November 3-7
This Week's Music Around the World-Traditional and Contemporary Music-Syria
Muwashah Maqwam Huzam Takht al-Nagham Lubana AlQuntar (4:16) (found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CAV5mtbuuC8&list=RDCAV5mtbuuC8&start_radio=1) Muwashshah is the traditional poetic and vocal art form from Syria and considered a treasure of the Arabic world. These are poems usually sung with a monophonic melody line (single melody-not multiple levels).
Syrian oud player Kinan Ednawi-festival in Damascus (11:01) (found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9LJRdAf3EXE&list=RD9LJRdAf3EXE&start_radio=1) The oud is an important traditional instrument in Syria and around the whole region.
Syrian Dabke Dancing (10:51) (found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5fVzmOgPIWY&list=RD5fVzmOgPIWY&start_radio=1) Dabke is a traditional Syrian dance featuring energetic footwork, stomping and group formation.
Assala Nasri-Fouq (3:08) (found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mK1LJXdWf5Y&list=RDEMYza9pHiIKMnh0UtAeUol8g&start_radio=1) Assala is a highly acclaimed Syrian singer and is considered very influential in Arabic music.
November 10-14
This Week's Music Around the World-Traditional and Contemporary Music-Botswana
Musical Bow (1:16) (found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TS0n81EG2Xw) This is an ancient instrument from Botswana.
Dikopelo Music-Kgatleng District-(3:46) (found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CmqDuPBDb7Q) This is a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage piece in need of protection-a vocal singing and dancing in patterned choreography from an area in the Southeast of Botswana.
Choir Music-Maikano Serenaders-Tshaba Toshiba kola (1:37) (Found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jRoZiC2uG14) Choral music is very popular in Botswana. This is a University Choir from Gaborone-the capital of Botswana.
John Banda (nickname Simba) -Kadoja (2:39) (found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFqdD4QFYIw&list=PL9290AB7CC73F34ED) I read that Botswana doesn't have a huge local music industry-artists often perform and record in South Africa for instance. Local musicians like this one are really part of an 'Indy' scene (Independent Music). Simba is from the village of Mochudi in Botswana.
November 17-21
This Week's Music Around the World-Traditional and Contemporary Music-Tajikistan
Falak Music (8:27) (found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gjHuxKwXYus&list=PLhrINbZEBljQlBKD4yNvNgnWxUEynUKIl&index=3). 'Falak lyrics can involve religious-mystical themes of divine love, separation and reunion (often drawn from Persian or Sufi poetry), or secular and melancholy lyrics of human love and suffering'
Shashmaqam Music (0:59) (found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fG5UFhjW04g) As is traditional with this form of music we see a pair of long-necked lutes and the dayra or frame drum which has jingles making it like a tambourine.
Shabnam Surayo and Shavkat Umarov-Gijdalla (Live) (3:02) (found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XDW9d9kCUts&list=RDEM7YsG4O-O4FUovXqEyhWW5w&index=2 Shabnam Surayo is a very popular modern pop star in Tajikistan. She's singing with another well known Tajik singer here, Shavkat Umarov.
Nekruz Niyozov-Gharibi (4:37) (found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Y1ol5Catx4&list=RD0Y1ol5Catx4&start_radio=1) Gharibi is 'the song of a stranger', a sad music/song that mourns workers and farmers who had to leave their land. Nekruz Niyozov was an Afghani musician but he appears to be honouring this music form here. Nekurz translates to 'exile', 'strangeness', or 'being a stranger'.