For this New Sounds, hear music that brings together traditional folk songs from America and the British Isles with the sounds of classical instrumentation – string quartets, new music ensembles, and the like. Listen to music by Offa Rex, which is a collaboration between the English singer-songwriter/multi-instrumentalist/arranger Olivia Chaney, and the band The Decemberists. Also, from British folk singer, Emily Portman, and her mixed ensemble, The Coracle Band, hear a dark and brilliant original song, “The Darkening Bell,” inspired by a Neolithic burial champer in Gap Cave, Wales, from her 2015 release, Coracle.
Then, listen to the classically-trained musicians of both yMusic and NOW Ensembles, collaborating with The Staves & Emily Pinkerton, respectively. Also, hear the Kronos Quartet performing with the folk singer Sam Amidon. Hear some of the collaborative Rounder Songs by folk singer Emily Pinkerton and contemporary classical composer Patrick Burke. They recast old folk songs in modern settings that feature the New York-based new music group called NOW Ensemble. Plus, listen to a piece by Pulitzer Prize-winning American composer Julia Wolfe from the Field Recordings Series.
PROGRAM #4063 folk meets contemporary classical (First Aired: 1/3/2017)
ARTIST: Doc Watson
WORK: Omie Wise, excerpt [1:20]
RECORDING: The Essential Doc Watson
SOURCE: Vanguard Records VMD-73121
INFO: Available at Amazon.com
ARTIST: eighth blackbird
WORK: Bryce Dessner: Murder Ballads, Omie Wise [3:16]
RECORDING: Filament
SOURCE: Cedille Records CDR 90000 157
INFO: cedillerecords.org
ARTIST: The Staves & yMusic
WORK: Courting is a Pleasure [4:45]
RECORDING: The Way is Read
SOURCE: Nonesuch 564053
INFO: nonesuch.com
ARTIST: Emily Portman
WORK: Darkening Bell [3:18]
RECORDING: Coracle
SOURCE: Furrow
INFO: emilyportman.co.uk
ARTIST: NOW Ensemble & Emily Pinkerton
WORK: Darling Corey [3:09]
RECORDING: Rounder Songs
SOURCE: New Amsterdam 092
INFO: nowensemble.bandcamp.com
ARTIST: Offa Rex
WORK: Willie O'Winsbury [7:32]
RECORDING: The Queen of Hearts
SOURCE: Nonesuch 558638
INFO: nonesuch.com
ARTIST: NOW Ensemble & Emily Pinkerton
WORK: Three Forks of Hell [6:34]
RECORDING: Rounder Songs
SOURCE: New Amsterdam 092
INFO: nowensemble.bandcamp.com
ARTIST: Kronos Quartet & Sam Amidon
WORK: I See the Sign [6:01]
RECORDING: Folk Songs
SOURCE: Nonesuch 559151
INFO: nonesuch.com
ARTIST: Danish String Quartet
WORK: The Dromer [3:01]
RECORDING: Last Leaf
SOURCE: ECM Records 2550
INFO: ecmrecords.com
ARTIST: Julia Wolfe
WORK: Reeling [5:46]
RECORDING: Bang on A Can Field Recordings
SOURCE: Cantaloupe Music
INFO: bangonacan.bandcamp.com