The Boston Globe from Boston, Massachusetts • 323

NH 15 THE BOSTON SUNDAY GLOBE MAY 21, 2000 Producer taps into his passion for trains 1 ra fey'' iff provides emotion for the film. "I've been using a lot of instruments to create the feeling of the train," Armstrong said. "When you are standing back and seeing a train that's barrelling, but if you are at a distance it looks like it's still. So all of these scenes had a feeling of great speed but slow motion, so I created a lot of rhythmic contrasts: a triplet or 16th-note pattern with something going half time so you get this feeling that something's in motion but it's also floating. That's what I'm trying to capture in the music itself." Guilbert believes ardently in dwelling in, responding to, and crafting the unexpected while filming, and the idea that finding the innate adventure in a film ultimately hooks the audience.

Armstrong uses the same technique in his music, always leaving some place in each composition for improvisation while still seeking to express a deeper emotional mood, painting a sound tapestry to convey Guilbert's idea of "the sadness of the land." "When you travel, there is this thing that takes place inside of a person, this feeling that I'm getting outside my own setting," Armstrong said. "Expansion is one of the great things about travel but there is a melancholy in that, something about being a stranger, of being displaced. I felt a need to try to put that sense in there. This is more than just the food, more than just the beautiful trains. Like Dorinda chef Dorinda Hafner says as she looks out the window, You expect God to suddenly come over those the cost of the series and the remainder funded by a venture capital company.

Randy Armstrong, creator of the "Dinner on the Diner" soundtrack and double CD, has been crossing cultural borders musically for over 20 years in a kind of musical train ride that could not be more suited to Guilbert's film series. A composer and world music connoisseur, Armstrong has a 200-piece instrument collection that spans the globe. At about the same time that Guilbert was chasing trains with his first moving camera, Armstrong was listening to the West Virginia bluegrass playing of his grandparents. By age 15, Armstrong had moved to Ohio, and he became a touring professional after just two years playing guitar. During jam sessions with jazz players in the back rooms of music stores in Columbus, Ohio, Armstrong learned early on to improvise.

By the time he left high school, he had also acquired extensive experience in the recording business. But Armstrong said his most important early musical experience was playing in an interracial band. "Black and white kids playing together was a great mix. I learned a lot of blues, funk and rhythm," Armstrong said in a recent interview. "The music was so derived rhythmically.

I started putting together original compositions, incorporating Cuban rhythms, bossa nova and Brazilian rhythms. Then I began studying Indian sitar and classical guitar. That led me very far into world music way before the term was even coined." Shortly after Armstrong moved to New Hampshire, he met Ken LaRoche, his musical partner for the next 17 years as the Do'a World Music Ensemble. Armstrong has sold more than 3 million CDs and has performed to audiences across the country, in Canada and India. He has performed at Carnegie Hall and for festivals at Lincoln Center.

A multi-instrumentalist, virtuoso guitarist and composer, Armstrong has shared stages with Dizzy Gillespie, King Sunny Ade, the Paul Winter Consort, Richie Havens and others. When Armstrong agreed to compose the soundtrack for Guilbert, he decided to record his own double CD. Released this month by Ellipsis Arts, the soundtrack includes a 64-page booklet filled with insights into the workings of the film and the research behind the music. Armstrong wrote in his notes: "One of my favorite parts in the film is when host Martin Yan and the Australian treasure hunter, Micool, follow the Death Railway into the jungle in search of buried treasure. I use the hoon bamboo Jew's-harp, the ching, didgeridoo, udu drum, gongs and synthesizer for this humorous scene." "My whole thing as a musician and composer has been to demonstrate that unity can happen.

You have incredible diversity, but you can always find a way to make a Japanese koto work with a West African djembe, and a Zimbabwean mbira," said Armstrong. According to Guilbert, Armstrong's music, with its many original compositions and arrangements of traditional melodies played on 100 world instruments, TRAINS Continued from Page NH 12 He created more then 70 documentaries in Britain, including films for London Weekend Television's popular documentary series "Weekend World" and the BBC's British Academy award-winning series "40 Minutes." Five years ago, when he relocated to Portsmouth with his wife, poet Diana Durham, and their daughter, Raphael, he also brought along his own hand-built 5-inch-gauge steam engine. A scaled train track circles his yard, which looks out over North Mill Pond. Guilbert named his independent film company Gandy Dancer Productions after the workers who used to walk the track, straightening the rails with crowbars and axes. "The reason they were called gandy dancers is because the tools they used were made by a Chicago company named Gandy, and I assume dancers because they used to dance around on these tools; the work was a kind of dancing," said Guilbert In 1994 Guilbert met train buff and former Channel 11 producer Paul Lally who pitched the "Dinner on the Diner" idea to Guilbert.

"I've made documentaries on young people, racial minorities, politics, music, you name it," Guilbert said. "I'd probably be doing filmmaking as a hobby if I wasn't doing it professionally, and I love trains. In this project, they came together magically." Guilbert pitched the series to Connecticut Public Television in 1996. Three weeks later, the deal was signed, with PBS funding half f- OrV 0 GLOBt PHOTO NANCY MORION Randy Armstrong, creator of the "Dinner on the Diner" soundtrack, has been crossing cultural borders musically for 20 years. In PBS series, chefs find adventure as they travel the world by rail ers and Asian laborers who died building it for the Japanese in World War II.

At Nam Tok, another story takes hold of Guilbert as he and Yan walk the old train track bed through Hell Fire Pass with Micool, a historian obsessed with legends of Japanese treasure trains, speculating about the seven trains unaccounted for that may still be hidden in the jungle. "You've got to get to the point where the chef has stopped being a chef," Guilbert said. "Cooking has to be a part of it because chefs see the world through food. But I wanted to keep it away from that; I wanted them to get involved in adventures." SERIES Continued from Page NH 12 love that over-the-topness. Be extravagant; be passionate; be wacky.

I encourage all my chefs to be bizarre." The energy of the films comes from Guilbert's willingness to follow each situation to its ultimate, to not only wait for, but also to make room for the unexpected and craft it into his film. When Hafner tours through the Swat-lands of the Southern Cape to spectacular Mossel Bay, she charms a lighthouse keeper to blush. When she visits the town of Guilbert catches a meeting of The Pudding Club and the culinary preservation of traditional British puddings like Steamed Ginger Pudding and Spotted Dick. In Ronda, Spain, when Esposito meets 19-year-old Eloy Canete, an apprentice bullfighter, Guilbert follows the young matador as he prepares for his next bullfight by donning his "suit of light" Martin Yan visits Kuala Lumpur, capital of Malaysia, and enters into Thailand, taking a side trip over the span made famous by the film "The Bridge Over the River Kwai." He journeys along the Death Railway, named for the 100,000 Allied prison Spey and visits one of the many smoke houses guarding its unique recipe for smoked salmon. At Ballandallach Castle, Kerr visits the oldest prime Aberdeen Angus beef herd in Scotland, owned by the same family for 400 years.

He stops at a malt whisky distillery and visits train model maker Malcolm Wright, whose model trains tour a rock garden. But when Guilbert discovers that Kerr's family seat is nearby, they take a detour via ferry to the Isle of Skye, where Kerr visits Ferniehurst Castle and sits amid photographs of family ancestors. Taking advantage of serendipitous timing, George, one of the most notorious slave auction towns of Africa's past, Guilbert allows Hafner to fully absorb the moment as she touches a massive "slave tree," heavy chains still embedded in its roots. When Hafner falls from an elephant and hurts her back, Guilbert follows her off the beaten track into a shantytown to meet a medicine woman. "That's the point about being flexible about the way I shoot," Guilbert said.

"I followed Dorinda into the room with the San-goma, and neither one of us knew what was going to happen." Kerr ambles along the famous river Calendar WATERVILLE VALLEY UTTLETON Art exhibit "Rites of Spring," new paintings in acrylics and watercolors by Plymouth artist Mary Bohn, through May 22 at Miller's Fare, 16 Mill St. Open 9 am-6 pm. Call 444-2146. Chili and music Weekends at Water-ville Summer 2000 will holds its second annual Memorial Day Chili Challenge May 27, accompanied by the Baker Valley Band in Town Square. On May 28, Mike Thomas, keyboard.

Concerts are 1-4 pm. Call for details: 236-8175. Cnui-UaiiMi 2 Bedroom Condo GOFFSTOWN, N.H. Thursday, June 1st 10:00 A.M. Continued from preceding page view through May 30 at the Rochester Public Library, 65 South Main St.

Open 9 pm, Fir. 9 am-5 pm, and Sat 9 am-4 pm. Call 332-1428. RYE Science center programs Saturday, May 27: 10:30 Rocky Shore tide-pooling. 12:30 pm: woodlawn walk to Frost Point 1 pm: Rocky Shore tide-pooling.

2 pm: northern lobster. 2:30 pm: scavenger hunt 3 pm: creature feature. 3:30 pm: wildflower walk. Sunday, May 28: 1 pm: Rockey Shore tidepooling. 2 pm: northern lobster.

3 pm: lighthouse tales. Seacoast Science Center, Odiorne Point State Park, Route 1A Call 436-8043. STRATHAM Wind ensemble The 60-piece Sea-coast Wind Ensemble, directed by Paul Erwin, presents a concert May 21,3 pm, in the new Stratham Cooperative Middle School Auditorium. Portion of ticket proceeds to be donated to the Stratham School's music program. Call 436-3966 evenings or 436-1482 days.

Monadnock Region 1 Building Mountain Road Condominiums and the stories behind them, on view through June 9, Historical Society of Cheshire County, 246 Main St Open 9 am-4 pm, except Wed. until 9 pm, Sat 9 am-noon. Call 352-1895. At the Colonial Theater The Chinese film "Not One Less" shown today, 2 and 7 pm; May 22, 7:30 pm; and May 23-25, 7 pm. Also May 22, Monday Night Music with Byron and Aaron Smith, 7 pm.

All at the Colonial Theater, 95 Main St 352-2033. PETERBOROUGH Paintings of Cuba and New Hampshire "2 Views of Cuba, from Countryside to City," a traveling exhibition of works by Esteban Alvarez-Buylla and Mario Garcia Portela organized by the Alfred Martinez Gallery in Coral Gables, at the Sharon Arts Center Gallery, 30 Grove St Also, "Change of Season," works by Upper Valley artist Gary Hamel, in the arts center's extension gallery. Both on view through June 18. Open 10 am-5 pm, Sun. noon-5 pm.

Handicapped accessible. Call 924-7676. Hamel's paintings The oil paintings of Gary Hamel are on exhibit in "A Change of Spring" at the Extension Gallery at the Sharon Arts Gallery, 30 Groe St Call 924-7256. WALPOLE Farish paintings "Recent Paintings and Work on Paper" by Catherine Farish are on display at Spheris Gallery, Main St, through May 23. Call 756-9617.

White Mountains Region SELLING: Featured are 2 Bedrooms. 1 Bath. Kitchen and Living room. Total of 875 sq It ot living space. This 1st floor unit Situated quiet area Out dose to business center ot Goffstown.

DIRECTIONS: Take Rte 114 to Goffstown and took for Mountain Rd. near Junction of 114 and Rte. 13. Condo praecl does not nave sign. Look for auction signs morning of sale.

Auctioneer makes no warranties regarding accuracy of above information, for reference see Hillsborough Ct Registry of Deeds. Book 4053. Pg. 254. TERMS: S5.000 CASH OR CERTIFIED CHECK in order to bid.

Balance similar funds wittw 40 days tram date of sale. iL, Unit 1, Building C. Mountain Road Condominiums Paul MacDonald presents "Tin Can People," a play by British author Edward Bond, May 26 at 8 pm, May 27 at 9 pm and May 28 at 2 pm. Admission on a pay-what-you-can basis. Call 444-2928.

Lucy Kaplansky concert Singer-songwriter Lucy Kaplansky performs today, 7:30 pm, at the White Mountain School, West Farm Road. Kaplansky has shared the stage with Shawn Col-vin and Bill Morrissey and recently has toured as one-third of Cry, Cry, Cry. Admission $12, $8 students. Call 869-2340. CONWAY Contemplating business The Service Corp of Retired Executives hosts a program on starting your own business May 24, 5:45 pm, in the sun room at Memorial Hospital.

Beverage and snack provided. Register by May 22. $10. Call 447-5225. FRANCONA Exhibit Good Old Days at Dow" is the title of the newest exhibit at The Franconia Heritiage Museum opening Memorial Day weekend, May 27-28, 1-4 pm.

The show focuses on the private school turned public and runs through October. Call 823-5000. LANCASTER What role should the I'S play? Independent scholar Jeffrey Aronson leads the third of a four-part discussion series, "Choices for the 21st Century," examining what role the US should play in the post-Cold War world and how to balance foreign policy with domestic needs, today, 3 pm, Weeks Memorial Library. Participants will explore their own values anhd four alternative future relationships of the US to the world. Sponsored by the N.H.

Humanities Council. Free, but registration required at the library. Call 746-3663. LINCOLN Carousel horses The NCCA Art Gallery at the Millfront Marketplace on Route 112, is showing the paintings of May Bohn, featuring her carousel horses, through June 11. Call fects and will explore how to use color to create the illusion of space and subliminal impact $225.

English weaver Jason Collin gwood teaches "Introduction to Rug Weaving: Exploring Plain Weave and Twills" June 5-9. Students will use four-harness floor looms and will also be able to work on the Harrisville Rug Loom with its shaft-switching device, designed by Jason's father, Peter Collingwood. Prerequisite: ability to warp and weave on a floor loom, basic understanding of simple weave structures. $325. Collingwood also teaches a one-day workshop on the Harrisville Rug Loom June 10.

$75. Boarding house accommodations available. To register, call 827-3996. HILLSBOROUGH Hlstorslc House reopens The National Landmark Franklin Pierce Homestead will open for the 2000 season on May 27, 10 a.m. Large-scale restorations to the second floor of the building will bring the 1804 structure's appearance closer to the days when Franklin Pierce was growing up.

A free lecture program begins May 22, 7 pm, with the talk "The Restoration of Pierce Homestead" by James Marvin. Call 478-3165 for details. KEENE Plant sale The Monadnock Garden Club has a plant sale May 27, 10 am, at the Wyman Tavern on Main St Call 532-8240. Film society screenings The Keene State College Film Society shows Woody Allen's new film "Sweet and Lowdown," starring Sean Penn as Emmet Ray, a brilliant jazz guitarist and social misfit today, at 2 and 7 pm; and May 22-25 at 7 pm. May 26-31 at 7 and 9 pm, "The Ninth Gate," a spooky story directed by Roman Polanski, rated also 9 pm and 2 pm Sat and Sun.

Putnam Arts Lecture Hall, Redfern Arts Center on Brickyard Pond. Admission $5, $4 senior citizens, Keene State employees and students, and all matinee seats. Call 358-2160. Wedding attire exhibit, genealogy how-to "Silks, Satins and Fine Linen: Cheshire County Wedding Apparel 1826-1994," an exhibition of 16 wedding outfits, both bride and groom, P. Ft.

MacDonald Realty Auction LLC, N.H. Lic.2179 Tel. 603-674-B124 or 603-679-2784 ext. 207 (BeaAssociate) ANTRIM HOW? BERLIN Find out what your neighbors paid for their house. Banker Tradesman reports on boston.com Keyword: recentsales Blues at the Rynborn Open mike blues jam with Otis "Big Blues" Doncas-ter every 8 pm-JT 12:30 am, no cover charge.

Acoustic blues jam every 8-10 pm, no cover. Rhumboogie (formerly The Movers) May 26, 9 pm, $6. Bobby Radcliff May 27, 9 pm, $10 advance tickets. Downstairs at the Rynborn, Routes 31 and 202. Call 588-6162.

HARRISVILLE Color and fiber, rug-weaving workshops The season of classes at Harrisville Design's Weaving Center, in the middle of the village, begins with a workshop on "Color and Fiber" June 1, 7-9 pm; June 2, 9 am-4 pm; and June 3, 9 pm. Students will learn how to regulate value, hue, intensity and temperature to achieve different ef 1 Wildlife paintings -Acryl-r 1 ics and watercolors of wildlife and pets by Rollin Ingersoll of Lancaster are on display through 1 May 31 at the Northern Forest Heritage Park office and Brown Company House Museum, 961 Main St Admission $5 adults, $3 ages 6-12, free for ages 5 and under. Smorgasbord $10 regular-size plate, $5 small portion. Call 752-7202. BETHLEHEM Drama The White Mountain School (Die Boston 6lobc's boston corf.