#4980, Bells and Bell-Like Sounds

Hear ringing, chiming, and bowing from vibraphones, bells, and Indonesian gamelan in work by New York composer Christopher Cerrone for GRAMMY®-nominated ensemble Sandbox Percussion, co-composed work by Gamelan Pacifica, and the late French composer Alain Kremski.

Hear Sandbox Percussion exploring the boundless possibilities of work for vibraphone, gongs, and tuned chimes in newly-recorded work by New York-based composer Christopher Cerrone. The work is called “A Natural History of Vacant Lots” which “explores space and sound, positioning ambient and beautiful colors against a haunting electronic backdrop”,  from their new album, Don’t Look Down (Liner notes, Pentatone.) Also, listen to a bell-heavy affair, with large bells, hand bells, and electronics, in a collaborative work between Italian experimentalists Passepartout Duo and Japanese ambient pioneers Inoyama Land combining environmental music and electronic landscape as play – what they call “slow music”. 

Then, listen to work by Michael Gordon, the New York composer and co-founder of Bang on a Can, and his “Light Is Calling” where electrified metallic sounds come together with processed violin, standing in for the warped effects of time and decay. The music was originally paired with a short movie by filmmaker Bill Morrison, whose work has often involved decomposing film reel. Also, there’s music by the late French pianist, composer, and musicologist, Alain Kremski, known for his cross-cultural work involving sacred Buddhist bowls and gongs from Asia Eastern music traditions, especially those from India and Tibet (Discogs.com). That, and more. - Caryn Havlik

Program #4980, Bells and Bell-Like Sounds (First aired 2/26/2025)

ARTIST: Passepartout Duo & INOYAMALAND
WORK: Strange Clouds [1:10]
RECORDING: Radio Yugawara
SOURCE: Tonal Union
INFO: https://passepartoutduo.bandcamp.com/album/radio-yugawara

ARTIST: Sandbox Percussion, Christopher Cerrone
WORK: Christopher Cerrone: A Natural History of Vacant Lots [9:01]
RECORDING: Don't Look Down
SOURCE: Pentatone Music
INFO: pentatonemusic.com

ARTIST: Todd Reynolds
WORK: Michael Gordon: Light Is Calling [7:03]
RECORDING: Light Is Calling
SOURCE: Nonesuch
INFO: Available at AppleMusic, Amazon.com

ARTIST: Passepartout Duo & INOYAMALAND
WORK: Strange Clouds [3:33]
RECORDING: Radio Yugawara
SOURCE: Tonal Union
INFO: https://passepartoutduo.bandcamp.com/album/radio-yugawara

ARTIST: Gamelan Pacifica
WORK: Signy Jakobsdottir, Jon Keliehor, tom Fallat, Jarrad Powell: Small of My Back [10:54]
RECORDING: Trance Gong
SOURCE: What Next #0016 / OO Discs / Nonsequitur Foundation
INFO: https://www.nseq.org/category/releases/

ARTIST: Alain Kremski
WORK: Danse des Divinities de l'Eau [12:07]
RECORDING: Vibrations
SOURCE:  Auvidis 2-LP set
INFO: Try Discogs.com

ARTIST: Alain Kremski
WORK: Thomas de Hartmann: The Great Prayer [5:10]
RECORDING: Meetings With Remarkable Men Soundtrack
SOURCE: Citadel Records, try auction sites
INFO: tcm.com/tcmdb