How to Identify an Authentic Andrew Wyeth Print

By Lori Spencer

 

Even before his death in 2009 at the age of 91, American painter Andrew Wyeth was a victim of art counterfeiters. One well-known fake in circulation since 1998 was openly decried by the artist himself. Four known forgeries have emerged since his death. In early October 2010, the FBI Art Crime Team announced the seizure of a forged 1939 Wyeth painting “Wreck on Doughnut Point,” valued at more than $100,000.

Art forgery is a $6-billion industry worldwide, according to the FBI. If you’re looking to add an authentic Wyeth print to your collection, follow these steps to better protect yourself against fraud.

Read more: How to Identify an Authenic Andrew Wyeth Print | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_7470814_identify-authenic-andrew-wyeth-print.html#ixzz1g8q2FUgB

Characteristics of a Fanfare

By Lori Spencer

 

A fanfare is a bold and brief piece of music used to announce the coming of an important person or event. You’ll hear them at sporting competitions like the Olympics, at military and official government ceremonies, and often in movies or TV shows as opening theme music.

Featuring dotted rhythms, repeated patterns and a harmonic series of notes, fanfares are generally brass- and percussion-dominant. This is both to get the listener’s attention and impart a sense of importance to the event…

 

 

Continued at http://www.ehow.com/list_7465874_characteristics-fanfare.html

Origins and Musical Features of Minimalism

By Lori Spencer

 

The term “Minimalism” in music is derived from the experimental, progressive Minimalist art movement of the mid-20th century. This musical form originally began in the 1960s as an underground avant garde scene in small nightclubs and art galleries. Although Minimalist music slowly gained wider critical acceptance over the next few decades, it has never fully entered the popular mainstream.

Features

• Minimalism essentially refers to sparseness; an art form being reduced to essential elements, doing away with excessive notes and orchestration. Repetition of simple, short musical phrases often with a droning, steady pulse are the benchmarks of Minimalist music. This form bears a similarity to ancient sacred music, as it too, uses certain harmonic tones and rhythms to create a hypnotic, often trace-like effect on the listener.

Origins

• Although the origins of modern Minimalist music can be found in late-19th and early-20th century European classical composers such as Richard Wagner, Alexander Mosolov, and Eric Satie, the Minimalist movement took shape in America after WWII. One of the first important Minimalist works in 1958′s “Trio in C” by La Monte Young. In the mid-1960s, artists like Terry Reily and Steve Reich and his Julliard classmate Philip Glass were blazing new trails in Minimalist music. In more recent years, John Adams has emerged as the most popular American Minimalist composer, inching the art form closer to mainstream acceptance with a number of best-selling albums.

Minimalist Composers

• Composers considered to be innovators of the minimalist movement include Philip Glass, Terry Riley, John Adams, Steve Reich, Michael Nyman, Brian Eno, Gavin Bryars, John Tavener, Mike Oldfield, Louis Andriessen, La Monte Young, Karel Goeyvaerts, Steve Martland, Henryk Górecki, and Arvo Pärt.

Minimalism in Popular Music

• The Beatles became quite infatuated with the Minimalist movement in the mid-1960s and the song “Tomorrow Never Knows” (from the 1966 “Revolver” album) is a bluesy drone in the key of C, that features trademark Minimalist tape looping, and John Lennon’s poetic musings on death layered over a repetitive Indian tambura track. The Beatles “White” album featured a strictly white cover with no photographs or artwork–about as Minimalist as an album cover can be.

  Many psychedelic and art rock bands of the late `60s explored Minimalism, most notably the Velvet Underground, who had a close relationship with La Monte Young. English rockers Pink Floyd pushed the boundaries of Neo-Minimalism with their 1968 “Saucerful of Secrets” album. In the `70s, progressive rock artists like The Soft Machine, King Crimson, Mike Oldfield and Brian Eno introduced new audiences to Minimalism. The tradition continues today with alternative and postmodern rock bands such as Sonic Youth, Mogwai, and Explosions in the Sky.

Read more: Origins & Musical Features of Minimalism | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/list_7318030_origins-musical-features-minimalism.html#ixzz1g96NMxL2

Fix That Damned Skipping Record!

By Lori Spencer

 

If your treasured vinyl records are skipping, there could be several reasons why. Dirt, dust or other debris in the grooves of the record are the most common cause of record skips. Your turntable’s arm may need balancing, or the stylus could be worn out. The good news is that all of these problems can be fixed with a minimum of cost and effort. The bad news is, if the skipping is being caused by…

 

Continued at: http://www.ehow.com/how_8209913_fix-record-skips.html

Legal Questions About Recording TV Programs

By Lori Spencer

 

The landmark 1984 U.S. Supreme Court decision in Sony Corporation v. Universal City Studios (more widely known as the Betamax case) established the legality of home video recording. The court ruled that home VCR use did not infringe the rights of copyright holders, and that the plaintiffs would not suffer a substantial loss in profits because of home video recording. In this case, it was decided that recording a TV program for later home viewing met the “fair use” standard.

The ever-changing landscape of digital technology presents new legal questions for copyright holders and consumers alike. We’ll tackle a few of the most frequently asked ones.

Read more: Legal Questions About Recording TV Programs | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/list_7391290_legal-questions-recording-tv-programs.html#ixzz1g8rTvUc6

Digital Preservation of Audio Cassettes

By Lori Spencer

 

Magnetic audio cassette tapes deteriorate over time to due age, wear, dust and temperature/humidity fluctuations. If you have some cherished recordings on cassette tape that you don’t want to lose, back them up to a digital format quickly and preserve them forever.

This is a simple process using basic sound recording software. Some popular free software choices are Audacity and WavePad (both are Mac compatible), or you can just use the Sound Recorder program that came pre-installed with Windows. In this tutorial we will be using Audacity, although the…

Continues at: http://www.ehow.com/how_7346684_record-audio-cassette-computer.html

How to Take Great Pictures of Yourself

By Lori Spencer

 

We’ve all seen them: self-taken photographs showing an arm holding the camera, or snapped in front of a mirror with a blinding flash glare. Naturally, you want your photos to look better than that, but the physical limitations of snapping your own picture make it nearly impossible to get a good shot of yourself (unless you’re a contortionist, that is).

If you need photos of yourself and don’t have someone around to take them, there are ways to avoid the common pitfalls of do-it-yourself photography…

Read more: How to Take Great Pictures of Yourself | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_7469227_great-pictures-yourself.html#ixzz1g8od9kFT

How to Take Care of 78 RPM Records

By Lori Spencer

 

Collectors of 78 rpm records treat their old shellac discs like rare and precious jewels, as often they are worth a great deal of money. Even the casual collector can learn much about caring for their 78s by talking to an experienced professional collector, curator, or trader of vintage records. Old 78 rpm shellac platters are extremely fragile, vulnerable to chips, cracking and breakage. They require special care and handling at all times and must be stored in conditions conducive to preservation.

Cleaning

Step 1

Use a damp terrycloth lint-free towel to remove surface dust and dirt. Never apply alcohol cleaning products to shellac discs — this strips the surface. For general cleaning, water works just fine. If the disc is really dirty, mix some mild dish-washing liquid with the water.

Step 2

Rub gently in the direction of the grooves. To prevent cracking of the disc, do this on a soft flat surface like a bed or sofa.

Step 3

Rinse or replace the towel frequently if cleaning more than just one or two records.

Step 4

Follow the cleaning towel with a dry towel.

Step 5

Lay the record out to dry overnight. Do not place it back in the sleeve until completely dry.

Storage

Step 1

Store your records clean. Dirt and dust in the grooves can scratch the records when the box is moved around. Organic compounds react with the shellac, attracting insects such as silverfish. These little critters love to eat paper sleeves and record labels.

Step 2

Keep your record boxes high and dry. Humidity above 85% promotes mold growth and porous 78 record sleeves absorb moisture. Store them off the floor in the event of a flood or plumbing leak.

Step 3

Avoid storing 78 rpm records flat; this puts pressure on the records. Store them upright, on edge, in clean new sleeves. Do not allow the records to lean as this causes warping. If storing them in a box, make sure the discs are fully upright and flat against each other, held in place with a divider if necessary.

Step 4

Monitor the temperature where the records are stored. High temperatures will warp 78s, especially if they are not stored flat and upright. Room temperature should not exceed 75 degrees.

Playback

Step 1

Use a fresh new needle for every record if you’re planning to play the 78s on a vintage Victrola. Bear in mind that the heavy tonearm and steel needles on these older record players wear down the grooves much faster than modern equipment.

Step 2

Invest in a high-quality modern turntable with a 78 rpm speed setting. (These are still available from specialty retailers.) If you have very rare or valuable 78s, it is strongly recommended that you only play them on modern electric turntables, not old Victrolas.

Step 3

Copy your 78s to a digital format, such as burning them to CD or to your computer. This saves wear and tear on the original records, while allowing you the pleasure of listening to them as often as you like.

Tips

When it comes to vintage recordings, 78 rpm collectors are merely stewards of historical artifacts. Much like a museum curator, your goal should be to do as little damage as possible and preserve them for future generations.

Warnings

Take extra special care of the record label: collectors and 78 rpm record buyers will pay top dollar for labels that are in excellent condition. Labels that are torn, stamped, marked or damaged reduce the value of your record significantly. Never immerse your records in water or wet the label when cleaning; this will cause labels to bubble or peel.

Key Concepts

• 78rpm record collecting
• 78rpm record care
• 78rpm record cleaning
• 78rpm record storage
• playing 78rpm records
• 78rpm record preservation

References

• 78rpm: Frequently Asked Questions [http://www.78rpm.com/faq.htm]
• The 78rpm Home Page: Repair Tips [http://78rpmrecord.com/repair.htm]
• Tim’s Phonographs and Old Records: Assessing the Condition of Old 78rpm Discs [http://www.gracyk.com/assess.shtml]

Resources (Further Reading)

• Kix: Vinyl Record Collecting Resources [http://kixsoftware.com/vinylresources.html]
• 78rpm Records [http://78rpmrecord.com]
• Garage-A-Records: Record Cleaning Products for 33, 45, and 78rpm Records [http://www.garage-a-records.com/cleaner.html]

User Bio

Lori Spencer has written professionally since 1986. She is the author of three nonfiction books, is writing her fourth and provides content for eHow and LIVESTRONG.COM. She also produces and hosts a weekly radio show. Her subjects of expertise include history, media, music, film and the performing arts.

Writing Heavy Metal Songs

By Lori Spencer

 

When it comes to writing heavy metal songs, it’s more about the attitude and riff than following any given format. While the basic rules of songwriting still apply, there are times to burn the rulebook and forget everything you’ve been taught in school. Don’t get too caught up in technique–rock and roll is rebellion, above all else.

Read more: How to Write Good Metal Music | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_7335893_write-good-metal-music.html#ixzz1g8ybRfSw

How to Broadcast a Radio Station at a Business Within the Copyright Laws

By Lori Spencer

 

If you enjoy playing the radio as background music for employees and customers at your place of business, you may unwittingly be violating copyright laws. Without a proper license or permission from the copyright owner, re-broadcasting music is illegal. The best way to avoid this potential problem is to simply acquire a license from Broadcast Music International (BMI), the American Societyof Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP) or the performing rights organization…

Read more: How to Broadcast a Radio Station at a Business Within the Copyright Laws | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_8530148_broadcast-business-within-copyright-laws.html#ixzz1ODrLVCp2