Tag Archives: music

I Take the Colbert Questionert

Posted on August 5, 2025 by dannyashkenasi

Now that the Cowardly Broadcasting Service has caved to economic AKA political pressures and cancelled the Late Show with Stephen Colbert, the chances of me ever taking the Colbert Questionert on the air are close to nil (they never were … Continue reading →

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Happy Birthday, Ed – Evocation XXXII

Posted on July 12, 2025 by dannyashkenasi

It is Ed’s birthday today. And for the 32nd time in 32 years I have composed a viola/piano duet for my husband, a tradition that will continue until we reach the morbid part of the generally expressed marriage vow (Although … Continue reading →

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LIGHTSCAPE #4

Posted on December 5, 2024 by dannyashkenasi

Another Year of the BBG’s Fabulous Light Show The Brooklyn Botanic Garden is in its fourth year of what appears to be an ongoing annual holiday tradition: Lightscape. Every year multiple artists create extravagant lightfilled sculptures and lightshows within and … Continue reading →

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Tell-Tale’s Original Script?

Posted on November 25, 2024 by dannyashkenasi

When a very faithful adaptation gets an award for originality… Recently my first Edgar Allan Poe musical short film adaptation “The Tell-Tale Heart – a musicabre” received an award for Best Original Screenplay from the East Village New York Film … Continue reading →

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CYNDI LAUPER in MADISON SQUARE GARDEN

Posted on November 3, 2024 by dannyashkenasi

Pics and Clips from Her Farewell Tour Concert 1986 I attended Cyndi Lauper’s True Colors tour Madison Square Garden performance. Almost 40 years later she (and I) returned to MSG for the Girls Just Want to Have Fun Farewell Tour … Continue reading →

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BEYOND / JENSEITS – On the Therapist’s Couch

Posted on April 5, 2024 by dannyashkenasi

At the beginning of Section XII of the little night opera “Beyond” AKA “Jenseits”, written for my mother Catherine Gayer (catch up on previous installments via the opera’s main page), the 1st Angel takes on the persona of the 4th … Continue reading →

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R.I.P. Aribert Reimann

Posted on March 24, 2024 by dannyashkenasi

Aribert Reimann with my mother, Catherine Gayer, at rehearsal in 1971 Two Thursdays ago my mother called me from Berlin. Normally we talk on Sundays, so I was curious what occasioned this call. “Aribert Reimann has died”, she told me, … Continue reading →

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Watch (and vote for!) P&P at P2S!

Posted on October 12, 2023 by dannyashkenasi

“The Pit and the Pendulum – a musicabre” screens on-line at Pitch To Screen Film Festival through Monday Vote for its nominations in 3 categories! My short film musical Edgar Allan Poe adaptation (breathe!) “The Pit and the Pendulum – … Continue reading →

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P&P wins BEST MUSIC at HAUNTED HOUSE FEARFEST

Posted on October 8, 2023 by dannyashkenasi

“The Pit and the Pendulum – a musicabre” won the award for Best Music at last night’s awards ceremony of the Haunted House FearFest at the Midnight Theater in New York City. Here is a video of my acceptance speech: … Continue reading →

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Catherine Gayer on the Radio

Posted on October 3, 2023 by dannyashkenasi

The German radio station Deutschlandfunk has posted a 55 minute program interviewing the opera soprano Catherine Gayer, and playing excerpts from her fantastic 60+ year career, highlighting her work with contemporary music. Listen to it here. Oh, Catherine Gayer just … Continue reading →

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13HORROR.COM reviews P&P

Posted on September 20, 2022 by dannyashkenasi

from Andrew Hannon <editor@13horror.com> Hi Danny,   Thanks again for submitting The Pit and the Pendulum – a musicabre to the 13Horror.com Film Contest.    It’s an extremely accomplished short. You have some very nicely worked camera movements (most notably … Continue reading →

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P&P’s INDEPENDENT HORROR MOVIE AWARD

Posted on September 6, 2022 by dannyashkenasi

“The Pit and the Pendulum – a musicabre” won a Best Actor Award and was nominated for Editing, Special Effects and Music by the Independent Horror Movie Awards

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P&P – Day 5 – The Pendulum Swings

Posted on July 28, 2022 by dannyashkenasi

Filming the Deadly Progress of the Pendulum The most famous image from Edgar Allan Poe’s classic short story “The Pit and the Pendulum” is of the sword swinging back and forth, coming down ever closer over the hapless protagonist tied … Continue reading →

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2021 YEAR END POP CULTURE QUIZ

Posted on December 30, 2021 by dannyashkenasi

One point for each correct answer. No googling! – since I didn’t use google to come up with these questions (only to spell check afterwards) – which is a bit of a brag, yes, yet maybe also revealing something questionable … Continue reading →

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TELL-TALE MENCIÓN ESPECIAL POR MÚSICA

Posted on May 31, 2021 by dannyashkenasi

“The Tell-Tale Heart – a musicabre” received a special mention citation for music from the Fixion Fantastic & Horror Film Festival in Santiago, Chile! Or rather, a … Mención Especial por Música: Danny Ashkenasi por The Tell-Tale Heart-A Musicabre (USA) … Continue reading →

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3 Seconds of HELL

Posted on April 8, 2021 by dannyashkenasi

An Advance Mini Audio Peek at “The Pit and the Pendulum – a musicabre” “If there’s a hell, this is the music.” That was my mother’s succinct critique of the score of my short film “The Pit and the Pendulum … Continue reading →

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