December 2013 Issue:
Dickens of an Ancient Future Present
by Ancient Future Past, Present, and Future Leader Matthew Montfort with Apologies to Charles Dickens
I HAVE endeavoured in this Spooky little spoof, to raise the Spirit of a solution to Silicon Skulduggery, which shall not put my readers out of humour with themselves, with each other, with the season, with their religions, or with me. The Culprits’ names are but metaphors for what Man must improve upon, and have been changed to protect the Guilty in hopes they may change their ways. Though it be lengthy for a dispatch of the Digital Age, may it haunt the Interwebs pleasantly.
Pirate and Scrooogle
Torrent Pirate was dead, to begin with. There is no doubt whatever about that. Etherseizer Scrooogle and he were partners for who knows how many years. Scrooogle was his search partner, his ad agency, his friend, and his mourner.
Scrooogle is what the politically astute would call a person of corporate heritage. As was Pirate. Nobody ever stopped them in the street to say, with gladsome looks, “My dear Pirate and Scrooogle, how are you?” Read the full story.
Musician’s Fund
“At this festive season of the year, Mr. Scrooogle,” said the gentleman, “it is more than usually desirable that we should make some slight provision for the Musicians. Many are in want of common necessaries to practice their craft. A few of us are endeavouring to raise a fund to buy them some means of production. We choose this time, because it is a time, of all others, when Want is keenly felt, and Abundance rejoices. What shall I put you down for?”
“Nothing!” Scrooogle replied. Read on.
While Scrooogle and the other tech titans are not currently interested in supporting the creation of the content they exploit, you, the dear reader may certainly do so. The Archive of Future Ancient Recordings is a collection of new recordings that are available to supporters as they are created.
Ghost of the Ancient Future Past
Scrooogle Spoke of an Ancient Future Reunion Concert
“I am the Ghost of the Ancient Future Past. Rise, and walk with me!” When they entered, preparations for a concert were under way. In came a fiddler with a music-book, and went up to the stage and warmed up, his fingers moving like fifty buzzing bees. In came all the other young musicians with their instruments, bounding to the stage and readying to perform. Read on.
Ghost of the Ancient Future Present
“I am the Ghost of the Ancient Future Present,” said the Spirit. “Listen upon me!” Scrooogle reverently did so. “You have never heard the likes of this before!” exclaimed the Spirit. Read on.
The Gift of an Ancient Future Present
Ghost of the Ancient Future Yet to Come
“Ghost of the Ancient Future Yet to Come!” Scrooogle exclaimed, “Will you not speak to me?” Read on.
Meanwhile, in an Ancient Future Yet to Come
Ancient Future announced tour dates featuring world guitar pioneer Matthew Montfort and tabla virtuoso Vishal Nagar, with stops at an organic restaurant in the Wine Country, an East Bay chapel, and a music hall in the Santa Cruz Mountains.
The End of the Beginning
“I will live in the Ancient Future Past, the Ancient Future Present, and the Ancient Future Yet to Come!” Scrooogle repeated, as he scrambled out of bed.” Read on.
As leader of the world music group Ancient Future, Matthew Montfort has devoted himself to the scalloped fretboard guitar since 1978. He spent years of study with some of the world’s best musicians, such as gamelan director K.R.T. Wasitodipuro, North Indian sarod master Ali Akbar Khan, and vina master K.S. Subramanian, with whom he did an intensive study of South Indian note-bending techniques. He was interviewed in the December 2009 Les Paul issue of Guitar Player Magazine about the scalloped fretboard guitar and the application of the rules of Indian raga to the music of Jimi Hendrix as exemplified by ‘Purple Raga’ from his debut solo recording, “Seven Serenades for Scalloped Fretboard Guitar.”
He has performed concerts worldwide, from the Festival Internacional de la Guitarra on the golden coast of Spain to the Festival of India in Mumbai. He has worked with many world music legends, including tabla phenomenon Zakir Hussain and Chinese zither master Zhao Hui. Montfort wrote the book Ancient Traditions & Future Possibilities: Rhythmic Training Through the Traditions of Africa, Bali, and India, which has been used by many musicians to improve their rhythm skills.
