Al compas del mundo - programa #70 - international “semi-classical”, experimental, and other musics

Mother Falcon

Not sure exactly how to label all of the music in this week’s program. I tried out international “semi-classical” and that sort of, kind of, works for some cuts. The London Symphony Orchestra, Philip Glass, the Kronos Quartet, Lou Harrison are/were all unabashed classical musicians in the Western sense, yet are found here participating in the creation of worldly strains unrestrained by European precedents. Lambarena at the start, a tribute to Dr. Albert Schweitzer’s work in West Africa, crunches the boundaries of what you might hear in Bach’s home in Germany or back home in Gabon. Two stirring repertoires are better than one! Put Ravi Shankar and Philip Glass together (in their album “Passages”) and dueling cultures turn into a sweet embrace. Javad Maroufi plays classical music as well, Iranian classical. He does it all alone here with a piano and a noble strut. Play it at double-time and it might just recall a little ragtime…I wonder. Mother Falcon defines a sound all their own. Labeled as a symphonic rock band, and recruiting university-level music students, the band consisted of anywhere between a dozen and 18 performers when most active. In a live music-filled career, I have rarely witnessed a more unforgettable concert than Mother Falcon circa 2013 at a divey bar in San Francisco. Literally jammed together on a tiny stage their setting up was a riot all its own. But when that small army exploded into Dirty Summer, it was a wondrous, and thrilling moment. You weren’t there, you can’t feel it, but it sends chills down my spine still, so you’ll just have to believe me. Or look up one of their concerts from that time online. Funny how certain musical expressions can overpower and take us away. Must be magic!

MUSIC LIST - international “semi-classical”, experimental, and other musics

First Broadcst 3-20-2023

01 Lambarena - Pepa Nzac Gnon Ma + Bach Prelude from Partita for Violin No.3 (Gabon and Europe)

02 Kronos Quartet with Hassan Hakmoun - Saade (I'm Happy) (USA and Marroco)

03 Toumani Diabate and the London Symphony Orchestra - Mamadou Kanda Keita (Mali and England)

04 Ravi Shankar and Philip Glass - Sadhanipa (India and USA)

05 Javad Maroufi - Jila (Iran)

06 Lou Harrison - Music for Violin & Various Instruments - III. Alegro moderato (USA)

07 Kepa Junkera & Cobla Sant Jordi - Bok Espok (Basque, Spain)

08 Mother Falcon - Dirty Summer (USA)

09 Joe Jackson – Passacaglia - A Bud and a Slice (Sloth) (England)

10 Charles Lloyd and Maria Farantouri - Greek Suite I Cactus (USA and Greece)

11 Alasdair Fraser and Natalie Haas - Farewell to Nigg (Scotland and USA)

12 Kafka Ensamble - Mediu Xiga (Mexico)

Lou Harrison's version of a jug band seems to make him feel just fine

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