Playlists
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HOS 1009: Soundclouds
Since the time of CLAUDE DEBUSSY at the turn of the 20th century, composers have sought to go beyond the conventions of the Western classical tradition. Debussy revolutionized writing for orchestra with floating harmonies, exotic Eastern melodies and non-traditional orchestration, and made the leap from Impressionist painting to Impressionism in music. We feature one of his signature compositions "Nuages" or "Clouds" from his "Three Nocturnes." Today it sounds like harmless film music (or more likely, film music sounds like it) but in 1899 it was revolutionary. If he were alive today, Debussy would be a happy man: electronic instruments, studios and computers have opened up new impressions and vast new worlds of sound, and Ambient composers are creating never-before-heard images of time and space. On this transmission of Hearts of Space, we'll ride those images to high and nebulous realms, on a program called SOUNDCLOUDS.
8 tracks
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HOS 903: Cosmic Traveler
Since the earliest days of electronic music, composers have developed the natural relationship between electronic sounds and images of cosmic space. Free at last from the limits of physical instruments, they could create vast stereo spaces and sustain tones endlessly with an unlimited palette of pitch, timbre, modulation, and resonance. In time, the electronic studio became a vehicle for virtual space flight. It's a theme we've been pursuing since our 23rd program back in 1983. The waning days of winter are a particularly good time to take a cosmic vacation. Restless from too much time indoors, we seek expansive sounds and galactic spaces, filled with dark drones or floating harmonies, a sense of adventure and discovery. On this transmission of Hearts of Space, an interstellar journey called COSMIC TRAVELER.
8 tracks
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T&S 1553: Wales
Explore the diverse indigenous musical traditions of Wales with 4 Yn Y Bar, Sian James, Carreg Lafar, and the roving ambassador of Welsh music, harper Robin Huw Bowen.
13 tracks
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HOS 1005: Ambient Lanois
Canadian engineer, producer, guitarist and solo artist DANIEL LANOIS drifted slowly into worldwide fame during the 1980s as a result of frequent collaborations with Ambient mastermind BRIAN ENO, and work with some of the most famous rock artists of the 20th century. Born in Quebec in 1951, he grew up on French and Irish folk music and rock, and played drums and guitar. His varied musical background, talent for studio work, mastery of electronics and sound processing, and sensitivity to texture and atmosphere made him indispensable as an engineer or producer on key albums by U2, PETER GABRIEL, BOB DYLAN, ROBBIE ROBERTSON, WILLIE NELSON, and others. In 1989 Lanois began a career as a solo artist that continues today. He had moved to his spiritual home in New Orleans in 1987 and built a studio, where he perfected his distinctively rootsy, swampy, atmospheric sound. On this transmission of Hearts of Space, a DANIEL LANOIS retrospective, on a program called AMBIENT LANOIS.
16 tracks
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T&S 1552: Live and Kicking
Thistle & Shamrock Program 1552: Live and Kicking (February 21, 2013) Week 8 Live performances electrify this hour of music with Donal Lunny, Jim Malcolm, Skolvan, and Capercaillie.
12 tracks
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HOS 1004: Electronic North
In winter, the kinetic rhythms, crystalline tones and subtle timbres of the synthesizer/ seem to resonate with the chilled landscape. Whether flying over silent fields, frozen lakes and snow-covered hills, evoking the latent energy of the sleeping flora, or sounding the deep notes of a cold and barren world — electronic music creates a soundscape for the season. On this transmission of Hearts of Space...an hour of superchilled winter electronica, on a program called ELECTRONIC NORTH.
9 tracks
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T&S 1551: A Different Kind of Love Song
Thistle & Shamrock for February 14, 2013 Move beyond the traditional notion of romantic love this week to hear of a love of landscape, of whisky, and of the natural world. Listen for contributions from Shooglenifty, Maura O'Connell, Tony McManus, Danu, Lunasa, Ceolbeg and many more.
15 tracks
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HOS 791: Nordic Soul
The polar night creeps southward across the top of Europe, while the winter snows and ice hold the fjords and forests in their grip. In a land of dark and cold, the focus turns within, and the music of Scandinavia, the Baltics and Russia warms the heart and fills the soul. Classical, jazz and traditional folk sounds stretch from melancholy to an ethereal lightness: slow, majestic and beautiful. On this transmission of Hearts of Space, a far north spacejazz and new music journey called NORDIC SOUL.
11 tracks