New Sounds from WNYC

Listen to rhythmic music, whether for percussion, string quartet or vocal duet for this New Sounds. Hear works from percussionist Ian David Rosenbaum, Kelly Moran, and the Jasper String Quartet, and a vocal duet from Meredith Monk and Robert Een. From the recent record, Unbound, by the Jasper String Quartet, hear a non-stop motoring work by Judd Greenstein, “Four on the Floor.” Usually the term applies to thumping dance-club bangers, but in this work, pairs of instruments work “with and against each other, until they settle their differences and combine into a shared groove,” according to the composer. Hear music with rhythmic intensity, for prepared piano, with and without electronics from Kelly Moran, and her record, Bloodroot, which is where minimalism and black metal collide. Then, listen to music from Hauschka, who layers player piano with prepared piano. Also, listen to Inuit-style breathing games from Meredith Monk and cellist/vocalist Robert Een, from her long-form work, "Facing North," inspired by the Canadian wilderness.  Then, listen to increasingly tricky and complex rhythms in a work by David Crowell for percussionist Ian David Rosenbaum. Plus, hear a work –"Redwood"- involving saxophone and interlocking guitar parts from Empyrean Atlas, the band of composer/multi-instrumentalist David Crowell. And more. 

Hear prog-marching band music from Chicago's Mucca Pazza, ambient-gothic Norwegian-Icelandic music from the duo Jo Berger Myhre & Ólafur Björn Ólafsson, jazz-tronic ambient minimalism from London's Portico Quartet, and new work from Danish experimental supergroup Girls in Airports.

Hear music that begins with classical instruments, like the string quartet, piano, or an orchestra, but which is then augmented, enhanced by electronics, percussion, or preparation. Listen to works by English violinist, pianist, and composer Poppy Ackroyd, Netherlands-based composer Peter Adriaansz, and cinematic music from the augmented string quartet amiina.

Guitarist Shane Parish, of the instrumental prog-punk band Ahleuchatistas, plays music from his solo record of “weird old Americana” live in the studio on acoustic & prepared guitar. 

“Indian music does not stop and start with Ravi Shankar.” So says tabla master Zakir Hussain, who, along with young sitar virtuoso, Niladri Kumar, joins John in the studio for a live performance. Niladri Kumar and Zakir Hussain perform a radio-friendly (short) Raga Charukeshi, for Rupak Tal (a seven beat rhythmic cycle) and Raga Bhairavi in Teental (16 beats.) 

South African guitarist Guy Buttery visits the studio to perform virtuosic feats of bending, tapping, picking, harmonics, and other techniques and textures yet to be named for guitar. Hear music from his latest record, his sixth, a self-titled wonder of collaborative tunes. Plus, music from the late Malian guitarist and griot Tiécoro Sissoko.

This episode continues the series exploring the new music of Ireland. John Schaefer sits down with Jonathan Nangle at the Contemporary Music Centre in Dublin. Nangle tells how Donnacha Dennehy influenced him to explore more experimental music, and then shares how electronics and silence factor into his compositions. Listen to how Nangle uses electronics to subtly augment conventional instrumentation on "Where distant city lights flicker on half-frozen ponds". Hear Nangle explain how his piece "Then Falls by Shadow" takes the inspiration of Irish weather to combine shuffle mode with a choral performance. Later in the hour, John Schaefer talks to David Bremner about his own compositions and playing the pipe organ at Christ Church Cathedral in Dublin. Hear Bremner's piercing organ compositions "Variations upon 'the usual reason'" and "Amhrán na Leabhar." PROGRAM #3715 New Music from Ireland: Part 3 (First aired on 4/17/2015)   ARTIST(S) RECORDING CUT(S) SOURCE Kate Ellis Jump Donnacha Dennehy: Aisling Gheal [2:09] Diatribe Records Jonathan Nangle Self-released DIY Aeolian Harp [:39] Soundcloud Jonathan Nangle new music::new Ireland 2 Where distant city lights flicker on half-frozen ponds [excerpt 1] [2:14] CMC Ireland Jonathan Nangle new music::new Ireland 2 Where distant city lights flicker on half-frozen ponds [excerpt 2] [4:47] See Above Ergodos Musicians I Call To You Jonathan Nangle: Ich ruf' zu Dir, Herr Jesu Christ  [2:22] Ergodos Records Jonathan Nangle Commissioned for Dublin SoundLab untitled (after Dan Flavin) [1:42] Soundcloud Jonathan Nangle Commisioned by David Bremner and Elizabeth Hilliard Then Falls thy Shadow [:51] Soundcloud Jonathan Nangle Contermporaty Music from Ireland, Volume Nine Our headlights blew softly into the black illuminating very little [5:21] CMC Ireland – CMC CD09 Contemporary Music Centre Jonathan Nangle & David Bremner Ergodos 2009 'Off-Grid' Festival Untitled improvisation [1:25] Soundcloud David Bremner Contemporary Music from Ireland, Volume 2 Variations upon ‘the usual reason’ [4:40] CMC Ireland David Bremner L’Air Du Temps Amhrán na Leabhar [2:49] Soundcloud

Hear electroacoustic music by Dublin-based Seán Mac Erlaine and Australian-born, London-based Leah Kardos. Plus, music from NY-based GABI, cellist Julia Kent, and Bing & Ruth.

Composer, keyboardist and bandleader, Missy Mazzoli, joins John Schaefer to introduce selections from her new recording, “Vespers for a New Dark Age.” The work, commissioned by Carnegie Hall for the 2014 Ecstatic Music Festival, is a 30-minute suite for singers, chamber ensemble and electronics, and is built around text, both spiritual and worldly, by contemporary poet Matthew Zapruder. Mazzoli wrote for the very specific voices of sopranos Martha Cluver, Melissa Hughes and alto Virginia Warnken Kelsey, who all have a lot of experience with contemporary music but also early and Baroque music. Her ensemble Victoire provides dramatic settings while drummer Glenn Kotche (perhaps best known for his work in Wilco) propels the work percussively.  Plus, hear selections from Phil Kline’s millennial mass “John the Revelator,” written for the early/new music vocal group Lionheart and the quartet ETHEL.

Listen to works that include gamelan, but take a more western approach for this New Sounds - like combining Celtic traditional music and Indonesian gamelan in music from Gamelan Son of Lion and composer/sax player and bagpiper Matthew Welch. In the music of Barbara Benary, the co-founder and guiding spirit of Gamelan Son of Lion, there is a juxtaposition of Cape Breton Celtic singing, gamelan and Benary herself on violin. Also, hear the Celtic-Balinese tapestry of Matthew Welch’s chamber rock hybrid Blarvuster with its Scottish bagpipes, Balinese gamelan, and Welch’s vocalizing in Indonesian. Plus, Lou Harrison’s "Threnody for Carlos Chavez," written for viola and gamelan ensemble, and music from NYC-based Patrick Grant, who serves his post-minimalism with a twist of Rock and Balinese gamelan. That, and more. PROGRAM #3691 Gamelan Plus (First aired on 2/3/2015)   ARTIST(S) RECORDING CUT(S) SOURCE Gamelan Son of Lion Sonogram John Morton: She (really) Had To Go [9:23] Innova 718 innova.mu Patrick Grant Patrick Grant Fields Amaze [8:35] Available at cdbaby.com Gamelan Son of Lion Sonogram Barbara Benary: Jigalullaby [8:23] Innova 718 innova.mu Matthew Welch  & Blarvuster Blarvuster Canntaireachd Masolah I [6:23] Tzadik 8077 tzadik.com Lou Harrison Drums Along The Pacific Threnody for Carlos Chavez [8:00] New Albion #122 Out of print, but available as a download via Amazon  Bill Alves (performed by Susan Jensen, violin; The HMC American Gamelan) Mystic Canyon Mystic Canyon for Violin and Gamelan [5:20] MicroFest Records Amazon

Hear unusual music for string quartet on this program, as Australian composer Andrew Byrne, now based in New York, uses the string quartet as a percussion instrument in his work called “Striking.” Then, listen to Bang on a Can All-Star saxman, clarinetist and composer Ken Thomson’s work for the JACK Quartet, “THAW.” There’s also folk-informed music from the singer, songwriter and composer Aoife O Donovan as played by Brooklyn Rider. Hear string quartet music by multi-instrumentalist composer Vân-Ánh Vanessa Võ, who plays a traditional Vietnamese string instrument on “Green River Delta,” in collaboration with Kronos Quartet. Plus, hear a work from Pulitzer Prize-winning composer John Luther Adams that uses the string quartet as an ambient music ensemble, relying upon harmonics and on tones played on open strings. That, and more. PROGRAM #3686 Music for String Quartet (First aired on 1/21/2015)   ARTIST(S) RECORDING CUT(S) SOURCE Ken Thomson (JACK quartet) THAW Thaw, excerpt [1:41] Cantaloupe Records 21095 bangonacan.org Members of Either/Or Ensemble Striking; Whispers and Cries Andrew Byrne: Striking Parts 1 & 2 [7:32] Available for purchase directly through composer here: andrewbyrne.com JACK Quartet John Luther Adams: The Wind in High Places John Luther Adams: The Wind in High Places - Above Sunset Pass [7:24] Cold Blue Music CBM 41 coldbluemusic.com Ken Thomson (JACK quartet) THAW THAW: Thaw [10:55] Cantaloupe Music 21095 bangonacan.org Brooklyn Rider Almanac Aoife O'Donovan: Show Me [4:56] Mercury Classics / In A Circle Records #002159302 mercuryclassics.com Available at iTunes, Amazon.com, Emusic.com Vân-Ánh Vanessa Võ with Kronos Quartet  Three-Mountain Pass Vân-Ánh Vanessa Võ: Green River Delta/Luu Thuy Truong [4:40] Innova 866 innova.mu   Members of Either/Or Ensemble Striking; Whispers and Cries Andrew Byrne: Striking Parts 3 & 4 [8:30] Available for purchase directly through composer here: andrewbyrne.com

Listen to world music that veers into psychedelic territory on this New Sounds, with Native-American inspired percussive drone music and Afrobeat from Brazil in music by Bixiga 70. Hear a mix of Afro-Ethiopian rock and jazz from the Brazilian band, Bixiga70, whose name is clearly a nod to the Afrobeat pioneered by Fela Kuti and drummer Tony Allen (with whom Mauricio Fleury from the band studied with.) This brass-heavy sound bounces through boundaries to harvest textures of Guinean and Malian mandingo from Guinea and Mali, soukous from the Congo and ethio-jazz. Also, there’s music from a Chinese string band, Red Chamber, and their pipa, zheng, zhongruan, among other Chinese lutes and zithers. On this tune,"Ah Ya Zein," they accompany oud player Gordon Grdina, and are augmented by all kinds of percussion from other traditions. Then, hear “tribal folkadelia” from Flamingods, with musicians based in London & Bahrain, and operatic trance music from Toronto-based artist, Alexandra Mackenzie, who records under the moniker Petra Glynt. Also, listen to a song from Nathan Bowles, a pounding tribute in percussive drone to the dwindling population of the Nansemond tribe who were part of the Powhatan confederacy in Virginia. Plus, explosive music from the Belgian brass klezmer punk band Kermesz a l'est, and more. PROGRAM #3638, Psychedelic World Music (First aired on 9/17/2014)   ARTIST(S) RECORDING CUT(S) SOURCE Flamingods Hyperborea Vimana, excerpt [1:00] SHAPE 027 shaperecords.co.ukshaperecords.bandcamp.com Red Chamber Gathering Ah Ya Zein [7:40] www.asza.com Radwan Ghazi Moumneh (Jerusalem in My Heart) Mo7it Al-Mo7it Amanem [8:54] Constellation Records CST093cstrecords.com Included as part of www.musicworks.ca, Summer 2014 Sampler jerusaleminmyheart.com Kermesz a l'est Kermesz a l'est (2014) Zumkind [6:02] www.kermeszalest.com Flamingods Hyperborea Vimana [2:32] SHAPE 027 shaperecords.co.ukshaperecords.bandcamp.comPetra Glynt Musicworks Summer 2014 Of This Land petraglynt.bandcamp.com Nathan Bowles Nansemond The Smoke Swallower [2:38] Paradies of Bachelors 016 paradiseofbachelors.com FatDog New Found Land Halling Etter Sjur Eldegard, excerpt [1:00] Riverboat Records 1087 worldmusic.net Kronos Quartet Floodplain Tashweesh [3:24] Nonesuch 518349 nonesuch.com Bixiga 70 Ocupai 5 Esquinas [4:31] maisumdiscos.com maisumdiscos.bandcamp.com Angeli Drake Deghe Spargiani [6:00] Available at Amazon.com or Emusic.com

Listen to new music for the instrument from Southwestern Norway known as the Hardanger fiddle, (or hardingfele), but of course there’s a twist. For this New Sounds, there’s post-rock, world music, electroacoustic music, and even an Irish-American duet on this Norwegian instrument – with music from Scotland, Ireland, and the U.S. Hear the collaborative recording between Hardanger fiddle master Nils Økland and the post-rock duo The Low Frequency In Stereo, called Lumen Drones – which comes off as a psychedelic drone band. Then, listen to music from the octogenarian bard Robin Williamson (of Incredible String Band reknown), along with violist Mat Maneri and drummer Ches Smith. Then, hear a duo record from Caoimhin O Raghallaigh (of The Gloaming) and Dan Trueman (founder of Princeton Laptop Orchestra), which stretches and recombines the DNA of Norwegian folk and Irish trad fiddling on a 10-stringed instrument, the Hardanger d’Amore. Plus, there’s music from the Hardanger’s likely ancestor, the viola d’amore, by composer/violist Garth Knox, and more.   PROGRAM #3676 Hardanger Fiddle Music (First aired on 12/23/2014)   ARTIST(S) RECORDING CUT(S) SOURCE Lumen Drones (Nils Okland/Per Steinar Lie/Orjan Haaland) Lumen Drones Dark Sea [3:54] ECM 2434 http://ecmrecords.com Annbjørg Lien Baba Yaga Aja [6:27] North Side #6044 / Grappa Musikkforlag GRCD 4158 annbjorglien.com Robin Williamson w/ Mat Maneri, viola and Ches Smith, drums Trusting In The Rising Light Our Evening Walk [5:40] ECM 2393 ecmrecords.com Lumen Drones (Nils Okland/Per Steinar Lie/Orjan Haaland) Lumen Drones Keelwater [6:15] See above. Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh & Dan Trueman Laghdú fead an iolair [4:02] store.irishmusic.net Carla Kihlstedt Borrowed Arms Hold My Own [5:00] kihlstedtbossi.bandcamp.com Garth Knox D'Amore Malor me bat (2004) [4:54] ECM 1925 ecmrecords.com  

Hear music for the combination of choir and percussion like "Whispers and Cries," by Australian born composer Andrew Byrne, which features fellow Aussie musicians Astra Choir and Speak Percussion.  The show won't always stick to traditional choirs and percussion. In Daniel Lentz's "Postludium," the choir members rub and strike wine glasses while singing, and Anna Thorvaldsdottir's "into-Second Self" features a layered choir of two brass instruments. In addition to rhythmic and driving drumming, hear more of the atmospheric and colorful role of percussion in music for the combination of choir and percussion. The centerpiece of the show, a work called "Whispers and Cries," by Australian born composer Andrew Byrne, features fellow Aussie musicians Astra Choir and Speak Percussion. PROGRAM #3670 Music for Choir and Percussion (First aired on 12/8/2014)   ARTIST(S) RECORDING CUT(S) SOURCE Daniel Lentz Missa Umbrarum Postludium, excerpt New Albion Records Amazon Andrew Byrne. Performed by Astra Choir and Speak Percussion Striking; Whispers and Cries Whispers and Cries: 1. Song for Voice [5:28] Available for purchase directly through composer here: andrewbyrne.com Daniel Lentz Missa Umbrarum Postludium [8:17] See above. Anna Thorvaldsdottir Aeriality into-Second Self [7:39] Deutsche Grammophon Amazon Andrew Byrne. Performed by Astra Choir and Speak Percussion Striking; Whispers and Cries Whispers and Cries: 2. Song for Crotales [5:24] See above. Andrew Byrne. Performed by Astra Choir and Speak Percussion Striking; Whispers and Cries Whispers and Cries: 3. Song for Piano [4:57] See above. Daniel Lentz Missa Umbrarum Lascaux, excerpt [9:12] See above.

Listen to music for two-somes by Xylouris White, Mary Lattimore & Jeff Zeigler, Jeffrey Zeigler (confusingly) & Jason Treuting, Piers Faccini & Vincent Segal, and more.

Hear some sax players leading the way on this edition of New Sounds, including new music from sax player Tamar Osborn and her London-based Afro-Eastern-space-jazz band, Collocutor.  Listen to their dreamy Turkish & Middle Eastern percussion meets Sun Ra jazz with electronics.  Then, there's lyrical and swinging new music from sax & clarinet wizard/composer Ken Thomson and his outfit Slow/Fast.  There's also the brand new recording of the "Terminals" concertos by drummer/composer Bobby Previte for percussion ensemble and soloists, his "Terminal 2" for saxman Greg Osby.   The series of works was inspired by the schematic-like terminal maps that Previte has noticed in airports around the world.  The recording also features So Percussion.  Plus, there's music from Peter Gordon and Love Of Life Orchestra, and more. PROGRAM #3659 Sax Leads the Way (First aired on 11/10/2014)   ARTIST(S) RECORDING CUT(S) SOURCE Ken Thomson and Slow/Fast Settle Settle, excerpt NCM East Records ktonline.net Collocutor Instead Gozo [6:00] On The Corner Recordsonthecornerrecords.bandcamp.com Peter Gordon & Love of Life Orchestra Symphony 5 Homeland Security [9:54] Foom foommusic.bandcamp.com Ken Thomson and Slow/Fast Settle Settle [10:12] NCM East Records ktonline.net So Percussion feat. Greg Osby Bobby Previte: Terminals Bobby Previte: Terminal 2 [16:00] Cantaloupe Music CA21102 Amazon Fred Frith and John Butcher The Natural Order Faults of His Feet [6:27] Northern Spy Records northernspyrecords.com