Global Recordings Network

I was searching for a particular item one day on the internet and stumbled across a very interesting website. It is called Global Recordings Network (GRN). Much like the Summer Institute of Linguist(SIL) their primary mission is to capture all the different language around the world in audio format for distribution in ones mother tongue or dialect. Accompanied with flip charts the audio gives a visual insight for clear understanding to those who are illiterate. Joy Ridderhof founded the work of Gospel Recordings in 1939. Joy was a single missionary in Honduras in the 1930's but was forced to return to the U.S. due to ill health. Her missionary heart was still with the mountain people she had left behind. Although poor and illiterate, these people had responded to the gospel and were delighted to hear God's Word.
As Joy prayed for them, an idea came to her. She remembered how phonograph records had played in the villages, blaring out songs in English and Spanish. If only she could make a record with a gospel message and Christian songs in Spanish, then it could stay with the people to repeat over and over the words she could no longer say to them in person.
In late 1938 the first record was produced and sent to missionaries who would take it into the mountain areas. The response was amazing and soon requests were coming from many Spanish-speaking areas for copies of that record. In 1941 Joy received a request for a Navajo recording from missionaries to the Navajo Indians. Joy's decision to record this second language was a major landmark in the history of Gospel Recordings, opening the way to a global outreach that would eventually touch the ends of the earth. Gospel Recordings today is committed to fulfill the vision that God gave to Joy Ridderhof.
GRN has been established in Papua New Guinea and works in close partnership with the SIL. There are currently over 30 establishments around the world. GRN is a Non Governmental Organization and depends heavily on donations and sale of its products to finance its activities. Visit their website to find out more.

Milne Bay Art

Designs that you will find familiar in Alotau and Milne Bay.

Aaron Choulai, VADA and the Tatana Village Choir

This stunning collaboration between musicians from Australia and Papua New Guinea is led by Papuan/Australian jazz pianist Aaron Choulai - a 25-year-old albino prodigy, who now flits mainly between Melbourne and New York, having recorded three albums for prestigious US jazz label Sunnyside Records. The 16-voice Tatana Village Choir, from the Motuan village in PNG's Central Province, performs Peroveta Anedia (Prophet Songs) - traditional choral music sung in intricate modal harmonies with soaring, interweaving parts. Choulai brought the Choir and Melbourne jazz collective VADA together as an exciting musical collaboration in 2007 for the film We Don't Dance For No Reason [Ai Na Asi A Mavaru Kavamu], created for the 2007 Queensland Music Festival. The Choir are proud representatives of Motu culture and the traditions of Peroveta Anedia, brought to their island by United church missionaries as a means of bridging bible stories and traditional tribal music, though the sound eventually moved beyond the church into everyday culture. Accompanying the choir in performance is Choulai on piano at the helm of VADA, featuring Carlo Babaro on saxophone, Eamon McNelis on trumpet, Rory McDougall on drums, Shannon Barnett on trombone and Tom Lee on bass.

Aaron Choulai and Tatana Village Choir will perform "We Don't Dance For No Reason" is presented as one-off performance this Friday 18 Nov at Melbourne Recital Centre.

"We Don't Dance For No Reason" is a very special project- the Tatana Village Choir are extraordinary on stage, full of joy and energy. and their sound is like nothing you'll ever hear (unless you happen to be in a fishing village on the coast of PNG on your way to church). Great jazz artists are collaborating on the show directed by Papuan/Australian pianist Aaron Choulai. The music is interspersed with stunning film pieces made by Peter Szollosi which show the beauty and struggle of life in PNG.

The show is part of a double bill with Iconic Songs featuring Archie Roach, Neil Murray and Shane Howard- another special show where these three amazing artists share the stories behind their iconic songs. There is a special discount offer from MRC for a $25 ticket to the double bill show (full price tickets are $65 to it's a good deal).

The double bill starts at 7:30pm and We Don't Dance For No Reason is on after the interval at approx 8:40pm. If you want to book tickets you need to quote VADA for the $25 price. You can book via phone or internet, or buy them at the door (though the cheap tickets are limited and may get used up so it's best to book in advance)

Book online via this link and follow the prompts to enter the promo code VADA.

http://www.melbournerecital.com.au/whatson/buytix?perfid=3117

Amazing Pictures of Port Moresby

Some stunning and amazing photos taking of Port Moresby. Here is a picture taken in view of the sunset on Fairfax harbour. For more click here or click our picture gallery on this site.

Madang Airlines PNG Accident

In last months tragic plane crash images of the crash were circulated. For those who missed out heres a couple. There was also alot of tribute and dedications to the victims. The government offered K500 000.00 to the victims. A preliminary report was released however a full report may take a year or two to be completed. The preliminary report suggested that there was a mechanical fault.