Jun 27, 2007 — Thirteen members of the Mzuzu Youth Choir from Malawi begin a month-long tour of the North Country this week. Their visit is sponsored by the Presbytery of Northern New York. They stopped by NCPR for music and conversation.  Go to full article

Apr 10, 2007 — A concert of classical music from India, featuring Sima Burman and Sandip Burman, will be performed tonight (8 pm) in Gilbert Recital Hall, Griffiths Arts Center, at St. Lawrence University. The event is free and open to the public. It will feature a discussion of the music system of India (Raga and Tala) and how that compares to the western system, as well as performances. The tabla is usually played as a rhythm instrument (Tala), in a very complex cycle. Todd Moe asked Sima and Sandip to demonstrate, over the phone, the Indian solfege, or method of singing where each note is sung to a special symbol - think Do, Re, Mi, etc.  Go to full article

Feb 16, 2007 — This group of women sings traditional Mohawk dance songs in the native language. Traditionally, men would have sung these songs, but the Akwesasne Women Singers want to participate in preserving these songs for the future.  Go to full article

Feb 15, 2007 — Theresa Fox remembers that there was always music in her childhood home. As an adult she sings all the time, even doing dishes. Her songs, performed acapella with a rattle to establish the rhythm, tell stories about her life at Akwesasne.  Go to full article

Jan 19, 2007 — This Latin music band plays monthly dances in Potsdam. Their performances are an improvised interaction - within a structure - between band members and dancers. Sax player Joshua Lazo explains, "I love playing for dances. I'll see a couple about to try a new move and I'll take that movement and try to feed it back to them melodically."  Go to full article

Nov 08, 2006 — A steel drum is a surprise in the North Country, but Dan Hammond believes this Caribbean instrument is a great match for the sun, water and resorts of the 1000 Islands. In addition to playing Caribbean style music, he adapts local music, such as old-time fiddle tunes, to the instrument. Learn more about the steel drum by listening to Dan's interview.  Go to full article

Oct 17, 2006 — A St. Lawrence University professor specializes in a genre of Mexican music that tells the stories of how migrant workers get to the United States. Martha Chew-Sanchez is the author of a book called Corridos in Migrant Memory. She's invited a Mexican band, Los Inalcanzables to perform "corridos" tonight at 7 at SLU's Student Center. "Corridos" are epic songs that were first sung when the Spanish arrived in the New World. They're like the collective autobiography of Mexico, telling stories about everything from farming and famous heroes to drug smuggling and crossing the border. New ones are always written to reflect contemporary lives. Chew-Sanchez told David Sommerstein she grew up in the border region of El Paso, Texas and Juarez, Mexico, where "corridos" told the stories of the day...  Go to full article

Sep 08, 2006 — A taste of Scandinavia! Norwegian-American fiddler Karen Solgård, from Minnesota, joins us live in the studio for folk music and conversation. She's in the North Country to lead a series of Norwegian folk music and dance workshops this weekend.  Go to full article

Aug 23, 2006 — The 11th annual Klezkanada is this week, in the Quebec countryside just north of Montreal. It's the place to be for players and fans of klezmer and other Yiddish music. The goal is to bring together younger and older generations to learn from each other. Gregory Warner went to the opening night concert. He sent this audio postcard.  Go to full article

Apr 21, 2006 — Hill and Hollow Music presents Quartango in concert along with the renowned Argentine tango dance couple Roxana and Fabian this Sunday afternoon (3 pm) in the Saranac Central School Auditorium. Quartango also performs with Roxana and Fabian on Saturday night (7 pm) at Lake Forest Senior Living Community in Plattsburgh. Taking the tango in new directions, with impeccable arrangements, Quartango has charmed audiences across Canada and in Tokyo, Taipei, Paris and New York City. Todd Moe talks with bassist Rene Gosselin, who has been part of Montreal's Quartango since its beginnings in 1984.  Go to full article