Sound & Spirit shows
listed alphabetically
Africa
See "Out of Africa: The Spirit of Mbira."
Afterlife, The
Where do we go when we die? The geography of the afterlife is as various as the spiritual imaginations of the people of the earth: Do we walk the golden streets of heaven, travel the road between the worlds, or do we cycle round again on the wheel of rebirth? In this award-winning program, Ellen Kushner explores the many worlds of the afterlife in myth and music.
Ageing
Parents lose their parents and become the oldest generation...Kid
geniuses cry on their 25th birthdays...Chic young things find they need
bifocals... And music understands. Join Ellen Kushner for an excursion into
the way humans deal with ageing and the aged in words and music. Hear African
songs of respect for elders and Biblical psalms of age, a psychotherapist's
discussion of the painful reversal of roles as adults become the nurturers and
caretakers of their own ageing parents, and finish up with Mel Brooks' "The
2000 Year Old Man."
Altered States
Through the ages we have learned of music's power to excite, to
calm, to heal, to enlighten, to alter our state of being. Ellen Kushner
presents music from around the world that can radically change the listener's spiritual awareness, and talks with Klezmer musician Frank London about musical trance states, ancient and modern.
Angels
Expressions of divine love...messengers of Heaven...ancient spirits watching over us...all of these faces of Angels are expressed in music from medieval chant to Duke Ellington's Sacred Services. Join Ellen Kushner for an evocation of both the extraordinary ethereal sweetness and the solid strength of this music, including albums from Ensemble P.A.N. and Einojuhani Rautavaara.
Arvo Pärt: A Quiet Rapture
Some call Arvo Pärt a minimalist, and yet his musical roots are in plainchant, the Eastern Orthodox church, Eastern European folkways, and in his own deep spirituality. Ellen Kushner explores the work of this exciting Estonian contemporary composer whose works of unearthly beauty are
based on ancient sacred sounds.
Bahai'i
See "Gardens."
A Ring of Bells
Ringing, pealing or tolling, bells strike both ears and souls. Explore the music, myth and poetry of bells with Ellen Kushner, from change-ringing in English country churches, to the singing bowls of Tibet...from the majesty of a Russian Easter, to healing services deep in the
Indonesian forests.
Bicultural Women
Sound & Spirit seeks out those women musicians
who straddle two worlds - the culture of their immigrant parents, and the
culture of the new country in which they were raised - incorporating a synthesis
of both in their words and their music. Join host Ellen Kushner and enjoy
the stories and songs of the "Afropean" women of Zap Mama with roots in
Zaire and Belgium, Mexican American singer/songwriter Tish Hinojosa, Ingrid
Karklin and her Latvian American heritage, and Anglo-Asian singer Sheila
Chandra.
Blessed Virgin Mary
Mother, Maiden, Comforter and Friend--some of the many aspects of
Mary, as expressed in prayer, art and music from around the world and through
the ages. Ellen Kushner explores this rich tradition including music of
Stravinsky, Monteverdi, J. S. Bach and John Tavener, 13th-century Cantigas
de Santa Maria, Irish singer Nóirín Ní Riain, Incan
festivals and the legend of the Black Virgin of Brunettella.
Borderlands
Sound & Spirit invites you to walk the Borderlands: a shared space between two worlds, a place where they meet and combine to make something new and vital. Explore the lively music and blend of traditions of the Tex/Mex border, the misty border between myth and reality where dreams are born, and the borders in our lives when we pass from one stage of life to the next. Join Ellen Kushner for life on the border on Sound & Spirit.
Borders: the Debatable Lands
For hundreds of years on the border between Scotland and Northern England, violence was a part of everyday life - and valiant deeds were celebrated in some of the most powerful story songs in the English language. Ellen Kushner explores the unique music and traditions of the
Anglo-Scottish borderlands, and follows the way this rich and violent tradition helped shape the culture of America today.
Breakups
Like the beginning of a relationship, the breakup of a romance is a time brimming
with possibilities and questions. Questions about the future: Who am I now? How
can I live without you? What will I do with my freedom? Will I ever love again?
Questions about the past: What was it that we had together? Is it gone now? Did I
waste those years? In this award-winningprogram, Ellen Kushner looks for answers, with the help of poets and musicians from around the world.
Canterbury
See "From Canterbury to Graceland."
Carnival
Carnival. . . Mardi Gras . . . Fat Tuesday. . . the gateway to the Lenten season, when worldly pleasures are forsworn. For centuries it's been a time of celebration when the world turns upside down and the rules run riot in an excess of food and music, costume and revelry. In this program, Sound & Spirit host Ellen Kushner follows the festival around the world and through the ages, from its medieval origins to the 19th-century German carnival music of Robert Schumann; to the samba schools of Brazil and Haiti's frenetic celebrations; to the African American Mardi Gras "Indians" of New Orleans.
Chant
A Gregorian Kyrie from a Spanish monastery...an Orthodox vespers in a Byzantine basilica...Native American song in an all-night healing ceremony... Buddhist mantra on a Tibetan hillside... There is something about the sound of the human voice raised in chant that has seized the ears and gripped the imaginations of contemporary music-lovers. But chant was not designed as background music for brunch-time stereos; it is the sound of the human soul reaching out to the divine. Join Ellen Kushner for an exploration of the sound, and the meaning of Chant around the world.
Chanukah
See "The Golden Dreydl: A Klezmer Nutcracker for Chanukah."
Christmas
See "Angels," "Blessed Virgin Mary" and "The World Turned Upside Down."
Childhood
This week on Sound & Spirit, it's music and musings of Childhood. Explore "kid culture" from the playground to the classroom, as well as adult views on childhood, from Rousseau's philosophies to modern-day grownups looking back at their own childhoods. Literature, fantasy and music capture the essence of what it means to be a child -- from Wordsworth to William Blake, Peter Pan to Caribbean kids' songs.
Cities
See "Cities," "Jerusalem" and "Rome."
Cities
Cities - for some, they're an endless candybox of possibility and excitement! But for others, cities can frightening and alienating. Join Ellen Kushner this week as Sound & Spirit explores the heart, soul and sounds of the City, from the thrill of making it in New York to the mysteries of ancient Damascus; the loneliness of the immigrant looking for work to the romance of a night on the town with the tango in Buenos Aires.
Coffee, Tea and Chocolate (The World of Sound & Spirit)
Sound & Spirit explores the origins of the Java Jive, tangos to Tea for Two, and finds out just why Chocolate is It!.
Couples
See "My Better Half."
Courage
Sound & Spirit celebrates courage - how we seek it, and what happens when we find it (or don't). Join Ellen Kushner for songs and stories about staying strong through life's darkest moments, fighting impossible battles, and rebounding from fear. There's music from Zulu warriors, songs from the concentration camps and civil rights marches, and even the lament of a cowardly lion.
Creativity
For some, creative inspiration is constant as the sun; for others, it is fickle and elusive as the moon. Host Ellen Kushner speaks with Indi-pop star Sheila Chandra and looks at the lives of some of the world's most celebrated composers, poets and artists - and through their inspired words and music explore the wonder, joy and frustration of the creative process.
Cycles
As the calendar turns, many of us pause to reflect on the patterns that
shape our year and our lives. Ellen Kushner examines the various passages in human life that mark significant changes, and how they are observed and celebrated in poetry, legend and music.
David Lewiston/Fairies (The World of Sound & Spirit)
World music explorer David Lewiston has been collecting and
recording traditional music for over 30 years; possibly his best-known work is
the Ketjak, or "Ramayana Monkey Chant," for Nonesuch Explorer. Ellen Kushner
caught up with him on his way back from a collecting trip; join them for
a conversation that includes music Lewiston collected from Tibetan monks, Georgian choirs and Turkish Sufis! In this hour we also revisit the myth and meaning of Fairy Tales, and hear some listener letters.
Death
See "Mourning," "Afterlife" and Facing Death."
Devil's Trill, The
While some believe that the beauty of music is actually denied to the
great enemy of humankind, others credit the Devil as inspiration, or even
author of particular music. Hear diabolical pieces by Tartini, Liszt,
Robert Johnson; and consider with Ellen Kushner's guest, Dr. Elaine Pagels
(author of The Origin of Satan) if the Devil is an expression of our
fear of the evil in ourselves and others.
Door Is Opened - A Jewish High Holidays Meditation, The
The Jewish High Holidays of Rosh Hashanah & Yom Kippur are a time for friends and family, for mending quarrels and affirming ties. They can also be a time for thinking about what went wrong in the past year, and how to make the new one better. Join Ellen Kushner for her profound and very personal meditation on family, friendship and forgiveness on this special edition of Sound & Spirit.
Dreams
Prophecies, solutions to pressing problems, windows to the soul... Dreams are
wellsprings of creativity, a place where our life and the shadowlands meet.
Join Ellen Kushner for a conversation with the Sandman graphic
novel author Neil Gaiman; and hear music written about or even received in
dreams by Alan Hovhaness, David Maslanka (based on work of Carl Jung) and
world artists from Hawaii to Australia.
Drummers' Circle, The
The most primitive, universal musical instrument accompanies not only
our dances, but also sacred ceremonies around the world. Host Ellen Kushner
looks at the origins of traditional drumming, talks with longtime Grateful Dead
percussionist Mickey Hart, and samples music from India, Japan, the Americas,
and West Africa where myth and ritual have spanned the centuries to the
beat of drums.
Easter
The divine mysteries of Easter have been the keystone of Christian worship for centuries -- but the Easter story doesn't belong only to church. In this special Sound & Spirit Easter presentation, host Ellen Kushner examines how the story of the Easter resurrection and renewal is played out in music and stories around the world and through the ages, from the plains of Hungary to the mountains of Peru . . . medieval mystics to Spanish flamenco . . . American blues to Bulgarian chant . . . Join Ellen Kushner as Sound & Spirit celebrates "The People's Passion."
Easter - with Bob Franke
Explore the music and spirituality of Holy Week. Host Ellen Kushner begins with some of the church's early music, and then talks with singer & songwriter Bob Franke about his "Cantata for Good Friday". Music for the mystery of Easter, from Byzantine chant to J. S. Bach.
The End of the World
Throughout history, people have wondered about the end of the world.
Whether by flood or by fire, natural disaster or technological nightmare
- How and when will it happen? And more importantly - Why? Ellen
Kushner explores of the beliefs and the music of the world's
traditions, ranging from the great battle of the ancient Norse Ragnarok
to the Hindu cosmic ocean, as well as the Jewish and Christian takes on
just what it is we're all waiting for!
Esther: The Feast of Masks
This Sound & Spirit program is a unique performance piece made up of story and music written and narrated by Ellen Kushner, and features music recorded live in the studio! Experience the Biblical story of Esther, juxtaposed with the stories of four modern characters: Rita, a New York wife, defies her husband... Ida, a quiet schoolteacher, struggles with questions of "passing" in America... Natalie, an American diplomat in Rwanda, views a mounting tragedy and must make a difficult choice... Nate, a high school student, must stand up to his homophobic friend. With original arrangements of music ranging from African anthems to blues, folk and 50's
pop songs, performed by Ellen and three of Boston's finest musicians.
Exile
Ellen Kushner leads listeners into EXILE! From the Cherokee Trail of Tears to
the Cajun experience, Ancient China to modern Tibet, the
garden of Eden to poetry from Kenya, explore the many
ways artists and musicians have created great beauty out of
the great pain of exile.
Facing Death
Sound & Spirit walks the edges of the shadow realm, seeing how people have faced the thought and the fact of death with courage, insight, poetry and music. Ellen Kushner speaks with Frank Ostaseski of the San Francisco Zen Center Hospice about a Buddhist way to acceptance and peace, and she considers the spiritual growth that people may encounter when faced with the end of life.
Fairies
See "David Lewiston/Fairies (The World of Sound & Spirit)."
Fairy Tales
Ellen Kushner seeks out the deeper meanings to be found in fairy tales: we hear a conversation with writer and folklorist Jane Yolen, called "America's Hans Christian Andersen," and enjoy musical settings by composers as diverse as Tchaikovsky, Philip Glass and Loreena McKennitt, as they engage with the tales that have been a source of wisdom, amusement, even powerful transformation for people through the ages.
Faith, Hope and Sorrow
Sound & Spirit contemplates the intense, meaningful and irresistible compositions of Henryk Gorecki, Karol Szymanowski, Roman Maciejewski and Zbigniew Preisner. Ellen Kushner explores the lives and work of these Polish composers who incorporate folk song, religious texts, chant and a strong sense of nationalism in their music.
Fatherhood
Ellen Kushner hosts a Sound & Spirit Fathers' Day special about what our fathers mean to us. Music and poetry, myths and stories from the Americas, Europe, Africa and Asia combine to show what it is to have and to be a father.
Fathers and Sons
The story of Abraham and Isaac is the story of a father willing to sacrifice his own son if he must. It's central to the Jewish holiday of Rosh Hashanah, where it is used as a story of new beginnings at the new year. But this disturbing tale has also elicited fierce, passionate, even bitter work from poets and composers through the ages, including Benjamin Britten, Wilfred Owen, Leonard Cohen, Bob Dylan and Steve Reich. In this award-winningprogram, Ellen Kushner explores the eternal struggle between fathers and sons.
Finland
See "Kalevala" and "Out of Finland."
Flowers
Flowers delight our senses, but they also decorate our rites of passage in rituals of birth, courtship, marriage, death, and even rebirth! On this week's show, we'll range from the purity of the Buddha's lotus feet to the sensual garlands of a traditional Indian wedding and the mystical flower world of the Yaqui people of the Sonoran desert . . . and we'll also ask the question: "Just what is it about women and flowers, anyway?"
Food
See "Food of the Gods," "Home Cooking" and "Coffee Tea and Chocolate."
Food of the Gods
Join Ellen Kushner and explore the myths, legends and customs associated with the preparation, serving and consumption of sacred meals where community is formed with both divine and human members. Enjoy a taste of the music, poetry, and stories associated with food and drink that is fit for divinities!
Friendship
They say: "You can choose your friends, but not your family!" And so we choose friends to love us and support us, to share our closest moments and our darkest secrets. Join host Ellen Kushner for an award-winning celebration of friendship around the world and through the ages, in words and music.
From Canterbury to Graceland
Chaucer's "Canterbury Tales" told of a band of medieval pilgrims making their way to the shrine of St. Thomas a Becket at Canterbury Cathedral. Over the centuries not just poetry but reams of wonderful music were written to honor the saint. The Canterbury pilgrimages are all but ended, but people still travel long distances to the graves of persons invested with mythic power. Some say that ELVIS is the new King of American Pilgrimage! Join Ellen Kushner as she examines the evidence and plays music from the Middle Ages to Memphis!
Gamelan, The (New Music Ancient Spirit)
An orchestra of gongs, chimes, drums, flutes and voices: a Gamelan! In Bali and Java, islands of Indonesia, they are played for pleasure - and for the gods. Ellen Kushner shares the wonderful sounds of traditional gamelans and talks with American composers Paul Dresher and the late Lou Harrison about how the sound and spirit of the gamelan has infused their work.
Gardens
This week on Sound & Spirit, host Ellen Kushner heads into the garden to see what's growing there. We'll go from the earthy satisfaction of getting our hands grubby and enjoying home-grown tomatoes, to a look at the spiritual dimensions of imagining our very lives and souls to be themselves a garden. The music in this award-winningprogram will range from a Navajo chant to an Armenian hymn. We'll also hear songs about love in a garden from Bulgaria, Texas and medieval France... and we'll learn the importance of gardens in the Baha'i faith.
Ghosts
Ellen Kushner presents a world of ghostly lovers and vengeful spirits, protective ancestors and dancing zombies. It's a mix of thrills, chills and insights into how human beings view death and the immortality of the spirit - including observations from Margaret Atwood, Octavio Paz, a true ghost story from the journals of Louisa May Alcott, along with music from many traditions...and Ellen's own collection of spooky stories.
Goddesses
Around the world and through the ages, many people have encountered ultimate reality as a Goddess - awesome, powerful, creative, feminine and divine. Join Ellen Kushner this week on Sound & Spirit to explore unbroken goddess traditions of Africa, India, Hawaii, Japan...from the Hindu Kali to Hawaii's majestic Pele . . . the ancient rites of Demeter to some Japanese Divine Dirty Dancing! - and learn how the goddesses of lost civilizations have been reclaimed by modern Americans. Ellen also talks with Dr. Jean Shinoda Bolen, author of Goddesses In Every Woman, about her Jungian interpretation of our need for Goddess archetypes.
The Golden Dreydl: A Klezmer Nutcracker for Chanukah
"The Golden Dreydl" is an award-winning family entertainment featuring the music of Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky, as interpreted by Shirim Klezmer Orchestra, with original story and narration by Ellen Kushner. Together, they have created a brand-new retelling of an old tale: Sara is a little girl with a problem: she hates the annual family Chanukah party! But when a mysterious party guest gives her the gift of a golden dreydl, Sara is catapulted into a magical world of demons and fools, sorcerers and sages.
Graceland
See "From Canterbury to Graceland."
Gypsies
See "Romani (Gypsy) Voices."
Harps
How can a few strings on a triangular frame touch the soul of so many people? From Africa to France, Scotland to Peru, harps are found the world over - and beyond (dare we mention Heaven?)! Ellen Kushner explores the magic of the harp - friend to Irish bards, muse to the orchestra and biblical companion to the voice of God - and reads an excerpt from her novel Thomas the Rhymer.
Harvest Home
Food, sustenance, abundance and life - celebrate the harvest with music! Join host Ellen Kushner for harvest songs from the fields of Africa and the Georgian Caucasus to
the mountains of Ladakh and Provence; for ebullient celebrations
of Sukkot in ancient Israel and of Harvest Home in the British
Isles; and for a look at what harvests, good and bad, mean to
the faith of the American farmer.
Healing Mind, Body and Spirit
Ellen Kushner offers a program of music that heals the mind, body and spirit, including Gnawan chants from Morocco, canticles from the Middle Ages, Baroque and contemporary classical music, and conversations with a minister and a medical doctor about spiritual healing.
Heroes
Heroes - old and new - in myth, in history, and in our lives. Join Ellen Kushner for songs and stories about heroes from around the world and through the ages, and a talk with scholar/writer Carol Pearson about the journey that we undertake as modern-day heroes.
Hildegard of Bingen
See "Hildegard von Bingen" and "The Spirit of Hildegard."
Hildegard von Bingen
Over 800 years ago, this German medieval abbess made a name for herself
across Europe as scholar, playwright, mystic and composer - Today her visions are being examined by feminists, scholars, New Agers and Early Music performers with equal passion. Ellen Kushner presents a variety of musical interpretations, and chats with the late Barbara Thornton, director of Sequentia, whose Grammy-nominated album Canticles of Ecstasy has sold over 200,000 copies worldwide.
Home Cooking
Everyone has some food that reminds them of home - of childhood, family, and special moments
in the kitchen... Ellen Kushner invites you into the Sound & Spirit
kitchen for a tribute to the songs and stories of home cooking! From Romania to Lebanon, the
Caribbean to Italy, explore challah and tapioca, soup and soul food - and
maybe some of your favorite home-cooked foods.
Homesickness
Join host Ellen Kushner for beautiful music that expresses the longing for home, from natives of Ireland, Finland, Tibet, Madagascar... we'll linger by the waters of Babylon, hear folks singing out for a heavenly home, and consider the nature of home itself in a changing world.
Hope
"Hope is the thing with feathers/that perches in the soul," Emily Dickinson wrote. Ellen Kushner explores the many things that give us hope, and plays the music that keeps us going in times of deepest need. From the Greek myth of Pandora to a modern American woman's hope for children, the stories are many and varied. We'll hear from American poets and Irish singers, African bards and gospel wailers, all with the same message: "Don't lose hope. Everything's gonna be all right."
In Memoriam (The World of Sound & Spirit)
In this edition of our "roundup" version of the show, we
pay special tribute to the soldiers of World War One, featuring some very
moving letters and reminiscences from listeners in response to our Veterans'
Day program "To End All War." We'll also commemorate the work of late
musicians including English folksinger Lal Waterson, Japanese shakuhachi player
Goro Yamaguchi and conductor Robert Shaw.
In Tune With Nature
Sounds of the natural world inspired Charles Ives, Henry Cowell and Olivier Messiaen - who, through innovative orchestration, sought to capture the spirit animating the colors and rhythms of nature. Now, a new generation of composers and recording artists is going to the source, incorporating the actual sounds of earthquakes and volcanoes, songbirds and gorillas, to create what's being called "ambient music." Join Ellen Kushner and explore the music of earth, air, fire and water!
Invitation to the Dance
Join Ellen Kushner for dances from Israel, Egypt, England, Brittany, Bali and Mexico and for a conversation with Liz Lerman, a choreographer who believes that dance can unite our bodies and spirits.
Islam
See "Fathers and Sons," "Sabbath," "Sufi Spirit" and "Rumi."
Jerusalem
It is the City of Gold, the City of Dreams, the sacred heart
of the world for Jews, Christians and Moslems alike. Passionate
love songs have been written to it, as well as wistful and
moving prayers. Host Ellen Kushner explores the many sounds
and faces of Jerusalem, with music from Biblical psalms in
settings by Purcell and Monteverdi, as well as traditional
Sephardic and Ashkenazi songs, Negro spirituals, contemporary
gospel and music from a group of Arab and Israeli artists performing together.
Jewish Holidays
See "Fathers and Sons," "Jonah," "The Door Is Opened," "The Golden Dreydl" and "Esther: the Feast of Masks."
Joan of Arc
What did this medieval warrior's courage, and her visions, mean? Join Ellen Kushner to explore the legend of Joan of Arc through poetry and music--from the glorious polyphonic music of Joan's own day to Richard Einhorn's multimedia interpretation of Joan's spirit, "Voices of Light".
Jonah
Every year on Yom Kippur, Jews read aloud the famous story of a man running from God who is swallowed by a whale. Join Ellen Kushner for a deeper look at the Book of Jonah, with the help of artists as diverse as comedian Lord Buckley and composer Alan Hovhaness, as she explores the music and meaning of the Biblical tale, and consider the implications of ignoring responsibility and one's inner voice.
Kalevala
See also "Out of Finland."
The great national epic of Finland known as the Kalevala is a
huge tapestry of stories of love and heroism, family struggles and magical
adventures. The music it has inspired ranges from the chants of ancient
Finnish folksingers to the lush classical compositions of Sibelius. Hear
all this, plus a stirring new feminist interpretation by contemporary singer
Ruth MacKenzie, as Ellen Kushner explores the music and magic of Finland's
Kalevala.
Klezmer
See "The Golden Dreydl: A Klezmer Nutcracker for Chanukah" and "The New Klezmorim."
Leaving Home
Leaving home. . . whether it's packing a car to go to college, or packing your bags to leave your native land, it's a transformative experience. Through the centuries, poets and musicians have poured out their hearts about the sorrows and joys of moving on. This week, Ellen Kushner takes us with them.
Lord Is My Shepherd, The
The Twenty-third Psalm: six lines of rich, comforting pastoral images. For centuries it has provided solace and inspiration for Jews and Christians worldwide. From ancient chants and Baroque cantatas to folk hymns and contemporary choral music, musical settings of the psalm abound. Join Ellen Kushner for a program dedicated to some of the fascinating lore and exquisite music of "The Lord is My Shepherd," the beloved psalm of David the Shepherd King.
The Lord of the Rings
Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings is "a work that will either totally enthrall you or leave you stone cold," wrote WH Auden, "and, whichever your response, nothing and nobody will ever change it." Ellen Kushner explores how musicians, artists and writers have been inspired by Tolkien's masterwork - through music ranging from sweeping symphonies to sassy satire - and investigates how Tolkien found his own inspiration in our world's mythic traditions.
Love Divine
What is the line between Carnal and Divine love? Over the centuries, music, poetry and mysticism have blurred it, and each one has fed the other - as we'll hear in this week's show! Ellen explores the way that American Gospel music provided the heat for Motown Soul, how the Sufis of Turkey and Pakistan sing of divine passion being found through earthly friendship, and how a modern rock singer, Joan Osborne, even turned to Sufi star Nusrat Fateh Ali Kahn to learn how to express her passion.
Marriage
Sound & Spirit's "Weddings" show has been one of our most popular - but what happens after the bells have stopped ringing? Ellen Kushner explores the many dimensions of marriage, from the joyous to the bittersweet (and even the disastrous!), in a wide-ranging program of music, myth, poetry, and wisdom.
Mbira
See "Out of Africa: the Spirit of Mbira."
Men
See "Fathers and Sons," "Fatherhood," "Jonah" and "Rumi."
Millennium Gifts
Ellen Kushner looks back over the greatest music of the last thousand years. Hear what the centuries have to offer from the chants of a 900-year-old abbess to works by contemporary Native American artists - music you might want to offer your loved ones in this new century.
Monkey
From Hanuman the Hindu monkey god and other divinely associated simians in Egyptian, Greek and Chinese Buddhist lore, to Taoist and Jewish fables and negative depictions of monkeys in Christian and Islamic tradition - Sound & Spirit explores the fascinating myth, legend and folklore about monkeys. Join Ellen Kushner for a look at the animal whose uncanny resemblance to humans has given rise to a wide range of stories, images and music, a range that reflects our ambivalence towards a creature so like and yet so unlike us.
Motherhood
Mothers give life and they give music - from the lullabies they sing to
the compositions they inspire. Join Ellen Kushner for a worldwide
musical celebration of motherhood, with insights on parenting from guest
Rosalie Sorrels - including her famous "Hostile Baby-rocking Song".
Mountains
Explore the myth, poetry and music of mountains - their
extraordinary power so often revealed in story and song. Join Ellen Kushner in
a musical journey from the green peaks of Madagascar's sacred mountain to the
mysterious sweeping crags of the Andes, the misty mountains and serene
music of China and its poets to the icy Artic reaches of the Inuit experience.
Mourning & Loss
The shock of losing someone is devastating. How do we cope
with that loss? We mourn. Ellen Kushner looks at the rituals, the language, and most of all the music that has helped people all over the world to express their loss, and to move
from hurting to healing. We'll hear a Latin Requiem and a jazz solo,
Irish keening and Gypsy flamenco, African harping and an Albanian lament, as
well as modern poetry and the stories of people who have recently survived a
difficult loss.
Music as Magic
Ellen Kushner explores ways in which music can convey, or be, magic - spells that make the rain fall and the crops grow, wards of courage and protection, blessings or curses, chants of sleep and healing, and spells of love - with music from Igor Stravinsky to Screamin' Jay Hawkins.
Music of the Spheres
Music is not just the universal language - it's the language of the universe!
From Pythagoras to Close Encounters of the Third Kind and beyond, the
ancient idea that music reflects fundamental physical and spiritual
relationships is still very much with us. Ellen Kushner explores how artists
have painted the space around them in music, and how music has become part of the way we think about the cosmos and our place in it.
Musical Battles
It's a basic human impulse: to fight with another person to see who's the best or the bravest. But some human battles are not fought with weapons of destruction. They're fought with music. On this week's Sound & Spirit, host Ellen Kushner takes us into the world of these musical battles, from American jazz "cutting contests" to ancient Indian drumming competitions to modern Rap artists and Caribbean calypso. From the Inuit of the Arctic Circle to Beethoven and his friends, musicians just can't resist it - and neither will you!
My Better Half
From Edvard and Nina Grieg to Gala and Salvador Dalí, Benjamin Britten and Peter Pears to Lotte Lenya and Kurt Weill, Sound & Spirit explores the intimate, extraordinary, sometimes
unusual relationships crafted by two people in love. Hear words and music by and about significant others, and sample the sweet fruits of conjugal affection and creative partnership.
Native Americans
Native Americans have always cherished music as one of life's great gifts. As a kind of spiritual language that unites people with nature, music holds a place of honor in every kind of Native ritual, ceremony, and celebration. Ellen Kushner explores the sacred sounds of traditional and contemporary music from Native American artists throughout the country including Kevin Locke, Ulali and Jerry Alfred.
New Klezmorim, The
From its Eastern European roots, Klezmer music followed
Ashkenazic Jewish culture around the world, transmuting as it encountered other
traditions. Ellen Kushner follows Klezmer from its earliest days
of cross-fertilization with Balkan Gypsy dance music, to America and its
meeting with African-American Jazz, and on into the 21st century as new Klez
bands hit fusion with a techno bang. We'll also use Klezmer's journey to
explore what it means to be a Jew in a changing world.
New Spiritualists
Liturgical forms of classical music have been rejuvenated by a
new crop of composers, including John Tavener, Gavin Bryars,
Sofia Gubaidulina and Giya Kancheli. Ellen Kushner explores
this captivating musical movement whose unique sound
draws strength from religious faith and from music of the past.
Nostalgia
Nostalgia - a longing for something that is gone. It can be a person, a place, or even a time. Ellen Kushner presents music of nostalgia to evoke that longing in everyone from ageing Baby Boomers to medieval poets. We'll wander from the forests of Hungary to the banks of the Nile and beyond. . . Nostalgia is a time machine with a soundtrack. . . the musical equivalent of the old family album.
Nutcracker
See "The Golden Dreydl: A Klezmer Nutcracker for Chanukah."
Out of Africa: The Spirit of Mbira
A land of many sounds and cultures, Africa is the cradle of some of the world's most spirited
and spiritual music. Beginning with the complex sound and meaning of the mbira ("thumb piano"), Ellen Kushner engages in a fascinating dialogue with Zimbabwean mbira player and religious leader Stella Chiweshe about her life, music and beliefs... We'll also hear from contemporary non-Africans whose music has been influenced by mbira, including the Los Angeles Guitar Quartet, Steve Tibbetts, and the Kronos Quartet.
Out of Finland
See also "Kalevala."
Finland - a small country with a huge tradition of music and
myth. Join Ellen Kushner to discover the roots of today's
exciting Finnish music, from pagan magical chants to 19th century classical
sounds...including the Arctic people known as the Sami, whose compelling
music, called joikking, has preserved their extraordinary spirit from
the deepest past into the modern age.
Outlaws
From Robin Hood and Milton's Satan, to India's Bandit Queen and Gangsta Rap, people have been fascinated by those who live by their own rules, outside the law. Join Ellen Kushner for music about outlaws from the Hungarian group Muszikas and the urban Greek tavernas; and songs about Pretty Boy Floyd, Pancho Villa and some modern outlaws of song and story.
Pärt, Arvo
See "Arvo Pärt: A Quiet Rapture."
Passover
See "Song of Songs" and "Psalms."
Pilgrimage
See "The Road to Santiago" and "From Canterbury to Graceland."
Polish composers
See "Faith, Hope and Sorrow."
Prayer
Why do we pray? What do we pray for? And how do we know when our prayers are answered? Join Ellen Kushner for the words and music of prayer: From the swelling chant of Russian cathedrals to quiet hymns of a Swedish church, the soulful testimony of African American gospel to the powerful call of the muezzin. We'll also investigate the musical power of prayer in Kenya, the Bahamas, Tibet, and welcome special guest Rabbi Harold Kushner (author of When Bad Things Happen to Good People - and no relation to our host!)
Psalms
See "Psalms" and "The Lord Is My Shepherd."
Psalms
The Book of Psalms: a hundred and fifty pieces of beloved devotional poetry originally in Hebrew but now translated into practically every language on Earth: From the beginning it seems that they were created to be sung. Join host Ellen Kushner to hear how the Psalms have inspired people around the world and through the ages - from the chanting of monks and cantors, to the complex layerings of Mozart and Vivaldi, to the contemporary singer-songwriters of Africa and the Americas.
Purim
See "Esther: the Feast of Masks" and "The World Turned Upside Down."
Resistance
See "Spiritual Resistance," "Rhythms of Resistance" and "Worlds of Resistance."
Rhythms of Resistance
Join Ellen Kushner for the powerful music that has inspired people around the world to work for social justice, freedom and peace. We'll hear the influence of African American spirituals on the songs of the civil rights movement, World War II resistance songs from Francis Poulenc and the Jewish ghettos, South Africa's anti-apartheid music, Chile's stirring Nueva Canción and the visionary music of Jamaica's Bob Marley.
Playlist
Transcript
Riddles
At the heart of humanity lies the question--Why? Ever
seeking answers, we turn this painful query into a story, a game: from the
Riddle of the Sphinx to Zen Koans, the Riddle has been a venerable way to
pursue our quest for meaning. Take a musical journey through the lore and wonder of Riddles, including English folksongs about testing wits with the Devil and African riddles designed to test our knowledge of who we are and where we come from.
The Road to Santiago
Is life a pilgrimage from birth to death, and perhaps beyond? In this award-winning program, host Ellen Kushner explores this metaphor for the human experience through the music of the 500-mile long, one thousand year-old pilgrimage to the shrine of Santiago de Compostela. Hear about the pilgrim's journey, from Dante Alighieri, medieval author of The Divine Comedy, to Jack Hitt, modern author of Off the Road: A Modern-Day Walk Down the Pilgrim's Route into Spain.
Romani (Gypsy) Voices
This week on Sound & Spirit, host Ellen Kushner explores the
1,000 year-old culture of the Roma, a remarkable
people often known as the Gypsies. We'll learn about their
origins in India, be introduced to some of their cultural wisdom,
and hear from contemporary Romani poets. And we'll
hear lots of great music from India and Turkey, from
Macedonia and Romania, from Spain and France, and more!
Rome
The "Eternal City" conjures up many images - from triumphant Roman legions to the splendors of the Vatican, the pomp and power of the papacy, and the liveliness of the daily streets. Join host Ellen Kushner on an award-winning musical journey to the city of gods and popes. Whether it's early Christian chant, Palestrina's glorious choral work for the Sistine Chapel, or Respighi's magical tone poems, the Eternal City is also a city of exquisite sounds.
Rosh Hashanah
See "Fathers and Sons" and "A Door Is Opened."
Rumi
See "Rumi" and "Sufi Spirit."
Rumi
Scholar, poet, saint... The 13th century Persian mystic Mevlana Jalal al-Din Rumi (known as Rumi) gave his name to the Sufi sect called the Mevlevi, whose traditions include whirling dervishes, inspirational stories, and music of surpassing beauty. Ellen Kushner delves into the
spirit and poetry of this remarkable man, with a look at brand-new translations of his verse that are touching a chord across America, and new releases of music inspired by his life and work.
Sabbath
Observed on three different days by Muslims, Christians and Jews, a weekly day of rest and prayer has given rise to rich traditions of poetry, art, ritual and music. Ellen Kushner celebrates the ways in which the three Abrahamic religions "Remember the Sabbath day, and keep it holy..."
Sacred Harp
Early Americans sang their own hymns, hymns rising directly from the American spirit, asserting their independence from European rules of harmony and formality. Join Ellen Kushner for shape-note singing from the Sacred Harp and other collections of American mountain folk hymns, and for concert music from American composers inspired by this rough and ready American hymnody.
Sacred Spaces
Music opens and fills sacred space, be it a Gothic cathedral or a clearing in the rainforest. Listen to the power and acoustics of sacred spaces as Ellen Kushner plays sacred music from four continents, and asks Yale professor Willie Ruff to recall his experience of playing Gregorian chants and spirituals from his African American heritage in the Basilica di San Marco, Venice.
Sacrifice
Sacrifice...the ritualized killing and destruction of plants,
animals or people in worship of a higher power: Over the centuries,
it has been a critical element of spiritual connection for people
around the world. Sacrifice turns up in a wide variety of ways:
From the Passion of Christ to the Sun Dance of the Lakota people;
the Biblical Binding of Isaac to English harvest folksongs or
patriotic acts of gallantry. Ellen Kushner explores the complex meanings of sacrifice in our lives.
Santería
Look closely at the rich tapestry of Cuban music and everywhere
you'll find the Afro-Cuban religion known as Santería. A vibrant
tradition with deep connections to music, Santería rhythms and rituals
have popped up all over the musical map. Ellen Kushner looks at
Santería and the powerful music tied to its history and practices, from
ancient Africa to modern Cuba and beyond.
September 11th
See "Surviving Survival."
Shaker Gifts
Enjoy the richness of Shaker music beyond "Simple Gifts" as host Ellen Kushner explores the spiritual
roots of Shaker melody and its influence on contemporary composers and musicians. Boston Camerata
director Joel Cohen talks about his work with the few remaining Shakers of Sabbathday Lake, Maine
and describes his personal discovery of the power of Shaker music.
Singing
Singing sustains, comforts and liberates the human spirit everywhere. A song may blossom as a communal expression or as the soul-searing journey of a solitary singer. Join Ellen Kushner -- and a vast array of voices from different times and places -- as they explore the power of singing for healing, high art and happiness.
Sisterhood
Sisterhood is beautiful...and complicated...and sometimes
just a little murderous! It's also a model for the deepest kind of
friendship. Ellen Kushner joins the sorority of
the Brontes, the Andrews, the McGarrigles - we'll learn from the wisdom of the
African American Delany Sisters, taste the inspired silliness of the Roches and
more - in a celebration of the inescapable intimacy of sisters.
The Song of Songs
"Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth, for thy love is better than wine..."
The Bible's greatest love poem, the book known as The Song of Songs: Its delicious
words have been set to music by some remarkable people, including Colonial American
tanner William Billings and Yemenite singer Ofra Haza. Ellen Kushner rounds them all up for a show that celebrates both divine and human love and partnership!
Songs of Our Parents
Like heirlooms, old photos and family stories, music has the power to unite us with the generations that came before, and tell us something about ourselves. Join host Ellen Kushner for a look at composers who have turned to the music of their ancestors to answer the question, "Who am I?"
Spirit Confined, The
In this award-winningprogram, Sound & Spirit explores words, music and ideas from people in prison: From political prisoners to convicted criminals, host Ellen Kushner examines how the human spirit can thrive while the body is confined.
Spirit of Creativity, The
See "Creativity."
The Spirit of Hildegard
Ellen Kushner presents a new look at the extraodinary medieval Abbess Hildegard of Bingen's writings, life and visions - along with some of the many recent interpretations of her music, from artists as diverse as the Empire Brass, Sinfonye, Irish singer Noirin Ni Riain and the Kronos Quartet. We'll also hear new music by Robert Kyr and others inspired by Hildegard's life and works.
Spiritual Resistance
Ellen Kushner explores our own quiet, internal resistance, a stubborn survival skill that brings us strength to keep from going under. We'll hear how music helps to resist the oppression imposed by silence, from the cantata of a baroque nun to the cabaret music of the Warsaw Ghetto. And we'll talk with a modern Tai Chi master about how this Eastern physical and spiritual discipline teaches resistance through suppleness and yielding.
The Spirituality of Work
From Mahatma Gandhi's idea of "bread-labor" to Matthew Fox's Christian
perspective of the Reinvention of Work, spiritual traditions of the
world see work as a way of connecting with the Divine. Join Ellen Kushner for
an exploration of these traditions, along with the Jewish, Muslim, Taoist and
Buddhist perspectives on work - and hear how music celebrates and aids us in
our work and meditation.
Storytelling
Around the world and through the ages, people have turned to music to tell
their stories. Whether it's an old Irish ballad of love and death that goes on
for dozens of verses, or three pithy lines from a Tex-Mex corrido
about politics on the border; an African story of family pride, or a
contemporary American tale of self-examination; there's something about the
way words and music intertwine that makes a whole greater than the sum of its
parts.
Stuff
Too much Stuff--but can't seem to get rid of it?!? Sound & Spirit explores our relationship to the objects of daily life, their emotional and spiritual pull. Ellen Kushner looks at spiritual disciplines of East and West that seek to dissolve our attachment to Stuff, explores cultures that venerate certain physical objects and holy relics, considers the personal and community spirit that goes into creating practical works of art such as quilts, and looks at what makes musical
instruments around the world appear to have a spirit all their own.
Sufism
See "Rumi" and "Sufi Spirit."
Sufi Spirit
The passionate, and at times even erotic, poetry of Sufi mystics has
inspired a remarkable variety of Islamic religous music. Host Ellen Kushner
presents a program that ranges from the chanting that accompanies the
dervishes' dance trance to the gospel-like improvisations of the late Nusrat Fateh Ali
Khan, "the James Brown of Pakistan." She speaks with author/translator
Shaikh Kabir Helminsky about Sufi practice. Catch up with Sufism's effects on some Western musicians, too.
Surviving Survival
Every day we hear about survivors - survivors of horror, of domestic violence, of poverty and worse. How do we survive our own survival? This award-winning edition of Sound & Spirit focuses on survivors' search for meaning, and the art, music, and faith that can uphold them. From survivors of Cambodian and Nazi genocide to survivors of family tragedy, to all of America's survivors of September 11th, "Surviving Survival" celebrates the enduring human spirit in the face of suffering and loss.
Teachers and Students
"Every time an old man dies, it is as if a library burned down" says a griot of Mali, and for them it is true - much of their peoples' tradition is taught in songs from one generation to the next. Ellen Kushner speaks with Los Angeles teacher Rafe Esquith and explores the spiritual dimensions of the relation between teachers and their students, and music of teachers ranging from the Sieur de Sainte Colombe and Nadia Boulanger to the Rev. Gary Davis and Malian griots.
To End All War
More than 80 years after the end of World War I, the stories and
images of the Great War continue to inspire and move us to a
greater understanding of our century and of ourselves. Ellen
Kushner examines the "War to End All Wars" through some of the
rich and moving poetry and music of its artists, including
English poets Wilfred Owen and Rupert Brooke, German novelist
Erich Maria Remarque and composer Benjamin Britten.
Tricksters
Discover why the trickster lives to play tricks, and plays tricks to live! From male culture heroes to prodigal daughters, Bugs Bunny to Dennis Rodman and the Native American Coyote to the West African Spider, Ellen Kushner explores global traditions of the trickster. We'll hear music from Spike Jones and Richard Strauss, and talk with storyteller Bill Harley about how trickster sneaks into our own lives everyday!
Vehicles of Salvation
Chariots of the gods? The gospel ship? Or the heavenly airplane? They're all ways people have imagined getting to heaven. This week join Ellen Kushner to explore a world of music, poetry, stories and songs where chariots, boats, caravans, trains, even airplanes are metaphors for spiritual salvation.
Virgin Mary
See "Blessed Virgin Mary" and "Flowers."
Voice of the Lord, The
If God were a musical instrument, what would it sound like?
Sound & Spirit explores how religious traditions from around
the world have heard divinity speak--in the blare of a trumpet, through
the beat of a drum, in the sounds of a single flute or of a symphony orchestra,
or in the silence, after sound has stopped. Host Ellen Kushner speaks with
Quaker minister Cathy Whitmire about hearing God in silence. Join Ellen and listen for
the voice of divinity in Brazilian bullroarers, the eerie call of the shofar,
Mahalia Jackson's singing about the creative power of "His Word" and
Bob Franke's song, "A Still, Small Voice."
Walking the Path
A journey on foot - in a meditative circle, through a complex
maze, or to a sacred destination - can be a profound religious experience.
From medieval pilgrimages and the labyrinth of Chartres Cathedral, to Buddhist
walking meditation and Dreamtime walkabouts in the Australian outback, trace
some of these spiritual paths with host Ellen Kushner and hear some of the
music and insights they offer.
Water
Water...It ensures our survival - and according to some, purifies our soul, heals our infirmities and nurtures our spirit. Join Ellen Kushner as she explores the influence of water in all its forms through music from medieval Europe, modern Spain, and even the Sons of the Pioneers! We'll discover how to bring rain, learn the bathing rituals of a Moorish princess and much more.
Weaving
From Harris tweed to the World Wide Web, the elements of weaving
have become images for the interconnectedness of all things.
Folktales, myths and legends abound: Arachne, Changing Woman,
the Fates, Penelope - and whether it's kente cloth, Assam silk
or Navajo blankets, spinning and weaving have played an important
role in the lives of people around the world and through the ages.
Ellen Kushner explores the weaving craft and its music: Weaving songs from Lithuania, Ireland and the Ozarks, ballads of the labor movement, and much more.
Weddings
Celebrate the many ways we pledge our lives together, and hear the music of a world-wide variety of wedding traditions. Host Ellen Kushner shares a collage of wedding vows taken from an
array of ceremonies (from traditional Hindu to contemporary Afro-Centric) and speaks with a woman who decided to have a modern, egalitarian wedding within Jewish tradition.
Welcoming Children Into the World
Music for and about our youngest children. Join Ellen Kushner for
a world-wide musical journey that includes songs of parents' commitment to
children: children's songs by Woody Guthrie, Sephardic songs to a birthing
mother and Pygmy birth celebrations, Nepalese, Cajun and Tahitian lullabies,
and Brazilian and Malagasy songs that welcome children into the world.
What I Did for Love
What have you done for love? On this week's Sound & Spirit, host Ellen Kushner looks into the human psyche to explore how -- and why -- love changes us in astonishing ways. We'll hear real-life stories of death-defying risk, artistic expression and seemingly impossible feats -- all for love! Music tells the story, whether it's a medieval troubador battling incredible odds, or a classical composer encoding love letters into his score... Christine Lavin going to the opera to impress a new boyfriend, or an Estonian immigrant who crosses the ocean for a new life... it's all part of the transformative power of love!
When Musics Meet
Whenever people meet, their separate worlds join for a while - and each can learn something from the other. Ellen Kushner explores the music that happens when cultures meet: Join her for some glorious sounds as an Afghani caravan collides with a Pakistani trader's music; Tahitians discover Christian hymns; and American jazz man Warren Senders teams up with classical musicians from India.
Women
See "Women Mystics," "Women Without Virtue," "Bicultural Women," "Motherhood," "Goddesses," "Out of Africa," "Blessed Virgin Mary," "Esther: the Feast of Masks," "Hildegard von Bingen," "The Spirit of Hildegard" and "Sisterhood."
Women Mystics
Abbess Hildegard of Bingen, Shaker leader Anne Lee, Indian poet Mirabai, Sufi mystic Rabia...
These women from different traditions shared an uncanny language of sacred ecstasy. Over the
centuries, they wrote and sang as if they sensed that their rapturous visions would be for all time.
Join Ellen Kushner for the poetry, music and remarkably good sense of women mystics - Christian,
Muslim and Hindu - whose words and music still have great meaning for us today.
Women Without Virtue
Locked in a spiritual battle against the cruelties of slavery and the resulting slander of black female morality, Black Women created and nurtured their own set of virtues to live by, lead with, and to pass on. Sound & Spirit host Ellen Kushner speaks with theologian Rev. Doctor Katie Geneva Cannon and focuses on the words and music of African American performers, writers and composers who have protected, redefined, affirmed and lauded their true spiritual stature as women.
Work
See "Spirituality of Work."
World War One
See "To End All War."
The World Turned Upside Down
Around the world and through the ages there have been people and traditions that take our everyday, hum-drum reality... and turn it on its head! From the British surrender at Yorktown to Brazilian Carnival celebrations, from Victorian nonsense poetry to the Hindu Festival of Colors, people have been turning the World Upside Down for millennia, and learning something about ourselves and how we see reality. Ellen Kushner explores how we flip reality through music and story.
Worlds of Resistance
So many of the world's songs seem to be about resistance. Ellen Kushner samples some of them: tune in to hear about resisting everything from love to the loss of one's heritage...and everyone's favorite, resisting temptation! (There's also a special section devoted to kids' resistance to things like growing up and eating yucky food. )
Yom Kippur
See "Jonah."
