Today we start with music from Mali. I am heartbroken and worried that violence and the plague of fundamentalism will engulf Mali, a centre of incredible culture, music, and very laidback West African Islamic traditions for centuries.
With the background of the chaotic uncertainty of the 21st century, I am beginning a cycle from one of the great symphonists of the 20st century: Alfred Schnittke. A Soviet composer of German background, he was born in 1934 and his music is infused with the anxiety and uncertainty of a Soviet artist living in an age of anxiety. It is shocking that his 1st symphony was actually allowed to be performed in 1974, and it is still shocking to a contemporary listener accustomed to post-modernist self-referential popular and internet culture. It is an extravagant, chaotic musical history, quoting numerous pieces of music from the previous two centuries. Is it tragedy? Parody? Grotesque humour? A celebration? Mahler taken to extreme lengths? Perhaps all of it. We hear a live recording with Gennady Rozhdestvensky, who conducted the Soviet premiere in 1974.
| Touramakan Kasse Mady Diabate, Bako Dagnon, Kandia Kouyate - Mandekalou - Syllart |
| Saro Bassekou Kouyate & Ngoni Ba - I Speak Fula - Sub Pop |
| Haira Yo Afel Bocoum - Alkibar - World Circuit/Nonesuch |
| Gomni Ali Farka Toure & Toumani Diabate - In the Heart of the Moon - World Circuit/Nonesuch |
| Djamban Rail Band feat. Magan Ganessy - Dioba - Stern's |
| Ya Fama Toumani Diabate's Symmetric Orchestra - Boulevard de l'independance - World Circuit/Nonesuch |
| Symphony No. 1 Alfred Schnittke/Russian State Symphony Orchestra, Gennady Rozhdestvensky - Symphony No. 1 - Chandos |
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Hey Dave, Just to say, REALLY diggin' the unpronounceable artists / Russian State Symphony Orchestra. "Challengingly random." Throw on Frank Zappa "Yellow Shark" some time? Would go swell with this actually.
3:54 PM, January 17th, 2013