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In All Languages Playlists Morning Ragas Sunday, 6:00am - 8:00am The sister show to Raag Aur Taal, this show focuses exclusively on the ragas of classical Indian music that are traditionally listened to at dawn or during the early morning. The raga is not a tune, melody, scale, mode, or any concept for which an English word exists. Instead, a raag functions both as description and prescription; it describes a general melodic practice, while it prescribes rules on how to build a certain melody. Compositions in Indian classical music are built on the rules of a raag. The Hindi/Urdu word "raag" is derived from the Sanskrit "raga" which means "color, or passion." The notion of the morning raga may then be thought of as an aural method of coloring the mind of the listener, through a combination of various acoustic characteristics, with sentiments that complement the morning atmosphere. Raag Aur Taal Sunday, 7:00pm - 9:00pm Previously known as Garam Masala, Raag Aur Taal explores the sounds and rich cultural heritage of South Asia with hosts Pooja Agarwal and Swarup Swaminathan. The term "Raag Aur Taal" roughly translates to "melody and rhythm," indicating the classical nature of this program. Each week, we journey into the classical music traditions of the Indian subcontinent, as well as other artistic forms including dance and theater. Devotional and folk music is occasionally explored as well. The program also hosts the much loved annual Festival of South Asian Music each August. You can contact Raag Aur Taal with any questions at raagaurtaal@gmail.com. In All Languages Sunday, 11:00pm - 2:00am The flagship show of the department, In All Languages presents a focused examination of a different musical tradition each week. The program draws from a library of ethnomusicological and field recordings, as our goal is to present music that is embedded in a particular society or way of life, and not recordings made for commercial purposes. Some recent episodes include: Magyar folk music of Hungary, Aboriginal music of Australia, Classical music of Iran, Mbira music as found in Africa, devotional music of South Asia, Mountain music of Peru, and Conch Shell music of Tonga. The African Show Thursday, 10:00pm - 12:00am Our program of African music, news, and politics happens to be the longest running African show in New York. Founded by Joe Mensah, the African Show was co-hosted by the legendary Babatunde Olatunji until this team handed over the show to current host Lawrence Nii Nartey in the late 1970's. Nii is exceptionally proud of the wealth of music that the African continent has produced and strives to present African music in all its variety, from traditional to popular, from West to East, from North to South. Over the years, guests of the show include: I.K. Dairo, E.T. Mensah, Tabu Ley Rochereau, Manu Dibango, Sam Mangwana, Nana Ampadu of African Brothers International, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Soukous Stars, Hugh Masakela, and Doudou Ndiaye Rose. The show also plays host to an annual festival of African culture around Thanksgiving time. Reggae Riddims Friday, 12:00am - 1:00am Saturday, 6:00am - 10:00am These two programs present the greatest and the latest in reggae music. Reggae Riddims covers the full spectrum of Jamaican music, from the foundation to the most current hits. The selection is always kept strictly positive and guest sounds are featured every week. This unique approach has attracted numerous guests to the program in recent years, including: 'Family Man' Barrett, the Congos, Sammy Dread, Sly Dunbar, Phillip Frazier, Joe Higgs, Junior Marvin, Junior Reid, Judah Eskander Tafari; veteran DJs Ranking Joe, Sister Nancy, U Brown; foundation producers Clive Chin (of the Impact label), Carlton Patterson (of the Black and White label), Manzy Swabie (of the Ja-Man label); newer artists Junior Kelly and Luciano; and historians Steve Barrow, Roger Steffens, and Chris Wilson. The show also hosts several marathons including the Labor Day Weekend Reggae Marathon and the Bob Marley - Dennis Brown Birthday Broadcast. Sounds of China Saturday, 10:00am - 12:00pm This variety program is put together by the Sounds of China student group of Columbia University, and is presented in Chinese dialects. Sets within a given show range from traditional music to the latest popular music, from comedic sketches to news features. Visit the Sounds of China web page. |
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