Black Music in Europe: A Hidden History, on R4 - 19 Dec

[Serial_Apologist]

9 am, repeated 9.30 pm - Programme 1 of 3

American actor and singer Clarke Peters uncovers the stories of black musicians in Europe, from the birth of recorded sound to the height of the Jazz Age.

This is so excellent I am posting it here and on the Jazz board - well worth bookmarking. Click on the bottom one of the three for today's episode.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b09kg57l/episodes/guide

[BLUESNIK'S REVOX]

9 am, repeated 9.30 pm - Programme 1 of 3

American actor and singer Clarke Peters uncovers the stories of black musicians in Europe, from the birth of recorded sound to the height of the Jazz Age.

This is so excellent I am posting it here and on the Jazz board - well worth bookmarking. Click on the bottom one of the three for today's episode.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b09kg57l/episodes/guide

Caught the first one at the 9.30pm repeat. Agreed, it is very very good. Highly recommend.

[Quarky]

I certainly think the record collector who unearthed all these early recordings, apparently single-handedly, deserves a gold medal, or some other official recognition. Apparently he has donated half his collection to the Library of Congress.

Did I detect that the sound engineers have discovered a means of removing the background noise, and "enhancing" the recordings?

[Globaltruth]

Programmes like this are long overdue.

Thank you for starting this thread.

[Serial_Apologist]

Programmes like this are long overdue.

Thank you for starting this thread.

My great pleasure. I'll try and remember to bump it back up again for the succeeding episodes.

[Globaltruth]

If you don't I will!

For anyone intrigued by the passing reference to Fela Kuti's grandfather, here is some more info on the dynasty...

https://www.bl.uk/west-africa/articles/the-ransome-kuti-dynasty

[makropulos]

Completely agree - I found this an utterly engrossing programme - fascinating and full of good things. I can't wait for the next two episodes.

[Serial_Apologist]

Completely agree - I found this an utterly engrossing programme - fascinating and full of good things. I can't wait for the next two episodes.

It gives us something to look forward to in 2018... something.

[Lat-Literal]

It gives us something to look forward to in 2018... something.

I've got so many blimmin' musical projects on the go, it is getting hard to keep up.

I wouldn't mind - but it is all infused with the idea of closure so motivation is tough.

[Serial_Apologist]

I've got so many blimmin' musical projects on the go, it is getting hard to keep up.

I wouldn't mind - but it is all infused with the idea of closure so motivation is tough.

It's not like the 1960s and 70s when practically everything new seemed cutting edge and if one blinked one missed the boat; take an area that really hits your fancies and indulge that until you feel like moving on: the rest will still be there, progressing not too quickly, and you'll have caught up and maybe even feel you've done some overtaking!

[johncorrigan]

Just caught up with part 1 of this series and very fascinating it was. Reminded me of a CD my pal sent me earlier in the year. He was working in Cape Town and had gone to see an exhibition about a South African Choir drawn from a number of tribes who wowed Victorian London in 1891, and although there are no audio remains from the time there were some beautiful photographic images, including this:

http://www.sahistory.org.za/sites/default/files/file%20uploads%20/african_choir-5.png

The CD was a re-working of the songs they sang using the written records from the period.

http://www.chrflagship.uwc.ac.za/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/AfricanChoir_evite.jpg

[Serial_Apologist]

Just caught up with part 1 of this series and very fascinating it was. Reminded me of a CD my pal sent me earlier in the year. He was working in Cape Town and had gone to see an exhibition about a South African Choir drawn from a number of tribes who wowed Victorian London in 1891, and although there are no audio remains from the time there were some beautiful photographic images, including this:

http://www.sahistory.org.za/sites/default/files/file%20uploads%20/african_choir-5.png

The CD was a re-working of the songs they sang using the written records from the period.
http://www.chrflagship.uwc.ac.za/wp-...hoir_evite.jpg

Part 2 was on this morning, and I must apologise for completely forgetting to remind even myself. I didn't remember until the radio itself reminded me as I was lying in bed, having listened to what there was of the 9 am news.

Interesting though a bit less, so speaking personally, as one was prepared for most of what was expected, though the recorded clips were fascinating. I hadn't realised that "Go Compare" was an actual song from the WWI period, and not just a particularly annoying advert ditty!