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November 2005

Must Haves: Traditional Music

Wednesday, November 30, 2005

It's the middle of WNYC's Must Have Festival and for this edition of New Sounds, John Schaefer offers a guide to traditional music. Listen to recommended recordings of music from Sunda, Zimbabwe, Turkey, Tibet, Chile, India, and more.


Music for Multiples

Tuesday, November 29, 2005

For this New Sounds program, experience an hour of music for multiples of the same instrument. Take the dense layers of guitars in Glenn Branca’s Symphony No. 2, introduce gradual massive bursts, and incorporate metal percussion and drums and you have a massive soundmass. On the other hand, there’s music by Alex Shapiro - a work called “Bioplasm” for 4 flutes. It’s a squishy piece, something that she thought of as “an organism that oozes across the sonic floor.” Also, there’s a work by Mary Jane Leach for multiple female voices inspired by early music polyphony. Rounding out the show is music by Raphael Mostel for Tibetan Singing Bowl Ensemble.


Global Voices

Monday, November 28, 2005

Hear global voices singing on tonight’s New Sounds program. For starters, there’s the lush vocal polyphony of the Wulu Bunun people of Taiwan, anchored by David Darling’s cello and other soundscapes. Move on to the quiet and reflective Buddhist-inspired wordless chant from Stephan Micus’ latest release, “Life.” Also, composer and guitarist Baird Hersey leads an eight voice singing group known as Prana who make gorgeous natural overtone harmonies. Plus, listen to northern songs by Estonia’s Veljo Tormis, Norway’s Per Norgard, and Denmark’s Bo Holten.


Songs From Brazil &

Sunday, November 27, 2005

Sink into the rich voices and lush arrangements of this New Sounds program with music from Brazil, Portugal, and the Cape Verde Islands. Hear from the likes of Caetano Veloso, legendary Brazilian singer and a founder of the tropicalia cultural movement, and singer songwriter, guitarist and producer Celso Fonseca. Also, listen to the gorgeously deep and sensual voice of Virginia Rodrigues. Plus selections from the Cesaria Evora, who hails from the Cape Verde, off the northwest coast of Africa, and more.


Music from Egypt

Saturday, November 26, 2005

Hear percussionist Mahmoud Fadl along with master drummers Mohammed "Kallo" Sobhi and Magdi Berbish, as well as music from the legendary Hasaballah Brass Band, the one and only brass band in Egypt. Plus, on this edition of New Sounds, there’s music from Cairo-based composer/singer/oud player Mohammed Abdel Wahab, who incorporated mambo, samba and rhumba besides maqsoum and baladi into his songs. And much more music from Egypt.


I Lost a Sock

Friday, November 25, 2005

Hear new music written for early music specialists and ensembles on this edition of New Sounds. There’s music from the oratorio, “Lost Objects,” a collaborative work between the Bang on a Can composers and the writer Deborah Artman, featuring the Baroque ensemble Concerto Köln and DJ Spooky, among others. Inspired by text from the Talmud, the work is a meditation on the theme of loss, making connections between other lost things; objects as mundane as a sock or umbrella to things like one's memory, a species of animal, or the language of a people. Also, listen to music from Roy Wheldon’s "Galax," which joins viola da gamba chords to faint traces of Appalachian fiddle music. Rounding out the show is a somber work by Gavin Bryars, "Cadman Requiem," where wavering string tones act as a backdrop for the Hilliard Ensemble vocals.


1000 Years of Popular Music

Thursday, November 24, 2005

Modern troubadour and Fairport Convention founding member Richard Thompson performs a bellyful of unusual songs, both widely known mega-pop-hits and obscure work-songs on his latest release, "1000 Years of Popular Music." His choices run the gamut from old English rounds, to a snippet from a Gilbert and Sullivan musical, to Lennon-McCartney, Prince, and er- Brittany? Hear selections from Thompson's new live album on this edition of New Sounds.


Mali Music

Wednesday, November 23, 2005

Mali is a country of contrasts, and music there is no exception. We’ll hear the nomadic Tinariwen of North Mali; the bluesy voice of Oumou Sangare, from the Wassoulou tradition of the south; and the voice of the great Salif Keita, heir to a line of Malian kings and one of the great singers in the Manding tradition. Also, Morey Kante, Habib Koite, and legendary blues guitarist Ali Farka Toure.


New Music from Switzerland

Tuesday, November 22, 2005

On this New Sounds program, expect the occasional alphorn – but no yodeling. Hear lots of new music from Switzerland, including something from composer/violinist Franziska Baumann, whose sound installation work features the sound of glacial ice movements interspersed with voices. Also, listen to Michele Walther (violin), Matthias Gubler (soprano sax), and Luzian Jenny (accordion) from the vivacious collection of songs, "Orange Heart." Plus, the fun grooves of the Albins Alpin Quartet, whose music incorporates saxophone, accordion, toy piano, tuba and regular old drums. And so much more.


Purcell Maneuvers

Monday, November 21, 2005

On this day, November 21, the anniversary of his death, we’ll hear music inspired by composer Henry Purcell (1659-1695). This New Sounds program presents the singing alien camp theatrics of Klaus Nomi, performing Henry Purcell's "The Cold Song," from the semi-opera “King Arthur” along with Jeremy Peyton Jones' early reworking of Purcell trio sonatas, called “Purcell Manoeuvres.” Plus, music from Phil Kline, Robert Moran, percussionist/composer Areski Hamitouche, and more.


Celestial Clanging

Sunday, November 20, 2005

From the New Sounds Live concert series at the World Financial Center recorded this past December, hear the world premiere of Aaron Jay Kernis' Concerto for Toy Piano and Chamber Orchestra, a WNYC commission. Toy piano player Margaret Leng Tan (for whom the piece was written) and the 20 members of the East Coast new music ensemble Alarm Will Sound perform the clangorous, yet somehow celestial piece under the direction of the composer himself.


Music, Murder, Infamy

Saturday, November 19, 2005

On this edition of New Sounds, the criminal mind is put on the music stand. Hear from three different music/theater works that explore violence and infamy: the Clutter family murders; the mind of a delusional paranoiac; and the inner workings of a mass-murderer. Mikel Rouse’s opera "Failing Kansas", based on Truman Capote’s In Cold Blood, uses his own technique of “counterpoetry”, whereby overdubbed versions of the voice go through the lyrics in rhythmic counterpoint. Also, hear Paul Dresher’s "Slow Fire", with operatic arias, incantations, and frenzied falsetto about a disturbed man’s search for values in a rapidly changing consumer-driven world. Plus, selections from John Moran’s nightmarish chronicle of Charles Manson, and more…


...And You Can Trance To It

Friday, November 18, 2005

Trance jazz from two groove-based piano trios is in store on this edition of New Sounds. Hear from the likes of Australia's uncategorizable threesome the Necks, whose hypnotic, deceptively simple riffs and motifs can sometimes stretch to epic proportions. Also, take a listen to selections from the new Medeski Martin & Wood CD, "End Of The World Party (just in case)." The transient trio have created theme songs for doomsday packed with melody, soundscapes and beats that defy gravity. Plus, hear like-minded works by saxophone/synth player John Surman and Belgian composer/pianist Wim Mertens.


"Art House" Film Scores

Thursday, November 17, 2005

On this edition of New Sounds, listen to exquisite scores written not for blockbuster feature films but for smaller, “art-house” movies. Eleni Karaindrou’s film scores fall somewhere between those fine lines of jazz, minimalism and classical. Sample some of her music from the 1986 film directed by Theo Angelopoulos, “The Beekeeper,” which features the soulful playing of saxophonist Jan Garbarek. Listen to music from the soundtrack to one of Iceland's most successful films, Angels of the Universe, featuring incidental music by Hilmar Orn Hilmarsson, with two songs by Icelandic neo-post/prog-rockers, Sigur Rós. Hear everything from glitchy, distressed electronics and treated tribal drums and somehow violent oceanic washes of glissandos. Drawing from French New Wave cinema, jazz and Arabic musical traditions, the Tunisian oud master Anouar Brahem along with accordion and piano, evokes Satie and Chopin on the meditative Le Pas du chat noir ("the black cat's footsteps.") Plus, French film maker Maurice Pialat used Henryk Gorecki's ''Symphony No. 3: Chants plaintifs'' to accompany a movie called ''Police.''


Buoyant Afro-pop

Wednesday, November 16, 2005

New Sounds is serving up Afro-pop and groove pop music, African-style on this program. Listen to electrified traditional music with a merciless groove from the Congo, Senegalese pop, Afro-flamenco, a brass band from Benin, and a host of others. Sample the original sounds of Konono No. 1’s melodic electric likembés (thumb pianos), coupled with found percussion of pans, pots and car parts, which, although distorted, are really danceable. Plus, there’s West-African steeped groove rock by Toubab Krewe - a quintet out of Asheville, North Carolina by way of Mali, Zimbabwe, Congo, Brazil & the Caribbean. Also, listen for the combined sound of military brass bands, voodoo ritual chants and rhythms, scratchy American jazz records, with a dash of Fela’s Afrobeat that is Benin’s Gangbé Brass Band. And much more.


Radical Jewish Music

Tuesday, November 15, 2005

Radical Jewish Music might encompass Klezmer, Sephardic folk songs, and even the infamous '50s easy listening album "Bagels and Bongos," or anything in the tradition of, or inspired by all of these. On this edition of New Sounds, hear from musicians and composers, most from John Zorn�fs Tzadik label, who have their roots in traditional musics of Jewish heritage. There's music from the latest Steve Bernstein (Lounge Lizards, Sex Mob) release, "Diaspora Hollywood," which actually was recorded in the Hollywood Hills. Listen to Bernstein's lush vibey-groovy small jazz combo arrangements and reworkings of cantorial music, along with violinist Jenny Scheinman's folk-jazz for quartet with keyboardist Myra Melford from her release "Shalagaster." Plus, listen to the soulful music of Basya Schecter, vocalist for the group Pharaoh's Daughter. From the recent "Queen's Dominion," in collaboration with santur virtuoso Alan Kushan, sample hypnotic middle eastern music with influences from both Jewish and Arab traditions. And much more.


Cello Multiples

Monday, November 14, 2005

Listen to some music for multiple cellos, acoustic and electric, looped and layered on this New Sounds program. From cellist Maya Beiser’s release called “Kinship,” hear Evan Ziporyn’s “Kebyar Maya,” written specifically for her. It's a transcription of an orchestral gamelan work for solo cello, where Beiser whacks the cello's body, plunks and detunes the strings, and strikes the instrument with an assortment of objects. Also on tap is wicked, majestic, and somehow poppy stuff from the group Rasputina, currently three cellists strong, who can rock out, induce giggles and shivers, all the while making beautiful eccentric Gothic chamber rock. Then, dive into music by loop cellist and Rasputina member Zoe Keating. Her solo project features as many as 16 cellos expertly layered into both hooky melodies and full–bodied textures. Plus, there’s music from the cellists of the Berlin Philharmonic, and more.


What's Up Tiger Lillies?

Sunday, November 13, 2005

The Tiger Lillies, a UK-based “freak-cabaret trio”, sometimes perform in full clown make-up or with members dressed as pigs. Lead singer and accordionist Martyn Jacques, sings odes to the dispossessed and deranged in an eerie falsetto while the other two members accompany with upright bass and percussion. Their songs channel the spirit of punk with a dash of ska and mix in the passion of chansons, while reviving forgotten gypsy music and the songs of troubadours. On this New Sounds program, The Tiger Lillies discuss their work with the late American writer/illustrator and master of the macabre, Edward Gorey.


New Music from the Netherlands

Saturday, November 12, 2005

Dutch composer Louis Andriessen is fond of hard instrumental edges and combinations of rhythmic styles – Stravinsky’s driving vigor and Minimalism’s lulling repetitions are often found in his music. And, just to make it more difficult to pin down Andriessen, he craftily mixes electronic and traditional instruments in his works. Also on this program of new music from Holland, is a work by so-called proponent of “minimalist style”, Simeon Ten Holt, whose music relies not only on repetition, but also an absence of time. Plus hear the urban melodies of Thom Willems and the rootsy instrumental chamber group Flairck, all on this edition of New Sounds


William Duckworth

Friday, November 11, 2005

Often referred to as the first “post-minimalist” composer, William Duckworth has created works for solo instruments, large ensembles, and even the internet, as in his 5-year, ongoing piece “Cathedral.” "Cathedral" is one of the first interactive, continuous works of music and art designed specifically for the World Wide Web by Duckworth and media artist Nora Farrell. The Cathedral Band, a global collective of improvising musicians, is the human element of Cathedral that touches down in periodic live performance. On this New Sounds, we hear excerpts from Cathedral and other, acoustic works, several of which have familiar melodies “hidden” within.


(Near) East Meets West

Thursday, November 10, 2005

Take a new look at medieval music as the British a capella group The King's Singers and Middle Eastern early music specialists, Sarband team up to perform sacred music by 17th century composer Ali Ufki. A bit of background - Ali Ufki was a protestant born in Poland, but converted to Islam after his capture by the Ottoman Turks at the age of 13. He was a musician and translator in the imperial court of the Sultan Mehmed IV in Constantinople, (documents from the period indicate that he spoke 16 languages) where he also translated the bible into Turkish. On this New Sounds program, listen to the Ali Ufki’s Turkish settings of the Psalms of David. Also, hear the trouvére song “Chanterai pour mon coraige,” the lament of a woman whose husband has gone off to fight in the Crusades. Plus music by Ensemble PAN, and more.


Revisiting New Sounds

Wednesday, November 09, 2005

What year is this, anyway? On this edition of the program, hear electronically-altered music from some of the composers who were part of the nightly New Sounds diet back in the mid-1980s, and who are now going strong again. Listen to watery, ambient chill space music by K. Leimer from a recent release called "the Listening Room." Then there are works with different drones - one by Chas Smith, his "October 68," where he pulls the country twang of guitar strings like taffy, stretching the sound into a folksy drone, and another piece with hypnotic repeating drones by Harold Budd. Plus, hear the 1986 work by Daniel Lentz, "Time's Trick."


Pre-empted

Tuesday, November 08, 2005

No New Sounds episode aired due to local election coverage.


Music for Adapted Guitar

Monday, November 07, 2005

Works by composers who started with guitars, began altering their instruments, and ended up with a whole new sound world are the focus of this edition of New Sounds. Whether it’s adding strings, affixing wooden bars to the instrument, or even stretching the instrument to almost twenty feet in length and playing it like a zither, we’ll hear a variety of approaches to sound. One of these guitarists, Dominic Frasca, in order to adapt certain pieces for guitar, has commissioned specially constructed 6-, 10- and 13 string guitars, rigged with C-clamps and door bolts. Paul Dresher is another guitarist/innovator who has extended the instrument with the Quadrachord, a zither-like instrument with four 160-inch-long strings. Hear music for these adapted guitars and more, along with thoughtful chamber rock music by the group Clogs.


The "M" Word

Sunday, November 06, 2005

Minimalism just can't seem to sever its connection to rock and jazz, and on this edition of New Sounds, we'll hear the influence of minimalism as felt in the jazz world. Composer Joseph C. Phillips and his unique “jazz chamber” orchestra, Numinous, combine improvisation and unfolding textures of instrumental patterns to achieve catchy motifs that bring to mind music by Steve Reich. Plus hypnotic and lyrical musical patterns from composer/songwriter John Hodian, and world music with the group Other Music.


Festival in the Desert

Saturday, November 05, 2005

Every year in Mali just outside of Timbuktu, the annual Festival in the Desert is held, celebrating the music and culture of the nomadic Tuareg people of the Sahara. All who can make it, that is. To get to the festival site at Essakane, one needs a 4x4 jeep equipped for the desert for the five hour trek across the dunes. Even so, last year’s festival included such world-class performers as Ali Farka Toure and Oumou Sangare, along with other non-African artists like the French group Lo'Jo and the Dine/Navajo Blackfire trio, not to mention Justin Adams and oh yes – former Led Zeppelin frontman Robert Plant. On this New Sounds program, hear selections from the recent release of live concert music from the Festival and more.


Talbot Grab Bag

Friday, November 04, 2005

Composer, orchestral arranger, keyboard player, and occasional oboe and cor anglais performer Joby Talbot has many irons in the fire. He collaborated for years with The Divine Comedy, until that band’s change of direction veered away from Talbot’s more classical approach. The result of the split was the project Billiardman, who play something like five-minute mini symphonies for band, although Talbot recently orchestrated the newest Divine Comedy album, “Absent Friends,” (2004.) In the concert hall, Talbot’s first orchestral Proms commission "Sneaker Wave" premiered at the Royal Albert Hall this fall, and ever since the beginning of 2004, he has been Composer in Residence - the first ever- at Classic FM, in association with the PRS Foundation for New Music. More impressive still is the news that he has just started work on the score for the Disney feature film "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy." On this edition of New Sounds, program #2335, hear recent releases of Talbot's chamber music, composed rock, and anything else he may have sent us.


Force of Her Fortieth

Thursday, November 03, 2005

Hailed as “one of America’s Coolest Composers,” vocal innovator, filmmaker and director/choreographer Meredith Monk has opened the eyes and ears of countless artists and performers. This year there have been concerts all over the world celebrating her 40th Anniversary season, which will culminate this month at Carnegie Hall (Nov. 6) and at the World Financial Center’s Winter Garden (November 9 and 16.) Her groundbreaking exploration of the voice as an instrument forcibly expands the musical composition box, creating sonicscapes that unleash emotions and forces for which we have no words. Yet Monk does well without words - her wordless compositions combine classical music’s technical chops, folk music eloquence, jazz flexibility and rock and roll drive. This New Sounds is dedicated to Meredith Monk’s 40 year career, and host John Schaefer presents a sampling of her music, from her landmark vocal ensemble pieces to her most recent instrumental compositions.


Breaking Ice

Wednesday, November 02, 2005

Hear works for chamber rock ensembles, like the English band Icebreaker and the Bang on a Can All-Stars on this edition of New Sounds. Listen to Michael Gordon’s rhythmically-driven “Yo Shakespeare,” which has three types of dance rhythms going on simultaneously, but still feels danceable. The piece has actually been used by a dance company - Elliot Feld’s, but was written for Icebreaker. Then there’s Gavin Bryars’ “The Archangel Trip” inspired by a documentary film about two Russian icebreakers that ply the seas above the northern coasts of Russia, also written for Icebreaker. From a brand-new release called “Elevated,” listen to Bang on a Can composer David Lang’s psalm-derived “How To Pray,” for Hammond organ, piano, electric guitar and drums. Plus, the Bang on a Can All-Stars perform Phil Kline's schizophrenic, contemplative "Exquisite Corpses."


Chamber Jazz and Tokyo Road

Tuesday, November 01, 2005

The Tin Hat Trio (Mark Orton, Carla Kihlstedt and Rob Burger) have returned with a brilliant new release called Book of Silk, named for an ancient Chinese manuscript of the first recorded renderings of comets. Much of this idiosyncratic chamber jazz was actually recorded as a quintet, featuring harpist Zeena Parkins (a fixture on New York’s “avant-garde” music scene and Bjork’s sometime collaborator) and tuba master Bryan Smith (symphony player, and he’s with Deep Banana Blackout) along with the trio’s quirky blend of violin, accordion and guitar. The trio continues to focus on removing the boundaries between classical, world music, and jazz – and between improvisation and composition with this lush and intriguing record. Also on the show is music from pianist Brad Mehldau’s latest CD, a live recording made in Tokyo. On it he takes on standards from George Gershwin and Cole Porter to modern standards like Radiohead and Nick Drake and achieves strange, yet marvelous creative interpretations of those tunes, with help from bassist Larry Grenadier and drummer Jorge Rossy.