#5153, Rhythm of the Tropics
Hear music from the waters of the Amazon in work by Brazilian pianist Amaro Freitas to a processional for Javanese Court Gamelan; plus Indian Classical music with kanjira and mridangam.
Hear music by Brazilian pianist Amaro Freitas, from his 2024 album, Y’Y, which is an indigenous Amazonian word for river. The music is celebration of nature as it journeys down the Amazon - the water, the rainforest, the Indigenous people of the region, and the exotic wildlife. Freitas extends the usual sound of the piano by preparing the insides, using an electric magnet to bow some strings inside the instrument, or adhesive tape to give other strings a more earthy sound (New Sounds episode #4979).
Then, hear the tuned metal (\m/) percussion of Javanese Court Gamelan in a processional piece that translates in part as “setting the sail”, welcoming the arrival of important guests – a relaxed, easy-going piece. The recording comes from the Nonesuch Explorer Series of traditional musics.
Then, listen to music for thumb piano, sanza, by Cameroonian singer, composer, multi-instrumentalist, poet, and musicologist Francis Bebey. Plus, there’s Indian Classical-adjacent music from the Karnataka College of Percussion (with kanjira and mridangam), featuring the oboe-like instrument, the nadaswaram, as played by American sax and flute player Charlie Mariano on “Vandanam”. - Caryn Havlik
Program #5153, Rhythm of the Tropics (First aired 6/17/26)
ARTIST: Mangkunegaran Court Orchestra
WORK: Gending Bonang Babar Layar [1:52]
RECORDING: Nonesuch Explorer Series: Javanese Court Gamelan Vol 2
SOURCE: Nonesuch
INFO: https://www.nonesuch.com/albums/java-court-gamelan-volume-ii
ARTIST: Amaro Freitas
WORK: Uiara (Encantada da Água) - Vida e cura (Life and Cure) [3:55]
RECORDING: Y'Y
SOURCE: Psychic Hotline
INFO: https://amarofreitas.bandcamp.com/album/yy
ARTIST: Francis Bebey
WORK: Akwaaba [5:49]
RECORDING: Akwaaba
SOURCE: Original Music #105
INFO: Out of print, but try Amazon.com or auction sites.
ARTIST: Mangkunegaran Court Orchestra
WORK: Gending Bonang Babar Layar [21:21]
RECORDING: Nonesuch Explorer Series: Javanese Court Gamelan Vol 2
SOURCE: Nonesuch
INFO: https://www.nonesuch.com/albums/java-court-gamelan-volume-ii
ARTIST: Amaro Freitas
WORK: Danca dos Martelos [8:25]
RECORDING: Y'Y
SOURCE: Psychic Hotline
INFO: https://amarofreitas.bandcamp.com/album/yy
ARTIST: Charlie Mariano & Karnataka College of Percussion
WORK: Vandanam [4:21]
RECORDING: Jyothi
SOURCE: ECM Records
INFO: https://ecmrecords.com/
