Pre-Columbian Indian Music of Mexico & Guatemala

This week, Henrietta Yurchenco will play a number of examples of Pre-Columbian Indian music, from her own collection of field recordings, conducted in Mexico & Guatemala. This includes music from totally isolated rural communities living as they have for thousands of years, as well as examples of the last remnants of music from the great Mayan cities, the high Mayan civilization. Henrietta gives us a first hand account from the pioneer days of ethnomusicology; bad roads or no roads at all, mountains, deserts, scorpions & mules. Henrietta and Eli discuss early dubiously portable recording equipment, shamans and shamanism, animal sacrifice, peyote rituals…and lots more.

Pre-Columbian Indian Music of Mexico & Guatemala

Interview w/ Mat Callahan – Musician and Author

This week I’ll be spending an hour with Mat Callahan, musician and author of the book, “The Trouble with Music.” Mat is an extraordinarily knowledgable, clear thinking, and out spoken cultural worker, protesting the organization of our supremely messed up popular culture. This show is mostly us talking, not too much music- but I think what Mat says here is important, so important that it merits sitting and listening to. Its the best thought out and articulated criticism of “fast-food music” available.

We’ll discuss everything from his concept of “Anti-Music” to the development and function of Muzak to Leo Tolstoy’s revolutionary aesthetics. Its all about the music of liberation and the liberation of music.

Mat is in New York right now on an East Coast tour promoting his new CD “Welcome,” so we will hear tracks from that as well. Please click the links for more info and Mat’s tour dates.

Interview w/ Mat Callahan – Musician and Author

Tango: Its History and Function

This week Henrietta and Eli interview world renowned Tango musician, Polly Ferman. Polly is a pianist and is also the director of PAMAR (Pan American Music Art Research), one of Down Home’s sponsors. Through her concert tours and work with PAMAR, Polly has tirelessly and effectively put Tango music and dance infront of a world wide audience & helped to bring Tango the respect and recognition it deserves. Today, they talk about the history of Tango, play some classic examples, & also play some beautiful tracks from several of Polly’s own CDs.

Tango: Its History and Function