I was lucky to get to review Dan Bendrups' book on musical sustainability on Easter Island--a welcome example of how musical sustainability can be a paradigm for ethnographic writing.
Author: Anna
Author, filmmaker, professor, specializing in music, media, and performance in Nepal and the Himalayan region.
Conversation with Sarangi player Shyam Nepali: Echoes in the Valley Festival 2021
Shyam Nepali is the featured artist for this year's year-long online version of Kathmandu's Echoes in the Valley Festival. As part of the "letters home" series, Nepali musicians outside of Nepal are sending "letters home" via recorded conversations, and I got to do one with him! You can view our conversation (in Nepali) about playing… Continue reading Conversation with Sarangi player Shyam Nepali: Echoes in the Valley Festival 2021
View Full Film: Singing A Great Dream
https://youtu.be/57DaBnErmmQ Singing A Great Dream: The Revolutionary Songs and Life of Khusiram Pakhrin, by Bhakta Syangtan and Anna Stirr, premiered online on November 21, 2020. You can learn more about the film at http://www.singingagreatdream.com.
Happy Tihar!
https://youtu.be/6NZF-YNIEiE I made this video at the request of the Lotus organization in Honolulu, for their online Diwali celebration. Happy Tihar, Deepawali, Diwali, to all! To my Newar friends, Nhu Daya Bhintuna! - Anna
Singing a Great Dream Online Premiere: Nov. 21, 2020, 9:00 am UTC-10 (Nepal Time)
"Songs...speak the truth of life." "गीतले जीवनको सत्य बोल्छ।" Please join us for the online Premiere of Singing A Great Dream: The Revolutionary Songs and Life of Khusiram Pakhrin--the story of people’s singer, songwriter, and Nepali Maoist cultural leader Khusiram Pakhrin’s musical journey through nearly 4 decades of political movements and revolution in Nepal, featuring… Continue reading Singing a Great Dream Online Premiere: Nov. 21, 2020, 9:00 am UTC-10 (Nepal Time)
Pulling Power from the Sky: The Story of Makani
The US west coast is on fire--yes, the grass in the hills used to burn each summer when we were kids, too, but this is different. Nearly unlivable air quality and surreal orange skies are bringing the significance of global climate change home. From Hawaii I look at those pictures with concern for my family,… Continue reading Pulling Power from the Sky: The Story of Makani
रातो लालटिनबाट रि-पोस्ट: गीतहरु क्रान्तिकारी भएपछि भावना पार्टीगत हुँदैन
गीतहरु क्रान्तिकारी भएपछि भावना पार्टीगत हुँदैन Interview for Rato Laltin with Prakash Thapa Magar Originally posted on January 22, 2019 आना स्टर (पिएच.डी.), अमेरिकी सङ्गीत अन्वेषक ।२०५७ सालमा अमेरिकी विद्यार्थीहरुको एउटा टोली नेपाल आयो । त्यो टोलीलाई नेपाली भाषाका साथै अन्य विषयहरु पनि सिकाइयो । चार महिनाजति नेपालमा बसेको उक्त टोलीमा थिइन्, आना मारिया स्टर । उक्त टोलीले… Continue reading रातो लालटिनबाट रि-पोस्ट: गीतहरु क्रान्तिकारी भएपछि भावना पार्टीगत हुँदैन
Interview about Dohori and Other Things on Ambrin Hayat’s “Over a Cup of Tea”
Lahore-based Pakistani vlogger Ambrin Hayat kindly invited me to do a Zoom chat with her for her channel "Over a Cup of Tea," which features her conversations with academic and other successful women. We talked (in English) about music and Nepal for a general audience--not much about ancient music, despite the video's title. Thanks Ambrin… Continue reading Interview about Dohori and Other Things on Ambrin Hayat’s “Over a Cup of Tea”
Dohori with Badri Pangeni: Timlai Tadha Malai Ni Tadha (8/19/2011)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4OSqseQQkPs In these days of social distancing we're all far away from each other--if only we could move our homes "a fishbone's width apart" as the song says. Missing you all! This recording is from August 19, 2011, at Nirmaya Rodhi Club, and I'm singing dohori with Badri Pangeni, with the help of Shila Ale,… Continue reading Dohori with Badri Pangeni: Timlai Tadha Malai Ni Tadha (8/19/2011)
What Keeps Us Company: Nepali Popular Music in Baharain (2010)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ncR7pkwjMb8&t=44s Nepali workers in Bahrain, including a nightclub owner, performers, truckers, and manual laborers, rely on popular music to get them through their days and nights. For the accompanying article of mine that tells more of their story from 2010, please see: Popular Music among Nepalis in Bahrain: Nightclubs, Media, Performance, and Publics, In David… Continue reading What Keeps Us Company: Nepali Popular Music in Baharain (2010)
