142 - Michael Bettine

Joining us this week is alchemical percussionist and storyteller Michael Bettine! Working under the name Gongtopia, he has presented concerts of original compositions and improvisations played on metal instruments, sounding bass drum, and hand drums since 2002. He also regularly presents both Gong Meditation Sessions and Sound Workshops using gongs, singing bowls, and bells. Watch here. Listen below. If you cannot see the audio controls, your browser does not support the audio element 0:00 Intro and Hello 1:40 Puccini gongs for sale? 5:03 Michael Bettine's background, what is Gongtopia? 7:00 Logistics of these gongs and traveling? 9:52 Bonham's gong! 12:15 Michael's blogs, history as a writer. 16:05 Blog post "Selling of Gongs as Snake Oil" 22:08 Michael's meditation session? 25:47 Interesting instrument finds? Debussy's crotales 29:25 The low pitches for "Rain Tree" (Takemitsu) 32:50 Laurel: Current PAS committee openings and how to apply 37:47 Megan: Why African instruments often have a buzzing sound attached 47:44 Starting a meditation sessions 49:20 Michael Newmeyer: How does Gongtopia tie into meditation, and does it tie into music therapy? 52:00 Any favorite gong use by other composers? 55:15 Sponsorship 58:52 The new CD?