15 December 2010

I've succumbed to the season. On this ultimate Komodo Dragon Show of 2010, I present Messiaen's outré Vingt regards sur l'Enfant-Jésus and Schütz's dank Christmas oratorio. I will have found my way back when the broadcast resumes on 5 January 2011.

1. Olivier ("Je suis complètement fou") Messiaen: Vingt regards sur l'Enfant-Jésus (1944)
Louise Bessette - piano
Atma Classique, ACD 2 2219/20
127:28
("Contemplation of the Christ child in the manger and the gazes which fall upon him.")

2. Heinrich Schütz: Histora der Geburt Jesu Christi (1664)
Frieder Bernius - conductor, Musica Fiata Köln, Barockorchester Stuttgart
Sony, SK 45943
32'
(Canadians, imagine you're listening to CBC Stereo's Choral Concert ca. 1989.)

01 December 2010

The Komodo goes comodo. Tune in for an exposé of Râstpanjgâh, the most rarely-performed of Iranian classical modes, which is said to set a "mood conducive to thinking, concentration and enlightenment." We are a University after all.

Set #1 - 8:00am - 9:00am

1. Dastgâh-e Navâ & Avâz Bayât-e Kord (rec. 1994)
Hossein Alizâdeh - tar, Madjid Khaladj - tombak
Musique iranienne, improvisations
Buda Records, 92622-2
57'

Set #2 - 9:00am - 10:00am

2. Dastgâh-e Râstpanjgâh (rec. 1996)
Hossein Alizâdeh - tar, Madjid Khaladj - tombak
Mahoor Institute of Culture and Art, M.CD-186
61'
(The Ionian mode, or major scale on F.)

Set #3 - 10:00am - 11:00am

3. Dastgâh-e Râstpanjgâh (rec. 2008)
Mozafar Shafii - voice, Farid Kheradmand - tombak, Rezâ Parviz-Zâde - kemanche, Behnâz Behnâm-Niâ - oud, Leyli Atashkâr - setar
Iran: Mozafar Shafii et l'Ensemble Râst
Ocora, C 560228
40'