library@esplanade

In Memory of Les Paul: The Man, The Music, The Guitar (1915-2009)

epcl — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 07:45:16 +0000

In Memory of Les Paul: The Man, The Music, The Guitar (1915-2009)
1 - 30 Nov 2009
A library@esplanade exclusive

Please click to enlarge the pictures:

aceace

For the entire month of November 2009, library@esplanade and Gibson Guitars bring you a tribute to Les Paul: acclaimed guitar player, entertainer and inventor extraordinaire.

Learn more about this legend, his contribution to the music world and the development of the modern electric guitar through our exhibition featuring the 7 most coveted Gibson guitar models named after Les Paul.

What’s more, stand a chance to win exclusive prizes sponsored by Gibson when you participate in our lucky draw.

We will also host a Tribute to Les Paul Video Screening on 22 November at 5.00pm* at the Open Stage, library@esplanade. Come for the screening and stand a chance to win yourself fantastic prizes sponsored by Gibson at the end of the show!

So come on down to the library@esplanade for an experience you won’t soon forget!

*: An encore screening of the Tribute to Les Paul film will be held on 29 Nov 2009, 5.00pm at library@esplanade.

About Les Paul

Les Paul, acclaimed guitar player, entertainer and inventor, passed away on 13 August 2009 from complications of severe pneumonia at White Plains Hospital in White Plain, New York, surrounded by family and loved ones. He had been receiving the best available treatment through this final battle and in keeping with his persona, he showed incredible strength, tenacity and courage. Les Paul was 94.

One of the foremost influences on 20th century sound and responsible for the world’s most famous guitar, the Les Paul model, Les Paul’s prestigious career in music and invention spans from the 1930s to the present. Though he’s indisputably one of America’s most popular, influential, and accomplished electric guitarists, Les Paul is best known as an early innovator in the development of the solid body guitar. His groundbreaking design would become the template for Gibson’s best-selling electric, the Les Paul model, introduced in 1952. Today, countless musical legends still consider Paul’s iconic guitar unmatched in sound and prowess. Among Paul’s most enduring contributions are those in the technological realm, including ingenious developments in multi-track recording, guitar effects, and the mechanics of sound in general.

Born Lester William Polsfuss in Waukesha, Wisconsin on June 9, 1915, Les Paul was already performing publicly as a honky-tonk guitarist by the age of 13. So clear was his calling that Paul dropped out of high school at 17 to play in Sunny Joe Wolverton’s Radio Band in St. Louis. As Paul’s mentor, Wolverton was the one to christen him with the stage name “Rhubarb Red,” a moniker that would follow him to Chicago in 1934. There, Paul became a bonafide radio star, known as both hillbilly picker Rhubarb Red and Django Reinhardt-informed jazz guitarist Les Paul. His first recordings were done in 1936 on an acoustic—alone as Rhubarb Red, as well as backing blues singer Georgia White. The next year he formed his first trio, but by 1938 he’d moved to New York to begin his tenure on national radio with one of the more popular dance orchestras in the country, Fred Waring’s Pennsylvanians.

Tinkering with electronics and guitar amplification since his youth, Les Paul began constructing his own electric guitar in the late ’30s. Unhappy with the first generation of commercially available hollowbodies because of their thin tone, lack of sustain, and feedback problems, Paul opted to build an entirely new structure. “I was interested in proving that a vibration-free top was the way to go,” he has said. “I even built a guitar out of a railroad rail to prove it. What I wanted was to amplify pure string vibration, without the resonance of the wood getting involved in the sound.” With the good graces of Epiphone president Epi Stathopoulo, Paul used the Epiphone plant and machinery in 1941 to bring his vision to fruition. He affectionately dubbed the guitar “The Log.”
Les Paul’s tireless experiments sometimes proved to be dangerous, and he nearly electrocuted himself in 1940 during a session in the cellar of his Queens apartment. During the next two years of rehabilitation, Les earned his living producing radio music. Forced to put the Pennsylvanians and the rest of his career on hold, Les Paul moved to Hollywood. During World War II, he was drafted into the Army but permitted to stay in California, where he became a regular player for Armed Forces Radio Service. By 1943 he had assembled a trio that regularly performed live, on the radio, and on V-Discs. In 1944 he entered the jazz spotlight—thanks to his dazzling work filling in for Oscar Moore alongside Nat King Cole, Illinois Jacquet, and other superstars —at the first of the prestigious Jazz at the Philharmonic concerts.

By his mid-thirties, Paul had successfully combined Reinhardt-inspired jazz playing and the western swing and twang of his Rhubarb Red persona into one distinctive, electrifying style. In the Les Paul Trio he translated the dizzying runs and unusual harmonies found on Jazz at the Philharmonic into a slower, subtler, more commercial approach. His novelty instrumentals were tighter, brasher, and punctuated with effects. Overall, the trademark Les Paul sound was razor-sharp, clean-shaven, and divinely smooth.

As small combos eclipsed big bands toward the end of World War II, Les Paul Trio’s popularity grew. They cut records for Decca both alone and behind the likes of Helen Forrest, the Andrews Sisters, the Delta Rhythm Boys, Dick Hayes, and, most notably, Bing Crosby. Since 1945, when the crooner brought them into the studio to back him on a few numbers, the Trio had become regular guests on Crosby’s hit radio show. The highlight of the session was Paul’s first No. 1 hit and million-seller, the gorgeous “It’s Been a Long, Long Time.”

Meanwhile, Paul began to experiment with dubbing live tracks over recorded tracks, also altering the playback speed. This resulted in “Lover (When You’re Near Me),” his revolutionary 1947 predecessor to multi-track recording. The hit instrumental featured Les Paul on eight different electric guitar parts, all playing together. In 1948, Paul nearly lost his life to a devastating car crash that shattered his right arm and elbow. Still, he convinced doctors to set his broken arm in the guitar-picking and cradling position. Laid up but undaunted, Paul acquired a first generation Ampex tape recorder from Crosby in 1949, and began his most important multi-tracking adventure, adding a fourth head to the recorder to create sound-on-sound recordings. While tinkering with the machine and its many possibilities, he also came up with tape delay. These tricks, along with another recent Les Paul innovation—close mic-ing vocals—were integrated for the first time on a single recording: the 1950 No. 1 tour de force “How High the Moon.” This historic track was performed during a duo with future wife Mary Ford. The couple’s prolific string of hits for Capitol Records included some of the most popular recordings of the early 1950s. They also wrote a book on contemporary studio production. The dense but crystal clear harmonic layering of guitars and vocals, along with Ford’s close mic-ed voice and Paul’s guitar effects, produced distinctively contemporary recordings with unprecedented sonic qualities. Through hits, tours, and popular radio shows, Paul and Ford kept one foot in the technological vanguard and the other in the cultural mainstream.

All the while, Les Paul continued to pine for the perfect guitar. Though The Log came close, it wasn’t quite what he was after. In the early 1950s, Gibson Guitar would cultivate a partnership with Paul that would lead to the creation of the guitar he’d seen only in his dreams. In 1948, Gibson elected to design its first solidbody, and Paul, a self-described “dyed-in-the-wool Gibson man,” seemed the right man for the job. Gibson avidly courted the guitar legend, even driving deep into the Pennsylvania mountains to deliver the first model to newlyweds Les Paul and Mary Ford.

“Les played it, and his eyes lighted up,” then-Gibson President Ted McCarty has recalled. The year was 1950, and Paul had just signed on as the namesake of Gibson’s first electric solidbody, with exclusive design privileges. Working closely with Paul, Gibson forged a relationship that would change popular culture forever. The Gibson Les Paul model—the most powerful and respected electric guitar in history—began with the 1952 release of the Les Paul Goldtop. After introducing the original Les Paul Goldtop in 1952, Gibson issued the Black Beauty, the mahogany-topped Les Paul Custom, in 1954. The Les Paul Junior (1954) and Special (1955) were also introduced before the canonical Les Paul Standard hit the market in 1958. With revolutionary humbucker pickups, this sunburst classic has remained unchanged for the half-century since it hit the market.

“The world has lost a truly innovative and exceptional human being today. I cannot imagine life without Les Paul. He would walk into a room and put a smile on anyone’s face. His musical charm was extraordinary and his techniques unmatched anywhere in the world,” said Henry Juszkiewicz, Chairman and CEO of Gibson Guitar. “We will dedicate ourselves to preserving Les’ legacy to insure that it lives on forever. He touched so many lives throughout his remarkable life and his influence extends around the globe and across every boundary. I have lost a dear, personal friend and mentor, a man who has changed so many of our lives for the better.”

“I don’t think any words can describe the man we know as Les Paul adequately. The English language does not contain words that can pay enough homage to someone like Les. As the “Father of the Electric Guitar”, he was not only one of the world’s greatest innovators but a legend who created, inspired and contributed to the success of musicians around the world,” said Dave Berryman, President of Gibson Guitar. “I have had the privilege to know and work with Les for many, many years and his passing has left a deep personal void. He was simply put – remarkable in every way. As a person, a musician, a friend, an inventor. He will be sorely missed by us all,”

With the rise of the rock ’n’ roll revolution of 1955, Les Paul and Mary Ford’s popularity began to wane with younger listeners, though Paul would prove to be a massive influence on younger generation of guitarists. Still, Paul and Ford maintained their iconic presence with their wildly popular television show, which ran from 1953-1960. In 1964, the couple, parents to a son and daughter, divorced. Paul began playing in Japan, and recorded an LP for London Records before poor health forced him to take time off—as much as someone so inspired can take time off.
In the 1977, Paul resurfaced with a Grammy-winning Chet Atkins collaboration, Chester and Lester. Then the ailing guitarist, who’d already suffered arthritis and permanent hearing loss, had a heart attack, followed by bypass surgery.

Ever stubborn, Les recovered, and returned to live performance in the late 1980s. Even releasing the 2005 double-Grammy winner Les Paul & Friends: American Made World Played, featuring collaborations with a veritable who’s who of the electric guitar, including dozens of illustrious fans like Keith Richards, Buddy Guy, Billy Gibbons, Jeff Beck, Eric Clapton, and Joe Perry. In 2008, The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame paid tribute to Les Paul in a week-long celebration of his life which culminated with a live performance by Les himself. Until recently Les continued to perform two weekly New York shows with the Les Paul Trio, at The Iridium Jazz Club in New York City, for over twelve years where a literal who’s who of the entertainment world has paid homage. It has been an honor to have Les Paul perform at The Iridium Jazz Club for the past twelve years hosting such luminaries as Paul McCartney, Keith Richards and others and is a tragic loss to owner Ron Sturm both personally and professionally. Iridium intends to celebrate Les Paul’s music and legacy every Monday night.

Les Paul has since become the only individual to share membership into the Grammy Hall of Fame, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the National Inventors Hall of Fame, and the National Broadcasters Hall of Fame. Les is survived by his three sons Lester (Rus) G. Paul, Gene W. Paul and Robert (Bobby) R. Paul, his daughter Colleen Wess, son-in-law Gary Wess, long time friend Arlene Palmer, five grandchildren and five great grandchildren.

Editor’s note: Write-up on Les Paul kindly provided by Gibson (www.gibson.com).

Staff Jamz 11: Vintage Modern

Indra — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 06:41:45 +0000

25 Oct 2009, Sunday
Staff Jamz: Vintage Modern
5.30pm - 7.00pm
library@esplanade

Singers and musicians begin their musical journey by playing songs that inspire them. Upon establishing their own musical identity and expertise, they recreate their favourite songs and in turn, magically make them their own.

In this event, come join the NLB BAND to learn how songs are tweaked in structure and delivery and transformed into new songs via covers. The band will perform songs from the 1960s to current popular radio hits.

There will be a fun music enrichment session where the band will share music trivia, theories and other interesting facts on the topic. Pay close attention during the music enrichment segment and you could stand a chance to win a special limited edition prize during the quiz segment at the end of the show. All prizes are sponsored by renowned guitar company, Gibson.

So make a date with us on 25 October, 5.30pm at library@esplanade’s Open Stage. Bring your family and friends and enjoy this session of musical creativity and exciting performance.

Indrashah Isa
NLB Band Leader

Exclusive preview on ‘Red Tears’

epcl — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 06:01:59 +0000

Photo Credit: Odyssey Dance Theatre Ltd

Exclusive preview on ‘Red Tears’
Presented by Odyssey Dance Theatre Ltd
www.odysseydancetheatre.com

24 October 2009 (Saturday)
5.00pm
Open Stage, library@esplanade

‘Red Tears’ brings us to a time space that captures the beauty and essence of human spirit that will touch our lives through the passage of time. It portrays an interesting interplay of cultural collision in terms of values, beliefs, and contemporary practice and shows how these conflicting ideas and forms can be interweaved and co-exist in our present society.

Through the encapsulating of original and innovative contemporary moves with Chinese texts and Teochew opera, award-winning Singaporean choreographer Danny Tan will lead homegrown dancers, together with an international creative and production team (China, S. Korea, Taiwan and Singapore) to bring the audience into a new interpretation of the Asian contemporary dance, which is sensational, humanistic and dynamic.

This performance will be held at Victoria Theatre on 30 October 2009.

Mr. Danny Tan will share with his collaborators, Ms Ho Wen-Shing (Taiwanese Film Director, Mr Huang Ouchul (S. Korean Visual Artist/Sculptor), together with homegrown dancers, about their enriching journey in making ‘Red Tears’.

Don’t miss this educational preview by Singapore’s foremost contemporary dance theatre, in conjunction with 5th Biennial Xposition ‘O’ Contemporary Dance Fiesta and the finale season of ODT’s 10th anniversary celebrations.

WIN EXCLUSIVE TICKETS & PREMIUMS TO ANIMATION NATION 2009!

Peck Keong — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 13:01:17 +0000

For every 6 items borrowed from library@esplanade, stand a chance to win yourself exclusive tickets* and premiums** to Animation Nation 2009!

Attach your loan receipt to the blue entry form provided at the library.

Fill in the blue entry form including your NAME, NRIC, E-MAIL & CONTACT NUMBER.

Drop it into the lucky draw box provided. That’s it!

Promotion ends Wed, 21 Oct 2009.

*Draw for tickets winners takes place Mon, 12 Oct 09. So hurry and take part!

**Premiums include official festival T-shirts autographed by the likes of Satoshi Tomioka and Reel Card memberships with the Singapore Film Society!

(more…)

How did modern dance come about?

Peck Keong — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 05:47:06 +0000

Ed: The articles cited here are all available at NLB’s eResources page. Access to all resources cited in this post is FREE; all you have to do is register for a FREE NLB Digital Library Membership. You can do so at the NLB eResources website: http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/.

==================
Advent of Modern Dance
==================

Here is how Petra Kuppers describes the advent of modern dance:

Modern Dance was born at the beginning of the twentieth century out of the need to recreate dance, to tear it away from the formal, stifling rigor of ballet, as well as from the image of other forms of dance as light-weight, sordid entertainment. One of the first dance artists associated with the movement was Isadora Duncan, whose insistence on dance as self-expression and high art paved the way for the more sustained schools of Mary Wigman, Martha Graham, Doris Humphrey, and the Denishawn dance troupe. In Germany and the United States, these founders worked on movement systems which focused on the grounding of the body, natural dance, harmony, creative expression, and feeling. Their techniques continue to shape contemporary theatrical dance (Modern Dance).

Source: Kuppers, Petra. “Modern Dance.” St. James Encyclopedia of Popular Culture. Ed. Sara Pendergast and Tom Pendergast. Vol. 3. Detroit: St. James Press, 2000. 388. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Gale. National Library Board Singapore. 21 Jan. 2009. http:// go.galegroup.com/ps/start.do?p=GVRL&u=sgnlb.

Susan Allene Manning writes that “Modern dance originated in Europe, but by 1930 (more…)

WIN A PAIR OF TICKETS TO THE DA:NS FESTIVAL 2009!

Eleaner — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 08:04:53 +0000

For every 6 items borrowed from library@esplanade, stand a chance to win a pair of tickets to AN EVENING WITH PALOMA HERRERA (Principal Dancer, American Ballet Theatre)!

To participate, answer this question: Name any dance individual or group performing in this year’s Da:ns Festival.
dans
Write your ANSWER, NAME, NRIC, E-MAIL, & CONTACT NUMBER clearly on the back of your loan receipt.
dans
Drop your loan receipt into the lucky draw box provided. That’s it!
dans
Promotion ends 18 Oct 2009, Sunday.

Terms & Conditions:

Loan receipts must bear the same name but (more…)

Notice

epcl — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 03:41:45 +0000

The library@esplanade will be temporarily closed during the Singapore Grand Prix Formula One race days from 25 to 27 September 2009. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.

For enquiries, please call 6332 3255 or e-mail helpdesk@nlb.gov.sg

‘PASSION’ by Odyssey Dance Theatre Ltd

epcl — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 06:05:06 +0000

‘PASSION’

Presented by Odyssey Dance Theatre Ltd
www.odysseydancetheatre.com

05 September 2009 (Saturday)
5.00 - 6.00pm
library@esplanade

‘Passion’ is a dance and music presentation by ODT’s Young Artists Project performers and Singapore’s acclaimed music artist Mr. Simon Ng. Audience will be treated to professional contemporary works choreographed by ODT’s Artistic Director Mr. Danny Tan, performed by ODT’s young dancers with technical precision and dynamism against soothing music composed and arranged by our homegrown musicians.

Don’t miss this educational outreach performance by Singapore’s foremost contemporary dance theatre, as part of its 5th biennial Xposition ‘O’ Contemporary Dance Fiesta (www.xposition-o.com).

Baybeats 2009 - Observation Deck, library@esplanade

Peck Keong — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 05:41:52 +0000

Hallo folks, Baybeats 2009 is ready to rock the year again! It’s right around the corner — this weekend, in fact — so get your indie boots ready for a fantastic. While you’re here catching the festivities, be sure to swing by library@esplanade to catch the artistes up close and personal for the Observation Deck segment of the show!

Here’s the line-up for the segment over 2 days, 29-30 Aug 2009!

Baybeats - Observation Deck
29 Aug 09, Saturday

3.00 - 3.30pm: Love Me Butch (Malaysia)

3.45 - 4.15pm: Opposition Party

4.45 - 5.15pm: Chris Collingwood (USA)

5.30 - 6.00pm: For This Cycle

More… (more…)

WIN! NLB – SFS Japanese Film Festival Contest 2009

Peck Keong — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 11:27:11 +0000

What makes a good horror film?

Tell us, in 300-500 words, what a good horror film is to you and stand to win fantastic prizes sponsored by the Singapore Film Society!

You may talk about any number of films, but at least ONE of the films discussed must be a Japanese horror film. Also, at least ONE film mentioned in your essay must be available for lending at library@esplanade.

How do I submit an entry?

Post your entry on a blog and submit the URL via e-mail to jff2009@sfs.org.sg . Deadline for entries is Fri, 21 Aug 09.

Your e-mail must include your Name, NRIC, Contact Number, as well as the Title and Call Number of applicable film(s).

Your blog post entry should also include (more…)