September 25, 2001 - Many Americans were stunned by the intense hatred harbored by the terrorist hijackers who hit the World Trade Center and Pentagon. But in other parts of the world, this sentiment, rooted in extreme Islamic fundamentalism, is a part of daily life. And frequently, those who dare speak out against it are persecuted. That's what happened to Tahar Djaout (Tah HAR Jah-OOT). The prominent Algerian writer was murdered as he left his home because, as one of his professed attackers put it, "he wielded a fearsome pen that could have an effect on Islamic sectors." That was in 1993. This month Ruminator Books is publishing the English translation of Djaout's (Jah-OOT's) final manuscript, called "The Last Summer of Reason." Publisher Pearl Kilbride says Ruminator took on the project, because Djaout (Jah-OOT) was a promising writer.
September 26, 2001 - Eight major Minnesota Arts organizations will come together in an unprecedented event October 8th to memorialize the victims of the September 11th attacks. The Minnesota Orchestra and the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra will perform as a single ensemble in a rare sharing of the stage. They will be joined by singers from the Minnesota Chorale, the Dale Warland Singers, the Minnesota Opera and the Plymouth Music Series. An actor from the Guthrie Theater will narrate part of the program and the Minneapolis Institute of the Arts will also participate. Minnesota Orchestra General Manager Bob New says the performance is also aimed at helping the local community deal with the terrible events.
September 28, 2001 - Talking to multiple people in the arts, including the new conductor of the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, Andreas Delfs.
September 28, 2001 - Bradley Greenwold focuses on 1918 is the epitome of music: Debussy and other contemporaries died, Gershwin and Stravinksy are taking off.
October 1, 2001 - Actress Jessica Lange and playwright Sam Shepard will host a special concert next month to raise money to help build a monastery and cultural center for Minnesota's Tibetan community. The November 12th event will include performances by musicians Jackson Browne, Greg Brown, T. Bone Burnett, Sam Phillips and Guy Davis. Writers Louise Erdrich and Richard Ford will also participate. Lange says she has been interested in the study of Buddhism for a long time and has studied with local monks. She says after bouncing around from one classroom to another, she decided to help the monks find a permanent home.
October 4, 2001 - Craig and Charlie Reid are The Proclaimers, twin brothers from Scotland. Their well-known song "500 Miles" was released in 1988. Now they are touring with their new album "Persevere." However, they cannot leave the studio without singing their hit song.
October 4, 2001 - One of the most eagerly anticipated and critically acclaimed books of the year is Jonathan Franzen's new novel "The Corrections." It's an insightful and funny story about a family breaking down in the modern age. The father is suffering from Parkinsons Disease; the mother wants nothing except a picture-perfect Christmas at home with the whole family. But their three adult kids aren't cooperating. On a recent visit to the Twin Cities Franzen spoke with Minnesota Public Radio's Stephanie Curtis. He talked about how Gary, the eldest son in the novel, illustrates what Franzen means by "The Corrections."
October 4, 2001 - Killing Napster isn't enough for the recording industry. The are asking to shut down file-sharing services that replaced Napster.
October 5, 2001 - This weekend hundreds of *self-proclaimed Janites* are congregating in Seattle for the Annual General Meeting of the Jane Austen Society of North America. The author of such classics as Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility, and Emma, Jane Austen is still a source of great fascination 184 years after her death. The Jane Austen Society of Minnesota is one of the most active chapters, with monthly book groups, English teas and outings. Minnesota Public Radio's Marianne Combs attended a recent meeting.
October 5, 2001 - Sursumcorda, a cyber cafe in Minneapolis. Nannerl Mozart is portrayed through poetry.