May 4-8
This Week's Music Around the World-Traditional and Contemporary Music-Belarus
Belarus Folk Music (4:46) (found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ojKX8JIhHYY&list=RDojKX8JIhHYY&start_radio=1) Here is some traditional Belarusian folk music and dance performed by the ensemble Dudariki at a school in Minsk, 2006). Love the hammered dulcimers!
N.R.M.-Factory (5:17) (found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=veYU2B5hcTs&list=RDveYU2B5hcTs&start_radio=1) N.R.M. is probably the best known rock band formed in Minsk in 1994. They are considered the most popular rock band in Belarus. They perform at home and abroad.
Lyapis Trubetskoy-I Believe (3:06) (found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKmNK92rn4g) Lyapis Trubetskoy was an incredibly popular Belarusian rock band. This is an interesting song that emphasizes believing in love, kindness and hope concluding in a strong faith in humanity and spiritual forces beyond formal religion.
Dreamlin-Upside Down (4:18) (found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D20bOQ5yyyE) I found some very popular electronic music groups in Belarus like Randomajestiq and Dreamlin. Here is one of Dreamlin's pieces with footage from road tripping in Belarus.
This Week's Music Around the World-Traditional and Contemporary Music-Libya
Zokra, Zumba or Zookra (1:55) (found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5VnBXaVEIU&list=RDe5VnBXaVEIU&start_radio=1) This Libyan bagpipe has a double chanter and terminates in two cow horns.
Malouf Music (0:57) (found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EGBLtLJv4Mk&list=PLkS0TiwnX2ZT_csgWhHeyHP6jE47T0H7z&index=3) Malouf or Ma'luf singing is perhaps the most important cultural music in Libya. It comes from the Andalusians who arrived after their expulsion from Spain in the 17th century.
Amazigh Music (Libyan singer Dania Ben-Sassi and Amazigh music legend Idir) (4:31) (found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7nndUo64QA&list=PLtYiyMuS-FmNxnDEOEzAz9iqQMzQ3KB3Y&index=6) The Amazigh are the indigenous ethnic people of North Africa who are working to reclaim identity. Amazigh music is important in Libya.
Chaabi Music (3:57) (found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISD7h8nCx-c&list=PLtiv0vNddhcS-fIR3fv5ZkeKTrXdKx_1X) Chaabi music is popular dance music in Libya often featured at weddings or celebrations.
This Week's Music Around the World-Traditional and Contemporary Music-Montenegro
Kolo Dance (2:21) (found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KANJbFMK-A&list=RD_KANJbFMK-A&start_radio=1) The Kolo is a traditional folk dance involving large groups of people dancing in circle or semi-circle. It is often called the Oro in Montenegro.
Epic Song-Gusle (8:54) (found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DUSrOTtGV8k) Slavko Goranović performs an epic song. From Wiki: Montenegrins' long-standing history of struggle for freedom and independence is invariably linked with strong traditions of oral epic poetry. Traditionally, they are delivered to the audience accompanied by the music produced by a gusle, a one-string instrument played by the storyteller (guslar), who sings or recites the stories of heroes and battles in decasyllabic verse.
Montenegrin Guitar Duo-J.S. Bach: English Suite No. 5, BWV 810, VI. Gigue (2:52) (found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LOQ9s3z4S4s&list=PLSlaa29EQHJ_oFjHc3evxCHHah7fbd-qp) There are some well known and award winning classical guitarists in Montenegro. This is Goran Krivokapić and Danijel Cerović-known as the Montenegrin Guitar Duo.
Perper-Goro Moja (3:24) (found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ky9hPRxSU84&list=RDKy9hPRxSU84&start_radio=1) Perper is probably the best known rock band out of Montenegro. This is a popular anthemic song by the band. It is a call for hope, resilience and a better future during difficult times.
This Week's Music Around the World-Traditional and Contemporary Music-Greenland
Drum Dancing (1:14) (found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jVZFCB5iQaU) Greenland music is mix of Inuit and Danish with influences from the US and UK. Drum Dancing is a 4500 year old Inuit art form combining rhythmic drumming on the frame of a traditional drum, story telling, body movement and song.
Nive Nielson (2:17) (edited from film found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kj51lptku6Y&list=RDKj51lptku6Y&start_radio=1) Nive Nielson usually performs with her band The Deer Children and is a popular Inuk singer, songwriter and actress from Nuuk. This is a solo performance of her song 'Pirate Song'.
Nuuk Posse-Qitik (4:00) (found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2xdYseLoRE&list=RDEM_QrFuh8Yy2df-n38iYQIEA&start_radio=1) Greenland people love rock and hip hop. Here is an example of one of the early important hip hop groups in Greenland. They sing in the Greenlandic language.
Nanook-Ingerlaliinnaleqaagut (3:51) (found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gp-fckkHG7M&list=RDGp-fckkHG7M&start_radio=1&rv=Gp-fckkHG7M) Nanook is a very popular musical group from Greenland. They're singing in the Greenlandic language of Kalaallisut.