Author Archives: dannyashkenasi

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About dannyashkenasi

I'm a composer with over 40 years experience creating music theater. I'm also an actor, writer, director, producer, teacher and general enthusiast for the arts.

BRAZIL – Upstream into the Pantanal Waterworld

Posted on August 30, 2016 by dannyashkenasi

Watery Vistas with Sky Filling Flocks of Herons; Jacaré Alligators, Howler Monkeys, Toucans (well, One Toucan), and the wonderfully weird and brilliantly named Tuiuiu! Brazil – Django Reinhardt Our second Pantanal excursion.  You can explore the Pantanal by car in … Continue reading →

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BRAZIL – The Black & Brown Waters of the Amazon UPDATED, NEW & IMPROVED

Posted on August 25, 2016 by dannyashkenasi

Well, no, the waters themselves are pretty much as they were, but my blog post about them has been updated, with all new and improved pictures and information about the truly spectacular Meeting of the Waters in the Amazon river … Continue reading →

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BRAZIL – Wildlife Encounters Driving into the Pantanal

Posted on August 22, 2016 by dannyashkenasi

Vast watery landscapes, birds birds birds, and really close encounters with the largest and cuddliest monster rodents you can imagine as well as the jacaré, Brazil’s alligators! Brazil (Sam Lowry’s First Dream) – Michael Kamen / Kate Bush Two weeks … Continue reading →

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BRAZIL – The Caves of PETAR

Posted on August 15, 2016 by dannyashkenasi

Brazil – Geoff Muldaur The pictures of Brazil I have posted so far have been from our trip four years ago.  Today for the first time I post pictures from our current trip.  Our first stop in Brazil after touching … Continue reading →

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BRAZIL – Rio Religioso

Posted on August 11, 2016 by dannyashkenasi

Brazil – Ritchie Family Welcome back to Rio de Janeiro, currently in the midst of hosting the Olympic Games.  Ed and I are currently in other parts of Brazil, but four years ago we were all over Rio.  I already … Continue reading →

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BRAZIL- RIO DE JANEIRO – Ipanema, Copacabana and the Sugarloaf

Posted on August 8, 2016 by dannyashkenasi

Brazil – Frank Sinatra Ed and I are in Brazil this August, but we are not going to Rio de Janeiro.  Not this year.  Not going to compete with the Olympics.  But four years ago, we spent 6 fabulous days … Continue reading →

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BRAZIL – Floating Forests, Piranhas, and Sunsets of the Amazon

Posted on August 5, 2016 by dannyashkenasi

Above, the Jungle Lodge, where we stayed for a weekend Amazon Adventure on the Urubu River BRAZIL (Bachianos Brazil Samba) – Michael Kamen Below views of the Urubu River from the Lodge tower. The Urubu river gets its name from … Continue reading →

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BRAZIL – The Black & Brown Waters of the Amazon

Posted on August 3, 2016 by dannyashkenasi

Brazil – Pink Martini Welcome to Brazil.  Today we look at the waters of the Amazon, first at Manaus, the capital of the state of Amazonas, where the brown waters of the Amazon, flowing in from the West and Southwest, … Continue reading →

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BRAZIL – The Big Brazil August Adventure is about to Recommence!

Posted on July 30, 2016 by dannyashkenasi

BRAZIL Four years ago Ed and I spent a fantastic August touring Brazil.  This month we do it again.  Which means Notes from a Composer is going to go all out on a Brazil themed Two-Fisted Touristing series all month … Continue reading →

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Subway Motion Animation

Posted on July 30, 2016 by dannyashkenasi

Look at the video below.  This sight thrills me every time I am on a Brooklyn subway train heading towards the Manhattan bridge.  I think of it as Subway Motion Animation:       The video clip above was taken … Continue reading →

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The Many Voices of Marni Nixon

Posted on July 25, 2016 by dannyashkenasi

Marni Nixon passed yesterday.  She had a long, accomplished career as a classically trained singer on the concert and theater stage, but she is most famous for her leading contributions to some of the most famous musicals of Hollywood’s golden … Continue reading →

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NEW YORK NEW YORK in Pieces (of Song and Puzzle)

Posted on July 25, 2016 by dannyashkenasi

Let’s celebrate New York, New York in pieces!  Musical pieces!  Jigsaw puzzle pieces! The first song must be New York, New York of course! What, you thought It’d be Old Blue Eyes’ New York New York?  No worries, I won’t … Continue reading →

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Take a Cool Musical Journey through the Spree Forest Canals during these Dog Days of Summer

Posted on July 21, 2016 by dannyashkenasi

Last July I posted a four part series on the Spreewald, or Spree Forest (one, two, three, four), the fabulous “rural Venice” an hour south of Berlin, Germany.  The series included an elaborate photo tour of the region, and music … Continue reading →

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Ian Mckellen’s richly detailed and historically edifying “It Got Better” video

Posted on July 18, 2016 by dannyashkenasi

We’ve come a long way. @IanMckellen tells his @It_Got_Better storyhttps://t.co/7XBpAsvHGW — L Studio (@LStudio) July 18, 2016   Pretty cool video, an inspiring must see. And not that it really matters, but Sir Ian and I share the same birthday, … Continue reading →

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LIFE ON THE MISSISSIPPI – a mini musical adaptation

Posted on July 15, 2016 by dannyashkenasi

  I recently created the TWAIN page, where you can read about stories and listen to musical excerpts from my Mark Twain musical comedy beTwixt, beTween & beTWAIN.  Below I will reproduce a complete scene from the musical, the mini-adaptation … Continue reading →

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The 23rd Evocation for Viola and Piano on the Occasion of Edward’s 57th Birthday.

Posted on July 12, 2016 by dannyashkenasi

  Today that handsome fellow pictured above, who also just happens to be my sainted husband, Edward Elder, turns 57.  And, as has become tradition in our 23 years plus together, one of the birthday presents he receives from me … Continue reading →

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