#5 - (dis)loyal singer - Eunuchs, Castrati and music

In this episode we will play the Danetka "Time Travel". A composer experienced absolute failure. To overcome it, he traveled back in time, with the help of a master. What was the failure, how can the composer travel back in time, and who was the master? This Danetka is about the failure of Sergei Rachmaninoff's first Symphony and his recovery from depression. In this episode we will interview the Armenian illustrator Anna Hamamjyan. She is the ilustrator of Danetkas. She discusses the challenges of visually representing complex stories and reflects on how art can transform pain into expression, paralleling Rachmaninoff's journey. Our website: www.danetkas.com

In this episode we will play the Danetka "One Rule": "Did you see the size of that balloon? I'm definitely going to sign up for music school." I will interview the co-creator of Danetkas Gayane Nersisyan. She grew up in Armenia and decided to create a Danetka about her home country, featuring the Duduk, an ancient wind instrument with a melancholic tone and a symbol of Armenian culture. We have an interesting talk about the role of Duduk in Armenia and its cultural significance. Our website: www.danetkas.com

In this episode we will play the Danetka "Mission Impossible" "A musician had a plan to get out of poverty. It failed, but he ended even richer than he anticipated." I will interview the Swedish cellist and organist Sanna Gillerfors. She specialized in the Baroque cello and is the perfect guest for this topic. We have an interesting about the differences between the contemporary and the baroque cello. Our website: www.danetkas.com

In this episode we will play the Danetka "The Explosion". Remi: "Wake up! Your moment is coming.” Dominick replies: “huh? What? Where? !!Bang!! Remi: “How did nobody notice that?” We will discover the 7th Symphony of Bruckner in this podcast and the curious fact that one of the percussionists only plays one note in the entire symphony. Our website: www.danetkas.com

In this episode we play the Danetka "The Artifact" One sunny (or maybe cloudy) day, a musician (who's not a musician) was walking, (although not really walking), with a musical instrument (which didn't look like an instrument). He got fired. In this episode we will learn about the walking cane violin. Our website: www.danetkas.com

In this episode we will play the Danetka "One Note concert": "A man played only one note during the entire concert, the audience came on purpose to see him play". We have an amazing guest: Hiwote Tadesse, principal Violist of the Zagreb Philarmonic Orchestra. She will tell us all the secrets and interesting stories behind this fascinating instrument. Check our website: www.danetkas.com

In this episode we will play the Danetka "(dis)loyal singer". "A sheikh was very afraid of being replaced. He elaborated a sophisticated plan to keep his position. He took all the precautions necessary. He ended up hiring his substitute." We will discover the fascinating story behind eunuchs and their relationship with music. Check our website: www.danetkas.com

In this episode we will play the Danetka "The Hero". "A kid showed his talent. People started running away. In the end, he got a medal." We will discover the fascinating story behind the bagpipes and why are they considered a weapon of war. It all goes back to the story of the piper James Reid and his trial. Check our website: www.danetkas.com

In this episode we will play the Danetka "Resourcefulness". "Sylvia: How was the dance recital? Fabian: It was a complete mess! The composer decided to replace the musicians with a bunch of random tools and materials! Can you believe this? Sylvia: What? How did he do that?" We will discover the magical sounds of the prepared piano and the music of John Cage. This episode has the special guest Mariana Miguel, a pianist and composer expert in the field of the prepared piano. Check our website: www.danetkas.com

In this episode we play the Danetka "Crime and no punishment". The perfect crime was committed. Only the Genius could have done it. It was such an incredible feat that when the victim heard what happened, he rewarded the thief. We will discover the fantastic story of young Amadeus Mozart, who once wrote down a forbidden (secret) piece of music. What piece of music was this? Gregorio Allegri's Miserere, performed at the Sistine Chapel, in Rome. By doing this feat, he received knighthood from the Pope himself, becoming an official a knight of the Vatican, at the age of 14.