Music

Music & Culture

Tsapiky: Dance Music Fit For A Funeral

6:14pm October 01, 2014

by Banning Eyre

In the West, we're used to hearing dance music at weddings. In southern Madagascar, guests might hear tsapiky, a regional guitar-band music, at funerals, as well as any other number of ceremonies.

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The Oxford a cappella group Out of the Blue.

Music & Culture

No Lie: Shakira's 'Hips' Gets An Oxford Makeover

3:13pm October 01, 2014

by NPR Staff

The Oxford University men's a cappella group Out of the Blue has its own version of "Hips Don't Lie" — and an endorsement from the pop star herself.

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Between 2006 and 2010, Jason Hamacher made many trips to Syria to photograph and record ancient chants.

Music & Culture

Before War, A Punk Drummer Preserved Syrian Chants

10:01am October 01, 2014

Jason Hamacher wasn't trained as a photographer, a musicologist or a member of a religious community. The former Frodus drummer simply felt compelled to document this music.

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Ty Segall's latest album is Manipulator.

Music & Culture

Ty Segall Rocks Out — Acoustic-Style, And With More Polish

9:59am October 01, 2014

by NPR Staff

The garage rocker performs stripped-down versions of songs from his new album, Manipulator, and tells NPR's Arun Rath why the new songs are less rough around the edges than some of his earlier work.

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Julian Casablancas + The Voidz's new album is called Tyranny.

Music & Culture

Julian Casablancas: New Band, New Album, No Compromises

9:12am October 01, 2014

by NPR Staff

The Strokes frontman — now with a new band, The Voidz — returns with his most challenging release yet: a strange, dark album influenced by '80s hardcore and underground world music.

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Enrique Iglesias' song "Bailando" — with versions in Spanish and in Spanglish — has hit big both on the Latin pop charts and the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.

Music & Culture

How Did 'Bailando' Become A Spanglish Crossover Hit?

2:34pm September 29, 2014

by NPR Staff

Enrique Iglesias' catchy song went to No. 1 on the Latin streaming charts before jumping to the Billboard Hot 100. It's hardly the first crossover hit — but demographic shifts might be at play too.

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The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, with Music Director Robert Spano conducting.

Music & Culture

The Atlanta Symphony Lockout Continues, Musicians Picket On Peachtree Street

8:46am September 29, 2014

by Adam Ragusea

The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra was supposed to open its fall season last week but, in a scenario that has become familiar, contentious contract negotiations led to a lockout of musicians.

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Mac Wiseman revisits lyrics his mother transcribed from the radio during his childhood on his new album, Songs From My Mother's Hand.

Music & Culture

Mac Wiseman Returns To The Songs Of His Childhood

12:54pm September 28, 2014

by Jewly Hight

The 89-year-old Mac Wiseman gained fame for his relaxed, articulate style and ability to adapt to many genres. On a new album, he dusts off a few family heirlooms.

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"The music's kind of oozing out of not just his hands, but his whole body," Boston Symphony managing director Mark Volpe says of the orchestra's new music director, Andris Nelsons.

Music & Culture

New Boston Symphony Music Director Andris Nelsons: 'It's Not A Job — It's Life'

12:22pm September 27, 2014

by Jeff Lunden

The 35-year-old Latvian conductor brings a sincerity and enthusiasm to his position, marking the end of a three-year period of uncertainty for one of America's oldest and most respected ensembles.

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Jonah Tolchin performs at Grimey's in Nashville during the Americana Music Festival on Sept. 20.

Music & Culture

Roots, Plugged In

11:10am September 25, 2014

by Ann Powers

The standout acts at the Americana Music Festival in Nashville last week wove electricity, individualism and rule-breaking together with tradition to create a joyful noise.