Pointless Orchestra was an experimental music group based in Kent, Ohio, United States, which existed in one form or another between 1993 and 2005. They combined tunings and instruments from a wide array of cultures with improvisation and extended playing techniques. The members assembled these elements into several different types of music, including ominous film soundtracks, Asian court music, free improvisation, sound collages, and frantic drum jams. The group was named after member Mike Hovancsek's former label, Pointless Music, which had been founded several years before the group's establishment.
Always willing to take risks, the members of Pointless Orchestra used an extremely wide range of creative formats and ideas in their work. These included inviting guest musicians from around the world to sit in with them, incorporating avant-garde theatrical elements into their performances, collaborating with dancers, performing live film soundtracks, building their own one-of-a-kind instruments, performing live on radio broadcasts, collaborating with videographers, finding unique ways to incorporate language into their music, trying many different kinds of instruments/scales/techniques, and staging large-scale multimedia performance pieces.
Reviewers often found creative ways to describe the group's sound. In an article published in The Plain Dealer, Judy Bryan described the group this way: "If music is language, the musicians of Pointless Orchestra speak in tongues." Laura Putre in Cleveland Scene described them as "decidedly from the John Cage school, in which the sound of a drop of water can fuel an atonal symphony." Putre went on to say, "The orchestrations on Pointless's debut CD Approaching Totality are hushed yet disquieting, like distant car crashes or a springtime chorus of irradiated frogs." Jenai Cutcher in Columbus Alive stated "Pointless Orchestra and its collaborators construct a performance that appeals to all five senses. You hear the music and see the funky instruments. Improvisational dancing may further stimulate a physical or kinesthetic response and appeal to your sense of touch." Dominique Chevant in Amazing Sounds states, "Pointless Orchestra draw with energetic brush-strokes a stage to let imagination run free towards life-and-death situations. The instrumentation and the sonic effects maintain a disquieting tone throughout the album, contributing a series of undescribable sensations for the listener."
The group's music has been used in films by Robert Banks, Alfred Eaker, and Aron Campisano.
Members
The line-up of Pointless Orchestra was always changing but the core members were:
*Mike Hovancsek (koto, gu zheng, sitar, guitar, tambura, waterphone, percussion, etc.)
*David Badagnani (oboe, english horn, sheng, saw ou, khaen, guitar, banjo, etc.) and
*Mark Allender (viola da gamba, sanxian, double bass, throat singing, percussion, etc.)
Other members included Mike Foster (tuba, percussion) and Phil Kester (percussion).
Collaborations
Pointless Orchestra recorded or collaborated in live performance with several influential musicians, including Halim El-Dabh, Jin Hi Kim, Joseph Celli, Z'EV, Amy Denio and Illusion of Safety.
Disbanded
Pointless Orchestra disbanded in February 2005, leaving behind an extensive collection of recordings that can be downloaded for free from their MySpace site.
Discography
*1994 Endless 1 (Manifold)
*1997 - Lives: A Pointless Night Out (Without Fear)
*1998 - Approaching Totality (Without Fear)
*1999 - Enhanced Gravity (CD-ROM, Yucca Tree Records)
Always willing to take risks, the members of Pointless Orchestra used an extremely wide range of creative formats and ideas in their work. These included inviting guest musicians from around the world to sit in with them, incorporating avant-garde theatrical elements into their performances, collaborating with dancers, performing live film soundtracks, building their own one-of-a-kind instruments, performing live on radio broadcasts, collaborating with videographers, finding unique ways to incorporate language into their music, trying many different kinds of instruments/scales/techniques, and staging large-scale multimedia performance pieces.
Reviewers often found creative ways to describe the group's sound. In an article published in The Plain Dealer, Judy Bryan described the group this way: "If music is language, the musicians of Pointless Orchestra speak in tongues." Laura Putre in Cleveland Scene described them as "decidedly from the John Cage school, in which the sound of a drop of water can fuel an atonal symphony." Putre went on to say, "The orchestrations on Pointless's debut CD Approaching Totality are hushed yet disquieting, like distant car crashes or a springtime chorus of irradiated frogs." Jenai Cutcher in Columbus Alive stated "Pointless Orchestra and its collaborators construct a performance that appeals to all five senses. You hear the music and see the funky instruments. Improvisational dancing may further stimulate a physical or kinesthetic response and appeal to your sense of touch." Dominique Chevant in Amazing Sounds states, "Pointless Orchestra draw with energetic brush-strokes a stage to let imagination run free towards life-and-death situations. The instrumentation and the sonic effects maintain a disquieting tone throughout the album, contributing a series of undescribable sensations for the listener."
The group's music has been used in films by Robert Banks, Alfred Eaker, and Aron Campisano.
Members
The line-up of Pointless Orchestra was always changing but the core members were:
*Mike Hovancsek (koto, gu zheng, sitar, guitar, tambura, waterphone, percussion, etc.)
*David Badagnani (oboe, english horn, sheng, saw ou, khaen, guitar, banjo, etc.) and
*Mark Allender (viola da gamba, sanxian, double bass, throat singing, percussion, etc.)
Other members included Mike Foster (tuba, percussion) and Phil Kester (percussion).
Collaborations
Pointless Orchestra recorded or collaborated in live performance with several influential musicians, including Halim El-Dabh, Jin Hi Kim, Joseph Celli, Z'EV, Amy Denio and Illusion of Safety.
Disbanded
Pointless Orchestra disbanded in February 2005, leaving behind an extensive collection of recordings that can be downloaded for free from their MySpace site.
Discography
*1994 Endless 1 (Manifold)
*1997 - Lives: A Pointless Night Out (Without Fear)
*1998 - Approaching Totality (Without Fear)
*1999 - Enhanced Gravity (CD-ROM, Yucca Tree Records)
A Bayes filter is an algorithm used in computer science for calculating the probabilities of multiple beliefs to allow a robot to infer its position and orientation. Essentially, Bayes filters allow robots to continuously update their most likely position within a coordinate system, based on the most recently acquired sensor data. This is a recursive algorithm. It consists of two parts: prediction and innovation. If the variables are linear and gauss-distributed the Bayes filter becomes equal to the Kalman filter.
In a simple example, a robot moving throughout a grid may have several different sensors that provide it with information about its surroundings. The robot may start out with certainty that it is at position (0,0). However, as it moves further and further from its original position, the robot has continuously less certainty about its position; using a Bayes filter, a probability can be assigned to the robot's belief about its current position, and that probability can be continuously updated from additional sensor information.
In a simple example, a robot moving throughout a grid may have several different sensors that provide it with information about its surroundings. The robot may start out with certainty that it is at position (0,0). However, as it moves further and further from its original position, the robot has continuously less certainty about its position; using a Bayes filter, a probability can be assigned to the robot's belief about its current position, and that probability can be continuously updated from additional sensor information.
Genesis at Brandeis University is a summer academic program which attracts intellectual high school students to experience college life and explore the surrounding community of greater Boston. Students come from all around the world: from North America, Israel, Ukraine, Russia, Turkey, France, U.K., and Spain, creating a diverse community. During the program, participants take challenging college level courses. The courses that are offered all contain a Jewish theme that is explored throughout the summer. Teenagers with all different beliefs and customs engage with teachers, educators, and activists from business academia and the non-profit world. This pre-college program focuses on education, leadership, and social action.
History
Genesis was founded in 1997 at Brandeis University by Simon Klarfeld. Prior to Genesis’ establishment, Brandeis University ran both academic and Jewish programs. Genesis was created in order to unite these aspects into one program. . Rabbi Bradley Solmsen, who is currently the Director of the Genesis and BIMA programs, is also the Associate Director for the Institute for Informal Jewish Education at Brandeis.
Funding
Genesis at Brandeis University is funded by the Righteous Persons Foundation that was created by Steven Spielberg. This foundation was established from the profits of Spielberg’s Schindler’s List production. The Righteous Persons Foundation’s mission is to support and build the spread of the Jewish community in the United States.
In addition to the Righteous Persons Fund, Genesis is supported by individual donors such as Shirley and Milton Gralla, tuition, and grants.
Courses
Genesis participants are required to attend a minimum of forty hours of instructed class time.
Courses offered have included:
* Judaism and Justice: co-taught by a Rabbi and a lawyer and explores studies of Jewish and American law
* Investigating Journalism and Responsibility: investigates how media is used and affects our society
* Innovation and Revolution: Explores the relationship between technologies of the past, present and future, and our human experience as individuals, communities and a global society. The course explores innovations starting with early human control of fire, integrates defining moments in Jewish history, and culminates with a critical examination of stem cell research and renewable energy.
* World Religions: Encountering Diversity: considers the similarities and differences of various religions from around the world
As well as courses all participants at Genesis have the opportunity to participate in a variety of workshops which are not only a chance to learn new skills, but also to have fun and interact with other participants in the program.
Social Action
Throughout the summer, participants are engaged in community service projects located on the Brandeis University campus, in Waltham, or in greater Boston. Students are taught the skills needed to make a difference in their own community. Past service projects include working with the homeless, the mentally disabled, farmers, and children.
History
Genesis was founded in 1997 at Brandeis University by Simon Klarfeld. Prior to Genesis’ establishment, Brandeis University ran both academic and Jewish programs. Genesis was created in order to unite these aspects into one program. . Rabbi Bradley Solmsen, who is currently the Director of the Genesis and BIMA programs, is also the Associate Director for the Institute for Informal Jewish Education at Brandeis.
Funding
Genesis at Brandeis University is funded by the Righteous Persons Foundation that was created by Steven Spielberg. This foundation was established from the profits of Spielberg’s Schindler’s List production. The Righteous Persons Foundation’s mission is to support and build the spread of the Jewish community in the United States.
In addition to the Righteous Persons Fund, Genesis is supported by individual donors such as Shirley and Milton Gralla, tuition, and grants.
Courses
Genesis participants are required to attend a minimum of forty hours of instructed class time.
Courses offered have included:
* Judaism and Justice: co-taught by a Rabbi and a lawyer and explores studies of Jewish and American law
* Investigating Journalism and Responsibility: investigates how media is used and affects our society
* Innovation and Revolution: Explores the relationship between technologies of the past, present and future, and our human experience as individuals, communities and a global society. The course explores innovations starting with early human control of fire, integrates defining moments in Jewish history, and culminates with a critical examination of stem cell research and renewable energy.
* World Religions: Encountering Diversity: considers the similarities and differences of various religions from around the world
As well as courses all participants at Genesis have the opportunity to participate in a variety of workshops which are not only a chance to learn new skills, but also to have fun and interact with other participants in the program.
Social Action
Throughout the summer, participants are engaged in community service projects located on the Brandeis University campus, in Waltham, or in greater Boston. Students are taught the skills needed to make a difference in their own community. Past service projects include working with the homeless, the mentally disabled, farmers, and children.
The Regals Musical Society is a community-based, non-profit group in Sydney, Australia, which strives to produce three quality musical-theatre productions each year.
The Regals was established in 1945 when they performed their first musical, "Our Miss Gibbs".
They perform in February at the St George Bank Auditorium in Kogarah and in May and October at Rockdale Town Hall (venue of the premiere performance by Johnny O'Keefe), Sydney, Australia.
The Regals were one of two societies privileged to present the World Premiere season of "Paris" by Jon English.
Members participate in all aspects of stage productions, from the building of the sets, stage-crew (raising the curtains, moving the sets, etc), selling tickets, seating patrons, selling drinks and chocolates etc.
The Regals also held the Sydney Premiere of Monty Python's Spamalot in October, 2009.
Many members of the society have progressed to become Directors, Choreographers and Musical-Directors for The Regals and other societies, while some now perform professionally in Australian Musical theatre. Many can also be seen acting in advertisements and as extras in film and television.
The Regals Musical Society's Past Shows
March 2011 West Side Story
February 2011 I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change
October 2010 Parade
May 2010 Crazy for You
February 2010 Leader Of The Pack
2010
October 2009 Monty Python's Spamalot
May 2009 Bye Bye Birdie
March 2009 Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street
October 2008 The Wizard of Oz
May 2008 Eurobeat
February 2008 Godspell
October 2007 Buddy - The Buddy Holly Story
May 2007 Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
October 2006 Peter Pan - the Croc-Rock musical
July 2006 Evie and the Birdman
May 2006 Anything Goes
October 2005 Cabaret
May 2005 Guys and Dolls
October 2004 Me and My Girl
September 2004 Tickets Please - The Musical
May 2004 Footloose
October 2003 Paris
May 2003 Sweet Charity
October 2002 A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum
May 2002 Chess
October 2001
May 2001 South Pacific
October 2000 Jesus Christ Superstar
May 2000 Little Shop Of Horrors
2000 - 2009
October 1999 West Side Story
May 1999
October 1998 Kiss Me Kate
May 1998 Carousel
October 1997 Pippin
May 1997
October 1996 Fiddler On the Roof
May 1996 The King and I
October 1995 Funny Girl
May 1995 Barnum (Return Season)
October 1994 My Fair Lady
May 1994 Barnum
October 1993 Li'l Abner
May 1993 Annie
October 1992 The Pirates of Penzance
May 1992 Guys and Dolls
October 1991 Robert & Elizabeth
May 1991 Chicago
October 1990 The Music Man
May 1990 On the Twentieth Century
1990 - 1999
October 1989 Irene
May 1989 Jesus Christ Superstar
October 1988 Sentimental Bloke
May 1988 Annie Get Your Gun
October 1987 Mack & Mabel
May 1987 Godspell
October 1986 The Sound of Music
May 1986 Once Upon a Mattress
October 1985
May 1985 Can Can
October 1984 Camelot
May 1984
October 1983 The Pajama Game
May 1983 No, No, Nanette
October 1982 Cole
May 1982 My Fair Lady
October 1981 How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
May 1981 Brigadoon
October 1980 Mame
May 1980 The Music Man
1980 - 1989
October 1979 Carousel
May 1979 Bye Bye Birdie
October 1978 South Pacific
May 1978
October 1977 Sweet Charity
May 1977 Li'l Abner
October 1976 The Boy Friend
May 1976
October 1975 Calamity Jane
May 1975 Anything Goes
October 1974 The Pajama Game
May 1974 Kiss Me Kate
October 1973 The Student Prince
May 1973 Salad Days
October 1972 White Horse Inn
May 1972 Little Mary Sunshine
October 1971 Rio Rita
May 1971 The Merry Widow
October 1970
1970 - 1979
October 1969 Desert Song
May 1969 Viktoria and Her Hussar
October 1968 The New Moon
May 1968 Carousel
May 1967 Brigadoon
October 1966 Revue
May 1966 Annie Get Your Gun
October 1965 Wild Violets
May 1965 Calamity Jane
October 1964 Our Miss Gibbs
May 1964 White Horse Inn
October 1963 Rose Marie
May 1963 South Pacific
October 1962 Show Boat
April 1962 Music in the Air
October 1961 Naughty Marietta
April 1961 Carousel
October 1960 Tulip Time
April 1960 Wedding in Paris
1960 - 1969
October 1959 The Girl Friend
April 1959 The Maid of the Mountains
November 1958
April 1958 The Student Prince
November 1957 Leading Lady
April 1957 Hit the Deck
November 1956 Annie Get Your Gun
April 1956 Me and My Girl
November 1955 The Dubarry
April 1955 Jill Darling!
November 1954 The Dancing Years
April 1954 Tulip Time
November 1953 Balalaika
April 1953 No, No, Nanette
November 1952 Sons O' Guns
April 1952 Old Chelsea
November 1951 Viktoria and Her Hussar
April 1951 Follow Through
November 1950 The Three Musketeers
April 1950 Waltzes From Vienna
1950 - 1959
November 1949 Show Boat
April 1949 Music in the Air
November 1948 The Student Prince
May 1948 Bitter Sweet
November 1947 The Duchess of Dantzic
May 1947 Sunny
November 1946 The New Moon
May 1946 A Waltz Dream
November 1945 Our Miss Gibbs
1945 - 1949
The Regals' mailing address is:
The Regals Musical Society Inc.
PO Box 191
Kogarah NSW 1485
The Regals Musical Society's Website: link title
External reference
*
The Regals was established in 1945 when they performed their first musical, "Our Miss Gibbs".
They perform in February at the St George Bank Auditorium in Kogarah and in May and October at Rockdale Town Hall (venue of the premiere performance by Johnny O'Keefe), Sydney, Australia.
The Regals were one of two societies privileged to present the World Premiere season of "Paris" by Jon English.
Members participate in all aspects of stage productions, from the building of the sets, stage-crew (raising the curtains, moving the sets, etc), selling tickets, seating patrons, selling drinks and chocolates etc.
The Regals also held the Sydney Premiere of Monty Python's Spamalot in October, 2009.
Many members of the society have progressed to become Directors, Choreographers and Musical-Directors for The Regals and other societies, while some now perform professionally in Australian Musical theatre. Many can also be seen acting in advertisements and as extras in film and television.
The Regals Musical Society's Past Shows
March 2011 West Side Story
February 2011 I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change
October 2010 Parade
May 2010 Crazy for You
February 2010 Leader Of The Pack
2010
October 2009 Monty Python's Spamalot
May 2009 Bye Bye Birdie
March 2009 Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street
October 2008 The Wizard of Oz
May 2008 Eurobeat
February 2008 Godspell
October 2007 Buddy - The Buddy Holly Story
May 2007 Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
October 2006 Peter Pan - the Croc-Rock musical
July 2006 Evie and the Birdman
May 2006 Anything Goes
October 2005 Cabaret
May 2005 Guys and Dolls
October 2004 Me and My Girl
September 2004 Tickets Please - The Musical
May 2004 Footloose
October 2003 Paris
May 2003 Sweet Charity
October 2002 A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum
May 2002 Chess
October 2001
May 2001 South Pacific
October 2000 Jesus Christ Superstar
May 2000 Little Shop Of Horrors
2000 - 2009
October 1999 West Side Story
May 1999
October 1998 Kiss Me Kate
May 1998 Carousel
October 1997 Pippin
May 1997
October 1996 Fiddler On the Roof
May 1996 The King and I
October 1995 Funny Girl
May 1995 Barnum (Return Season)
October 1994 My Fair Lady
May 1994 Barnum
October 1993 Li'l Abner
May 1993 Annie
October 1992 The Pirates of Penzance
May 1992 Guys and Dolls
October 1991 Robert & Elizabeth
May 1991 Chicago
October 1990 The Music Man
May 1990 On the Twentieth Century
1990 - 1999
October 1989 Irene
May 1989 Jesus Christ Superstar
October 1988 Sentimental Bloke
May 1988 Annie Get Your Gun
October 1987 Mack & Mabel
May 1987 Godspell
October 1986 The Sound of Music
May 1986 Once Upon a Mattress
October 1985
May 1985 Can Can
October 1984 Camelot
May 1984
October 1983 The Pajama Game
May 1983 No, No, Nanette
October 1982 Cole
May 1982 My Fair Lady
October 1981 How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
May 1981 Brigadoon
October 1980 Mame
May 1980 The Music Man
1980 - 1989
October 1979 Carousel
May 1979 Bye Bye Birdie
October 1978 South Pacific
May 1978
October 1977 Sweet Charity
May 1977 Li'l Abner
October 1976 The Boy Friend
May 1976
October 1975 Calamity Jane
May 1975 Anything Goes
October 1974 The Pajama Game
May 1974 Kiss Me Kate
October 1973 The Student Prince
May 1973 Salad Days
October 1972 White Horse Inn
May 1972 Little Mary Sunshine
October 1971 Rio Rita
May 1971 The Merry Widow
October 1970
1970 - 1979
October 1969 Desert Song
May 1969 Viktoria and Her Hussar
October 1968 The New Moon
May 1968 Carousel
May 1967 Brigadoon
October 1966 Revue
May 1966 Annie Get Your Gun
October 1965 Wild Violets
May 1965 Calamity Jane
October 1964 Our Miss Gibbs
May 1964 White Horse Inn
October 1963 Rose Marie
May 1963 South Pacific
October 1962 Show Boat
April 1962 Music in the Air
October 1961 Naughty Marietta
April 1961 Carousel
October 1960 Tulip Time
April 1960 Wedding in Paris
1960 - 1969
October 1959 The Girl Friend
April 1959 The Maid of the Mountains
November 1958
April 1958 The Student Prince
November 1957 Leading Lady
April 1957 Hit the Deck
November 1956 Annie Get Your Gun
April 1956 Me and My Girl
November 1955 The Dubarry
April 1955 Jill Darling!
November 1954 The Dancing Years
April 1954 Tulip Time
November 1953 Balalaika
April 1953 No, No, Nanette
November 1952 Sons O' Guns
April 1952 Old Chelsea
November 1951 Viktoria and Her Hussar
April 1951 Follow Through
November 1950 The Three Musketeers
April 1950 Waltzes From Vienna
1950 - 1959
November 1949 Show Boat
April 1949 Music in the Air
November 1948 The Student Prince
May 1948 Bitter Sweet
November 1947 The Duchess of Dantzic
May 1947 Sunny
November 1946 The New Moon
May 1946 A Waltz Dream
November 1945 Our Miss Gibbs
1945 - 1949
The Regals' mailing address is:
The Regals Musical Society Inc.
PO Box 191
Kogarah NSW 1485
The Regals Musical Society's Website: link title
External reference
*