Classical Music

Classical Music

Classical Music

Classical Music

Classical Music

Classical Music

Classical Music

Classical Music

Classical Music

Classical Music

Classical Music

Classical Music

Ancient Civilisations of Southern Africa - Bushman, Zulu, Ve

Best of Greece, Vol. 1

Although peaceful international dialogue may seem as elusive as ever, the shining exceptions are all the more heart-warming. Two Syrian and Chinese musicians met in Minnesota. The rest is history. Both artists came from lands going through political strife- Issam Rafea living through the recent war in Syria, and Gao Hong growing up during the Cultural Revolution. Now, they continue to pursue their musical visions in the United States. They both are performers and composers and love to improvise, just like they have had to navigate their lives to survive. They both use their hearts to play music, and both believe that music needs to come from their souls and deepest feelings. Life As Is is a reflection of both of their lives. It is their life stories, as reflected in the track titles. Both of them "Walking the Distance" to America to follow their dreams. They recorded the music on a rainy summer day, and even though they didn't talk about what "Summer Rain" should sound like, they shared the exact same feelings. Their lives have not always been easy, and that is expressed in "Undercurrent" and the uncertainty of their lives in "Up and Down." But even in their darkest hours, they still remained optimistic and hopeful, as if there were a "Hidden Dance" soon to appear. Sometimes, living so far away, they get "Homesick" and have a "Heavy Heart" as they miss their homelands and families, but they keep working hard and chasing their dreams as in "Chasing Butterflies."And they are thankful for the music they have made together in their "Chance Encounter." They share their happy "Childhood" stories in their music. So many wonderful stories, but they realize life is so short, just like a "Short Film." This is their life, these their tales- "Life As Is!"

Rafa El Tachliela: Flamenco Romantico

Kinross and District Pipe Band: Pipes and Drums of Scotland

In their new release Tango Fado Duo, guitarist Pedro H. da Silva and bandoneonist Daniel Binelli explore the relationship between the sensuality of Argentine tango and the passion of Portuguese fado, interweaving the traditional sounds of their respective instruments. Although tango and fado originate from two distant countries and differ in rhythm and instrumentation, they are closely related in harmony, melody, and lyrical themes. Internationally renowned composer, arranger and master of the bandoneon, Argentine musician Daniel Binelli tours extensively in concert and recital. Binelli is also widely acclaimed as the foremost exponent of the music of Astor Piazzolla. Binelli is the Musical Director of the Tango Metropolis Company, which was featured in the PBS documentary Tango: The Spirit of Argentina and in a BBC documentary on Astor Piazzolla's life. Pedro H. da Silva is an award-winning composer, guitarist, educator, and multi-instrumentalist whose umerous accolades include the 2015 ASCAP Plus Award. A professor of composition and classical guitar at New York University, da Silva is the Music Director of the Manhattan Camerata, which he co-founded with his wife, the composer and pianist Luc�a Caruso.

V 2: SAHARA GROOVE

Classical Music

African Homeland: Voices and Rhythms from Zimbabwe

The futurists noisily proclaimed their message in Italy prior to the outbreak of World War I. Manifesto followed on manifesto, every form of violence, including war, was glorified, and anarchism, misogyny, and the destruction of everything representing tradition was preached. A few composers were also among their ranks, but Steffen Schleiermacher’s latest discovery demonstrates that their works sometimes contrasted greatly with the literary pamphlets issued by this group. Great music nevertheless – or perhaps for this very reason – was the result. Things get underway with Francesco Balilla Pratella, the declared favorite of the furturist “top gun” Marinetti and the author of a futurist manifesto of his own. “Battle” from the trilogy “Expectation-Battle-Victory” could also stand for the program of futurist music, but things did not turn out this way. Already Gian Francesco Malipiero’s “Preludi autunnali” contain an autumn melancholy that sounds more like Debussy and Ravel than war and destruction. Alfredo Casella’s “A note alta” is the most extensive work on this album. True to its title, this work evokes all sorts of associations with a hot and sultry Mediterranean night, including the erotic adventure that Casella claims to have set to music- but the listener will decide! Alberto Savinio, today at most known as a poet or a painter, offers in “Les Chants de la Mi-Mort” a richly allusive, entertaining collage. Three short pieces of caricatural pomposity by Silvio Mix conclude the tour of Italy’s avant-garde. The legendary Manfred Burki Steinway concert grand piano from 1901 and Schleiermacher’s unerring feeling for fine nuances guarantee that tonal refinement gets its fair share along with all these surprising finds.

Classical Music

Shafqat Ali Khan: Sublime Sufi - New Perspectives On Ancient

Sensitive Skin, the new album from award-winning Finnish accordionist, composer and adventurist Kimmo Pohjonen, on Ondine's Octopus label, follows his successful Uniko (ODE 1185-2) that featured the Kronos Quartet and Samuli Kosminen. Pohjonen's new compositions explore dynamic, fresh sonic territory with, once again, the Kronos Quartet, amongst many more special guests from the world of Finnish music. Recipient of the Pro Finlandia Medal in 2012 and a nominee for the Nordic Council's Music Prize in 2013, Mr. Pohjonen continues to perform in numerous festivals, including those that feature world music, rock and classical music. Soundbreaker, the documentary film about Kimmo Pohjonen directed by Kimmo Koskela, premiered in 2012 and has been shown in over thirty countries.