World music, compiled by Pieter de Rooij and Carolien Cleiren.
Divers music from Greece, India, Italy, and the Netherlands.
In this episode, we will hear various music in which traditional and modern styles meet. Works that vary from gloomy and utterly melancholic, to highly cheerful and careless, performed by musicians from Greece, India, Italy, and the Netherlands.
The episode will start with two recordings of the Greek miroloi, improvised instrumental lamentations as they are performed in Epirus’s old musical tradition in Northwestern Greece. The first work, named Epirotica Mirologi, is a recording from 1926 and is played by violinist Alexis Zoumbas. In 2014, New York Times dedicated a large article about this special work. In this article, music journalist Amanda Petrusisch said the historic recording to be “one of the most devastating bits of music I’ve ever encountered”.
After this, we will hear an instrumental lamentation from Epirus in a more recent recording from 1993, and starring clarinet virtuoso Petros Chalkias.
After the sad Greek melodies, we will hear cheerful tones from Maati Baani, an Indian band conducted by singer Nirali Kartik- specialized in Indian raga. Maati Baani produces a powerful and funky sound that consists of a worldwide mixture of many musical traditions and diverse music styles, but it never loses its typical Indian sound.
After the uplifting colourful sounds of Maati Baani, we will listen to a beautiful work full of melancholy, in a composition for saxophone, piano, double bass, and string quartet: The Kingdom – Where Nobody Dies. It is the work of the famous Italian jazz pianist Enrico Pieranunzi. It sounds like a very successful fusion of film music, jazz, and classical music.
Finally, two recordings of Holland Baroque, a unique Dutch baroque orchestra that make music with tradition, innovation, surprise, and a bit of entertainment. Holland Baroque is very diverse and has shared the stage with lots of different musicians, not just from the classical world, but from the pop- and jazz world as well. We will hear two collaborations. First, together with the guitarist, singer, and writer from Boxmeer BJ Baartmans with the song Monnikenwerk, that he wrote at Holland Baroque’s request. It is about the 17th-century priest Benedictus Buns from Boxmeer. After this, in conclusion, the optimistic song Half April, will be performed by singer Daniël Lohues and Holland Baroque. “It will get better mid-April” is what can be heard, and this text makes us look forward optimistically.
Playlist:
During the programme’s introduction:
Name: Dirge And Stroto (Miroloi)
Performed by: Giorgos Gevgelis
Composer: trad.
Album: Greek Folk Instruments – Various Artists
Label and Year: FM Records, 2012
Next:
Name: Epirotica Mirologi
Performed by: Alexis Zoumbas
Composer: trad.
Album: A Lament For Epirus 1926-1928
Label and Year: Angry Mom Records, 2014
Name: Miroloi En Dansen Uit De Streek Pogoni, Epirus
Performed by: Petros Chalkias, and others
Composer: trad.
Album: Miroloi – Muziek Uit Epirus
Label and Year: VPRO Eigenwijs EW 9305, 1993
Name: Moko Kahaan
Performed by: Maati Baani, and others
Composer: Nirali Kartik
Album: Nomad Songs
Label and Year: Release under own management, 2021
Name: Jao Piya
Performed by: Maati Baani, and others
Composer: Kartik Shah, Nirali Kartik
Album: The Music Yantra: Season 1
Label and Year: Release under own management, 2018
Name: Albela Sajan
Performed by: Maati Baani, and others, ft. Elena Botica
Composer: Ustad Sultan Khan
Album: Nomad Songs
Label and Year: Release under own management, 2021
Name: Dhoom
Performed by: Maati Baani, and others, ft. Salim Khan
Composer: Kartik Shah, Nirali Kartik
Album: Nomad Songs
Label and Year: Release under own management, 2021
Name: The Kingdom – Where Nobody Dies
Performed by: Enrico Pieranunzi & String Quartet, Rosario Giuliani, Marc Johnson
Composer: Enrico Pieranunzi
Album: Les Amants
Label and Year: Egea SCA 106, 2004
Name: Monnikenwerk
Performed by: BJ Baartmans, Holland Baroque
Composer: BJ Baartmans
Album: Monnikenwerk (single)
Label and Year: Continental Record Services, 2021
Name: Half April
Performed by: Daniël Lohues, Holland Baroque
Composer: D.H.J. Lohues
Album: Half April (single)
Label and Year: Ericana Records, 2021
