#4060: Music for Zithers and Dulcimers

Listen to a program of music for zithers and dulcimers, hammered, strummed, and plucked, drawing from Appalachian, Vietnamese, Hungarian, and Near Eastern music, along with things less easily-defined. Hear music from Syrian-born London-based Maya Youssef and her kanun to Laraaji’s electric zither, along with Vietnamese zither by Tri Nguyen, and Hungarian folk zither, the citera, by Lajkó Félix.

There’s music from Syrian-born, London-based composer and kanun player Maya Youssef from her stunning record, Syrian Dreams. The kanun is an instrument that is somewhat harp-like in nature, and is played with two tortoise-shell picks (one for each hand) or with fingernails. There’s also music by the Dan Joseph Ensemble for chamber group led by hammered dulcimer player Dan Joseph, which includes harpsichord, and string instruments. Then, listen to music by Sans, a trio by way of Finland, England, and Armenia, with a mix of haunting vocals in Finnish, the duduk or Armenian reed pipe, and zither.

There's village music from central Poland by the Janusz Prusinowski Trio, featuring dulcimer, with Persian cast. Also, hear music from Lajkó Félix who plays the Hungarian folk zither, the citera. Then, experience Laraaji’s electronically enhanced zither, from the Brian Eno-produced record, Day of Radiance. Rounding out the show is music which combines the traditional zither melodies of Vietnam together with Arabic oud from dan tranh player Tri Nguyen and oud/percussions by Qaïs Saadi.

PROGRAM #4060 Plucked String Instruments: Zithers & Dulcimers (First Aired: 12/19/2017)

ARTIST: Maya Youssef
WORK: Syrian Dreams [1:00]
RECORDING: Syrian Dreams
SOURCE: Harmonia Mundi HMM902349
INFO: Available at Apple Music, Amazon.com

ARTIST: Dan Joseph Ensemble
WORK: Percussion and Strings [4:33]
RECORDING: Archaea
SOURCE/INFO: http://music.danjoseph.org/track/percussion-and-strings

ARTIST: Laraaji
WORK: Dance #2 [8:55]
RECORDING: Day of Radiance
SOURCE/INFO: https://laraaji1.bandcamp.com/album/ambient-3-day-of-radiance

ARTIST: Janusz Prusinowski Trio
WORK: Persyjan [3:00]
RECORDING: Knee-deep in Heaven
SOURCE: Sluchaj Uchem/Oriente Musik
INFO: januszprusinowskikompania.pl

ARTIST: Wu Man & Lee Knight
WORK: Old Joe Clark [2:48]
RECORDING: Wu Man & Friends
SOURCE: Traditional Crossroads #4329

ARTIST: Brian Dewan
WORK: The Day The Day Stood Still [4:18]
RECORDING: Tells The Story
SOURCE: Bar/None Records AHAON-033-2
INFO:  Available at Apple Music, Amazon.com

ARTIST: Sans 
WORK: Waiwanen Walitan Waikiast (I Weep For My Sins)  [5:40]
RECORDING: Live
SOURCE: Cloud Valley CV2014
INFO: andrewcronshaw.bandcamp.com

ARTIST: Maya Youssef
WORK: Syrian Dreams [3:22]
RECORDING: Syrian Dreams
SOURCE: Harmonia Mundi HMM902349
INFO: Available at Apple Music, Amazon.com

ARTIST: Lajko Felix
WORK: Zeng A Szó [5:50]
RECORDING: Most Jöttem
SOURCE: FONÓ Records
INFO: lajkofelix.hu/en

ARTIST: Tri Nguyen (feat. Qaïs Saadi)
WORK: Golden Skies [7:40]
RECORDING: A Journey Between Worlds 
SOURCE/INFO: cdbaby.com