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OUT OF CLUTTER, FIND SIMPLICITY |
Welcome to 'Music on Earth' DVD
Paul Balmer (Director/Series Editor) and
Judy Caine (Producer)
Thank you for your interest!
Judy and I would like to share our delight in over 30 years of working with some of the world's greatest musicians.
In the past we've won awards and received much critical praise for our international Broadcast work. We have now founded Music on Earth DVD to offer something better.
Conventional media - TV, Radio and record companies all offer music. However conventional TV doesn't have the budget, expertise or will to serve a thirst for musical knowledge. Radio is busy promoting 'personality' presenters, record companies need to 'shift product'. This leaves many of us curious about the emotional power of music but with no source of information.
At Music on Earth we are designing a library of DVD 'stories'. They explore the extraordinary way music often reaches deep inside our minds often moving us beyond words.
- Each story offers a window into some aspect of music.
- Each story has a pivotal musician at its core.
Many people ask why we started the series with Stéphane Grappelli ?
For us Stéphane presented the perfect beginning.
Stéphane lived at the hub of a musical revolution, specifically the coming of Jazz to Europe in the early 20th century. His personal experience helps us understand that extraordinary era.
Stéphane was a creative genius - what is that ? How did he do it ? Where did he begin ? What were his influences ? What events brought his talent to public notice ? With whom did he collaborate and what effect did those musical meetings have ?
In an attempt to answer those questions we get closer to the magic.
MAGIC
... a dangerous word and we're glad it was Yehudi Menuhin who, as part of Stéphane's story, dared to say 'music is magic'. He was right.
Music on Earth will not attempt to scientifically analyse music searching for some profound truth.
We do promise an entertaining set of stories, reaching beyond that enjoyment towards a level of enlightenment.
The Music on Earth DVDs contain a great deal of music without commentary. This is an expensive option that the broadcast TV and Radio stations have to avoid. But we feel you must hear the music - how else can we understand the art and craft of the musician ?
The Music on Earth DVDs contain a rich archive of rare film and video. Again this is an expensive but essential route - in the search for some truth we get as close to the musical experience as possible.
We pay close detail to sound quality - taking us nearer to the music. Where necessary we digitally restore original tape and disc masters.
We give the music a CULTURAL CONTEXT. Common sense tells us that music never emerges from a vacuum. On the Grappelli DVD we see the wild 1920s Paris that defined Stéphane's musical direction.
What is music for ? Did Stéphane's happy swing emerge as an antidote to poverty and depression ? Do we always have the urge to dance away the blues ?
There are many questions in Music on Earth - this is just a beginning.
Most importantly Music on Earth is here to give you what you want.
We hope you enjoy our stories. But please tell us the stories you want to see - We really want this to be your series.
Thank you again for taking an interest in Music on Earth
Paul Balmer, director/series editor
Judy Caine, series producer
