Which Way do the Trade Winds Blow?: Two Case Studies Examining the Voyage of Jazz to Africa

Rick McLaughlin, Associate Professor, Harmony, Berklee College of Music

Abstract: Over the past century, American jazz recordings have transformed from the music of New Orleans to at least 13 unique sub-genres. Given the importance of West African music on the creation and development of jazz, one wonders what happened…

T. Allen LeVines

Ame-no-Uzume-no-Mikoto

When is there not music? ... bursts of morning sun or night shadows in a full moon rising ... thundering spring waterfalls or silent mountain snows in winter ...

Aliya Cycon Project

Interview by Xingyu

Aliya Cycon is an 8th Semester CWP major at Berklee. Her band, Aliya Cycon Project, just released their first album called “We Will Be Light” this past spring. Y—Xingyu Yao A—Aliya Cycon Y: Hi Aliya, Congratulations on your first album…

Preab Meadar – transforming Poetry to Dance

Tadgh Dall Ó hUigín (Blind Taigue Higgins), a professional poet in 16th Century Gaelic Ireland, had seen two patrons suffer ignominy and defeat before he wrote The Lion and Fox for his patron Brian MacGuire in 1588 AD. This poem…

Against The Odds: an Exploration of Bulgarian Rhythms

Vessela Stoyanova

The overwhelming majority of Bulgarian folk music happens to be in odd meters–typically 5, 7, 9 and 11, with occasional combinations of those creating 13, 15, 17 and larger. Some musicologists have linked these odd meters to the history…

Essential Singing Approaches for Contemporary Styles

Jeannie Gagné, Professor, Voice, Berklee College of Music

Adapted from 2015 BTOT presentation with professors Jeannie Gagné, Cassandre McKinley, Maureen McMullan, Laurie Monahan, and Linda Balliro For vocalists, the body is the instrument. In contemporary styles, singers must rely on the PA system to be heard, which…

Hole

Anwen Crawford

Anwen Crawford is an Australian writer. She is the music critic for The Monthly magazine, and her essays have appeared in publications including Frieze and The New Yorker online.

Lunaria

Moira Lo Bianco

“This album is a cloud of thoughts, a nest of feelings”- Moira Lo Bianco The Lunaria is a leaf that seems to be made of silk but develops a sharp stem, like it wants to protect itself from the world. Framed by the essence of the Lunaria leaf, Moira Lo Bianco’s album Lunaria continues the delicate story of romance wrapped in the silks of classical, jazz and middle eastern styles.

“For Kounellis”

Neil Leonard

For Kounellis is a meditative, evocative electronic work featuring samples from Jannis Kounellis' sculpture, voice, live electronics and soprano saxophone. The sounds are based on Kounellis' untitled installation comprising 23 large church bells that Leonard recorded at the environmental sculpture park, La Marrana di Montemarcello in Italy.

Triloka—Three Realms

Composed by Bruno Råberg

Bruno Råberg recorded his original "Triloka - Three Realms" in Shames Family Scoring Stage at Berklee College of Music with students and faculty.