September 9-13
This Week's Music Around the World-Traditional and Contemporary Music-Latvia
Latvian Folk Song-Jūra gāju navas gūt (3:13) (found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-99VOCqTcU). Dainas are the traditional Latvian folk songs. Many are over 1000 years old and experts have identified millions of texts and over 30000 melodies. Here is a song about sea and people lost at sea. Here you also see the kokles or traditional box zithers.
Latvian National Song and Dance Celebration (3:05) (found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYIgwyML7WQ) This celebration is held every 5 years in Latvia. I normally don't show mini documentaries but this one is so phenomenal!
Pērkons-Mana dieniškā dziesma (My Daily Song) (3:59) (found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XaDhZ4vjv60) This band became popular while the Soviet Union still controlled Latvia. They performed protest and rebellious songs often using the poetry of Māris Melgalvs that ridiculed and expressed disapproval of the Soviet. The lead singer passed away in 2024 so I don't think they're active any more.
Prāta Vētra (Brainstorm)-Ogles (4:02) (found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YK-nWjCYXPQ) This is the most popular current rock/pop band in Latvia, and this is one of their most popular songs. 'How to melt what has been poured so it will be like in the past'.
September 16-20
This Week's Music Around the World-Traditional and Contemporary Music-Bahrain
Fan al Sawt music by the Ghalali music and dance group, Muharraq, Bahrain, 2009 (5:38) (found at https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=sawt+music+bahrain) Saw music usually features the oud. The small drums are mirwas.
Fijiri Music (1:12) (found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8lrLHWA5JVM) Fijri are pearl divers sea songs performed when they were onshore
The Bahrain Pearling Pathway or Pearling Trail is a serial cultural heritage site inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2012Liwa Dance (1:41) (found athttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tWPsQ-3v-RU) I found this description of Liwa on another video that wasn't as well filmed: Liwa is a traditional dance of Bahrain. In Liwa, a large number of male participants arrange themselves into a circle, which is anchored by one or several drum players. A man paces in the middle of the group playing a simple reed instrument called mizmar or surnai, whose plaintive sharp sound reminds the listener of an oboe. The circle claps and dances in place, while individuals join a line which rhythmically paces around the inside of the circle. The Liwa is a more casual dance than the others, and can be performed with great spirit and banter from the young men who usually take part.
Musicians Without Borders-Bahrain-Huna Al Bahrain (2:46) (found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWmiheOf8WA) Musicians Without Borders is a music project established in Bahrain by five professional musicians - Saad Mahmood Jawad from Iraq (oud), Ahmed Ghawas from Bahrain (bouzouki), Ibantuta from France (guitar), Carlos Villarroel from Argentina (bass guitar, and Ahmed Maany from Egypt (percussion). Despite their difference in ethnicity, language, and culture, the ensemble speaks a common language, the language of love and peace, a language that transcends boundaries, and that language is music.
The group shares the drive to use their talent to promote peace, engage in open dialogue to broaden their diverse cultural traditions and those of other countries, and represent cultures of the world’s continents in its concerts.
The program of the concert “A Musical Peace” consists of a dozen compositions that embody the group’s global message, including “Huna al-Bahrain”, “Oud Tango”, “Oud Flamenco”, Ayam Zaman”, “Droub al-Safar”, “Pequena Serenata Diurna”, “Farakhanda”, “Manha de Carnaval”, and “Banako”, as well as tributes to several leading figures in Arabic music such as Fairuz, Ammar al-Sheraei, and Dahman al-Harrashi.
September 23-27
This Week's Music Around the World-Traditional and Contemporary Music-Angola
Angola is a Lusophone country. I learned that word! It refers to places where they speak Portuguese. The three biggest indigenous languages ar Umbundu, Kimbundu and Kikongo.
Nelo Carvalho feat Jacob Desvarieux-Mamã Falou-Semba Music! (5:23) (found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dVOGCzFPF74&list=PL4JJToOMtwZU5rJ09Cy2lYvQ-GOaLArrL&index=2) 'Semba is popular in Angola today as it was long before that country's independence from the Portuguese colonial system on November 11, 1975. Various new Semba artists emerge each year in Angola, as they render homage to the veteran semba masters, many of whom are still performing.'
Kizamba Music-Irina França-Eu Amo Angola (2:56) (found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7MmUG4ooh-k) Kizamba music has a slower romantic rhythm and is another very popular music in Angola. Award winning singer Irina spent some time in the U.S. as a child as her parents were diplomats. She is multi-lingual fluently speaking Castilian, French, Arabic, Portuguese and English.
Kudos Music-Afro Panico-Matimba (4:55) (found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ZZEGUBDFW8) Kudoro is another form of dance music extremely popular in Angola. It is an techno or electronic music with heavy Angolan rhythm. “Afro-Panico est un trio de musiciens et de danseurs angolais formé par Silvio Aleks, Sydney Lima et Brayma West. Ce groupe de kuduro et d'afro-house s'est rendu très populaire dans les années 2010 avec ses tubes "Wololo" et "Matimba". ”
Rebita Music and Dance (3:21) (found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=claV0EphpUI) Rebita is an accordion and harmonic based dance and music that originates from Ilha do Cabo just off the coast from Luanda.