World Music Exploration 2010/11 Week 8 - Babasonicos

We wrap up this month's exploration of Argentine music this week with the band, Babasónicos. This rock band came together in the 1990's and quickly became one of the leading groups in the "sonic" underground rock movement in Argentina.

"Babasónicos" refers to Sai Baba, an the Indian guru, and the Spanish version of The Jetsons, Los Supersónicos. The band members are: Adrián "Dárgelos" Rodríguez (lead singer), Diego "Uma-T" Tuñón (keyboards), Diego "Uma" Rodríguez (guitar/lead singer), Diego "Panza" Castellano (drums), Mariano "Roger" Domínguez (guitar) and Gabriel "Gabo" Manelli (bassist). Manelli passed away in 2008 from Hodgkin's Disease.

Babasónicos has won numerous MTV Music Awards in Latin America.

Below is a clip of their song, Microdancing:

(c) 2010 by Musespeak(tm), Calgary, AB, Canada. All rights reserved.

World Music Exploration 2010/11 Week 7 - Alberto Ginastera

This week, my students and I are exploring one of my favorite composers, Alberto Ginastera. He lived from 1916 - 1983.His musical output is extremely diverse, from ballet (Panambí and Estancia) to concerti, and from opera (Don Rodrigo, Bomarzo) to solo piano works (Danzas Argentinas, Suite de danzas criollas). Ginastera's compositional style incorporates folk elements, serialism, polytonality and cross rhythms.

One interesting tidbit: His second opera Bomarzo premiered in Washington in 1967, but was banned in Buenos Aires for its content and was not staged until 1972.

The following clip is of a piece I performed for my ARCT in Piano Performance, Danzas Argentinas. It was fun but boy, was III - Danza de le gaucho matero ever a doozy to learn!

Danzas Argentinas, op. 2I - Danza del viejo boyero (“Dance of the Old Herdsman”)II - Danza de la moza donosa (“Dance of the Beautiful Maiden”)III - Danza del gaucho matrero (“Dance of the Arrogant Cowboy”)

The performer is Italian pianist Roberto Plano. Career highlights include: First Prize Winner of the 2001 Cleveland International Piano Competition, Finalist at the Twelfth Van Cliburn International Piano Competition (2005),Laureate of the 2003 Honens International Piano Competition and the 2006 Axa Dublin International Piano Competition.(c) 2010 by Musespeak(tm), Calgary, AB, Canada. All rights reserved.

World Music Exploration 2010/11 Week 6 - Astor Piazzolla

This week is Group Class Week for my students. That is, they get a group class in lieu of their regular lesson. Not only does it give my students a chance to interact and socialize, but it gives me time to catch up (or at least attempt to) on paperwork. At the group classes, they will be exploring the Argentine bandoneon player and composer Astor Piazolla.

He lived from 1921 - 1992. Although he was born in Argentina, he moved to New York at a young age.

Thanks to a scholarship, Piazolla studied with Nadia Boulanger in Paris. Boulanger taught many prominent American composers, including Aaron Copland and Phillip Glass. She encouraged Piazolla to explore his Argentinean heritage through music.

Piazolla developed the nuevo tango style, a fusion of Argentine folk music, jazz and contemporary angst. His jazz combo, the Quinteto Tango Nuevo, has performed throughout the world.

This video features Antonio Agri, Hector Console, Horacio Malvicino, Leonardo Marconi, Nestor Marconi and Yo-Yo Ma performing Libertango , a violently passionate tango:

(c) 2010 by Musespeak(tm), Calgary, AB, Canada. All rights reserved.

World Music Exploration 2010/11 Week 5 - Traditional Argentine Music

This month, my students and I will be exploring the music of Argentina. This week, we're listening to traditional music. As with the traditional music of Australia (last month's adventure), traditional music in Argentina is tied to folk dances. Most people think "tango" when they think of Argentine music (me too). For that very reason, I searched for non-tango music examples. There are several types of traditional music in Argentina, including:

• the Chámame: a lively dance with elements from European polkas and waltzes from Eastern Argentina,

• the Cuarteto: an upbeat dance that resembles the mergenue but has strong Spanish and Italian folk music elements. The music is played by accordions, pianos and violins and,

• the Chacarera: a lively dance that emerged from NW Argentina's rural areas. It's a lively square dance with music played by the Spanish guitar and drums.

This week's clip features the Chacarera:

(c) 2010 by Musespeak(tm), Calgary, AB, Canada. All rights reserved.

World Music Exploration 2010/11 Week 4 - INXS

My students and I wrap up our exploration of Australian music this week with the popular rock band INXS. The group first performed as the Farriss Brothers in Sydney, Australia in 1977. Original band members included Michael Hutchence (vocals), Kirk Pengilly (guitar/sax/vocals), Garry Gary Beers (bass), Tim Farriss (guitar), Andrew Farriss (keyboards/ guitar/ percussion/vocals) and Jon Farriss (drums).

Throughout the band's 30 year history,INXS has sold over 30 million records worldwide. They have performed all over the globe, most notably at Wembley Stadium (with the band Queen), the HFS-Tival, the US Festival, the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games and the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games. INXS has won numerous awards and accolades, including International Live Act Of The Year (1986), Rolling Stone Magazine Awards (1991) and ARIA Hall Of Fame inductees (2001).

The death of singer/songwriter Michael Hutchence in November 1997 was a devastating blow. The band continued to perform with guest artists Terence Trent D'Arby and Jon Stevens, however, it wasn't until 2005 that a new lead singer was found. That year, INXS launched their search with a reality TV show “RockStarINXS.” Out of the 100+ singers who auditioned, INXS chose Canadian JD Fortune as the band's new lead singer.

Here's this week's clip: What You Need

(c) 2010 byMusespeak(tm), Calgary, AB, Canada. All rights reserved.