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PGM 1358 'DARKTIME ATMOSPHERES' : oct.27-nov.3

The Dark Ambient genre evolved out of the Industrial, Experimental, and Noise genres of the 1970s. The arrival of affordable synthesizers, samplers, and effects units in the 1980’s led to more complex styles like Ritual Industrial, Black and Doom Metal, Dark Wave, Gothic, and who can forget the reverberating chains and tortured screams of Dungeon Synth?

Our yearly immersion in the morbid emotions of fear, death, and horror at Halloween, provides an insight into the more aesthetic and environmental qualities of Dark Ambient. Whereas the horror genres aim to shock and terrify, Dark Ambient seeks merely to disturb, evoke feelings of isolation, melancholy, and confinement, and reflect an atmosphere of gloom and darkness. 

I'm DR. DARKO, and on this transmission of HEARTS of SPACE, a subterranean underworld journey for Halloween, on a program called DARKTIME ATMOSPHERES. Music is by BRANNAN LANE, CHRISTIAN WITTMAN, SUN'S MUSE, SHIBALBA, REMANENCE, YEN POX, INSECTARIUM, and TOR LUNDVALL.

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PGM 1094R 'LAMENTO 2' : oct.20-27

 

DESCENDING INTO THE SHORT DAYS OF THE DARK SEASON, once again we seek music that portrays human emotions at their most vulnerable: music of pathos, loss and remembrance. These are some of our most powerful and deeply affecting feelings, and they require music that touches the depths of our souls.

On this transmission of Hearts of Space, a special program of sacred choral, vocal and instrumental music for the dark season, from longtime guest producer ELLEN HOLMES called LAMENTO 2.

A lament is a cathartic song or poem expressing grief or mourning: a recognition of the ultimate sadness of mortality. Many of the oldest and most enduring poems in human history have been laments; they're found in the Iliad and the Odyssey, the Hindu Vedas, and in ancient Near Eastern religious texts, including the Old Testament.

We'll feature selections extending across 500 years of western classical music, by JOSQUIN DES PREZ, CLAUDIO MONTEVERDI, CARLO GESUALDO, DIETRICH BUXTEHUDE, ANTONIO VIVALDI, GEORGE FRIDERIC HANDEL, JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH, LILY BOULANGER, RALPH LAURIDSEN, LISA GERRARD, STELLAMARA, LES NOUVELLES POLYPHONIES CORSES, and MAX RICHTER.

Threnodies for the dark season : LAMENTO 2...on this transmission... of Hearts of Space.

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PGM 1357 'AUTUMN TWILIGHT' : oct.13-20

Of all the seasons, fall is the one that comes with the most mixed emotions: relief at the return of moderate temperatures, pleasure at nature’s autumn color show, and a feeling of melancholy at the darkening of the light.

Technical interventions like Daylight Saving Time can’t hide the fact that the amount of daylight is decreasing. In the northern hemisphere, we’re counting down to the Winter Solstice—the shortest day of the year, around December 21st.

For ambient musicians, fall offers a darker palette, more somber harmonies, and a call to explore deeper feelings. On this transmission of HEARTS of SPACE, we descend into the dimming light of fall, on a program called AUTUMN TWILIGHT.

Music is by TOM EATON, BOB HOLROYD, SUBDREAM, DEEPSPACE, STEVE ROACH, and RUSSEL WALDER.

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PGM 855R 'MELOS' : oct. 6-13

In the pantheon of immortal combinations of musical instruments, there must be a special temple for the piano and cello. It's hard to think of another duo that offers more musical possibilities, or draws more effectively on the respective strengths of both instruments.

From the piano we get effortless rhythmic definition, chords, and harmonies; from the cello, long, singing lines and rich overtones that stretch melody to the boundaries of expression. Together, they define a musical landscape of emotional range, depth, and beauty.

On this transmission of Hearts of Space, we celebrate the piano and cello, on an autumn journey derived from the Byzantine hymns, traditional folk, and sacred Sufi music of Central Asia, called MELOS.

Music is by G.I.GURDJIEFF and THOMAS DeHARTMANN, performed by pianist VASSILIS TSABROPOULOS and cellist ANJA LECHNER; by MANUEL de FALLA, performed by violist KIM KASHKASHIAN and pianist ROBERT LEVIN; by pianist MISHA ALPERIN, and by cellist HANS CHRISTIAN.

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