Palestinian orchestra to hold debut concert in Ramallah

The first Palestinian orchestra of professional classical musicians since 1948 is due to perform its debut concert in Ramallah in the West Bank. The Palestinian National Orchestra will play a mix of Palestinian classical compositions, as well as some classics such as Mozart and Beethoven. They will also hold concerts on 1 January in Haifa and Jerusalem. All of the musicians are of Palestinian origin, and many have played with orchestras around the world. The group is an initiative of the Edward Said Conservatory of Music, named after the late Palestinian writer and academic, and was formed in 1994. The programme also consists of a piece by the modern Hungarian Jewish composer, Gyorgy Ligeti, both of whose parents were sent to Auschwitz
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Music Unlimited powered by Qriocity

Sony Corporation last week announced the launch of Music Unlimited powered by Qriocity, a cloud-based digital music service which will give music lovers access at any time to millions of songs from major labels like Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment and others, along with leading independent labels and major publishers worldwide. The Music Unlimited powered by Qriocity catalogue will initially offer about six million songs, and will continue to expand over time
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Boney M singer Bobby Farrell dies aged 61

Bobby Farrell, front man of the 1970s disco group Boney M, has died at the age of 61, his agent has announced. The singer was found dead in a hotel room in St Petersburg, Russia, where he had been performing, John Seine said. Farrell, he continued, had complained of breathing problems before and after a show on Wednesday. The cause of his death has yet to be established. Farrell, the only male member of the popular four-piece, had been due to fly to Rome for a TV show on Friday. Born Alfonso Farrell in Aruba, the singer left his home on the Caribbean island at 15 to work as a sailor. He then travelled to Norway and Germany to pursue a career as a DJ. In 1974 he was chosen to front Boney M, which was put together by German singer and songwriter Frank Farian
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US soul singer Teena Marie dies at 54

The Grammy-nominated American soul singer Teena Marie has been found dead at her California home at the age of 54, her manager has said. Teena Marie often worked with funk legend Rick James with hits such as Lovergirl and Fire and Desire. Teena Marie, who was born Mary Christine Brockert and also used the moniker Lady T, was a rare white artist on the Motown label when she was signed in the late 1970s. She won four Grammy nominations
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Captain Beefheart Dead At Age 69

Don Van Vliet, who became a rock legend as Captain Beefheart, died today from complications from multiple sclerosis in California. His passing was announced by the New York-based Michael Werner Gallery, which represented his work as a painter
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SXSWORLD By Exact Editions Ltd

SXSWORLD® is your source of information for what's happening in the music, film, and interactive industries. The iPad/iPhone edition brings you the latest issue as soon as it is published, as well as a searchable archive of back issues to November 2009
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‘Keith Richards Killed My Orchid’

"One living thing did not survive Keith Richards' visit to the New York Public Library in late October - an orchid in the office of Cullman Center Deputy Director Marie d'Origny. While Keef was waiting 'backstage' in the center before the talk, he unexpectedly lit up a cigarette in Marie's office, and grabbed the clay saucer underneath the orchid for a makeshift ash tray. He then asked for the window to be open, sending a chill through the office. Between the cold and the smoke, the little orchid never stood a chance. RIP, sweet flower. The good news is Keith felt sort of bad about smoking in the first place and signed the 'ash tray' without anyone asking"
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Doors' Jim Morrison to get pardoned in Florida

The Doors singer Jim Morrison will get a posthumous pardon for an indecent exposure conviction in Florida after Gov. Charlie Crist got a commitment for enough votes from other members of the state's Board of Executive Clemency to approve it. Morrison was appealing the conviction when he was found dead in a Paris bathtub in 1971. The meeting Thursday comes a day after the singer would have turned 67
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John Lennon fans to gather on 30th anniversary of death

Tributes are to be paid to former Beatle John Lennon later to mark the 30th anniversary of his murder. Fans will gather at a memorial garden in Central Park, New York, opposite the apartment block where he was shot dead. A vigil will also be held in Liverpool at a monument dedicated to the singer where fans will light candles and sing his songs
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Limewire music-sharing service to close December 31

LimeWire, one of the world's biggest outlets for people to share music, movies and TV shows free of charge over the Internet, said it would be shutting down by the end of the year and closing its sole office in New York. In October, a U.S. federal judge granted the music industry's request to shut down the popular LimeWire file-sharing service, which had been found liable for copyright infringement
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Famed Bob Dylan lyrics to be auctioned

The original lyrics to Bob Dylan’s "The Times They Are A-Changin'" will soon be a-changin' hands. The plain piece of notebook paper on which Dylan wrote down what became a classic is up for auction. The lyrics on simple and, now yellowed, notebook paper were kept by a friend of Dylan’s who introduced the future icon to the Village folk scene
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Clash album London Calling to spawn rock biopic

The creation of classic album London Calling by punk band The Clash is to form the basis of a new music biopic. Former Clash members Paul Simonon and Mick Jones will executive produce the film, named after the 1979 record. Playwright Jez Butterworth will pen the script, which will tell how producer Guy Stevens worked with the band to create their most celebrated disc. It will be produced by Alison Owen - mother of singer Lily Allen - and Paul Trijbits of Ruby Film and Television
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