MUSICAL MUSINGS From Maggi & Jim Dalton & Singing String Music

Tuesday, June 30, 2009

"A Songful Communitas" at the AGO Regional Convention

Following a wonderful experience presenting our Salem-centric-music-and-history program @ World History Assoc. Conference with yesterday's truly delightful afternoon ~ a journey through 19th-20th century American theater music and history~teaching another group of FANTASTIC (!) grad students at the Boston Conservatory :-D

& now we prepare for another performance in Boston,"A Songful Communitas"! Life is GOOD (& hectic)

What it's about: "A Songful Communitas"

Jim and Maggi will lead an exploration of several kinds of American and Celtic folk-hymnody and stylistically-appropriate ways to present them.

We'll look at various traditions: shape-note, Shaker, Celtic heterophony and others; a capella and accompanied styles; vocal production and ornamentation.

You must be registered for the Convention to attend our performance/workshop; however, you should check out the schedule of events for the public performances, they will be very special!

More info, schedule of events:

http://www.agoboston2009.com

Salem, as we alighted from the train from Boston last night ...

THE fog comes on little cat feet. It sits looking over harbor and city on silent haunches and then moves on. ~Carl Sandburg

THE WORLD HISTORY ASSOCIATION ROCKS!

THE WORLD HISTORY ASSOCIATION ROCKS! http://www.thewha.org
~~~~
A treat doing a music & history program for other "history geeks"--so much fun -- the exec director is a great soul...

and SSC is SO lucky in its musician/sound-stage managers. They made our life on stage SO pleasant! http://www.salemstate.edu/6749.php

PLUS I finally got to hear/meet William H. McNeill! www.thewha.org

"Songs of the Soul, Tunes of the Trade"@World History Assoc.Conf. June 27 1:10 pm Salem State Coll. http://www.thewha.org Open/public ~free
World History Association

Sunday, June 28, 2009

Demolished! 11 Beautiful Train Stations That Fell To The Wrecking Ball (And The Crappy Stuff Built In Their Place) » INFRASTRUCTURIST

Demolished! 11 Beautiful Train Stations That Fell To The Wrecking Ball (And The Crappy Stuff Built In Their Place) » INFRASTRUCTURIST

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Monday, May 18, 2009

Give a Squirrel a Helping Hand

Turn off the lame music, and watch the video.
Kudos to the students...and baby and mama, of course!

Friday, May 15, 2009

Arts and Humanities Update

My Note to Our Senator
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Today at 11:58am | Edit Note | Delete
Subject: Support Cultural Funding
Date: May 15, 2009 11:54:45 AM EDT
From: ssm@singingstring.org
To: ssm@singingstring.org

Thank you for using Massachusetts Advocates for the Arts Mail System.

Message sent to the following recipients:
Senator Berry
Message text follows:

Maggi Smith-Dalton
203 Washington St. #263
Salem, MA 01970-3607

May 15, 2009

[recipient address was inserted here]

Dear [recipient name was inserted here],

I am writing to ask you to support jobs and cultural tourism in my
community by becoming a co-sponsor of the O'Leary Amendment to reduce the
cut to Massachusetts Cultural Council funding. I support increasing the
funding for arts and culture even if it requires tax increases.

Cutting funding the Massachusetts Cultural Council...sigh. How many times
must we face this particular problem?

I am a lifelong performing and teaching artist. Over the years, my
contributions to society in terms of:

~honor

~integrity

~talent

~usefulness

~inspiration

~advocacy

~intellectual capital

~entrepreneurial foresight, energy, savvy

~responsibility

~service to rich, poor, elderly, children, teenagers, working adults,
those challenged with disabilities or handicaps, parents, other teachers,
my own family, my country, my community, my city, my neighborhood...

have only been matched by my contributions as a

TAXPAYER
TAXPAYER
TAXPAYER

AND ACTIVE CITIZEN OF A DEMOCRACY
WHO VOTES
CARES
PAYS ATTENTION
IS POLITICALLY-ACTIVE
AND WHO SUPPORTS GOOD GOVERNMENTAL BEHAVIORS
while DECRYING THE POOR ONES

Taxes are meant to support the COMMON GOOD of all.

I pay them. And have since I entered the workforce at AGE 11.

That's a lot of taxes, most of them earned as A PERFORMING ARTIST.

I care greatly about how they are spent.

I don't mind paying more to support the life-sustaining arts!

Things you already know:
The state must invest in funding that supports jobs in Massachusetts. MCC
funding helps to support 37,000 non-profit cultural jobs.

Massachusetts cultural and heritage facilities are the infrastructure for
cultural tourism the third largest industry in the state.

Arts and culture draw 16 million visitors annually to the state.

MCC funding helps to support 37,000 jobs in all 351 cities and towns.

MCC funding fuels the creative economy.

MCC funding supports a $247 million payroll across the state.

Let's get our priorities straight and LEAVE them there, ok?
Geesh.

Please boost our state's economy by co-sponsoring increased state funding
for arts and culture through the O'Leary Amendment. To become a
co-sponsor please contact the office of Senator O'Leary.

Thank you.

Sincerely,

Maggi Smith-Dalton
978-744-4833
AN ARTS AND HUMANITIES ADVOCACY UPDATE!