Music

Earliest ancient Chinese musical instruments unearthed in tomb complex

/ Rudy Carrera / Leave a comment

From the rather odd archaeological website, Ancient Origins:

China Daily reports the musical finds were uncovered in the tomb complex in Hubei province. A plucked string instrument was found, known as the “Se”. Thousands of years ago, the long, flat board instruments were fitted with 50 strings of twisted silk, and were instruments for the elite used in rituals and sacrificial offerings. Eventually the instrument evolved into the guzheng, notes Wikipedia. The se is one of the most important Chinese stringed instruments to be created, but there are very few modern musicians who can play the se.

Interesting, indeed! Read more here.

[Podcast] ‘Haunted’ by Christina Liveri

/ Rudy Carrera / Leave a comment

https://www.mixcloud.com/widget/iframe/?feed=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mixcloud.com%2Fliverichris%2Fhaunted%2F&embed_uuid=1b082649-ebba-4393-8e77-abce9bd2e023&replace=0&hide_cover=1&embed_type=widget_standard&hide_tracklist=1

Haunted by Christina Liveri on Mixcloud

One of my favorite podcasters out of Greece, Christina touches on tracks by U.N.K.L.E., Dead Can Dance, and many others. A worthy follow (would you expect any less?).

[Video] Zagasan Shireet Tamga – Eki Attar (Mongolian Music [Rap Style] Throat Song “Fish Symboled Stamp”)

/ Rudy Carrera / Leave a comment

I take a tremendous amount of pride bringing interesting (dare I say, tasteful?) things to my friends and subscribers. This is one of the most unique offerings I’ve been fortunate enough to come across in quite a while. Mongolia offers many great styles of ethnic music, but I never thought I’d see Khöömei (throat-singing) paired with rap. I’m not much of a fan of modern hip-hop at all, but this really has me fascinated.

Points for anyone who can find the name of the band and the actual name of the song. I’d love to hear more from these guys.

UPDATE: The band is called Zagasan Shireet Tamga. The song, apparently is ‘Eki Attar’ (Good Horses).

[Video] Arvo Pärt – Kanon Pokajanen

/ Rudy Carrera / Leave a comment

Today is Christmas Eve on the Julian Calendar, and one of the holiest days of the Eastern Orthodox calendar. The Nativity of Jesus (Christmas) is celebrated tomorrow, and though tonight is spent preparation for the great feast, I had enough time to drop two small gifts under this digital Christmas tree.

The first is the music of Arvo Pärt, a world-famous Estonian composer who is surely well-known to regular readers of this page. He is also a devout member of the Estonian Orthodox Church, and you can hear this influence in his compositions.

Gift two is the article attached to it. The author, Fr. Ivan Moody, happens to be a fine composer in his own right, and his works will soon me gracing these pages. He also happens to be an Orthodox priest, and the article is hosted by the Orthodox Christian Network, which can be read here.

For me, personally, it is the most wonderful thing in the world to wed two subjects I have a great passion for: Orthodoxy and the avant-garde. May you who partake have a wonderful Nativity.

Hristos se Rodi!