#3806: Cross-Cultural Music of Many Stripes

For this New Sounds, hear music from many different parts of the world, and of many different sound worlds. There’s an American group who looks to East Africa, an Irish group that looks to Indonesia, and a Brazilian group looking to West Africa, to name a few. Listen to Afro-soul/jazz with groove by L.A.-based Dexter Story, whose music borrows from Ethiopian pop of the 1960’s and 70’s, as well as other East African music. Sample tunes from Dexter Story’s record, “Wondem” (means “brother”), featuring Yared Teshale, who sings in the Amharic language. Then, there’s also Afro-beat informed brass-heavy funk music by the Brazilian band, Bixiga 70, whose name is a nod to Fela Kuti’s Africa '70.

Then listen to Irish music featuring Indonesian gamelan in a collaborative song written & sung by Julie Feeney, and featuring the Cork Gamelan Ensemble. Also, Canadian composer Derek Charke makes a piece from traditional Inuit throat-singing, featuring the Kronos Quartet and other sounds of a village. Plus, hear a work by Dan Trueman which looks to the Norwegian tradition in his use of a version of the Hardanger fiddle. So Percussion helps out for “HangDog Springar”; a springar is a Norwegian folk dance for couples. And more. 

PROGRAM #3806  Cross-Cultural Music (First Aired 12-03-2015)