New Sounds, hosted by John Schaefer, has been a nightly fixture on WNYC airwaves
since September 3, 1982. The program's history reads like a virtual who's who
of contemporary, electronic, and world music over the last two decades. In this
Online exclusive, we've dug through the WNYC archives and revived five choice
episodes from the 1980s and early 90s.
Five From the Vaults: Part Six
Program No. 98
Years
before Eastern European composers like Henryk Gorecki and Arvo Pärt ascended
the Billboard charts with their sublime, "mystical minimalist" compositions,
John Schaefer was unearthing examples of this spiritual style. From an August
27, 1988 edition of New Sounds, we hear sacred songs by Tavener, Pärt, Gorecki,
Ni Riain, de la Rue, Hykes, and others. View
the Playlist.
Program No. 381
From
October 30, 1989, the famed "cooking show." Composer Robert Moran joins John
in his kitchen to consider the affinities between music and food. We learn that
Moran, who was a founder of the San Francisco New Music Ensemble, is also a
fan of Indian cuisine. We hear an "acoustic" version of Cage's 0:00 - for amplification
of chopping vegetables and blender. And don't miss the teary conversation as
onions are chopped. View the Playlist
or check out the recipes.
Program No. 852
On
September 17, 1992, renowned electric guitarist Robert Fripp was featured along
with a bevy of his closest musical friends including vocalist Patricia Leavitt,
The Annex, Firepower, and the California Guitar Trio. Fripp packs in a whirlwind
of styles during this lively hour: classical, rock, blues, jazz, as well as
the progressive rock aesthetic he first pioneered with King Crimson in the 1970s.
View the Playlist.
Program No. 862
On
October 10, 1992, ambient pioneer, glam-rocker, legendary record producer, and
multimedia artist Brian Eno joined John to play cuts from his landmark CDs Nerve
Net and Shutov Assembly, as well as from his own private tapes. Don't miss the
rare "Cross Crisis In Lust Storm." View
the Playlist.
Program No. 997
Nusrat
Fateh Ali Khan, the Pakistani singer who introduced many Westerners to Sufi
devotional songs was the focus of a memorable New Sounds on November 12, 1993.
As we hear, Ali Khan could be nothing less than mesmerizing in long, spectacular
stretches of nonverbal vocalizing. Ali Khan died just four years after this
program first aired. View the Playlist.
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| Dapper John: The host in the
early days of New Sounds. |
John Schaefer has hand-picked these "vault" shows. We ask
you to do the same. Can't remember the exact program? Just describe
it and mention a few of the artists or pieces. Better yet, create your own
top five list. Perhaps we'll feature it in a future installment
of Five from the Vaults!