New Sounds

#4958, Different Trains, Part 2

Episode Summary

Hear music from Silkroad Ensemble’s latest, American Railroad, a multimedia project amplifying the tapestry of stories and the greater historical context around the Transcontinental Railroad - and celebrating the contributions of Indigenous and African Americans as well Irish, Chinese, Japanese, and other immigrant laborers. Listen to ‘Tamping Song’—an ode to ‘Tamping Ondo,’ a Japanese work song that captures the spirit of laborers dedicated to the rail, featuring percussionist Haruka Fujii. Also, listen to one of the many Bad Man ballads as an American tradition – something of a precursor to politically charged rap.  Hear a version of The Ballad of Railroad Bill (wuwf.org), as arranged by Too Sad for the Public. Then, listen to eerie 21st century chamber music by Belgian violinist, violist, composer and actress Catherine Graindorge who uses a classical-looking string ensemble with harmonium and electronic treatments on her work “Ghost Train”. Plus, hear works inspired by trains and pieces that take us to different parts of the world: Tuscany, Ukraine, and Colombia. - Caryn Havlik Program #4958, Different Trains, Part 2 (First aired 12/12/2024) ARTIST: Steve Reich / Kronos QuartetWORK: Steve Reich: Different Trains, I - America-Before the War [2:00]RECORDING: Works 1965-1995SOURCE: Nonesuch #79451INFO: nonesuch.com ARTIST: Poppy AckroydWORK: Trains [4:36]RECORDING: ResolveSOURCE: One Little Independent RecordsINFO: https://poppy.bandcamp.com/album/resolve ARTIST: Naftule's DreamWORK: Sitting in Some Train Watching the Tuscan Landscape Go Speeding Backward [3:43]RECORDING: BloodSOURCE: Naftule’s Dream RecordingsINFO: Available at AppleMusic, YouTube, Spotify, Amazon.com ARTIST: Daniel Casimir & L' Ensemble SquillanteWORK: Columbian Train Ride [2:32]RECORDING: SpaccataSOURCE: SonogrammeINFO: Try Amazon.com or Discogs.  ARTIST: TribecastanWORK: Night Train to the Ukraine [5:43]RECORDING: New Songs from the Old CountrySOURCE: Evergreene MusicINFO:  Available at AppleMusic, YouTube, Spotify, Amazon.com ARTIST: Too Sad For the PublicWORK: Railroad Bill (pt2) [6:31]RECORDING: Vol. 2 - Yet and StillSOURCE: StorySound RecordsINFO: https://storysoundrecords.com/too-sad-for-the-public/vol-2-yet-and-still ARTIST: Last ForeverWORK: Spike Driver Blues [3:49]RECORDING: Trainfare HomeSOURCE: StorySound RecordsINFO: https://storysoundrecords.com/last-forever/trainfare-home ARTIST: Silkroad Ensemble, Rhiannon GiddensWORK: Tamping Song (feat. Haruka Fujii) [8:16]RECORDING: American RailroadSOURCE: Nonesuch RecordsINFO: https://silkroadensemble.lnk.to/americanrailroad ARTIST: Catherine GraindorgeWORK: Ghost Train [5:14]RECORDING: EldoradoSOURCE: Glitterbeat RecordsINFO: https://catherinegraindorge.bandcamp.com/album/eldorado ARTIST: Philip Glass, Philip Glass EnsembleWORK: Einstein on the Beach: Train [5:27]RECORDING: Einstein on the BeachSOURCE: Nonesuch RecordsINFO: nonesuch.com

Episode Notes

Hear music from Silkroad Ensemble’s latest, American Railroad, a multimedia project amplifying the tapestry of stories and the greater historical context around the Transcontinental Railroad - and celebrating the contributions of Indigenous and African Americans as well Irish, Chinese, Japanese, and other immigrant laborers. Listen to ‘Tamping Song’—an ode to ‘Tamping Ondo,’ a Japanese work song that captures the spirit of laborers dedicated to the rail, featuring percussionist Haruka Fujii.

Also, listen to one of the many Bad Man ballads as an American tradition – something of a precursor to politically charged rap.  Hear a version of The Ballad of Railroad Bill (wuwf.org), as arranged by Too Sad for the Public. Then, listen to eerie 21st century chamber music by Belgian violinist, violist, composer and actress Catherine Graindorge who uses a classical-looking string ensemble with harmonium and electronic treatments on her work “Ghost Train”. Plus, hear works inspired by trains and pieces that take us to different parts of the world: Tuscany, Ukraine, and Colombia. - Caryn Havlik

Program #4958, Different Trains, Part 2 (First aired 12/12/2024)

ARTIST: Steve Reich / Kronos QuartetWORK: Steve Reich: Different Trains, I - America-Before the War [2:00]RECORDING: Works 1965-1995SOURCE: Nonesuch #79451INFO: nonesuch.com

ARTIST: Poppy AckroydWORK: Trains [4:36]RECORDING: ResolveSOURCE: One Little Independent RecordsINFO: https://poppy.bandcamp.com/album/resolve

ARTIST: Naftule's DreamWORK: Sitting in Some Train Watching the Tuscan Landscape Go Speeding Backward [3:43]RECORDING: BloodSOURCE: Naftule’s Dream RecordingsINFO: Available at AppleMusic, YouTube, Spotify, Amazon.com

ARTIST: Daniel Casimir & L' Ensemble SquillanteWORK: Columbian Train Ride [2:32]RECORDING: SpaccataSOURCE: SonogrammeINFO: Try Amazon.com or Discogs. 

ARTIST: TribecastanWORK: Night Train to the Ukraine [5:43]RECORDING: New Songs from the Old CountrySOURCE: Evergreene MusicINFO:  Available at AppleMusic, YouTube, Spotify, Amazon.com

ARTIST: Too Sad For the PublicWORK: Railroad Bill (pt2) [6:31]RECORDING: Vol. 2 - Yet and StillSOURCE: StorySound RecordsINFO: https://storysoundrecords.com/too-sad-for-the-public/vol-2-yet-and-still

ARTIST: Last ForeverWORK: Spike Driver Blues [3:49]RECORDING: Trainfare HomeSOURCE: StorySound RecordsINFO: https://storysoundrecords.com/last-forever/trainfare-home

ARTIST: Silkroad Ensemble, Rhiannon GiddensWORK: Tamping Song (feat. Haruka Fujii) [8:16]RECORDING: American RailroadSOURCE: Nonesuch RecordsINFO: https://silkroadensemble.lnk.to/americanrailroad

ARTIST: Catherine GraindorgeWORK: Ghost Train [5:14]RECORDING: EldoradoSOURCE: Glitterbeat RecordsINFO: https://catherinegraindorge.bandcamp.com/album/eldorado

ARTIST: Philip Glass, Philip Glass EnsembleWORK: Einstein on the Beach: Train [5:27]RECORDING: Einstein on the BeachSOURCE: Nonesuch RecordsINFO: nonesuch.com