Global Small Ensemble

Friday, November 06, 2009

This New Sounds takes us around the world and then some with some works for small ensemble. We’ll hear some non-traditional works from Argentine composer Gustavo Santaolalla, who has been lauded of late for his film scores for “Brokeback Mountain” and “Babel.” But for Santaolalla’s release, “Ronroco,” he uses a traditional instrument, namely the ronroco, a relative of the South American charango (a small ukulele-like guitar) and forges music inspired by his homeland, while weaving in music of Japan, Africa, and Eastern Europe. Also, out of Italy, the acoustic guitar viruoso Pino Forastiere's "Why Not?" an epic Concerto for electro-acoustic guitar and string orchestra. Plus, northern music by Icelandic composer Skuli Sverrison and much more.

PROGRAM #2847, Small Ensemble Music (First aired on Tue, 9-23-08)

Dark Ambient Electronica

Thursday, November 05, 2009

For this New Sounds, we'll listen to some electronic music from Iceland by the Australian-born composer Ben Frost. Dark acoustically generated guitar and piano textures are expertly combined with electronically processed stabs and eruptions on Frost's record "By the Throat." Plus, there's ambient post-rock music from Mountains, and some of Wendy Carlos' "Sonic Seasonings" from the early 70s, featuring the found sounds of wolves.

New Music for Bass Clarinet

Wednesday, November 04, 2009

Usually relegated to the grounding end of things instead of a solo instrument, the bass clarinet has a distinct woody sound, but is actually quite versatile. For this New Sounds, we'll hear everything from electroacoustic work to chamber music, from North African to Alaskan music. Hear pieces by Anouar Brahem, Michel Portal, John Surman, Marty Ehrlich’s Dark Woods Ensemble, and John Luther Adams.

New Music for Kora

Tuesday, November 03, 2009

The ancient harp/lute of the griots (the traditional storyteller/historian/musicians) of West Africa is now a thoroughly contemporary and global instrument, used by rockers like Björk, in film scores, and elsewhere. We’ll hear from Mamadou Diabate, from his own solo record and his collaborations with Irish singer Susan McKeown and jazz bassist/composer Ben Allison; Foday Musa Suso with Philip Glass; the Seckou Keita Quartet; and Toumani Diabate, among others.

Electroacoustic Chamber Music

Monday, November 02, 2009

Today’s chamber music can include electronics, electric guitars and bass, and other sounds borrowed from pop music. It’s not just string quartets and wind quintets anymore. On this New Sounds, we sample some electroacoustic chamber music from the likes of Bing & Ruth and Build. Plus, music from English composer Andrew Poppy and his amplified orchestra. And more.

Asian Fusion

Sunday, November 01, 2009

Asian Fusion is not just a cuisine. We'll hear contemporary music by Gamelan Cudamani - who play a type of hybrid gamelan orchestra with seven tones instead of the usual five. Plus, we'll sample from the Rough Guide To Indian Lounge, with the Indian flute and voices of Bombay Dub Orchestra and the mesmerizing slide-guitars of Debashish Bhattacharya; along with other like-minded explorations.