25 April 2008

PGM 837 "AMERICAN PRIMITIVE"

(click program title above for 30 second MP3 promo)
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PGM 837 : "AMERICAN PRIMITIVE"
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PGM NOTE : an acoustic excursion in the American soundscape
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FEED DATE : 4-25-08
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INTRO: The rich, slow, slightly dissonant acoustic guitar
harmonies of WILL ACKERMAN. It's the sound that launched
the Windham Hill label in 1976 and re-energized what
pioneering steel-string guitarist JOHN FAHEY called the
"American primitive guitar."

Primitive because the emphasis was on personal experimentation
and emotional authenticity;
American because it drew upon our
complex melting-pot of musical traditions — hymns, folk and
popular songs, blues, jazz, maverick classical, ethnic rhythms
and immigrant genres — a panorama of musical sources,
freely reinvented.

With 30 years perspective, we can see that Ackerman struck a
deep vein in American culture and enriched it with a new level
of quality. His success inspired a generation of acoustic
musicians to trust their instincts, stick to their instruments,
keep it simple...and from the heart.

On this transmission of HEARTS of SPACE, another acoustic
excursion in the American soundscape called AMERICAN
PRIMITIVE.


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WILL ACKERMAN
In a Region of Clouds <>4:22 >
: RETURNING: PIECES FOR GUITAR 1970-2004; Decca/Mary's Tree
B0003364-02; 2004
: Info: www.williamackerman.com

BUTCH BALDASSARI
As Far As I Can See <>9:19 >
: THE VESPA LOVE FESTIVAL SESSIONS; SoundArt Recordings
SAR-2255; 2007
: Info: www.soundartrecordings.com

LISA LYNNE and ARYEH FRANKFURTER
Mary Magdalena <>13:19 >
Luna de Amor <>18:58 >
Walk with Me <>24:28 >
: TWO WORLDS ONE; Lavender Sky & Lionharp Music LSLM08; 2008
: Info: www.twoworldsone.net; www.lisalynne.com; www.lionharp.com

RUDY PERRONE
Arrows <>28:25 >
: THE LANGUAGE OF SPIRITS; Square Box [no catalog #]; 2007
: Info: www.rudyperrone.com

DAVID MICHAEL and MICHAEL MANDRELL
Cascadia <>33:43 >
Misty Moonrise (edited) <>43:12 >
Hidden Canyon (extended) <>48:09 >
: CASCADIA; Purnima Productions PPCD-1022; 2008
: Info: www.purnimaproductions.com; www.michaelmandrell.com

BUTCH BALDASSARI
Frangenti <>53:56 >
: THE VESPA LOVE FESTIVAL SESSIONS; SoundArt Recordings
SAR-2255; 2007
: Info: www.soundartrecordings.com

WILL ACKERMAN
Pictures <>58:59 >
: RETURNING: PIECES FOR GUITAR 1970-2004; Decca/Mary's Tree
B0003364-02; 2004
: Info: www.williamackerman.com

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PRODUCED BY : STEVE DAVIS and STEPHEN HILL
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BAY AREA WEATHER : globally confused
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(c) 2008 Hearts of Space
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18 April 2008

PGM 164R "ANCIENT EVENINGS"

(click program title above for 30 second MP3 promo clip)

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PGM 164R : "ANCIENT EVENINGS"
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PGM NOTE : gene-splicing world music and electronics
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FEED DATE : 4-18-08
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INTRO: This week we continue our 25th Anniversary retrospective
series. On this transmission of HEARTS of SPACE, we go back to
the early days of the techno-tribal sound, with a 1988 program
called ANCIENT EVENINGS.

After years of nonstop
electrification of popular music, the 1980s
saw a turn toward so-called "world music" from ethnic, traditional
and even aboriginal cultures. World music fusions by popular artists
like PAUL SIMON on GRACELAND and PETER GABRIEL on his solo
albums "MELT" and SECURITY inspired spacemusic composers to
ground the ethereal sound of electronic instruments by combining
them with earthy rhythms, trance percussion and ritual sounds.

This program featured English composer GARRY HUGHES' second
solo album ANCIENT EVENINGS, and STEVE ROACH's epic double
album inspired by the ancient aboriginal soundscape of Australia,
DREAMTIME RETURN — plus music by world frame drum per-
cussionist GLEN VELEZ from SEVEN HEAVEN, by GRATEFUL DEAD
drummer and ethno-musicologist MICKEY HART from DAFOS,
and by spacemusic composers KEVIN BRAHENY and STEVE ROACH
from WESTERN SPACES.

In the mythology of the Aborigines, the "dreamtime" was a
prehistoric era of continuous paradise. Documentary filmmaker
DAVID STAHL met STEVE ROACH while working on a film about
aboriginal rock paintings called ART OF THE DREAMTIME.
David Stahl writes:

"The ancient magic the initiated knew in the bush may already
be lost, yet a different magic, a universal subconscious longing
for a Dreamtime Return is firmly planted today in the mind of
modern man and in his heart."

These artists are all exploring a deeper, older sense of time and
space, which we can share.


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GARRY HUGHES
Ancient Evenings <>8:58 >
Trance 7 <>13:39 >
Zanzibar <>19:12 >
: ANCIENT EVENINGS; Audion SYNCD 314; 1988 — out of print

GLEN VELEZ
Ramana (edited) <>24:01 >
Snake Eyes <>28:35 >
: SEVEN HEAVEN; CMP Records CMP CD 30; Germany 1987
: Info: www.glenvelez.com

MICKEY HART et al
Dry Sands of the Desert <>33:47 >
Composed with Steve Douglas, Shabda Kahn, and Hamza El Din
: DAFOS; Reference Recordings RR-12 CD; 1983/1984
reissued by Rykodisc in 1989
: Info: www.mickeyhart.net/Pages/discography.html;
www.deaddisc.com/disc/Dafos.htm

STEVE ROACH
The Ancient Day <>39:54 >
Red Twilight with the Old Ones (part) <>43:35 >
: DREAMTIME RETURN; Projekt 175; 2005
originally released by Fortuna Records in 1988
: Info: www.projekt.com; www.steveroach.com

KEVIN BRAHENY
Desert Walkabout <>50:44 >
: WESTERN SPACES [w/ Steve Roach]; Fortuna 17051-2; 1990
originally released by Innovative Communication in 1987
: Info: www.harmonies.com/releases/17051.htm

STEVE ROACH
The Return <>58:59 >
: DREAMTIME RETURN; Projekt 175; 2005
originally released by Fortuna Records in 1988
: Info: www.projekt.com; www.steveroach.com

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PRODUCED BY : STEPHEN HILL
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BAY AREA WEATHER : superspring
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(c) 1988-2008 Hearts of Space
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11 April 2008

PGM 836 "SUSPENSION"

(click program title above for 30 second MP3 promo clip)

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PGM 836 : "SUSPENSION"
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PGM NOTE : a floating journey for a time of transition
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FEED DATE : 4-11-08
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INTRO: Floating through the long transition between winter and
spring...in times of uncertainty, we hold back, restrain action,
and wait. Patience and experience help us endure the time.
We relax, observe the signs, quietly mark the changes,
remain ready...for what comes next.

In music, a
suspension is an extended tone connecting one chord
with the following chord, often marked by a temporary dissonance.
On this transmission of Hearts of Space, a floating journey for
a time of transition and temporary dissonance called SUSPENSION.


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LUDOVICO EINAUDI
Uno <>3:38 >
Ascolta <>8:19 >
: DIVENIRE; Ponderosa Music & Art CD 035 (475 8102); Italy 2007
: Info: www.ludovicoeinaudi.com

LUDOVICO EINAUDI
Nei Varchi di Luce (edited) <>13:43 >
: SOTTO FALSO NOME [soundtrack]; Ponderosa Music & Art CD 020;
Italy 2004
: Info: www.ludovicoeinaudi.com

RUDY ADRIAN
MidnightFantasyAngel, Part 1 <>19:03 >
--segue--
MidnightFantasyAngel, Part 2 <>31:31 >
: MOONWATER; Lotuspike LS-0007; 2006
: Info: www.lotuspike.com

ROBIN GUTHRIE and HAROLD BUDD
She is My Strength <>34:25 >
: AFTER THE NIGHT FALLS; Darla DRL 182; 2007
: Info: www.darla.com; www.cocteautwins.org/~robin

ROBIN GUTHRIE and HAROLD BUDD
My Monochrome Vision <>39:08 >
: BEFORE THE DAY BREAKS; Darla DRL 183; 2007
: Info: www.darla.com; www.cocteautwins.org/~robin

BRUNO SANFILIPPO and MATHIAS GRASSOW
Ambessence (piano and drones) 2 (edited) <>44:00 >
Ambessence (piano and drones) 1 <>54:02 >
: AMBESSENCE; ad21 Music ad109; Spain 2008
: Info: www.ad21music.com; www.bruno-sanfilippo.com
www.mathias-grassow.de

FRANK VAN BOGAERT
Mount Blanc (extended) <>58:59 >
: NOMADS; Groove Unlimited GR-134; The Netherlands 2007
: Info: www.groove.nl/cd/g/gr-134.html; www.frankvanbogaert.com

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PRODUCED BY : STEVE DAVIS and STEPHEN HILL
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BAY AREA WEATHER : lost in transition
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(c) 2008 Hearts of Space
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04 April 2008

PGM 835 "WUSHU"

(click program title above for 30 second MP3 promo clip)

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PGM 835 : "WUSHU"
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PGM NOTE : Far East contemplative sounds from China and Japan
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FEED DATE : 4-04-08
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INTRO: This week we find inspiration in a very strange place for
Hearts of Space: the world of martial arts film soundtracks.

How martial arts and contemplative music relate...requires a bit
of explanation. Chinese words are made of shorter words put
together. The normal translation of the Chinese word "wu" is
fighting or military, while "shu" is art.
Wushu, therefore, means
"the art of fighting" or martial arts.

But there's a more philosophical translation, where "wu" is not
"fighting" but "to
stop fighting," and "shu" means "technique."
So traditional Chinese
wushu is about the technique of stopping
or averting conflict. According to film director RONNY YU, "the
better you are at
wushu, the better peacemaker you are." Now
there's a message that's relevant today.

So if the most skillful form of conflict leads to peace, then the
most effective martial arts music should exhibit calm, balance,
and serenity. On this transmission of HEARTS of SPACE, a journey
in the world of Far East contemplative sound called WUSHU.


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SHIGERU UMEBAYASHI
Mei and Leo <>2:57 >
Opening Title <>3:54 >
The Peonyhouse <>5:15 >
Farewell No. 1 <>7:58 >
: HOUSE OF FLYING DAGGERS [soundtrack]; Sony Classical
SK 93561; 2004
: Info: www.sonybmgmasterworks.com; www.shigeru-umebayashi.com

SHIGERU UMEBAYASHI
Season Changes <>9:32 >
: JET LI's FEARLESS [soundtrack]; Lakeshore LKS 338772; 2006
: Info: www.lakeshore-records.com; www.shigeru-umebayashi.com

TAN DUN (with YO-YO MA)
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon <>12:56 >
The Eternal Vow <>15:58 >
Silk Road <>19:07 >
: CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON [soundtrack];
Sony Classical SK 89347; 2000
: Info: www.sonybmgmasterworks.com; www.tandunonline.com

ZHAO JIPING
Flute Solo <>22:20 >
: RAISE THE RED LANTERN [soundtrack]; Milan 35670-2; 1994

RICHARD HIEBINGER
Fliessende Krafte (edited) <>31:29 >
: DIE ERDENKLANGSTRASSE III: TANZ MIT DEN ELEMENTEN;
Erdenklang 11082; Germany 2001
: Info: www.erdenklang.de

XU QING-YUAN
Breathing of Ocean (part) <>37:32 >
: TAI CHI: IMAGES; Wind TCD-3171; 2004
: Info: www.windmusic.com.tw/en

SHIGERU UMEBAYASHI
Yuanjia Falls <>39:13 >
: JET LI's FEARLESS [soundtrack]; Lakeshore LKS 338772; 2006
: Info: www.lakeshore-records.com; www.shigeru-umebayashi.com

SHIGERU UMEBAYASHI
Lovers <>41:10 >
: HOUSE OF FLYING DAGGERS [soundtrack]; Sony Classical
SK 93561; 2008
: Info: www.sonybmgmasterworks.com; www.shigeru-umebayashi.com

SHIGERU UMEBAYASHI
Mrs. Huo/Action (part) <>42:46 >
: JET LI's FEARLESS [soundtrack]; Lakeshore LKS 338772; 2006
: Info: www.lakeshore-records.com; www.shigeru-umebayashi.com

TAN DUN (with YO-YO MA)
Yearning of the Sword <>46:17 >
: CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON [soundtrack];
Sony Classical SK 89347; 2000
: Info: www.sonybmgmasterworks.com; www.tandunonline.com

THE LUMINOUS WORLD ORCHESTRA (conducted by Steven Chesne)
Maya <>53:26 >
: DEVA; Brahmasong BRMA00001; 2006
: Info: www.brahmasong.com

TAN DUN
Home <>54:43 >
For the World - Theme Music <>58:59 >
: HERO [soundtrack]; Sony Classical SK 87726; 2004
: Info: www.sonybmgmasterworks.com; www.tandunonline.com

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PRODUCED BY : STEVE DAVIS and STEPHEN HILL;
concept and music research by JOSEPH JACOBS
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BAY AREA WEATHER : bud & blossom smackdown
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(c) 2008 Hearts of Space
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