Beach Crossings - Pacific Footprints - Mike Cooper and Friends

by mike cooper

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	1.	Conch 00:53
	2.	The Welcome 01:07
	3.	Fahey 02:34
	4.	Red Balloon 00:12
	5.	Beaches 02:10
	6.	Po Mahina 03:14
	7.	Three Bones 01:43
	8.	Sky Bursters 01:12
	9.	New Hard Times Killing Floor 04:40
	10.	The Dolphin At Tahiti 01:31
	11.	Everybody Ought To Treat A Stranger Right 02:00
	12.	The Dolphin At Tahiti - 2 01:40
	13.	Beach Crossing 07:13
	14.	This Music 01:45
	15.	West Papua 03:30
	16.	Dead Spirits 04:39
	17.	Una Oscura Leggenda 00:55
	18.	Bengawan Solo 03:46
	19.	Cornelius 02:00
	20.	Pearl Harbour 01:32
	21.	Xmas In Hawaii 04:12
	22.	Hiroshima 00:42
	23.	Masters At War 05:04
	24.	War Coda 02:20

about

Beach Crossings-Pacific Footprints is a meditation in words and music on European presence and colonization in the Pacific, from the first landing of the Dolphin at Tahiti in 1766 up until the dropping of the atomic bomb in World War two on Hiroshima and contemporary Indonesian colonization practices.

During my 30 years living in Italy Pino Saulo, radio producer for the RAI Italian radio afforded me many opportunities to produce projects that I would have had less of a chance of achieving elsewhere and my 'opera' Beach Crossings is one of those many projects.

Inspired by the writing of Greg Dening, an Australian Historian of The Pacific, and with his blessing I used the title of his book, Beach Crossings, and this quote from it that summed up my piece.

"A voyage across culture, time and self. A view from both sides of the beach whereto beach is a metaphor as well as a reality to be crossed. A space of meeting and departure on several levels"

The music is mostly improvised following a graphic score, some hand signals and some pre-rehearsed songs and ideas.

The text is borrowed and/or adapted with permission from Greg Dening, David Toop, Steve Feld, New Internationalist, The Cambridge History Of Pacific Islanders and other unknown sources as well as original observations and thoughts.

Originally created in English I had it translated into Italian (why not? It is an opera of sorts) but have had it translated and performed in other languages (French, Portugese and Australian English) with different combinations of musicians and even as a duo with radio producer Brent Clough for ABC Radio in Australia.

There is an accompanying film Planet Pacific-Pieces Of Heaven? shot on super eight film that I have used as a backdrop screened for live performance.

This premier version of Beach Crossings-Pacific Footprints was performed live at RAI studios and first appeared as a c.d. on Tracce records in 2007.

I was extremely lucky to have the pleasure of working with the musicians, all local Romans, as well the participation of the now late Richard Nunns and the still very present Alvin Curran.

credits

released August 3, 2023

Mike Cooper-Guitar,Eledctronics,Voice. Alvin Curran-Piano,Shofar. Richard Nunns-Traditional Maori Instruments,Voice(trk2). Elio Martusciello-Elecric Guitar,Electronics. Cristiano De Fabrittis-Drums. Stefano Acunzo-Electric Bass. Pasquale Innarella-Tenor Sax,French Horn. Toto Pilato-Trombone. Enrica Vatteroni-Trombone, Voice(Trk18). Mario Camporeale-Trombone. Luca Venitucci-Accordion. Federica Santoro-Narration Voice.

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about

mike cooper Roma, Italy

Mike Cooper has traced a path completely his own for the past 60 years as an international musical explorer, lap steel guitarist, singer, improviser and composer, performing and recording, solo and in a number of inspired groupings and a variety of genres. stretching the possibilities of the guitar with an eclectic mix of the many styles he has practiced over the years. ... more

cooparia.com

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