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.)

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'