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Global Crossings

Friday, January 11, 2008

With two world world music festivals in New York this weekend - the fifth annual GlobalFest and inaugural Mondo Music Festival - it's a perfect opportunity to look at the evolving definition of that genre. Joining us are three guests: Banning Eyre, the senior editor of Afropop.org; Cheb i Sabbah, an Algerian DJ; and Lukas Ligeti, a composer and drummer in the band Burkina Electric.

Afropop.org
Lukas Ligeti's Web site
Cheb i Sabbah's Web site


Comments

  • [1] Rasta Mon from Shanytown January 11, 2008 - 01:28PM

    I always have a problem with the term world music. What's world? If I'm in Africa are American performers "world?" I'd be interested in getting your guests' reaction to this.
  • [2] Danielle Day from Greenwich January 11, 2008 - 03:18PM

    During the Soundcheck segment with Puerto Plata someone mentioned that some of his "romantic" songs have slightly misogynistic lyrics. In the English/Scots/Irish tradition, many of the old Child Ballads are quite hair-raising-- including murder, rape, incest as topics (see "Jellion Grahame", Child No. 90 or "Sheath and Knife" No. 16 as particularly harrowing examples.)

    After the 19th century, these songs were almost never performed in public. Lately, though, following the example of Ewan MacColl during the British folk "revival" c. 1950-?, singers have actually started performing these kinds of songs again. But, in an interesting PC twist, they frequently ask (or at least inform) audiences if the song they are about to sing is acceptable (most singers go ahead anyway).

    And in an Irish session, you'd better ask if you're about to do a rebel (or Republican) number.

    So I think Mr. Plata should just go right ahead.

This thread is closed.


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