot Chili Peppers and
many others. Originally
made of metal, these days they're mostly
plastic. And I, for one, agree that the humble kazoo is the ideal choice for designation as
The National Instrument.
posted to MetaFilter by flapjax at midnite
at 7:57 AM on August 16, 2006
(23 comments)
Hey, that drum set looks like it's
melting!
Acid starting to kick in? No! It's a TRIXON drum set!
Trixon is exciting! Incontrovertible evidence that when it came to funny looking drum kits, the Germans had it down. Well, maybe with the exception of
these.
posted to MetaFilter by flapjax at midnite
at 11:42 PM on August 14, 2006
(14 comments)
Hans Reichel (
previously) is a man of many talents. His own
site (flash/sound) is fun (often funny) and chock full of agreeably wacky sounds, but can take some time to navigate. Reichel hasn't made it easy for you if you happen to be in a hurry. You may well get stuck somewhere and just give up. That'd be a shame, though, cause you'd miss getting acquainted with the
guitars he makes and plays. Or how he
designs fonts. The
mixing board shenanigans are not to be missed (once you get past those curious little fellows in the brown hats), plus you can sorta kinda play his
daxophone yourself. And of course conduct your own little ensemble of
meercats when one of them finally comes out of hiding and says "Hallo! Play with me".
posted to MetaFilter by flapjax at midnite
at 7:32 AM on August 3, 2006
(6 comments)
Maurice Agis is the creator of
Dreamspace, a magical walk-through environment of color and light that has been enjoyed by thousands of people. It might be good to remember, though, that art can occasionally
kill people.
posted to MetaFilter by flapjax at midnite
at 3:58 PM on July 23, 2006
(17 comments)
