The Story of Harmelodia
Encyclopedia
The Story of Harmelodia is a 1999 album by Rheostatics
.
Billed as a children's album, the album is a narrative
detailing the adventures of Dot and Bug, two children from the land of Harmelodia who fall through a hole (as in Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
) into the land of Popopolis. In Harmelodia, the children attend weekly lessons where they learn highly regimented music, but in Popopolis, they learn to make music using their own creativity on fantastical instruments such as the "wingophone".
The album is based on a story by Dave Bidini
, and is packaged in a book containing Bidini's text with illustrations by Martin Tielli
. Narration on the album is by Bidini's wife, Janet Morassutti.
A different version of "Song of the Garden" was recorded for the band's 2001 album Night of the Shooting Stars
.
Guest musicians on the album include Sarah Harmer
, Kurt Swinghammer
, Mia Sheard
and Kevin Hearn
. It is also the only Rheostatics album which includes a songwriting credit for Don Kerr
, the band's drummer from 1995 to 2001.
created and performed a stage musical version of the album. The show itself did a trial at the legendary Horseshoe Tavern
in Toronto.
, except where noted.
Rheostatics
Rheostatics was a Genie Award-winning Canadian indie rock band, active from 1980 to 2007.Although they had only one Top 40 hit, "Claire" in 1995, they were simultaneously one of Canada's most influential and unconventional rock bands, a band whose eclectic take on pop and rock music has been...
.
Billed as a children's album, the album is a narrative
Narrative
A narrative is a constructive format that describes a sequence of non-fictional or fictional events. The word derives from the Latin verb narrare, "to recount", and is related to the adjective gnarus, "knowing" or "skilled"...
detailing the adventures of Dot and Bug, two children from the land of Harmelodia who fall through a hole (as in Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland is an 1865 novel written by English author Charles Lutwidge Dodgson under the pseudonym Lewis Carroll. It tells of a girl named Alice who falls down a rabbit hole into a fantasy world populated by peculiar, anthropomorphic creatures...
) into the land of Popopolis. In Harmelodia, the children attend weekly lessons where they learn highly regimented music, but in Popopolis, they learn to make music using their own creativity on fantastical instruments such as the "wingophone".
The album is based on a story by Dave Bidini
Dave Bidini
Dave Bidini is a Canadian musician, journalist and author originating from Etobicoke, Ontario. He is a founding member of the acclaimed rock band Rheostatics, and has published several books about music and sports. He currently performs with his band, aptly named BidiniBand. The group's first...
, and is packaged in a book containing Bidini's text with illustrations by Martin Tielli
Martin Tielli
Martin Tielli is a Canadian singer-songwriter. He was a member of the Rheostatics, and has also released material as a solo artist and with the side project Nick Buzz. As well, he has appeared as a guest musician on albums by Barenaked Ladies, Kevin Hearn, The Waltons, Jane Siberry, Ashley...
. Narration on the album is by Bidini's wife, Janet Morassutti.
A different version of "Song of the Garden" was recorded for the band's 2001 album Night of the Shooting Stars
Night of the Shooting Stars
Night of the Shooting Stars is a 2001 album by Canadian rock band Rheostatics, released on Perimeter Records.It is the band's first traditional studio album since 1996's The Blue Hysteria. It is also Don Kerr's final album with the band....
.
Guest musicians on the album include Sarah Harmer
Sarah Harmer
Sarah Harmer is a Canadian singer-songwriter and activist.-Biography:Born and raised in Burlington, Ontario, Harmer gained her first exposure to the musician's lifestyle as a teenager, when her older sister Mary started taking her to concerts by the well-known Tragically Hip. At the age of 17, she...
, Kurt Swinghammer
Kurt Swinghammer
Kurt Swinghammer is a Canadian singer-songwriter and visual artist.A graduate of the Ontario College of Art and Design, Swinghammer joined the band Vital Sines in the 1980s before launching his solo career...
, Mia Sheard
Mia Sheard
Mia Sheard is a Canadian pop singer-songwriter.Sheard was classically trained at the Royal Conservatory of MusicShe is the sister of novelist Sarah Sheard and pianist John Sheard, and the great-great-granddaughter of Joseph Sheard, a former Mayor of Toronto....
and Kevin Hearn
Kevin Hearn
Kevin Neil Hearn is a Canadian musician who is currently the keyboardist of Barenaked Ladies and his own group, Kevin Hearn and Thin Buckle. He is also a former member of Rheostatics.-Early life:...
. It is also the only Rheostatics album which includes a songwriting credit for Don Kerr
Don Kerr
Don Kerr is a Canadian multi-instrumentalist and record producer.He was a member of Rheostatics from 1995 to May 2001. He plays in Ron Sexsmith's band, and sometimes with The Kelele Brothers. He and Sexsmith released an album together, Destination Unknown, in 2005...
, the band's drummer from 1995 to 2001.
Other notes
In 2004, Centennial Secondary School in Belleville, OntarioBelleville, Ontario
Belleville is a city located at the mouth of the Moira River on the Bay of Quinte in Southern Ontario, Canada, in the Quebec City-Windsor Corridor. It is the seat of Hastings County, but is politically independent of it. and the centre of the Bay of Quinte Region...
created and performed a stage musical version of the album. The show itself did a trial at the legendary Horseshoe Tavern
Horseshoe Tavern
The Horseshoe Tavern is a concert venue located at 370 Queen Street West in downtown Toronto, and has been in operation since 1947. Owned by "JC", Ken Sprackman, Craig Laskey and Naomi Montpetit, the venue is a significant part of Canadian musical lore...
in Toronto.
Track listing
All songs and narration credited to Dave BidiniDave Bidini
Dave Bidini is a Canadian musician, journalist and author originating from Etobicoke, Ontario. He is a founding member of the acclaimed rock band Rheostatics, and has published several books about music and sports. He currently performs with his band, aptly named BidiniBand. The group's first...
, except where noted.
- "The Harmelodian Anthem"
- "Dot and Bug in the Street"
- "I Fab Thee" (Martin TielliMartin TielliMartin Tielli is a Canadian singer-songwriter. He was a member of the Rheostatics, and has also released material as a solo artist and with the side project Nick Buzz. As well, he has appeared as a guest musician on albums by Barenaked Ladies, Kevin Hearn, The Waltons, Jane Siberry, Ashley...
) - "It's Easy to be With You"
- "Monkeybird" (Kevin HearnKevin HearnKevin Neil Hearn is a Canadian musician who is currently the keyboardist of Barenaked Ladies and his own group, Kevin Hearn and Thin Buckle. He is also a former member of Rheostatics.-Early life:...
) - "The Descent into Popopolis"
- "Invisible Stairs" (Tim VeselyTim VeselyTim Vesely is a Canadian musician and songwriter. He is best known as the bassist for the indie rock band Rheostatics, in which he shared lead vocal duties with bandmates Dave Bidini and Martin Tielli...
) - "Popopolis"
- "I Am Drumstein"
- "The Music Room" (Vesely)
- "Dot Tries the Wingophone" (Hearn)
- "Wingophone" (Hearn)
- "Bug's Song (The Sky Dreamed)"
- "Loving Arms" (Vesely)
- "Father Mourns, Drumstein Schemes"
- "The Bee Sky Opus in Magenta (Dr. Drumstein)"
- "Father's Sad Song" (Don KerrDon KerrDon Kerr is a Canadian multi-instrumentalist and record producer.He was a member of Rheostatics from 1995 to May 2001. He plays in Ron Sexsmith's band, and sometimes with The Kelele Brothers. He and Sexsmith released an album together, Destination Unknown, in 2005...
, Gordon DownieGordon DownieGordon Edgar Downie is a Canadian rock musician, writer and occasional actor. He is the lead singer and lyricist for the Canadian rock band The Tragically Hip. He has released three solo albums, Coke Machine Glow in 2001, Battle of the Nudes in 2003; and The Grand Bounce in 2010...
) - "Home Again" (Tielli)
- "Dot and Bug Pop out of the Earth"
- "Song of the Garden" (Dave Merritt, Mike Bonnell)