In Harmonium

Being in the main the musings of a Symbolic Anthropologist

Music, symbols and cross-cultural communication

Marc | June 25, 2009

Last night, I caught the second half of The Music Instinct: Science & Song on PBS (yes, we get PBS in Canada).  Two sections really caught my attention – Oliver Sachs speaking on the Importance of Early Musical Training (1:22) and How music can change the brain (1:03).  What was most intriguing, for me at [...]

Why the military should study poetry

Marc | June 22, 2009

Last week, after the OBC tour, I was at the Cultures in Conflict symposium at Cranfield University.  On the whole, it was an excellent get together, so kudos to Charles Kirke for organizing it (and Lynn Anderson for all of the nitty-gritty work!).  As with most conferences in the area, it was a mixture of [...]

London and Paris

Marc | June 15, 2009

What can I say about St. Paul”s and/or Notre Dame?  Well, for one thing, apparently we have been invited back again.  More importantly, they are truly amazing places to sing in.  Both are centres of their respective traditions and, even though I was raised in the tradition from St. Paul’s, I think I prefer Notre [...]

Tommorrow on CBC Radio 2….

Marc | June 15, 2009

Just a short note to let people know that the Ottawa Bach Choir’s last home concert will be airing on Tuesday, June 16, 8 pm on Michel Keable’s Soirée classiques, so don’t forget to mark it on your calendar (102.5 FM – Ottawa, 100.7 FM– Montreal, 90.3 FM – Toronto).  It is also available online [...]

Leipzig or Why Bach is great!

Marc | June 10, 2009

Well, phase 1 of the tour is over and in the past: Leipzig.  This was our third time singing at the Thomaskirche, and the time just flew; it seemed to be over almost as soon as it started.  Too bad.

A Review of Cyburbia

Marc | June 2, 2009

Lost in Cyburbia: How Life on the Net Has Created a Life of Its Own.
James Harkin
Little Brown UK
Alfred A. Knopf Canada
http://www.cyburbia.tv/
On May 2nd, 2009, I had the pleasure of hosting James Harkin at the Ottawa Writers Festival as he talked about his new book Lost in Cyburbia.  As someone who has a strong interest in [...]