In an Ancient Roman Garden (But Without the Cactus . . . )

 

Michael Levy has a new single to buy! Follow the link to get your copy . . .

In an Ancient Roman Garden

I am pleased to announce the release of my new ancient Roman-themed single, "In an Ancient Roman Garden"!

In this project, it was my aim to attempt to recreate an evocation of the lost serenity of Classical antiquity...

This single features a completely spontaneous improvisations for chelys (tortoise shell form) lyre, recorded, live in my own garden at the height of Summer, with nothing but the soothing, timeless background sounds of flowing water and birdsong.

The single is available now, from all major digital music stores and streaming sites, including iTunes, Apple Music, Amazon, Google Play, Spotify, CD Baby & Bandcamp:

http://ancientlyre.com/ancient_roman_themed_albums/in_an_ancient_roman_garden/

As usual, as an independent artist, without the benefit of a record company to promote me, each and every new album review or blog post about my musical mission to reintroduce the beautiful lyres of antiquity back into the bland modern world, is to me, literally a 'libation to Apollo' - many thanks, everyone, for your continued support!

Every Roman Bath Should Have At Least One Lyre Guy

Time once again to head on down to the Roman Baths and get your fix of lyre music from Michael Levy! And if you don't live in the U.K., remember you can download or order his albums. Follow the links and fix the date in your head . . .

Live Lyre Concert at the Roman Baths!

Sit laus Deo Apollini! For the third year in succession, I will be having the pleasure of playing my lyre, live at the world famous Roman Baths at Bath Spa! This concert and talk, held between 8pm - 10pm on Friday 16th May 2014, will form part of the annual "Museums at Night" festival.

I will be performing at the amphitheatre below the incredibly evocative Gorgon's Head at the Temple Pediment of Sulis Minerva - from my experience of playing here for the previous two years, I have discovered that this particular position in this amazingly preserved building provides the most incredible natural reverb, with the sound of my lyre literally bouncing off all the walls & floors of authentic 1st century Roman stone! This has just got to be the most incredible venue to attempt to bring back to life the lost music of ancient Rome...

I will also be giving talks in between my recital, all about how my obsession with the lyre & ancient music first began, the fascinating historical background & research behind my attempts to bring back to life the music of antiquity, as well as a demonstration of some fascinating ancient lyre playing techniques which I have used in my many recordings.

All the details, including times, ticket prices and the venue, can be found in the newly updated "Calendar" section of my website:

http://www.ancientlyre.com/calendar/The incredible Great Bath will also be torch-lit and there will be a bar - I shall look forward to hopefully meeting some of you lovely lyre music fans there on the night!

Michael Levy and The Ancient Roman Lyre

Michael Levy has a brand new album out! You can buy it in various forms by clicking the links below.

Release of my album "The Ancient Roman Lyre"!

I am pleased to announce the release of my brand new album, "The Ancient Roman Lyre"...

Buy This Album on iTunes

Buy This Album on Amazon

Buy Lossless Audio or 320kbps Quality MP3s of this Album on CD Baby 

Buy Lossless Audio or 320kbps Quality MP3s of this Album on Bandcamp

Buy The Physical CD of this Album on Reverbnation

Hear & Share This Album on Spotify

The free PDF of the detailed album notes can be downloaded here 

I would be enormously grateful if everyone could please "spread the word"!!

Many thanks, everyone...any reviews of the abum on iTunes, Amazon or CD Baby would also be most greatly appreciated, in my relentless, Herculean efforts as an aspiring independent musican, to get my little-known lyre music heard by the rest of the unsuspecting world - cheers!!

Another Live Gig, With Roman Cuisine

Check out Michael Levy's Calendar section on his blog for the date of his next live gig – I'm sure he's just kidding about the stuffed door mouse . . .

My next live lyre gig at the British Museum!

I have just this minute confirmed another last minute live lyre gig at the British Museum! I will be providing live lyre background music, to set the mood for the a three-course meal inspired by Roman cuisine from "The Classical Cookbook" by Andrew Dalby and Sally Grainger.

With its subtle mix of sweet and sour flavours, its fragrant herbs, cheesecakes and red wines, the cuisine of the ancient Mediterranean is sure to whet the appetite of every modern gourmet.

Sample authentic recipes, translated and adapted for modern dining. The authors will give a short introduction to the dishes, painting a vibrant picture of living, wining and dining in the ancient world.

£35, includes glass of Prosecco on arrival, booking essential

Booking: bmrestaurant@benugo.com or Tel. (+44) 020 7323 8990

Full details about this event can be found here and also in the "Calendar" section of my website. 

Hope to see you all there...I hope someone saves me a suitably stuffed door mouse! 

The Dark Ages: An Age Of Light

Mistake in the date of my first televised BBC performance!

[Michael Levy offers this slight correction]

Further to my last email campaigin about my first ever televised performance with my lyre on the new BBC4 series, The Dark Ages An Age of Light...

As the first episde was all about the end of the Roman Empire; after receiving a reminder email from the producer about the date of the broadcast of the first episode of the 4-part series, I had assumed that this would be the episode to feature my attempt to recreate the lost music of ancient Rome - after sending out email campaigns to everyone on my mailing lists, over 1000 friends on Facebook (& every family member I could conceive of!), I did not appear in the first episode!!!

I now have the correct details of my first ever live televised BBC performance, direct from the producer herself - my lyre & I will be appearing in Episode 2 of "The Dark Ages An Age of Light" - first broadcast on Tuesday 4th December, 9pm GMT on BBC 4 & a few days later, all around the world on BBC iPlayer.

Just to confirm, direct from the producer, I will be appearing in episode 2 of  "The Dark Ages An Age of Light", entitled "What the Barbarians Did for Us":

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01p65b9

Here is a link to one of the outtakes of the film shoot:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oa4BprGK9ck

They probably won't be using this out take in the series (there is a bit of aircraft noise towards the end of the video, which can be deteced if you listen with headphones!)

NB! More news - tracks from my albums "King David's Lyre; Eches of Ancient Israel", "Lyre of the Levites" & "The Ancient Biblical Lyre" are to feature in the iTunes Podcast show "The Podcast History of Our World" by Rob Monaco within the next few weeks! The free podcast series to use my music, will feature new episodes detailing the history of the
Hebrews/Israelites.

https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/podcast-history-our-world/id558333993

Thank you for your patience, everyone - the best things in life are worth waiting for...