'Gitanjali Listening Post'
Gitanjali Gallery introduces 'THE LISTENING POST'. Basic rationale: With the
advance of MP3 technology and 'portable devices', many audio CDs remain idle
on domicile shelves most of the time. This experiment invites the public to
enjoy a wide (cosmopolitan) range of good music, and read accompanying
record jacket blurb-text about the music that they hear.
Gitanjali Gallery (behind Peoples' High School, opposite main entrance to
Panjim Inn) is a very 'people friendly' place, welcoming persons of every
age and station; with comfortable seating and desk arrangements, and the
option of having a Cappuccino and super-good 'almond-fudge tart' brought by
a friendly staff attendant.
Those who wish to be on line while playing music tracks, may search for
lyric texts and commentary. There are many internet options for this, but
Wikipedia will deliver on almost any significant song-title one can think
of, with historical commentary and links to the lyric texts themselves. In
this way one who may not be able to afford purchase of an MP3 player and
good CDs from sources such as Amazon or Flip Kart, may listen and learn
about Music, at the Gitanjali Listening Post.
The concept for Listening Post emerged from planning for a 'Lyrics Workshop'
but it is to be hoped that it may not 'end there'. Those with personal
collections of CD s that have had their tracks copied to MP3 'portable
devices' are invited to either lend or donate the CD's for the project;
whereupon Gitanjali will incorporate them into the Inventory for 'Listening
Post'.
Nor should the Listening Post project be viewed as a 'Gitanjali'
responsibility. Gitanjali, and its genial Curator Miriam Koshy, are hosting
the pilot project in their Gallery venue, but it should be of community
concern not to burden Gitanjali with administrative detail. Those with time
and expertise might wish to volunteer, for creation of an Index (Album
Title/Artist/Music Category/Production Date/Track Titles), to be available
in convenient album format and/or as a Word or Excel File. Thus, we might
see what is currently to be 'an experiment' grow and establish itself. To
this end the first donor of CD s (some sixty of them) will try to be on hand
a couple of times a week to play music tracks, make brief commentary about
same, and respond to queries. If Gitanjali can go with this some notice
should follow in local media.
Do please observe etiquette and courtesies. Put things back, when you are
finished at the Listening Post desk. Above all, do not attempt the copying
of music CDs. We are conscious of copyright protocols which 'brand' the
copying of music CDs as illegal---punishable with penalties. Our endeavor is
to provide an educational forum which will promote rather than impede
commercial and industrial progress in artistic production and distribution.
