hearts of space | news

PGM 1168R 'POLAR FLIGHT 3' : dec. 30-jan. 6

WINTER DESCENDS...a contractive force that drains the color from the landscape, leaving a world of subtle monochromes, softened by chilled blue-gray mist and fog. As the temperature drops, movement slows, challenging every species to adapt and survive, while winter storms bring cutting winds, freezing rain, sleet, and the white fantasy world of snow. 

Winter inspires Ambient musicians to change their tonal palette and create sonic images of cold wind and stormy skies. The sound of the season is darker, denser, colder, slower—with restrained melodies and crystalline accents. It's native territory for musicians from the northern countries of Europe, Iceland, Canada, and kindred spirits in the United States. 

On this transmission of Hearts of Space, a journey across the Arctic north, on a program called POLAR FLIGHT 3. Music is by BANCO DE GAIA, BRYAN CARRIGAN, BRIDGE TO IMLA, SEETYCA, SIMON LOMAX, ALTUS and PANGAEA PROJEKT.

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PGM 1333 'HOMECOMING' : dec. 23-30

The reappearance of the phrase “comfort and joy” at year’s end is more than just sentiment. In trying times, it’s a call for setting aside conflict and disagreement, and retreating to a sheltered space where we can relax and enjoy the warmth and safety of hearth and home, sweet foods and spiced drinks, and the fellowship of friends and family. We sing traditional hymns and carols, and return to the pure tones of acoustic instruments.

On this transmission of Hearts of Space, an acoustic winter journey, on a program called HOMECOMING. Music is by DANA CUNNINGHAM, JEFF JOHNSON & BRIAN DUNNING, JOHN DOAN, TRINE OPSAHL, TOM EATON, FLOW, and CAMILLE NELSON.

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PGM 999R 'ANGELICO' : dec. 16-23

This week we begin our suite of winter holiday programs with another deep journey into the sublime world of sacred choral music, from our longtime guest producer for classical and sacred music ELLEN HOLMES.

There's a lightness and purity in these subtle harmonies that's often described as angelic. Whether they've come down to us from 800 years ago or just yesterday, by doing less, they achieve more. They engage us on a deeper, more internal level, when we simply open ourselves to the sound and listen with the heart.

On this transmission of Hearts of Space, the ethereal, angelic sound of choral voices, on a program called ANGELICO. Music is by MAURICE DURUFLE, CESAR FRANCK, MICHAEL PRAETORIUS, MORTEN LAURIDSEN, IVER KLEIVE, OLA GJEILO, ALEXANDRE GRETCHANINOFF, ERIC WHITACRE, and DANIEL LENTZ.

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PGM 1332 'WINTERTRONIC 3' : dec.9-16

Chalk it up to the German genius for music and technology, but technical innovations from the late 1960s and early 1970s like the "sequencer" (an early manual method of creating repeating rhythm patterns) have not only remained relevant — they've become an essential part of the language of electronic music. At the same time, the fierce, extended winters of Northern Europe created a context that favored clear, bright tones and vast, subzero atmospheres. It led to what came to be called "kosmische musik" or cosmic music.

On this transmission of Hearts of Space, another wintry journey on electronic waves, on a program called WINTERTRONIC 3. Music is by S1GNS OF L1FE, MICHAEL WHALEN, RICHARD BONE, HOLLAN HOLMES, LOSCIL, KEVIN KELLER, and LIQUID MIND. 

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PGM 1304R 'CANTO ELECTRONICO' : dec. 2-9

The best-kept secret in European minimalism must be the late Dutch composer SIMEON TEN HOLT, who died in 2012. After experimenting with complex chromaticism and serialism early in his career, Ten Holt arrived at his own style of "humanized" minimalism: infused with traditional musical values, rhythmically rigorous, wonderfully melodic, and flexible in performance.

His most famous piece, composed in 1976, is called CANTO OSTINATO, which in Italian means "obstinate song," a reference to its continuous, repeating quintuplet rhythm base: 1-2-3-4-5, 1-2-3-4-5, 1-2-3-4-5, 1-2-3-4-5. Its structure is based on 106 "cells" of a few phrases each which allow great latitude for repeats and interpretation by the performers. The piece can take from two hours to more than a day, and there are dozens of versions for 1, 2, 3, and 4 pianos, pianos plus organ, harp, or marimba, pipe organ, strings, and synthesizer.

Canto Ostinato has been a popular phenomenon in the Netherlands for 40 years and hundreds of sold out performances. Despite its appeal, it's hardly ever been performed or broadcast in the U.S. We tried to help fix that a couple of years ago when we featured a mesmerizing live version for two pianos, performed by the Dutch husband/wife duo JEROEN and SANDRA VAN VEEN.

On this transmission of Hearts of Space, a buoyant, energetic version for synthesizer, programmed and performed by SANDRA and JEROEN VAN VEEN. Simeon Ten Holt's Canto Ostinato for synthesizer; let's call it CANTO ELECTRONICO, on this transmission...of Hearts of Space.

[ view playlist ] [ view Flickr image gallery ] [ play 30 second MP3 promo ]