h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

It would be extremely coincidental if you were doing your course through the OU.

Ah but life is full of strange coincidences...

It's a very good course by the way, which has managed to pique my interest in all manner of things musical from aural illusion to xylophones via acoustics, effects pedals and musique concrete.

Wouldn't it be damned weird if there were never any coincidences?

I don't know much about it myself. All my knowledge comes from a friend/colleague who teaches on the course part time. He's just retired and is intending to teach more. He's told me that you have to learn all about the physiology of sound perception and the physics of sound production before you're allowed to touch a mixing desk.

My own interest is in 'World Music' ( Is there any other kind?) and my friend is an invaluable source of information on obscure instruments.

No names no pack drill, but his initials are SW.

I could have done with your friend's knowledge when I saw the Warsaw Village Band playing at a festival earlier this year. They had a range of drums and violin-like instruments I couldn't recognise but which were used to eerie, almost threatening effect. Try here:-
http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/world/reviews/warsaw_uprooting.shtml
Although the sound clips don't do justice to the fully amped up live experience.

I've just been watching some DVD sequences for the course where a film composer demonstrates use of his studio to make interesting versions of the "course tune". It's normally a terrible ear-worm of a tune that we have to work with extensively but this guy's almost made it bearable. Just goes to show what you can do with a good mixing desk, technical know-how and a musical imagination. Which I suppose is the point. Wish I had more time to play.

That looks like it's my kind of music...but I'll have to wait until I get home to stream it.

I'm also frantically trying to track down a Czech band called 'Celtika' (wee hat on the C) who play a combination of Roma and Scots/Irish music. I've tried several shops in Prague, but to no avail - even though they were once featured on R4's Today prog.