Upcoming Event: NYC Musical Saw Festival July 18, 2009

I just want to start with the fact that I love the musical saw, I find it hauntingly beautiful, And I say this without any sense of irony. I love a lot of obscure, off-beat and under appreciated musical instruments, and I appreciate many different forms of music. Anyone who knows me, knows my tastes are eclectic.

With that in mind, I was so excited to be contacted by Natalia Paruz, aka "The Saw Lady" to see if I'd write about the upcoming New York City Musical Saw Festival. Natalia Paruz is not only a talented musician, but she's a New York institution. Anyone who takes mass transit in New York City knows about The Saw Lady.

What many New Yorkers may not know is that the Saw Lady is world renown for her singing saw. She plays the musical saw in movie soundtracks, TV commercials and with orchestras all over the world. She has played both Carnegie Hall and Madison Square Garden. She has made many New York City "Best Of Lists" including Time Out New York and The Village Voice. Natalia also organizes the annual New York City Musical Saw Festival in Queens.

This year's Festival takes place at Trinity Church, 31-18 37th Street in Astoria, Queens on Saturday, July 18th at 2pm. Admission: $10

The 7th annual New York City Musical Saw Festival will present the musical saw as an ensemble instrument in contemporary, jazz, pop, world-music/new-age music, with participation of a string quartet, soprano singer, percussion, bass and a handbell choir.

The Festival will feature the world premier of 5 new compositions for the musical saw by composers Scott R. Munson and Eyal Bat, commissioned for the Musical Saw Festival, a musical saw art exhibit, and solos by saw players from around the world.

This year's "Chorus of the Saws" is attempting to break the Guinness World Record for the "Largest Musical Saw Ensemble". The current world record is currently held by Poland with 27 musical saw players playing together.

For More info on the NYC Musical Saw Festival:
musicalsawfestival.org

For More info on Natalia Paruz, aka "The Saw Lady":
sawlady.com
sawlady.com/blog