Fine and Performing Arts,
Literature, and Entertainment

A selection of links to materials and resources in the fine and performing arts. Includes television and motion picture sites.

General, Multidisciplinary

Celtic Studies

• Center for Irish Programs (Boston College).
• Irish Page (IrishPage.com). Language, literature, music.
• See also: Celtic/Gaelic Music

Fine Arts

• Mona Lisa Images for the Modern World. The famous painting has inspired a following and this site provides a universe on its own. Includes Links page.

Literature

• Scholar's Lab at the University of Virginia. Full-text collections of literature in many languages (formerly the Electronic Text Center.)
• Electronic Text Collections in Western European Literature (Western European Specialists Section, Association of College and Research Libraries) Arranged by language/country.
• Last of the Mohicans. Full-text of a 1936 edition of the 1st edition (available from the ETC at University of Virginia).
• Best of Legends. Explores "the history, literature, and lore surrounding Robin Hood, King Arthur, Pirates & Privateers, and other swashbuckling characters of balladry, fiction, and film, from The Queen of Elfland to Zorro." Provides access to primary source material and up-to-date scholarship, essays, reviews, and other materials. Also has nice graphics.
• Oban's Myths, Legends, and Fables (Planet Zkids). Short retelling of various stories throughout history.
• MythWeb. Ancient Greek and Roman mythology. Descriptions of gods and goddesses, heroes, and an encyclopedia. Also has a Latin version, which provides in-text references.
• Writer's Almanac. Daily chronology of the literary world, with some spillover into the rest of the World.

Writing

• Writer's Write. "...a one-stop resource for professional writers." Pages for writers of all types.
• Writer's Place. [JUNE 2011: TEMPORARILY DOWN FOR MAINTENANCE] A good resource for all aspects of writing. I created this page to help my own work, but you might find it helpful too.
• Language Construction Kit. Create your own language.

Performing Arts, Entertainment, Music, and Television

Music: Performers and Styles

• The Beatles. Official Website. See why they are still the masters.
• Unofficial Beatle sites:
• Olga Index (contains chords, tablatures, lyrics).
• Classic Lyrics Server. Lyrics listed alphabetically by title.
• Enya. Official site. One of the defining voices in Celtic music.

  • Enya Discography. Eithne Ní Bhraonáin (pronounced Enya). Unofficial site. Discography.
• Capercaillie. Official site. A Scottish group with one of the best female voices around. Karen Matheson is recognized as among the top Gaelic singers in the  World.
• Cranberries. Official site. Dolores O'Riordan and her associates. Under construction, requires Flash to run.
  • Planet Cranberries. Unofficial site. Good site with images, lyrics and chords, concert info, discographies, links, and much more.
• Dixie Chicks. Official site. Creative country-western with a true acoustic style from the early years. Music, videos, all sorts of information on the group.
  • Dixie Chicks "unofficial" site. Rough site but has a few good items in it. See them in their early years, long before they hit the big time.
• Jewel. Official site. Lyrics, photos, audio and video, links, concert info, other. Poet and singer, her words are well written and they stand on their own. The musical portion flows with the words well however. Jewel is a gemstone with rough edges.
  • Jewel's Humanitarian Links. She also is involved with several organizations (one of which she co-founded): Higher Ground for Humanity, Project Clean Water , NetAid.
• Loreena McKennitt (official site). Magical bard after my own heart. Her lyrics and voice come from a different plane. I can never get tired of listening to her (and seeing her in person is even more incredible).
• Mediaeval Baebes. Medieval chant and song, sometimes with a modern twist. "Six talented, attractive women breathe renewed life into the rich texts of medieval songs and poetry.  Their hauntingly beautiful music captures the imagination..."
• Melissa Etheridge. Official site. Has lyrics, images, and other materials. Melissa Etheridge is a rusty knife with a sharp edge. A good lyricist--she is the female John Lennon, when it comes to writing and using words. Her words are colorful, and each word she sings is distinct and carries great feeling. Anyone who listens will learn something, and each listener's imagination creates their own perception of the meaning.
• Nancy McCallion. (from The Mollys). Nancy's new group and what the other Mollyshave been up to. More on The Mollys.
• Norah Jones. "Official page for the singer who majored in jazz piano, and also plays soul, blues, and folk-based pop. Audio files, show dates, photos, and news. " Listen to her and you are as close to heaven as you can be.
• Sheryl Crow. Official site.
• Flamenco
  • World Flamenco. Links to all aspects.
  • Maria Benitez Famous dance artist and her Teatro Flamenco. "Internationally acclaimed as a performer, choreographer and director, Maria Benitez is recognized as one of the finest exponents in her field - Spanish dance and all that it embraces. Ms. Benitez is best known for the work of the company she and her husband Cecilio founded and direct - Maria Benitez Teatro Flamenco. With a long standing reputation for excellence, the company's history includes performances at festivals and major concert halls in all 50 states, Canada, Germany, Holland, Spain, Austria and 12- week summer seasons in Santa Fe, NM since the early 1970's." Site also has good links to dance and the performing arts.
  • Flamenco Artists in San Francisco area. Has lists and contacts for artists who also travel around.
• Celtic/Gaelic Music
  • Irish Song Lyrics and Guitar Chords by Martin Dardis. Contains words, chords, and tin-whistle scores.
  • Gaelic Music. In-depth resources for various instruments and styles.
  • Tunes at Ceolas. Comprehensive site has notation for many traditional tunes, in various formats, along with music software, an index of most published tune sources, and links to sites with tunes and songs.
• Guitar Gallery's Sheet Music Catalog. Search for titles and composers, then order sheet music; some of the sheets can be ordered and downloaded online.

Theater

• Wicked. Musical production loosely based on the book: Wicked by Gregory Maguire. It is also worth looking at the Wikipedia article on the musical.