October 5-9
As we are starting our Thriller Dance and that takes some time we aren't doing a country this week. Australia, which was scheduled here, is moved to December.
October 12-16 (Monday is Thanksgiving)
This Week's Music Around the World-Traditional and Contemporary Music-Mongolia
Batzorig Vaachig-Chingis Khaan (4:09) (found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mks-Y_PF_7o&list=RDMks-Y_PF_7o&start_radio=1). The morin khuur or horsehead fiddle is a vital part of Mongolian music. So is Mongolian or Tuvan overtone or throat singing. This form of singing is listed as an 'Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity' by UNESCO. This video demonstrates both the fiddle and singing.
The Hu-Yuve Yuve Yu (5:52) (found athttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4xZUr0BEfE&list=RDv4xZUr0BEfE&start_radio=1) I've seen the Hu two times live-they come to Vancouver regularly it seems. This is a very popular Mongolian band.
Ertni Saihan-Long Song-Mongolian National Wind Orchestra (5:15) (found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ErsGoDYihbc&list=RDErsGoDYihbc&start_radio=1). The long song is also very important in Mongolian music. It is called long song because the song is long and each syllable is extended. Widipedia notes that a four minute song may consist of only ten words. This song comes from the time of Ghengis Khan in the 13th century.
Khusugtun (3:58) (found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TpQBG_W-vdg&list=RDTpQBG_W-vdg&start_radio=1) This is a traditional music group (Khusugtun) playing a song about legendary Mongolian hero 'Tooroi Bandi'. We get the full meal here with traditional instruments and some really fabulous throat singing!
October 19-23 (Friday is NID-Provincial)
This Week's Music Around the World-Traditional and Contemporary Music-Jamaica
This Week's Music Around the World-Traditional and Contemporary Music -Jamaica
Jamaica did have an indigenous peoples who populated the island when the Spanish arrived in the fifteenth century, but Christopher Columbus and his folk murdered them all in short order. The music is thus influenced only by all who came after. Arguably the largest influence is all the people who were brought from Africa through the years of a slave-holding colony by the Spanish and then the English. For this week's tour we'll run from mento to ska to reggae to reggae fusion.
Mento Music (5:57) (found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dverlfiJTcs&list=PLm2ehLZwYRXmjEr6u614kGrv4YTVrjgkL) We'll get to reggae, as we must, but before reggae there was the folk 'mento' music. This is played on accoustic guitars and banjos and the rhumba box (like a large kalimba that is sat upon while played). Here's is an excellent example of mento.
Ska Music-Skaracha-Stuck in My Head (3:24) (found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-tJt0yBw554&list=RD-tJt0yBw554&start_radio=1) Ska combines mento, calypso (from Trinidad and Tobago), jazz and rhythm and blues. Modern ska often throws elements of punk music into the mix. Many of the original Jamaican ska bands were popular in the 60's before music videos were a 'thing'. Last time I did Jamaica I couldn't find a ska band from Australia with live video and had to use one from Australia but here is a current Jamaican ska band! They are from Jamaica, and are reviving the ska tradition with new tunes and old classics.
Bob Marley and the Wailers-One Love (2:45) (found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WDZ9kmIA4yE) For reggae I have chosen the song considered iconic. In fact I would say that most people think first of Bob Marley when they think of Jamaican music. The Wailers originally recorded this in ska style in 1965 but the version everyone knows is this, in reggae style, 1977. This video was created posthumously in 1984 when they were putting together a greatest hits package for Marley after his death.
G Whizz-Life (3:38) (found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F6TIHdD1hso) Reggae fusion is reggae fused with other forms of music like pop, rock, hip-hop, etc. I could have gone all over the world for reggae fusion, including choosing hits that were massive in North America. I listened to a lot of songs but I wanted to pull a song from Jamaica. Jamaican G Whizz is sometimes called a dancehall reggae artist. This 2009 breakout hit was adored by many for its positivity.
October 26-30
This Week's Music Around the World-Traditional and Contemporary Music-Portugal
Fado (Saudade-pronounced sow-dad) (2:35) (found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sFjeMZomano) I usually don't use documentary style films-but this one demonstrates the music and explains it so well. Fado is the music of Portugal. It is on UNESCO's list of intangible cultural heritages. I see it as a sort of flamenco meets blues. The best translation for Saudade, another name or word used to describe this music-is 'longing'.
Ana Moura-Dia De Folga (2:37) (found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KjN0BoDO_Sw&list=RDKjN0BoDO_Sw&start_radio=1) Ana Moura is an internationally recognized fadista. She sings traditional fado but also a modern upbeat version called 'solar' or 'sunny fado'. This is an example of her work.
Carlos Paredes -Verdes Anos (1:40) (found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W2X_7Gi5krs&list=RDW2X_7Gi5krs&start_radio=1) The Portuguese guitar is an important instrument. It is a pear-shaped 12 string acoustic instrument. Carlos Paredes is considered one of the greatest players of all time. I learned of him through Mrs. Farinha whose father is a big fan!
Cante Alentejano (10:17) (found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Pn53uSYwOM&list=RD_Pn53uSYwOM&start_radio=1) Again, this is a documentary style film. I won't show the whole thing but a bit to learn about Cante Alentejano. this is a vocal music (no instrumentation) that is in UNESCO's List of Intangible Cultural Heritages along with Fado.