New Sounds Archive
April 2005
Silk Road Music
Saturday, April 30, 2005
Music from the Silk Road, the ancient Chinese trade route, is featured on this edition of New Sounds. Betty Anne Wong presents her new Silk Road-inspired CD, "Desert Dreams of Light," which features her Phoenix Spring Ensemble in a globe-trotting assortment of instruments, from the Chinese double-reed guanze, to the Japanese Shakuhachi and Australian didjeridu. Also on tap are selections by cellist Yo-Yo Ma and his own Silk Road Project, the Bukharan group Shashmaqam, and more.
April 2005 New Releases
Friday, April 29, 2005
It's the most wonderful time of the month - new releases! On this New Sounds program, listen to the pick of the piles. Probably there'll be music by Mahmoud Ahmed, Luciana Souza, and slide guitarist Debashish Bhattacharya, who performs wild and plucky works on instruments he has built himself. And a whole lot more.
More Lullabies
Thursday, April 28, 2005
This New Sounds programs offers more lullabies – a whole hour of nocturnal works by Meredith Monk, Natacha Atlas, Taj Mahal, Harold Budd, and many others. From a new recording with the Brodsky Quartet, hear Meredith Monk’s wordless invocation, “Gotham Lullaby.” Also, listen to “Adam’s Lullaby,” a collaboration between English composer Jocelyn Pook and singer Natacha Atlas, whose Arabic vocals are lushly enveloped by the Prague Symphony Orchestra. Plus, lullabies from the Balanescu Quartet inspired by "Romania’s Edith Piaf," Maria Tanase.
Music in Suspended Time
Wednesday, April 27, 2005
Forget about the space-time continuum on this edition of New Sounds. Hear “Birds in Warped Time II” by Somei Satoh, featuring violinist Anne Akiko Meyers rendering the somewhat Japanese-sounding melody, still and spare over the repetitive piano. Also, listen to some of Morton Feldman's late masterpiece "Triadic Memories," slow-moving and mostly quiet piano music, raising awareness of the silence around it as much as it engages with sound. Pianist Louis Goldstein, on performing Triadic Memories, relates that “my own sense of time is stretched and tugged in ways I never before experienced.” Plus American composer Peter Garland’s work, "Walk In Beauty," written for pianist Aki Takahashi. The piece is based on the peyote chants of the American southwest and seems to have captured the sense of suspended time as well.
Radiohead Revisited
Tuesday, April 26, 2005
The English rock band Radiohead has attracted an unusual amount of attention from other-than-rock musicians. On this edition of New Sounds, listen to arrangements of their songs by Christopher O’Riley, Brad Mehldau, Geoff Keezer, Russell Donnellon, and a Radiohead piece built on a sample of electronic music by composer Paul Lansky.
Choral Works
Monday, April 25, 2005
The visionary collaboration between Polish film director Krzysztof Kieslowski and composer Zbigniew Preisner was cut short in 1995 when the director had a heart attack and died. Hear the composer’s deeply religious musical memorial written as a final goodbye for his director friend on this edition of New Sounds. This heavy choral work is in both Latin and Polish, accompanied by a string quintet, organ and percussion. Also on tap is Steve Reich's Proverb, a choral work which pays homage to the 12th-century composer Perotin and makes liberal use of the medieval hocket technique. Plus, Meredith Monk’s mammoth "Atlas," a travelogue opera in three parts, with its dreamlike vocalise and rich vocal textures.
Near Eastern Sounds
Sunday, April 24, 2005
Western fascination with Asia has come in many forms, and more often than not it is accompanied by a whiff of colonialism or imperialism. Still, musical interchange is often a two-way street these days, as is the case on this edition of New Sounds. Listen to the near Eastern rhythms in Michael Askill's Salome; Abaji's Oriental Voyage; Abed Azrie's Aromates; and Peter Gabriel's Zaar. Plus, works by Rabih Abou-Khalil, Ofra Haza, Dhaffer Yousuf, and more.
Oh Canada!
Saturday, April 23, 2005
On this edition of New Sounds, hear new music from north of the border by electric guitarist Tim Brady, sound designer Matthew Patton, soundtrack composer Mychael Danna, instrument maker Robert Minden, and others. Plus a bit from the Plunderphonic project, where John Oswald sampled and messed with the music of Michael Jackson, the Beatles, Beethoven, Count Basie, and lots more.
Music for Earth Day
Friday, April 22, 2005
On this edition of New Sounds, hear music to celebrate Earth Day. There’s a helping of music by Tasmanian composer and naturalist Ron Nagorcka, who uses the sounds of forest surroundings, like water, birds, and wind. Hear music from Steven Feld’s Rainforest Soundwalks, an aural collection of purely environmental sound with a stunning depth of field. Plus, listen to excerpts from Elodie Lauten's Gaia Cycle, an electronic work based on a correspondence with the rotation of the earth and the yearly cycle, and much more.
American Roots
Thursday, April 21, 2005
For this edition of New Sounds, there’s music by master guitarist Brandon Ross, a versatile musician who has worked with the likes of Henry Threadgill, Butch Morris, Oliver Lake, and Cassandra Wilson. Listen to selections from his brilliant new CD, “Costume,’ which runs the gamut from acoustic guitar to twangily intense banjo, cornet to Chinese flute, and features the poetry and vocals of Sadiq Bey. But wait, there’s more. Hear the Turtle Island String Quartet play a slightly twisted but affectionate work dedicated to and named for the painter Grant Wood, known best for his “American Gothic.” Plus, a deconstructionist fantasy on “Louie Louie” from environmentalist mayor, former MTV rocker, and composer Phillip Kent Bimstein.
New Versions of Old Folk Songs
Wednesday, April 20, 2005
The English folk song Scarborough Fair dates back to late medieval times, when the seaside resort of Scarborough was an important venue for tradesmen from all over England. Scarborough Fair was actually a huge forty-five day trading event, starting around August fifteenth, which was exceptionally long for a fair in those days. Now that there's a sense of place and time, on this episode of New Sounds, you'll hear many new versions of old folk songs like Scarborough Fair, including the ambient arrangement of that tune by the British musician/composer/producer Tom Green, a.k.a. Another Fine Day. Also, bassist-leader Marc Johnson, along with drummer Peter Erskine and celebrated guitarists Bill Frisell and John Scofield take on the folk ballad "Black Is the Color of My True Love’s Hair," a tune probably from the Southern Appalachian Mountains. Plus Nora York’s riveting interpretation of one of the most famous of Irish folk songs “She Moved Through The Fair,” and more.
Sacred Music, Irish and Otherwise
Tuesday, April 19, 2005
The name Anuna derives from the ancient Irish name "An Uaithne," which collectively describes the three ancient types of Celtic music; lullaby, happy song, and lament (Suantrai, Geantrai and Goltrai, respectively.) This Irish group, who were the original “Riverdance” choir, blend Middle English, Scots Gaelic, Irish, Breton, Medieval Irish, Latin, and Greek choral music together in tunes ranging from folk songs to newly composed music based on ancient texts. On this New Sounds, we’ll hear from Anuna’s recent retrospective CD, along with other sacred works. Plus, selections from a stunning new release by Alexandra Montano of mostly medieval Spanish songs, called "Reflejo Medieval."
A Private Reel
Monday, April 18, 2005
It’s another in the series of programs on New Sounds called “A Private Reel,” featuring live performances from the WNYC studio. This time, hear music originally recorded for other WNYC programs: Omar Sosa & Mino Cinelu from the afternoon program Soundcheck, The Warsaw Village Band from “The Next Big Thing,” Tibetan singer Yungchen Lhamo from "Soundcheck," Mariana Sadovska from “Studio 360,” and Maggie & Suzzy Roche from “Soundcheck.”
Electric & Acoustic Mixed
Sunday, April 17, 2005
There's a wide variety of works for mixed electric and acoustic ensembles on this edition of New Sounds. Selections include "Something Terrible Is About To Happen" by Larval, a band that has been compared to King Crimson for their heavy ostinato riffs and layers of of guitars, bass, sax, strings and drums. Hear Michael Nyman's "And Do They Do," a work that consists of four linked "songs" the third of which is based on Schumann's Nachtlied Opus. 96, No. 1. Plus, Bobby Previte's "No Clue" for solo electronic drums and the Absolute Ensemble performing Gene Pritsker's "Fix."
Indian Dance Music Unplugged
Saturday, April 16, 2005
Take Indian classical music, add some sampled dance beats, overlay the Bollywood string section, and you get a feel for Karsh Kale's new CD - "Liberation". On this edition of New Sounds, Karsh Kale and his band Realize show off unplugged versions of music from Kale's records, including "Liberation", in our live performance studio.
Gagaku and Beyond
Friday, April 15, 2005
There’s music inspired by the courts and gardens of imperial Japan on this edition of New Sounds. Multi-talented violinist Eyvind Kang’s latest is a record called Virginal Co-ordinates, where he oversees a 22 piece orchestra making siren-like wails, not unlike the sustained static feeling of gagaku. Hear selections from Kang's CD along with selections from Herbie Mann’s import-only release from 1976, called “Gagaku and Beyond.” This effort, pairing a traditional Japanese ensemble (samisen, koto, riu teki, kakko, shoko, shakuhachi, and big taiko drums, occasionally with chanting Zen monks) together with Mann’s band, was a great success long before the “world fusion” term had ever been coined. Melodic and contemplative, the two ensembles engage each other and have hauntingly similar intentions: to articulate inner spaces, and dwell on the stately stasis inherent in Japanese court music. Also, there’s more beautifully scarce movement, and emptiness intensified, as heard in John Cage’s work Ryoanji, after the Japanese rock garden of the same name.
Music from West Africa
Thursday, April 14, 2005
There’s music from West Africa on this edition of New Sounds. Listen to tunes from a new retrospective release by the veteran Malian singer-songwriter-guitarist Boubacar Traore. The selections for the CD, "The Bluesman from Mali," were hand-picked by Traore himself. Plus, hear the latest record from the legendary balafon master Keletigui Diabate, S"andiya." It's a gorgeous collection of music for mallets, solo and accompanied by kora, guitar, flutes and percussion, which features guest artists Habib Koite, Toumani Diabate, among others. And there’s much more.
Music for Multiples
Wednesday, April 13, 2005
What’s better than music for accordion? Music for 4 or 5 accordions, of course! On this New Sounds, hear musical works for small armies of one kind of instrument - clarinets, guitars, pianos, and accordions, among others. Listen to the World Guitar Ensemble –ten guitarists from eight different countries – who, with their sheer numbers of nylon strings, creatively fuse together pop, jazz, and classical with synthetic loops and distorted guitars so that anything is possible. Also, there’s music by the six pianist collective called Piano Circus, who only perform new music, most of it written specially for them. Rounding out the show is music from the Accordion Tribe, whose ringleader in both incarnations, I and II, is none other than Guy Klucevsek.
Lullabies From the "Axis of Evil"
Tuesday, April 12, 2005
In his 2002 State of the Union address, President Bush singled out Iran, Iraq, and North Korea and their allies as part of an "axis of evil." In response to this branding, the Norwegian Eric Hillestade traveled to Iraq, Palestine, Iran and North Korea to record lullabies mothers sang to their children. The result is a new compilation called “Lullabies from the Axis of Evil.” The album contains lullabies from Iran, Iraq, North Korea, Palestine, Syria, Afghanistan and Cuba, sung by women from these countries, along with a western version sung by singers like Nina Hagen (Germany), Eddi Reader (Scotland), and Lila Downs (USA/Mexico). Hear some of these lullaby collaborations from the project on this edition of New Sounds. Also, lullabies from Rinde Eckert, Tom Waits, the World Sax Quartet, the Dylan Group, and more.
Luscinia’s Lullaby
Monday, April 11, 2005
Canadian vocalist and composer Laurel MacDonald visits the studio for this edition of New Sounds. MacDonald's arresting new CD is called Luscinia’s Lullaby, and features eclectic instrumentation and soundscapes concocted by producer and sound designer Philip Strong. This richly-textured music ranges from trippy, groove-driven polyphonic chant to torch songs with slide guitar and liquid violins.
Inspired by Bach
Sunday, April 10, 2005
New Sounds explores contemporary works inspired by the string music of J.S. Bach on tonight's edition. Among the highlights are Vladimir Martynov's L’Apres Midi du Bach, a witty take on Bach filtered through an Eastern European minimalist-spiritual musical language; and British composer Steve Martland's "Crossing The Border" which weaves jazz, folk, and rock into a dynamic and complex rhythmic structure.
Remixes & Arrangements
Saturday, April 09, 2005
New Sounds presents a program of unusual arrangements of pre-existing works. Listen to Burt Bacharach's opulent brand of Sixties-pop, which has found a new audience thanks to the experimentation of Elvis Costello and avant-jazz guitarist Bill Frisell. Hear the Tiny Bell Trio along with trumpeter Dave Douglas reworking traditional East European folk music in its "Songs of Wandering Souls". Plus, sample some of the Absolute Ensemble's Fix, a disc which features "remixes" of traditional classical repertoire.
Celtic & Nearly Celtic Music
Friday, April 08, 2005
There’s an hour of Celtic and nearly-Celtic music on this edition of New Sounds, featuring Mozaik, a Celtic band with Balkan, Romanian, Macedonian and klezmer leanings in their tunes. Also, hear the lush vocals, innovative arrangements and masterful instrumental playing of the all-female band The Poozies. Then there’s the relentless sounds of jigs, reels, slides and polkas, skillfully delivered by the acoustic traditional Celtic band Bohola, plus the Celtic-flavored folk of Fairport Convention. Music by the English zither player Andrew Cronshaw rounds out the show.
Song of Realization
Thursday, April 07, 2005
Minnesota guitarist Steve Tibbetts faces east once again on his most recent release, Selwa, a follow-up to his 1997 collaboration with the Tibetan Buddhist nun Chöying Drolma. He joins us in the studio for this edition of New Sounds to talk about the new recording and its gorgeous layers of ancient ritual chants with electronic sounds, acoustic guitar and percussion.
Spiritual Strings
Wednesday, April 06, 2005
Hear some new works for violins and other strings that draw from medieval sacred chant as a source of inspiration on this New Sounds program. Listen to “O Ignis” by the Swiss violinist and composer Paul Giger, which is actually based on music by Hildegard von Bingen and manages to create a blend of early music and improvisation. There's also ethereal music by Arvo Pärt and Sir John Tavener as well.
You're From Where?
Tuesday, April 05, 2005
On this edition of New Sounds, look forward to unexpected collaborations across the continents, from Podjama & Saraswati, the Euro-jazz and Balinese gamelan project to Baka Beyond, the African-Celtic crossover band inspired by the music of a pygmy community in West Africa. Plus hear music by Bachir Attar, Frank London’s Brotherhood of Brass, and Charlie Mariano & The Karnataka College of Percussion.
A Private Reel
Monday, April 04, 2005
On this New Sounds program, it’s another installment of the “Private Reel” series of shows, exclusive live performances from the WNYC studio. Hear works by bassist Edgar Meyer with Jerry Douglas and Sam Bush, tunes by Michael Franti and Spearhead, and music by vocalist Sanda Weigl. Listen to live improvisation by sitar maestro Shahid Parvez Khan and works by flamenco singer/songwriter Enrique Morente. Plus, the Japanese duo the Yoshida Brothers perform updated shamisen music, and German cabaret star Wenzel sings music by Woody Guthrie.
New Music from Estonia
Sunday, April 03, 2005
In what seems like an ever-growing number of composers from the tiny Baltic country of Estonia to win a following in the West, a few composers stand out from the pack. Veljo Tormis is one such artist. Listen to his Runo songs (performed as a call and response between a lead singer and a chorus) on this edition of New Sounds. Also, hear a symphony based on traditional Runo songs from the late Lepo Sumera, along with works by Arvo Pärt and Erkki-Sven Tüür.
Laptop Music
Saturday, April 02, 2005
Composer and radio producer Carl Stone builds his electronic compositions from natural sounds, acoustic instruments, and even extracts of popular music reconstructed electronically. With the aide of certain musical software programs such as Max/MSP, Stone not only draws on the possibilities provided by music software to compose his works, but he succeeds in rendering the technique invisible. He visits New Sounds to present recent works for laptop computer, many of which were released in late 2002 by the French label Sonore.
Songs & Choros
Friday, April 01, 2005
Choro is a musical style which first emerged in the 1870s. Literally meaning "a cry," choro may also refer to lilting melodic lines that sound like they are weeping. Somehow the choro evolved into a mix of the happy and the melancholy, as Brazilian street musicians combined serenades with African elements, namely syncopated rhythms, which were gradually played faster over time. On this edition of New Sounds, hear choros and songs from Brazil, including Choro #7, a duo full of rich grooves by pianist Cesar Camargo Mariano with guitar player Romero Lubambo. There’s also music by Brazilian singer/songwriter and musical revolutionary Caetano Veloso, who tackles American popular song on his recent CD, A Foreign Sound. He somehow manages to make popular standards, like “Manhattan,” and “Love For Sale” fresh, new, and unbelievably beautiful in the phrasing and arrangements. Hear selections from Veloso, along with works by Badi Assad with Larry Coryell and John Abercrombie, Sharon Isbin and Thiago de Mello, and more.
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