Michael Becker News Editor michnel@usnews.com SENSUDALITY in the sound of a stroked saw? Why of course. Carla Haller and Robert Minden take the plivful tound- sound spirit of the Robert Minden Ensemble to another ievel by exploring the creative possibilities that a human voice and hrics bring to the equation. Since 1986 the ensemble — Robert, with daughters Andrea and Dewie Minden and Hallett — have created a body of ucterly enchanting work by drawing musical and percussive sounds trom every: day objects such as botties and vacuum cleaner hoses. The ensemble wured and recorded tor about 10 years. Said Hallett, "After becoming quite exhausted we took a year off (1996).” Andrea and Dewie Minden decided t pursue their classical studies and Hallett began to write songs. Meanwiule Robert Minden, an accomplished musical saw player, discovered the theremin. “Robert heard it really as the instrument that put every musical saw player out of business. We thought it would be really interesting to have the Theremin and the musical saw side by side in the same piece,” said Hallett. The track, called “Quintessence”, closes out Hallett and Minden’s new disc Are Yor Now, released in independently in November with support from The Canada Council For The Atts. It van safely be said that “Quintessence” is quite probably the only piece that has ever been written for Theremin and niusical saw together. As is the case with the rest of the CD, it’s an evocative, Friday, January 21, 2006 - North Shore News - 79 e Saw and theremi zh: Photo Nancy Watker CARLA Hailett and Robert Minden’s new disc Are You Now offers accessible experimental music courtesy of moody piece. Asa whole, Are You Now puts the listener inside a Combination cf instruments including musical saw, theremin, toy piano, bottles and pots. a nocturnal space, a place of dreams and yearning. Sound con- tours are shaped by piano, toy piano, floating metal pots, glass bette orchestras, theremin, saw and more. The toy piano is the latest find Minden and Hallett have added to their eclectic selection of instruments. “Nowadays when people can’t afford to buy a piano for their child they usually buy an electronic keyboard, It used to be that if you couldn't attord a real piano, you would get a toy piano. {t has a really distinctive sound. There’s one company in the States that still makes them, the Schoenhut company,” said Hallett. Hallert has been experimenting with vocalization for a number of vears. “Even though I really started as an instrumentalist J found vocalizing very similar to playing the french horn,” she said. The process brought her to use words and lytics in an unconventional contest. She says the wansition was a naturai one. Sometimes the words and stories arrive through poetic process. Other tines a melody that Robert has composed wilf engender a story, or Hailett’s experimental vocalizations lead to words inspired by a particular sound from aa invented instrument. Hoallert and Robert Minden debuted as a duo in 1998 in a project for the Music Centre of Los Angeles Institute of Education. Said Hallett, “As you can imagine the Robert Minden Ensemble was a very hard act to follow. We found that we were playing j just as many instruments with only two of us on stage. The show was an absolure blast to perform. Sometimes we look fike a new-age radio show.” Hallett said that women seem to react quite deeply to the recording because of its attractive sensual nature. “It starts with a searching feel and ends more in an erotic realm,” she said. Are You Nowis available at Magic Flute, Black Swan, Banyen Books & Sound. Vihy live with a diet that says no pizza, no cake, no fun? (Now there’s no reason to.) 1) Now Weight Watchers easy |-2°3 Success Plan lets you enjoy any food you crave! Every food has a POINTS® value. Stay within your POINTS range and lose weight! , Now! Weight Watchers has a whole new approach ” to weight loss — the 10% difference! sre" Bat Join: now v for Va price and save 5 $2090 Call 434-2134 for n more @ information Weight Watchers Centre (North Vancouver) 1044 Marine Drive Tuesday $/E 8:45 am - Tuesday 9:30 am, 5:00 pia & 6:30 pm » Wednesday 5:00 jm Thursday 12:00 noon, 5:00 pm & 6:30 pm - Friday 9:00 am & 12:00 noon Saturday S/E 8:15 am « Saturday 9:00 am & 12:06 noon Royal Canadian Legion (West Vancouver) 580 - 18th Street - Wednesday 12:00 noon North Shore Winter Club (North Shore/Mount Seymour) 1325 East Keith Road & Mountain Highway (Upstairs) Monday 5:00 pm & 6:30 pm - Wednesday 9:00 am Valid at participating locatians fur a tented time while supplies last Subsequent weekly fees apply. GST not included. 11999 Weight Watchers International, tne. Oweer of the WEIGHT WATCHERS trademark, All nights reserved. Allin storestock! “Members: Save All Day! SEWING NOTIONS Alistock valueto$12.98ea. "Members BUTTERICK PATTERNS 10:00am-1 £30am 1:00pm-2:30pm 40%- 10% {£30am-1:00pm | ] [ 230pm-Closing E 301-108) 201-7082