A PLACE FOR SIDEWAYS TRAINS OF THOUGHT
Listen to the poem here The world is big but I would like it bigger still, more different not less. Maps show that there’s still room for one large island or small continent. Within, let us suppose, a people with another calendar, new names for stars, and constellations patterned on the shapes of animals and... Continue Reading →
I met a guy playing the kora on the street last night. It is such a beautiful instrument to look at and to listen to. Here's a description. I asked the musician whether he was a griot. He pointed to the card in front of him with his name and said "My father was a... Continue Reading →
Memo to Philips. How can you let a CD called The Art of the Toy Piano go out of print ? It is one of the most surprising records I own. On it Margaret Leng Tan plays pieces like the Moonlight Sonata, Eleanor Rigby and a whizz-bang version of the Star Spangled Banner as well... Continue Reading →
Certainly not in this case. I have never heard the Pipa played quite like this clip of Wu Man ( 吴蛮) playing. The Guardian has an article on her here. And you can hear her play the pipa in music that isn't at all Chinese in this programme from New Sounds, which is always a good... Continue Reading →