#4435, Songs of Thanksgiving
There’s music by Pete M. Wyer based on a Mohawk thanksgiving ceremony, a Thanksgiving song by one-woman band, Grouper, and large ensemble music of gratitude by guitarist Joel Harrison.
From British composer and sound artist Pete M. Wyer, hear music from his enormous iForest project, featuring members of the Philadelphia-based choir, The Crossing. It’s called “Niá:wen,” which is Mohawk for “Thank you,” and is inspired by the Mohawk thanksgiving ceremony, offering thanks for all the gifts of life. [Mohawk Prayer of Thanksgiving.]
Then, hear a movement from a large ensemble work by Joel Harrison, America At War, which reflects on the way the United States has been in foreign military engagements since 1957. The emotionally-charged section, “Gratitude” uses hypnotic rhythms and “gospel inflections to show the composer’s empathy for those who experience trauma, and are fortified with the tenuous gift of life.” (Bandcamp)
Also, listen to another prayer of thanks from Osvaldo Golijov’s "La Pasión según San Marcos" (Passion According to St. Mark.) Plus, hear reverb-drenched vocals with disorienting piano from experimental musician Grouper, aka Liz Harris, and more. -Caryn Havlik
Program #4435, Songs of Thanksgiving (First Aired 11/26/2020)
ARTIST: Artemis Quartet
WORK: Beethoven: String Quartet op.132, III. Molto adagio, "Heiliger Dankgesang" [1:12]
RECORDING: Beethoven: Complete String Quartets
SOURCE: Erato 0708582
INFO: Available at Arkivmusic.com
ARTIST: Beverly O’Regan Thiele, Laquita Mitchell and Jay O. Sanders, Harlem String Quartet
WORK: David Lang: Wordless Prayer of Thanks [1:08]
RECORDING: David Lang: The Difficulty of Crossing a Field
SOURCE: Cantaloupe Music 21107
INFO: cantaloupemusic.com
ARTIST: Schola Cantorum de Caracas, Alberto Grau Choir, Orquesta La Pasión, Maria Guinand, cond.
WORK: Osvaldo Golijov: We give thanks to the lord [5:15]
RECORDING: La Pasión Según San Marcos
SOURCE: Hänssler Classic 98404
INFO: haenssler-classic.de
ARTIST: The Crossing, conducted by Donald Nally
WORK: Pete M. Wyer: iForest - Nia Wen [13:45]
RECORDING: I Walk Towards Myself
SOURCE: petemwyer.bandcamp.com
INFO: iforest.org
ARTIST: George Winston
WORK: Thanksgiving [4:03]
RECORDING: December
SOURCE: Windham Hill #1025
INFO: georgewinston.com
ARTIST: Todd Reynolds, Matt Moran, John Hollenbeck
WORK: Gray Cottage Study #4 healing and gratitude [4:06]
RECORDING: Rainbow Jimmies
SOURCE: Flexatonic Records
INFO: johnhollenbeck.bandcamp.com
ARTIST: Joel Harrison + 18
WORK: Gratitude [9:38]
RECORDING: America At War
SOURCE: Sunnyside Records
INFO: joelharrisonguitar.bandcamp.com
ARTIST: Grouper
WORK: Thanksgiving Song [3:16]
RECORDING: Grid of Points
SOURCE: Kranky
INFO: grouper.bandcamp.com
ARTIST: Rabbit Rabbit Radio (Carla Kihlstedt and Matthias Bossi)
WORK: Merci Vielmal [2:51]
RECORDING: Rabbit Rabbit Radio, Vol. 1
SOURCE/INFO: rabbitrabbitradio.bandcamp.com
ARTIST: For Living Lovers: Brandon Ross and Stomu Takeishi
WORK: Thanks (for J-R) [1:20]
RECORDING: Revealing Essence
SOURCE/INFO: forlivinglovers.bandcamp.com
