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IN THIS
ISSUE
1. Hiking
the Grand Canyon: A photo journal and MP3
download
2.
The
NEW Free Download "Earth
Solitude"
3.
Flute
Maker Profile
4.
Inside
the Grand Canyon: NEW
Photos
5.
Anasazi
flute scales
6.
Appearances
Greetings,
The end of March and almost all of April saw me on
the road. It was a long hard, but rewarding
trip.
I finally fulfilled one of my goals and hiked to
Plateau Point at the Grand Canyon
This was a hike of 12 miles and a 3,100 feet
elevation change. Of course like the rest of us I
regularly walk/hike 12 miles in one day so it was
no big deal...
Then to Phoenix and Scottsdale. Then to Sedona.
I hoped to have a few days a home to recover but my
truck overheated in the middle of Nowhere, AZ and I
had to limp back 125 miles to Phoenix at 45 miles
per hour with the heater running full blast to draw
heat off the engine. Here's a photo of Nowhere, AZ
if you haven't been there...
Nice place to visit if you're just driving
through.
Luckily my good friends Dick and Jane (I have
changed their names so as to not impugn them for
associating with me) were willing to put up with me
for a few more days while my truck was supposedly
fixed. Dick and I had to go visit the mechanic to
remind them that they were fixing my truck. Seems
they forgot.
To pass the time they took me to South Mountain to
see the lights of Phoenix. There was a rare
haze/fog, but it reminded me of LA so that didn't
disappoint.
I made it home in time to turn around the next day
and head for Placerville and Georgetown, CA for the
NCFC's Spirit of the Flute spring fest.
It rained the day I left, and the day I was there
and again once I was back in LA, but I got to visit
Gold Country in the foothills of the Sierra
Nevada.
My truck seemed fine but checking the level of
coolant halfway back I discovered most of it was
gone. Luckily, or due to good planning on my part I
had brought some coolant this time. With the
reservoir filled up again I made my way back over
the Grapevine pass and home.
For this trip the average altitude seemed to be
4,000 feet and the pass is no exception, being
4,144.
Turns out my
truck has a bad head gasket. Not cheap. But
hopefully when I see you all again it won't be in
Nowhere, AZ.
This issue of
Echoes From The Mesa is short, but it's packed full
of stuff. There is a photo essay about hiking into
Grand Canyon, a new MP3 download, a new profile of
a flute maker and more.
In harmony,
Scott August
1. HIKING GRAND CANYON: THE BRIGHT
ANGEL TRAIL TO PLATEAU POINT
A Photo Journal and MP3 Download
It was somewhere
about two miles from the rim while hiking back out
when I began to doubt that I might make it all the
way up to the top again. The light was fading
quickly in the side canyon of the Bright Angel
trail and my left knee had just had two sharp,
shooting pains that felt like someone was driving a
metal stake through it. The day had been long, but
I had gotten a late start. The morning was spent
answering emails and now here I was in another
world where the concept of time existed in spans
that stretch longer than a human life. And against
it all the realization of just how insignificant we
all are and especially I was at that
moment.
For years I'd
seen the canyon from the rim. Wondering what it was
like to see it from the inside. I'd made several
short trips down but no more than a few miles.
Today I was going almost all the way. Six miles in
and 3,100' down. Six miles out and 3,100'
up.
The day was clear
and comfortable. The strong, cold winds of the last
two days was gone, replaced by a gentle breeze. On
my back was a new Camelbak pack with 3 liters of
water. I also brought another extra two liters just
in case. On my head was a big, ugly floppy hat, but
perfect for shading my head from the hot sun that
would be waiting for me at the bottom of the trail.
For now I was in the shade of the cliffs and cool
in the high elevation. The trail head starts a
6,860 ft above sea level where the air is cool and
pine trees whisper in the wind.
READ
THE WHOLE STORY
LISTEN
TO BRIGHT
ANGEL
A
FREE DOWNLOAD FOR MEMBERS OF SCOTT AUGUST'S E-MAIL
LIST
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of page
2. NEW FREE MP3 & VIDEO, MUSIC
DOWNLOAD:
"Earth Solitude"
Sometimes while traveling the southwest you get
lucky and find yourself all alone among the ancient
sand stone trails, and gnarled pinyons and
junipers. The breeze whispers softly in your ear
and the light takes on a quality of
magic.
I had this once
while visiting the Betatakin overlook at Navajo
National Monument late one day. I was one my way
back to Flagstaff and stopped to take a quick stop.
As it was late and the sun was sinking I was the
only one there. Walking down the trail to the
overlook was like going back in time. When I got to
the end of the trail there below me was the great
empty house of Betatakin or to the Hopi: Talastima.
It is here that the Ancestor of the present day
Hopi once made their home.
The air was quiet
even though a soft breeze danced among the pinyons.
I stood there trying to remain as quiet as possible
so as not to disturb the stillness. It seemed as
though the whole landscape was quiet. No birds
sang, no crickets chirped. It was a rare moment of
Earth Solitude.
LISTEN
TO "EARTH
SOLITUDE"
A
FREE DOWNLOAD FOR MEMBERS OF SCOTT AUGUST'S E-MAIL
LIST
Free
download are available to our E-mailing list
members. It's easy and free to become a member.
Members also get discounts on Scott August's
recordings and flutes in our Cedar Mesa Music
On-line Store.
Click
here to sign up!
PAST
DOWNLOAD
FREE
DOWNLOADs FOR MEMBERS OF SCOTT AUGUST'S E-MAIL
LIST
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of page
3. FLUTE MAKER PROFILE
Maple and Zebra wood flute by John Stillwell of
Ancient Territories.
Read about the
unique flute used for Desert Solitude, this
quarter's free download.
Read
Profile
Top
of page
4.
NEW PHOTO PAGE
A photo gallery of the Bright Angel
Trail
Photos
of the Bright Angel Trail
Top
of page
5.
NEW NATIVE AMERICAN FLUTE ARTICLES
In case you haven't been following Scott's blog
lately he's posted several new articles for Native
American flute players with helpful information
about buying and caring for a Native American
flute, These are full of helpful tips for both
beginners and more advanced players. If you are a
beginner, or are thinking about purchasing a NAF
there are articles that takes you step by step
through playing your first notes and improving your
playing technique.
NEW
The
Basic scale of the Anasazi flute
NEW
The
Minor scale of the Anasazi
flute
How
to Buy a Native American flute part
1
How
to Buy a Native American flute part
2
How
to Care for your Native American
flute
Playing
your first scale on a Native American
flute
Strengthening
your Fingers: Technique
improvement
Playing
from the Heart part 1
Playing/Composing
from the Heart ™ part 2
Recording
your NAF, basic Home Studio set
up
Starting
your Own Music Label part 1
Top
of page
6. APPEARANCES
Find out where
Scott August is playing next. The Appearance
page on cedarmesa.com is constantly being updated
and always has his most current
schedule.
Here are some
appearances of note coming up this year.
May
2007
Saturday, May 19, 2007
Inland Empire Flute Circle "Spring
Gathering"
38766 Brookside Ave
Cherry Valley, CA 92223
Time: 11:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Price: Free
Join the IEFC their
first annual "Spring Gathering" Learn how to play
the flute from NAMMY winner Scott August or make
your own Pomo style flute with Antonio Flores, Jr.
Get a chance to meet and purchase flutes from Rich
Halliburton, Nashtavewa, John Stillwell and Marvin
Yazzie.
Learn wood carving techniques, perform at our open
mic then at 5:00 relax to a free concert by Scott
August
Listed Classes are $20. Bring your friends, family,
a picnic lunch, folding chair and a blanket and
enjoy a relaxing day.
For information contact the NAI via
Email
or (951)
769-0989
JUNE
2007
June 8, 9 & 10 2007
Zion
Canyon Art and Flute Festival
Springdale, UT. Just outside of Zion National
Park
Scott will be performing on the main stage
Saturday.
He will also be
giving two workshops during the course of the
festival
- Putting
together a basic home studio
- Understanding
Nakai TAB. This class will cover both the notes
and rhythms of the best TAB for NAF. Even if you
don't plan to read or write in TAB you will
learn a lot about music making in this
class.
There will be
lots of big names in the Native American flute
world and lot's of exciting performances and
workshops. If you're interested be sure and book
early. Hotel rooms are limited. For more
information visit their website
www.zioncanyonartandflutefestival.com
July
2007
Sunday, July 22, 2007
Nixon Library & Birthplace
18001 Yorba Linda Blvd.
Yorba Linda, CA 92886
TIME 2 pm
PRICE Free
INFO 714-993-5075
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ECHOES FROM THE MESA is a quarterly newsletter
published by Cedar Mesa Music.
We welcome your comments. Please direct any
comments to news@cedarmesa.com
Cedar Mesa Music
The official web site of the music of Scott
August.
www.cedarmesa.com
© 2007 Cedar Mesa Music
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