Ancient Future Times: 2020 Vision

December 2019 Issue:

2020 Vision
•Ways to Help the World Fusion Movement Reduce Polarization

'Till 2020 Sale
•Recordings, Music Eduction, and Musical Scavenger Hunt

Global Guitar Summit
•12/6/19, Wu Wei Tea Temple, Fairfax

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2020 Vision

Ways to Help the World Fusion Movement Reduce Polarization

1. Fun Raising: Make a Tax Deductible Contribution

In this age of polarization, world fusion music is needed now more than ever. You can help our "fun raising" efforts to support Ancient Future's local Northern California concert season, provide seed money to bring Ancient Future to perform in your area, or support new compositions and recordings:

• Make a Tax Deductible Donation. Ancient Future was accepted for fiscal sponsorship with InterMusic SF, a 501(c)(3) Non-Profit Organization, and now donations made through them on behalf of Ancient Future are 100% tax deductible to the full extent of the law!

2. Support the Archive of Future Ancient Recordings

Fun Raising A.F.A.R. Past the Finish Line

The Archive of Future Ancient Recordings, Ancient Future's fun fan funded recording project, has over 86 minutes of music in it so far. Another set of studio tracks that will expand the project by over 50% are already in production.

Hundreds and hundreds of hours have already gone into the composition, rehearsal, pre-production, and recording the guitar and bansuri flute tracks for Beyond Kalyan, a new piece by Matthew Montfort based on Rag Kalyan. At around 30 minutes long, it is a very expansive, emotional, and difficult to perform piece. Mindia Devi spent several weeks practicing her bansuri flute parts, and all of the composed sections and most of her improvised solos have been recorded. The next step will recording Vishal Nagar's tabla tracks.

It's time for some "fun raising" to fund payments to master musicians so that they can carve out time to practice their parts and record them. We have raised 22% of our funding goal so far. This is substantial, but averages just a little more than 2% per year, so we need to greatly speed up our fun raising to complete the project.

Please consider becoming a supporter at one of the levels below, starting at just $15. And if you are already a supporter, you can still upgrade to higher quality downloads until each supporter level is sold out. Once you become a supporter, you will receive all of the tracks in the archive (and all of the tracks that will be added in the future), and you will be eligible to buy a limited edition CD-R of the Best of A.F.A.R. So Far, which is includes all of the best tracks that will (barely) fit on a CD-R.

The Archive of Future Ancient Recordings by Ancient Future. (Ancient-Future.Com Records AF-2030)

• Recording Newsletter-$15 (receive 128 kbps downloads): Subscribe @ $15.
• Download Supporter- $25 (320 kbps downloads): Subscribe @ $25.
• Limited Edition CD Sponsor- $50 (all previous plus CD quality audio): Subscribe @ $50.
• Honorary A & R Representative- $75 (all previous plus video and 24 bit audio): Subscribe @ $75.
• Donor VIP- $??: Make Additional Donation.
• A.F.A.R. So Far CD-R- $20 Additional. (SALE $15): Buy CD-R Now.

3. Make and Share Diverse Playlists

Streaming payments to artists are absurdly low, and the switch from music ownership to ad supported streaming has greatly harmed artists' ability to create new work. But there are even more problems with streaming. The algorithms are set up to suggest artists who sound like the music that the listener is already listening to. So, how are people to find out about new directions in music or music from other cultures?

After you support the artists you enjoy by purchasing their work (FUN raise A.F.A.R.), you can help to support musical diversity by making and sharing your own playlists of Ancient Future with your favorite artists from different genres. This can help to expand people's awareness, rather than narrow it. Right now, due to heavily weighted major label playlists featuring Ancient Future with New Age artists popular in the 80's, Ancient Future is predominantly suggested by streaming services to fans of New Age music. This is very limiting for the world fusion music movement. Fans of New Age music have often enjoyed world fusion music, especially the slower tempo pieces. But this isn't helping the world fusion music movement to reach people who need to be turned on to more diverse music.

Apple Music

Stream Ancient Future on Apple Music

If the above link doesn't work, search for Ancient Future directly in Apple Music. Apple doesn't have an ad supported tier, so it pays the most per stream of the major streaming companies at 65/100 of a penny net to Ancient-Future.Com Records, but that's nowhere near a sustainable payment that can support the creation of new recordings. It's much better to buy the downloads while you still can. Apple does allow you to make and share playlists. Please make public playlists with diverse artists and share them.

How to Make an Apple Music Playlist

Spotify

Stream Ancient Future on Spotify

Spotify pays a lower streaming rate than Apple, but higher than YouTube. It is still extremely low, especially for the ad supported tier, where a stream nets Ancient-Future.Com Records only 17/100 of a penny, while the subscription tier nets 36/100 of a penny. All users of Spotify can create playlists.

How to Make a Spotify Playlist

Spotify playlists featuring Ancient Future with appropriate artists can be found at WorldFusionMusicRadio.Com.

Pandora

Stream Ancient Future on Pandora

Pandora pays less per stream than Spotify on its free radio format, but more than Spotify on its subscription tier. Ancient-Future.Com Records nets 8/100 of a cent per stream on Pandora radio playlists, and 41/100 of a cent for Pandora Premium. The free version of Pandora doesn't allow user playlist creation, but you can thumbs up and down tracks. The Ancient Future station on Pandora is populated almost exclusively with tracks by artists with no world music influences at all. Please thumbs down those selections. If you hear Ancient Future on any Pandora station, please thumb it up so that more people find out about world fusion music. If you are a Pandora Premium user, you can create playlists.

How to Make a Pandora Playlist

YouTube

Watch Ancient Future on YouTube

Stream Ancient Future on YouTube Music

YouTube Music pays the lowest of all major music streaming services. For example, 1,708,584 streams of a track by Ancient Future on our own label on YouTube's ad supported service overseas netted Ancient Future only $101.16. That's less than 6/1000 of a cent per stream! Yes, thousandths of a cent! If this had not been on our own label, the artist share would have been even less. This is a travesty. Perhaps it is best to listen to YouTube Music with the sound off. Their subscription tier nets Ancient-Future.Com Records 65/100 of a cent, which is on par with Apple Music, but less than 0.02% of the reported streams in 2019 were in the subscription tier, so the higher rate is just a PR stunt at this point. YouTube Music is available in more countries than Spotify and all users of YouTube can create playlists, so for the time being we are encouraging the creation of YouTube playlists to share with users in countries where Spotify isn't available. Just remember to do your own listening on other services.

How to Make a YouTube Playlist

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'Till 2020 Sale

Recordings, Music Education, and Musical Scavenger Hunt

Purchases at the Ancient-Future.Com World Music Store directly support the artists and the music, and this sale offers bargain prices until 2020!

Five for Fifty: Five Releases Just $10 Each

• Yearning for the Wind by Ancient Future (Ancient-Future.Com Records AF-20302). Signed Audio/Video E-CD-R- List $17.98. (SALE $10): Buy 1 Now.
• Planet Passion by Ancient Future( Ancient-Future.Com Records AF-2010). CD- List $17.98. (SALE $10): Buy 1 Now.
• Sangria by Mariah Parker (Ancient-Future.Com Records AF-2017). CD- List $17.98.(SALE $10): Buy 1 Now.
• Seven Serenades for Scalloped Fretboard Guitar by Matthew Montfort (Ancient-Future.Com Records AF-2008). CD- List $17.98. (SALE $10): Buy 1 Now.
• Sympathetic Serenade by Matthew Montfort (Ancient-Future.Com Records AF-2012). Signed EP CD-R- List $12.98.(SALE $10): Buy 1 Now.

Music Education Sale: Get More Enjoyment Out of Music

World Music Studies for Listeners and Musicians!

Want to get more out of listening to music? Study of music traditions isn't just for musicians. For example, many listeners are attracted to the spiritual feeling of Indian classical music. But knowing the basics of tala (Indian rhythm cycles) will greatly enhance what one experiences while listening.

A great way to get started on a journey to become a better listener is to visit the education section of Ancient-Future.Com. Included are explanations of African, Arabic, Balinese, and Indian traditions along with some basic exercises to practice that require no instruments to perform. Your site surfing can even win prizes in this issue's Musical Scavenger Hunt! And as you learn more, you may wish to take a private Skype lesson to continue your studies.

Beats Book Brings Bang for the Buck



Sale Celebrates New Audio Guides and Grooves

Ancient Traditions – Future Possibilities: Rhythmic Training Through the Traditions of Africa, Bali and India by Matthew Montfort (Kentfield: Ancient Future Music, 1985. ISBN 0-937879-00-2).

• Comb Bound Book- $46.95 (SALE $33.95): Buy 1 Now.
• Book and Enhanced Audio CD Set with MIDI Files- $74.95 (SALE $53.95): Buy 1 Now.
• Book & Audio Guide/MIDI Download (New Best Buy!)- $69.95 (SALE $49.95): Buy 1 Now.
• Companion MP3/MIDI Guide Tracks Download Set (New Release!)- $34.95 (SALE 24.95): Buy 1 Now.
• Companion Audio/MIDI Guide Tracks 2 Volume CD/CD-ROM Set- $39.95 (SALE $29.95): Buy 1 Now.

This classic "world beat bible" by Matthew Montfort takes the student on a musical voyage through the ancient rhythmic traditions of Africa, Bali, and India with a series of exercises that require no instruments to perform. Interesting, imaginative and fun, these rhythm exercises will be of immense help to all music lovers, not just percussionists.

The new downloadable companion set of MP3 audio guide and MIDI groove tracks of the exercises in the book Ancient Traditions – Future Possibilities is set up for playback on Mac and PC computers, tablets, and smartphones. The tracks are also available on a CD/CD-ROM set. The material is presented in two complimentary formats: audio guide tracks and MIDI groove tracks.

Digital Liner Note Discounts

• Yearning for the Wind Digital Liner Notes. Download- $1.98 list (SALE $1.50): Buy 1 Now. 7 page .pdf of liner notes for Yearning for the Wind by Ancient Future. Features detailed explanations of the musical concepts of raga and tala behind the music.
• Seven Serenades for Scalloped Fretboard Guitar Digital Liner Notes. Download- $2.98 list. (SALE $2): Buy 1 Now.17 page .pdf of liner notes for Seven Serenades for Scalloped Fretboard Guitar by Matthew Montfort. Explains the inspirations and musical concepts behind each serenade. Sheet music is included for those who want to delve deeper.

Skype Studies Sale

Study any of the musical traditions featured on the Ancient Future web site via private Skype lessons with Ancient Future bandleader and guitarist, Matthew Montfort. Recognized as one of the world's 100 Greatest Acoustic Guitarists, Matthew Montfort teaches all styles of guitar (and other fretted instruments including ukulele, bass, mandolin, charango, and sitar) along with record production, composition, world rhythms, music theory, and repertoire for all instruments.

Skype Lessons

• 60 Minute Lesson- $75. (SALE $60): Buy 1 Now. Custom private one hour online lesson.
• 45 Minute Lesson- $65. (SALE $48): Buy 1 Now. Custom private 45 minute online lesson.
• 30 Minute Lesson- $50. (SALE $36): Buy 1 Now. Custom private 30 minute online lesson.

Gift certificates are available for online lessons worldwide via Skype and other webcam conferencing services. And for a limited time, an additional discount is automatically offered on a Skype tutorial with purchase of Matthew Montfort's book Ancient Traditions – Future Possibilities: Rhythmic Training Through the Traditions of Africa, Bali, and India at Ancient-Future.Com!

Musical Scavenger Hunt

3 Ways to Win

Hunt through Ancient-Future.Com to answer the scavenger hunt questions. All of those who get any answer right win an educational digital liner note download of their choice! Get all of the answers right and also win your choice of the Audio Guide or MIDI Groove companion tracks to the world rhythms training manual, Ancient Traditions – Future Possibilities.

3 Scavenger Hunt Questions

1. Name six instruments utilized in an Eve percussion orchestra.
2. What is the name of the more offbeat part of a Balinese kotèkan?
3. What is the name of an 11 beat North Indian rhythmic cycle that includes two groupings of 1 1/2 beats?

This scavenger hunt contest is open only to subscribers to the Ancient Future Times. If you are not already receiving this newsletter, please subscribe before entering. Entries accepted through January 1, 2020. Send entries to info@ancient-future.com.

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Global Guitar Summit

12/6/19, Wu Wei Tea Temple, Fairfax

Friday, December 6, 8 PM
Global Guitar Summit
Wu Wei Tea Temple
1820 Sir Francis Drake Blvd.
Fairfax, CA 94930
No cover. Suggested donation: $10 - $20.
Info: wuweiteatemple.com
Facebook Event

Ancient Future leader and guitarist Matthew Montfort and German fingerstyle guitarist extraordinaire Teja Gerken return to the Wu Wei Tea Temple in Fairfax for an evening of music from around the world.

Matthew Montfort is a pioneer among guitarists who have had their fretboards scalloped in order to play various forms of world music that require intricate note-bending ornaments while still being able to play chords.

Teja Gerken is known for his original compositions, many of which employ alternate tunings and two-handed tapping. His playing merges the styles of European guitar pioneers such as John Renbourn and Pierre Bensusan with the distinct sounds of American players such as Leo Kottke and Michael Hedges.

 

Future of Ancient Future

Ancient Future Times: Future of Ancient Future
November 2017 Issue:
Help Build Our Future: Join a Campaign to Save Music
•Check Out This Video Shedding Light on the Artist's Plight in the Digital Age
Free Library Concert Series Continues After the Fires
•World Guitar Pioneer Matthew Montfort with Arabic Percussion Virtuoso Antoine Lammam or Tabla Virtuoso Vishal Nagar
Guitar Summit at Wu Wei Temple in Fairfax
•Featuring Matthew Montfort (Scalloped Fretboard Guitar) and Teja Gerken (Fingerstyle Guitar)
Beats Book Brings Bang for the Buck
•Sale Celebrates New Audio Guides and Grooves for Gizmos

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Help Build Our Future: Join a Campaign to Save Music

Check Out This Video Shedding Light on the Artist's Plight in the Digital Age

By Matthew Montfort
I'm on the board of directors of the Content Creators Coalition, a nonprofit uniting artists organizing in favor of fair rates for music. We just released two funny new videos referencing Apple's "Hi, I'm a Mac" campaign that take aim at YouTube's tiny compensation for ad-supported streams and its takedown process for unauthorized usage that is basically impossible for artists to use.
But YouTube promptly responded with its own takedown of our inital video post! As Richard Morgan wrote in the New York Post, "While videos of ISIS beheadings somehow slipped past YouTube censors, the video streaming site didn’t have any problems finding a playful ad campaign by some indie musicians — and promptly pulling the plug on it." The video was later restored when it became clear that pulling the video had caused a backlash that was generating negative publicity for YouTube.

What This Means for Ancient Future's World Fusion Music Mission

The videos demonstrate one of the major difficulties Ancient Future has in continuing its mission in the digital age. For emerging artists and those in less mainstream genres, the tech industry's "creative disruption" has "elevated" artists from workers or small businesses to beggars. No doubt you see lots of requests from artists seeking support through tech solicitation hubs such as Kickstarter. Unfortunately, it has come to my attention that I am sadly lacking in my solicitation skills.
Ancient Future has been experiencing a shortfall between the income we need to support our mission and the income that comes in from concerts and recordings. I tried to make up the difference by working non-stop on the computer, but this ended up causing tendon problems. It has come to the point where I can't personally continue to put in all the business hours necessary just to keep Ancient Future going, much less to expand our reach, which is what is necessary to further the mission of world fusion music.
I have come to the conclusion that Ancient Future needs a team of volunteers, benefactors, and superfans in order for world fusion music to reach its potential for social change. Here are some things you can do to help!

Ways to Support Ancient Future in the Digital Age

Volunteer Positions Available

Ancient Future needs a Director of Solicitations, Begging, and Busking to help raise money for activities, apply for grants, and explore starting a non-profit organization to support world fusion music. Other open positions include Concert Circuit Creator (duties include developing a circuit of world fusion friendly presenters and booking concerts), Anti-Social Media Manager (duties include encouraging cross-cultural pro-social responses on the anti-social media without simply enriching said companies at the expense of artists), and Traditional Media Archeologist (duties include searching through the charred remains of the traditional media to locate the whereabouts of current media contacts to maintain our database of world fusion friendly media).
Anyone interested in stepping forward is encouraged to email info@ancient-future.com. The positions could eventually become paid ones once financial support is generated by a genius Director of Solicitations, Begging, and Busking.

Direct Donation to Subsidize Concerts

Like the symphony, Ancient Future's world music rehearsals and performances cannot be supported by ticket sales alone. Yet arts funding has been cut drastically, especially in the USA and in California, and the advancement and indeed survival of the art of music is at stake.
You can help support Ancient Future's local San Francisco Bay Area concert season, or with a big enough donation, provide seed money to get Ancient Future to perform in your local area. Contributions can be made online or via check payable to "Ancient Future" sent to:
Ancient Future
PO Box 264
Kentfield, CA 94914-0264
Contributions are not currently tax deductible because Ancient Future is not registered as a 501(c) nonprofit organization. But hopefully Ancient Future's next Director of Solictations, Begging, and Busking (you?) can rectify that.

Donate to the Archive of Future Ancient Recordings

Bui Huu Nhut and Abbos Kosimov Recording A.F.A.R.. Photos by Michael Braden

The concept of the Archive of Future Ancient Recordings (A.F.A.R.) is to involve fans of world fusion music in supporting the production of an archive of live and studio recordings of cross cultural collaborations. The best of these recordings will be selected to be released commercially at a "future" date, at which point they will be on their way to becoming "ancient" recordings, hence the title.
There are four supporter thank-you packages available ranging from $15 to $75, and while donations to the A.F.A.R. project are not currently tax deductible, donations of any amount are greatly appreciated! Please do what you can to support the music. Detailed information on the various supporter packages and the benefits included can be found at www.ancient-future.com/afar.html.

Live Video of A.F.A.R. Track

Watch video on Ethnocloud

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Free Library Concert Series Continues After the Fires

Arabic Percussion Virtuoso Antoine Lammam and World Guitar Pioneer Matthew Montfort

Ancient Future's first concerts after October's devastating Northern California fires will be in areas that were very much under threat. The fires forced the evacuation of Ancient Future percussionist Antoine Lammam, who will be performing at three of the concerts. Fortunately his home was spared. Others, including supporters of Ancient Future, were not so lucky. Our hearts go out to everyone affected. The recovery will take a sustained commitment.
These free hour long educational concerts by Ancient Future at Sonoma County libraries will introduce the audience to Indian and Arabic rhythms and feature world guitar pioneer Matthew Montfort accompanied by either Arabic percussion virtuoso Antoine Lammam or Indian tabla virtuoso Vishal Nagar.

November Concerts

• Wednesday November 8, 2017, 5 to 6 PM, Ancient Future Duet with Matthew Montfort (scalloped fretboard guitar) and Antoine Lammam (Arabic percussion), Healdsburg Regional Library, 139 Piper Street, Healdsburg, CA 95448. Free. Info: 707-433-3772 or visit www.sonoma.lib.ca.us. Facebook Event.
  
• Wednesday November 8, 2017, 7 to 8 PM, Ancient Future Duet with Matthew Montfort (scalloped fretboard guitar) and Antoine Lammam (Arabic percussion), Windsor Regional Library, 9291 Old Redwood Highway Building 100, Windsor, CA 95492. Free. Info: 707-838-1020 or visit www.sonoma.lib.ca.us. Facebook Event.
  

Winter Concerts

• POSTPONED: Saturday, December 2, 2017, 2 to 3 PM, Ancient Future Guitar and Tabla Duet with Matthew Montfort (scalloped fretboard guitar) and Vishal Nagar (tabla), Sonoma Valley Regional Library, 755 West Napa Street, Sonoma, CA 95476. Free. Info: 707-996-5217 or visit www.sonoma.lib.ca.us. Facebook Event.
  
• Saturday, January 6, 2018, 2 to 3 PM, Ancient Future Duet with Matthew Montfort (scalloped fretboard guitar) and Antoine Lammam (Arabic percussion), Guerneville Regional Library, 14107 Armstrong Woods Rd., Guerneville, CA 95446. Free. Info: 707-869-9004 or visit www.sonoma.lib.ca.us. Facebook Event.
  

'El Zaffa' by Ancient Future

Video of Arabic fusion music by Ancient Future

'Yearning for the Wind' by Ancient Future

Video of Indian fusion music by Ancient Future

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Guitar Summit at Wu Wei Temple in Fairfax

Featuring Matthew Montfort (Scalloped Fretboard Guitar) and Teja Gerken (Fingerstyle Guitar)

Friday, December 8, 8 PM, Wu Wei Tea Temple, 1820 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, Fairfax, CA 94930. No cover. Suggested donation: $10 - $20. Info: visit wuweiteatemple.com.
Ancient Future leader Matthew Montfort is a pioneer of the scalloped fretboard guitar, an instrument with a modified fretboard in which the wood between frets has been carved out in order to facilitate intricate note-bending ornaments. He has released two solo CDs: Seven Serenades for Scalloped Fretboard Guitar and Sympathetic Serenade, for which he is recognized as one of the world's 100 Greatest Acoustic Guitarists by DigitalDreamDoor.com.
Teja Gerken is a contemporary steel-string fingerstyle guitarist whose playing merges the styles of European guitar pioneers such as John Renbourn and Pierre Bensusan with the distinct sounds of American players such as Leo Kottke and Micheal Hedges. Known for his original compositions, many of which employ alternate tunings, two-handed tapping, percussive effects, and other extended guitar techniques, Teja will also bring Celtic, jazz, and classical styles to the summit.

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Beats Book Brings Bang for the Buck

Sale Celebrates New Audio Guides and Grooves for Gizmos

Ancient Traditions – Future Possibilities: Rhythmic Training Through the Traditions of Africa, Bali and India. By Matthew Montfort. Mill Valley: Panoramic Press, 1985. ISBN 0-937879-00-2. Comb Bound Book- $46.95 (SALE $33.95). Book and Enhanced Audio CD Set with MIDI files- $74.95 (SALE $53.95). New Best Buy! Book & Audio Guide/MIDI Download- $69.95 (SALE $49.95).
This classic "world beat bible" by Matthew Montfort takes the student on a musical voyage through the ancient rhythmic traditions of Africa, Bali, and India with a series of exercises that require no instruments to perform. Interesting, imaginative and fun, these rhythm exercises will be of immense help to all music lovers, not just percussionists.

New Guides and Grooves

Ancient Traditions – Future Possibilities: Audio Guide and MIDI Groove Tracks from the Traditions of Africa, Bali, and India. By Matthew Montfort. Ancient Future Music (AF-0001, 2005. V 4.0, 2017). New Release! Companion MP3/MIDI Guide Tracks Download Set- $34.95 (SALE 24.95). Companion Audio/MIDI Guide Tracks 2 Volume CD/CD-ROM Set- $39.95 (SALE $29.95).
This new downloadable companion set of MP3 audio guide and MIDI groove tracks of the exercises in the book Ancient Traditions – Future Possibilities is set up for playback on Mac and PC computers, tablets, and smartphones. The tracks are also available on a CD/CD-ROM set. The material is presented in two complimentary formats: audio guide tracks and MIDI groove tracks.

Audio Guide Tracks

Ancient Traditions – Future Possibilities: MP3 Audio Guide Tracks. By Matthew Montfort. Kentfield: Ancient Future Music (2005). New Release! Companion MP3 Audio Guide Tracks Download- $24.95 (SALE 17.95).
Ancient Traditions – Future Possibilities: Audio Guide Tracks is a set of 115 audio guide tracks of the exercises in Ancient Traditions – Future Possibilities that enable learning by ear.

MIDI Groove Tracks

Ancient Rhythms – Future Grooves: MIDI Percussion Groove Tracks from the Traditions of Africa, Bali, and India. Version 4.0. By Matthew Montfort. Kentfield: Ancient Future Music (1997. V. 4.0 2017). New Release! MIDI File Download- $24.95 (SALE 17.95).
Ancient Rhythms – Future Grooves: MIDI Percussion Groove Tracks from the Traditions of Africa, Bali, and India is a complete set of 128 MIDI tracks that playback in Standard MIDI File compatible web browsers. For greater control or for use as rhythm tracks in audio productions, load them into a MIDI sequencer app (Mac, PC, iOS, Android, etc.) to loop tracks, change the tempo, or listen to individual parts. The files come arranged for General MIDI percussion and can be remapped to other instruments using the included MIDI maps.

Workshops and Skype Lessons

60 Minute Skype Lesson. $75 (Sale $60). Custom private one hour online lesson via Skype or other video conferencing service.
Matthew Montfort offers instruction based on Ancient Traditions – Future Possibilities through online lessons via Skype and rhythm workshops at conservatories, public schools, and resorts. He also offers instruction for all styles of guitar, ukulele, bass, mandolin, sitar, and other plucked instruments.

Quote

"You can view this deceptively slim masterwork from a few different angles: as a friendly yet serious appetizer on three of the most sophisticated rhythm systems on earth; a chance to work on your rhythmic sight reading; a three-culture dip with matching mp3s for your ears; a gateway to exotic spices, complete with MIDI files, for your songwriting or drumming; or a fun way to organically digest complex time signatures. No matter how you slice it, this scholarly labor of love is packed with rich flavors for those patient enough to harvest them." – E.E. Bradman, Bass Player Magazine

Music Matters - Restoring the Ritual of Reverent Resonance

Ancient Future Times: Music Matters - Restoring the Ritual of Reverent Resonance
June 2017 Issue:
Guest Castaway on Desert Island Jazz on KCSM
•Inspirations for the World Fusion Music of Ancient Future

Get a SFIAF Festival Pass!
•Guitar-Sitar Jugalbandi, June 1; Mariah Parker, June 3; Global Guitar Summit, June 4
'Indo Latin Jazz Live In Concert' by Mariah Parker on JazzWeek/ZMR Charts!
•Six Weeks in the JazzWeek Top 50 and Debuting at Number #22 on ZMR World
Music Matters
•Restoring the Ritual of Reverent Resonance
Listen and Learn
•Expand Your Experience of Music

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Guest Castaway on Desert Island Jazz on KCSM

Inspirations for the World Fusion Music of Ancient Future

On Friday, May 26, at 9 AM, Matthew Montfort was Alisa Clancy's Guest Castaway on Desert Island Jazz on KCSM Jazz 91.1 FM, playing his music right along side the music that influenced it. He even brought out the original vinyl copies of the recordings that he listened to over and over in his youth!
This is a rare chance to hear timeless music from the past along with unreleased music from Ancient Future's Archive of Future Ancient Recordings. Also discussed are three concerts at the San Francisco International Arts Festival: Ancient Future on 6/1, Mariah Parker's Indo Latin Chamber Jazz on 6/3, and the Global Guitar Summit on 6/4.
The radio show will be archived through June 8, 2017, at radiofreeamerica.com, so stream it now!

Desert Island Picks

Intro: Mariah Parker, Indo Latin Jazz Live In Concert, Milo's Moment, Ancient-Future.Com Records
# 1: Ancient Future, The Best of A.F.A.R. (So Far), Purple Nam/Purple Haze, Ancient-Future.Com Records
# 2: Django Reinhardt, The Essential Django Reinhardt, Minor Swing, RCA
# 3: The Mahavishnu Orchestra, Birds of Fire, Hope, Columbia
# 4: Osamu Kitajima, Benzaiten, Benzaiten, Antilles
# 5: Paco de Lucia, Paco, Entre Dos Aguas, Island
# 6: Ancient Future, The Best of A.F.A.R. (So Far), Tres Tarantas Tres, Ancient-Future.Com Records
# 7: Diga Rhythm Band, Diga, Sweet Sixteen, United Artists
# 8: Ravi Shankar, Music Festival from India,Vandana, A&M
# 9: Ancient Future, Planet Passion, Socha Socha, Ancient-Future.Com Records
# 10: Oregon, Out of the Woods, Yellow Bell, Elektra
# 11: Ancient Future, The Best of A.F.A.R. (So Far), East of the Sun, Ancient-Future.Com Records
# 12: Instruments for Elephants by Dave Soldier and Richard Lair, Thai Elephant Orchestra, Thun Kan Sunrise, Mulatta Records
# 13: Ancient Future, Natural Rhythms, Hummingbird, Ancient-Future.Com Records

Book: Classical Music of North India, the First Years of Study: The Music of the Baba Allauddin Gharana as Taught by Ali Akbar Khan at the Ali Akbar College of Music, George Ruckert, Ed.
Luxury Item: Chocolate

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Get a SFIAF Festival Pass!

Guitar-Sitar Jugalbandi, June 1; Mariah Parker, June 3; Global Guitar Summit, June 4

Ancient-Future.Com Records artists will perform three different concerts as part of the San Francisco International Arts Festival at Fort Mason. A festival pass let's you see five different SFIAF shows for only $70!

Ancient Future Guitar-Sitar Jugalbandi, June 1, Chapel, Fort Mason

Thursday, June 1, 2017, 8 PM, Ancient Future Guitar-Sitar Jugalbandi with Matthew Montfort (scalloped fretboard guitar), Pandit Habib Khan (sitar), and Ferhan Najeeb Qureshi (tabla), San Francisco International Arts Festival, Fort Mason Chapel, Upper Fort Mason, San Francisco, CA 94109. Take Franklin Street from Bay Street. The Chapel is located near Park Head Quarters and the General's Residence. Admission: $25 general, $12.50 under 18. Full time students with ID and seniors, $4 off cover price. Festival Pass, 5 shows for $70 (also see Global Guitar Summit 6/4, Indo Latin Jazz 6/3, and 2 more!). Buy Tix. Concert Poster. Press Release.
Jugalbandi is a classical North Indian musical duet (meaning literally "tied together"). This jugalbandi works well because Matthew Montfort is a pioneer of the scalloped fretboard guitar with knowledge of sitar, and Pandit Habib Khan has been described as the “Jimi Hendrix of the sitar” by L'Orient le Jour, Beirut's French language newspaper. They will be accompanied by tabla master Ferhan Qureshi.

Mariah Parker’s Indo Latin Chamber Jazz Quintet, June 3, Gallery 308, Fort Mason

Saturday, June 3, 2017, 6 PM, Mariah Parker's Indo Latin Chamber Jazz with Mariah Parker (piano, santur), Matthew Montfort (scalloped fretboard guitar), Ian Dogole (percussion), Kash Killion (upright bass), and Jim Hurley (violin), San Francisco International Arts Festival, Gallery 308, Fort Mason, San Francisco, CA 94109. Admission: $25 general, $12.50 under 18. Full time students with ID and seniors, $4 off cover price. Festival Pass, 5 shows for $70 (also see Ancient Future 6/1, Global Guitar Summit 6/4, and 2 more!). Buy Tix. Concert Poster. Press Release.
According to Latin Beat Magazine, "Parker and friends blend the rhythmic syncopations of Latin jazz music with the entrancing, asymmetrical meters of East Indian rhythms resulting in first-class world music." This chamber variation of the ensemble with its emphasis on strings will explore new arrangements of existing work.

Global Guitar Summit, June 4, Chapel, Fort Mason

Sunday, June 4, 2017, 3 PM, Global Guitar Summit with Matthew Montfort (scalloped fretboard guitar), Giacomo Fiore (classical guitar), and Teja Gerken (acoustic guitar), San Francisco International Arts Festival, Fort Mason Chapel, Upper Fort Mason, San Francisco, CA 94109. Take Franklin Street from Bay Street. The Chapel is located near Park Head Quarters and the General's Residence. Admission: $25 general, $12.50 under 18. Full time students with ID and seniors, $4 off cover price. Festival Pass, 5 shows for $70 (also see Ancient Future 6/1, Indo Latin Jazz 6/3, and 2 more!). Buy Tix. Concert Poster. Press Release.
This Global Guitar Summit features American scalloped fretboard guitar and world fusion music pioneer Matthew Montfort, master Italian guitarist and musicologist Giacomo Fiore, and German fingerstyle guitarist extraordinaire Teja Gerken.

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'Indo Latin Jazz Live In Concert' by Mariah Parker on JazzWeek/ZMR Charts!

Six Weeks in the JazzWeek Top 50 and Debuting at Number #22 on ZMR World

Indo Latin Jazz Live In Concert by Mariah Parker (Ancient-Future.Com AF-20142).
Indo Latin Jazz Live in Concert captures the magic of the concert debut of Mariah Parker's Indo Latin Jazz Ensemble in front of a full house at Yoshi’s in Oakland, as well as subsequent concerts at Berkeley’s Freight & Salvage, the Throckmorton Theater in Mill Valley, and Bob Weir’s TRI Studios in San Rafael. The recording includes Ancient Future musicians along with top Indian musicians and jazz and Latin players who have performed with Sun Ra, Herbie Hancock's Headhunters, and Oregon. For example, jazz wind virtuoso Paul McCandless is known for his groundbreaking work with the seminal chamber jazz group, Oregon. Indo Latin Jazz Live in Concert spent six weeks on the very prestigious JazzWeek National Airplay Chart where it reached #32, and just debuted at #22 on the ZMR World Chart!

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Music Matters

Restoring the Ritual of Reverent Resonance

Much is being lost in this age of connected cars and smart phones. The convenience of the quick click to free lo-fi streaming has made music simply a taken-for-granted background soundtrack to life.
Yet the real power in music comes from absorbing it into one's being and letting it resonate there to do its magic. One must become the music, and that isn't possible while scrolling through a twitter feed. The digital distraction of constant connection is keeping people from experiencing the moment they are in. Indeed, it is common to see people at live concerts buried in their phones ignoring the music pouring from the master musicians on stage.
Clearly it is time to bring back quality to your music listening experience. Instead of streaming background playlists for daily activities, devote time to become the music you love. Just listen and absorb the glorious sound into your being. In this way, music can be an antidote to the negative effects of digital distraction.
To accomplish this, buy hi-fi music and play it on a nice stereo. It is best to set up a home listening station. This can be accomplished in a variety of ways, but the old fashioned home stereo with a CD player and even a turntable is a fantastic option, and you can get one used cheap these days. Or, you can get a hi-resolution audio interface for your computer and buy a pair of powered monitors. Just make sure to play at least CD quality audio files. There is a big difference between CD quality and the standard compressed audio formats of the major download sites. You will hear and feel the difference when you are truly absorbing the music, and this difference is more pronounced on music with a lot of detail. Streaming music is even lower quality, and the major streaming sites don't even come close to making a sustainable financial contribution to an artist's ability to make new recordings, as payments are now measured in thousandth of a cent increments.
Mariah Parker's new CD is having an amazing run on the radio airplay charts. Indo Latin Jazz Live In Concert is available at all of the major download and streaming sites. But a hi-resolution copy is needed to hear the record in its full glory. Yet, in a sign of the times, despite the great success of the record on radio, no one has purchased a CD copy at the Ancient Future website! Indeed, there have only been two CDs sold at Ancient-Future.Com this year. Before downloads and streaming, monthly sales ranged between $200 and $1000. Of course, this has a detrimental effect on the artist's ability to bring you new music.
You can be the very first to buy her CD at Ancient-Future.Com to hear it in its full glory. While you are at Ancient-Future.Com, take advantage of sale prices on a variety of CDs. There are even still a few very rare original copies of Ancient Future's first LP, Visions of a Peaceful Planet, available on vinyl for a truly analog listening experience!
In other news, work is being done right now to make it possible to download 24-bit hi-resolution audio at Ancient-Future.Com. Stay tuned!

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Listen and Learn

Expand Your Experience of Music

Learning about music is another way to absorb more of its magic into your life. Those who understand the structures of various musical traditions get more out of listening to them. The World Music Education section of Ancient-Future.Com provides a good introduction to that magic.
Matthew Montfort's book, Ancient Traditions – Future Possibilities: Rhythmic Training Through the Traditions of Africa, Bali and India, can provide the next step on your path to getting more out of music. The book takes the student on a musical voyage through these great ancient rhythmic traditions with a series of exercises that require no instruments to perform. Through hand clapping, foot tapping, and vocal recitation, the traditions move right into your body. While the book does use standard music notation to convey the exercises, for those who can't read music counting is provided and the book is typeset so that page space equals time, which provides an excellent visual cue to the rhythms.
The exercises are available as a complete 2 CD set of 115 audio guide tracks to supplement the book for those who don't read music. For those comfortable with music production file formats, the exercises are also available as Ancient Rhythms – Future Grooves, a set of 128 MIDI percussion groove tracks for loading into a music sequencer or web browser. Work is being done to expand the educational offerings at Ancient-Future.Com through educational downloads, and Ancient Rhythms – Future Grooves is the very first to be offered!
Matthew Montfort offers private lessons on the traditions on the Ancient-Future.Com world music education web site via Skype. Instruction is tailored to the individual needs of the student, so don't be shy if you are just looking for explanations that will help you enjoy the music more. Music lessons make an excellent gift, and introductory sale rates on individual Skype lessons are being offered for a limited time.

Summer Shows Phone Home A.F.A.R.

Ancient Future Times: Phone Home, Summer Shows, and Skype Studies Sale
July 2016 Issue:
Santa Clara House Concert July 28
•World Guitar Pioneer Matthew Montfort and Indian Tabla Virtuoso Vishal Nagar

Global Guitar Summit Tour Dates
•Konarak Reddy (India), Matthew Montfort (USA), and Teja Gerken (Germany)
Phone Home A.F.A.R.
•Ancient-Future.Com Now Mobile Friendly!
Skype Lesson Sale
•Study in the Comfort of Home with Ancient Future Leader Matthew Montfort

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Santa Clara House Concert July 28

World Guitar Pioneer Matthew Montfort and Indian Tabla Virtuoso Vishal Nagar

Blending ancient world music traditions from fiery flamenco to resonant raga with the contemporary colors of jazz and rock, this variation of the world fusion music group Ancient Future features world guitar pioneer Matthew Montfort and renowned Indian tabla virtuoso Vishal Nagar.
Thursday, July 28, 7:30 PM
House Concert
Santa Clara, CA
Adm: $15 general, $8 student/low-income requested donation.
Reservations: Send your name, phone number, and number of seats requested to SantaClaraHouseConcerts at yahoo.com.
Facebook Event.
Meetup Event.


Concert Poster (244k .pdf)

Video

YouTube Video of 'Yearning for the Wind' by Ancient Future

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Global Guitar Summit Tour Dates

Konarak Reddy (India), Matthew Montfort (USA), and Teja Gerken (Germany)

Sunday, July 31, 6:30 PM - 9 PM
Fenix
919 Fourth Street
San Rafael, CA 94901
Tix: $12 advance, $15 door. For advance tix and reservations, visit www.fenixlive.com/dining/reservations, call 415-813-5600 or email info@www.fenixlive.com. Streams live at original.livestream.com/fenixlive.
Venue website: www.fenixlive.com
Facebook Event. Meetup Event.

Thursday, August 4, 2016, 7:30 PM
Don Quixote's International Music Hall
6275 Highway 9
Felton, CA 95018
Tix: $12 advance, $15 door. Info: Call 831-603-2294 or email tmm@cruzio.com
Venue website: www.donquixotesmusic.info
Facebook Event. Meetup Event.
Saturday, August 6th, 6:30 PM
Gryphon Stringed Instruments
211 Lambert Ave.
Palo Alto, CA 94306
Tix: $20 suggested donation. Info: Call 650-493-2131 or email michael@gryphonstrings.com
Venue website: www.gryphonstrings.com
Facebook Event. Meetup Event.
Friday, August 12th, 8 PM
Sebastopol Community Center Annex
425 Morris St.
Sebastopol, CA 95472
Tix: $20 advance, $23 door. For advance tix and reservations, call Kevin at 707-824-1858 or email krussellmft@aol.com
Venue website: www.seb.org
Facebook Event. Meetup Event.

Concert Poster (100 k .pdf)
This Global Guitar Summit presents three international acoustic guitar virtuosos who will perform solo and ensemble pieces.
Hailing from Bangalore, India, Konarak Reddy is a legend among music aficionados in his home country. From the start, Konarak immersed himself in both Western classical theory on guitar and traditional Indian music on the sarod. Konarak later studied jazz improvisation at Boston's Berklee College of Music and the Musician's Institute in Hollywood, from which he graduated with honors. Today, his playing integrates Hindustani and Carnatic styles into contemporary solo guitar masterpieces. His two albums, Searching for the Goddess and Solar Avatar have received critical acclaim.
Matthew Montfort is a pioneer among guitarists who have had their fretboards scalloped in order to play various forms of world music that require intricate note-bending ornaments while still being able to play chords. He has released two solo CDs: Seven Serenades for Scalloped Fretboard Guitar and Sympathetic Serenade, for which he is recognized as one of the world's 100 Greatest Acoustic Guitarists by DigitalDreamDoor.com .
German-born Teja Gerken is a contemporary steel-string fingerstyle guitarist whose playing merges the styles of European guitar pioneers such as John Renbourn and Pierre Bensusan with the distinct sounds of American players such as Leo Kottke and Michael Hedges. Known for his original compositions, many of which employ alternate tunings, two-handed tapping, percussive effects, and other extended guitar techniques, Teja will also bring Celtic, jazz, and classical styles to the Global Guitars show.

Radio

• Streaming Now: Dean Suzuki's interview with Matthew Montfort about the Global Guitar Summit on Discreet Music on KPFA is archived online at www.kpfa.org until July 31.
• Monday, August 1, 4:05 PM, Hala interviews Matthew Montfort about the Global Guitar Summit on KKUP, 91.5 FM, 1275 Franklin Mall, PMB 9150, Santa Clara, CA, 95050. Streams live at kkup.org.
• Monday, August 1, 9 PM, DJ Sol Max Ion interviews Matthew Montfort about the Global Guitar Summit on KZSU, 90.1 FM, Stanford, CA 94309. Streams live at kzsu.stanford.edu.

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Phone Home A.F.A.R.

Ancient-Future.Com Now Mobile Friendly!

A major upgrade to Ancient Future's massive world music education site has been initiated, and the beta version is now live!
How do you navigate the Ancient Future? To answer that age old question, each page has two navigation areas: one at the top for exploring where you are and another below for where you might want to go next.

For world music aficionados, Ancient-Future.Com has a lot of valuable information, educational exercises, and streaming music and video, and now it is even more accessible.
The mobile upgrade is a huge in-house project that has taken many hours away from precious music production time. There is still more to do: the shopping cart needs an expensive upgrade before work can be started to make it mobile friendly. In the meantime, the shopping cart does function on a mobile device in landscape mode with some scrolling. To insure that music production gets the support it deserves in this age of digital disruption, please support the Archive of Future Ancient Recordings financially!

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Skype Lesson Sale

Study in the Comfort of Home with Ancient Future Leader Matthew Montfort

Guitar Player Magazine Feature on Matthew Montfort Plus Online Lesson (1.4 MB pdf).
Matthew Montfort is now offering all styles and levels of guitar (and other plucked instruments) instruction as well as lessons on any of the subjects on the Ancient-Future.Com world music education web site via Skype and other web conferencing services. Instruction is tailored to the individual needs of the student.
Music lessons make an excellent gift, and introductory sale rates on individual Skype lessons are being offered for a limited time. For further information, visit www.matthewmontfort.com or send an email to info@ancient-future.com.

Summer Skype Sale

30 Minute Skype Lesson. Normally $50. Sale $36. Buy 1 Now.
45 Minute Skype Lesson. Normally $65. Sale $48. Buy 1 Now.
60 Minute Skype Lesson. Normally $75. Sale $60. Buy 1 Now.

Recommended Training Manual

Ancient Traditions – Future Possibilities: Rhythmic Training Through the Traditions of Africa, Bali and India by Matthew Montfort (Ancient Future Music, 1985. ISBN 0-937879-00-2). Sale $52.95. Buy 1 Now. A must-have for all students of world music, plus there is an additional discount on a Skype lesson with your online purchase at Ancient-Future.Com!