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Media: Masters of D'oh! and D'eau

New works: "The Simpsons" creator Matt Groening talks about writing about writing about music. Sound engineers for the ocean-epic "Master & Commander" shoot for sonic accuracy in recreating naval life on film. Musicians and photographer collaborate on "Water Music" book.

Films that use a vast canvass for images also must dig deep for sound to match. The film "Master & Commander: The Far Side of the World" required audio engineers to faithfully – but vividly – recreate the sounds of life onboard sailing ships of the 18th century, complete with storms, waves, and cannon fire.

Recently the production's sound crafters shared their secrets on NPR's "All Things Considered" radio show. During the interview, they demonstrated how they crafted and then combined individual sounds – for example, of ocean, wind, and creaking planks – into a convincing but dramatic blend.

Listen to the sounds of Master & Commander – including the individual and blended tracks of some sound effect scenes – on "All Things Considered" (Nov. 13, 2003)

Cartoonist Matt Groening, best known for creating the TV Simpsons and Futurama, is also a fan of music. Last year he joined the editing team for Da Capo Press' annual book of "Best Music Writing."

Recently he stopped by public radio's "Fresh Air" show to talk about music, writing, music writing, writing about music writing. (And Captain Beefheart, whose LPs of avant-garde 60's craziness first befuddled, then captivated a young Groening.)

Listen to Matt Groening's interview on Fresh Air (Dec. 18, 2003)

Learn about Da Capo Press and their latest release, "Best Music Writing 2003," edited by Matt Groening & Paul Bresnick, or browse the volume (with reviews) at Amazon.com

Marjorie Ryerson has joined forces with a diverse group of musicians to raise a glass to water, in her new book, "Water Music."

Ryerson, a journalist, photographer and poet, teaches journalism and photography at Vermont's Castleton State College. According to the publisher, Water Music is "a photography book with a social conscience," affirming "the intimate connection of water to the rhythms of our lives."

Ryerson's own interest in water arose from challenge of capturing it on film, especially its diverse faces and disguises: "the way, for instance, that Lake Superior at sunset turns from deep blue to gold, copper, dusty pink, pewter, and, finally, shimmering black."

To reinforce and amplify her images, she recruited over sixty prominent artists from across the musical spectrum to contributed memoirs, stories, poetry, music, and lyrics for the book. Included are Bobby McFerrin, Paul Winter, Vladimir Ashkenazy, Mike Gordon, Bruce Cockburn, Jane Ira Bloom, Pete Seeger, Randy Newman, Dave Brubeck, Emmanuel Ax, Mickey Hart, and others.

The net royalties from the sale of this book will be donated to the Water Music Fund at the United Nations Foundation.

Browse Ryerson's book, "Water Music: Sixty-Six Renowned Musicians from Around the World Celebrate Water in Words and Music," at Amazon.com, or read about it at the publisher's own site