Cultural

A Musical Portrait, Part 1 and Part 2
Souren Baronian
2 CDS This program features Souren Baronian performing various classic Middle Eastern pieces such as “Istemem Babajim,” “Yarus,” and “Gheylee Yebooee.” Later in his career, he created Taksim, a group dedicated to fusing jazz with Middle Eastern music. His autobiography is entitled The Magic Carpet Ride. He is David Barsamian’s cousin. Souren’s father Mesrob was […]
Raga Bageshri
Debu Chaudhuri
This brilliant performance of the majestic evening raga Bageshri features sitar maestro Debu Chaudhuri at his very best. The introductory alap is measured and serene. That is followed by slow and fast gats, compositions. The fast passages are precise and clean. The speedy closing jhala is exciting. Debuji is skillfully accompanied on the tabla by […]
Araxie Barsamian Reads Three Armenian Stories
Araxie Barsamian
David’s mother tells three delightful stories in Armenian.
Allen Ginsberg at Naropa, 1986
Allen Ginsberg
Allen Ginsberg does a reading at the Naropa Institute, Dec 7, 1986
The Quran
Fred Denny
Islam
Fred Denny
Literature From the World of Islam
David Barsamian
As a result of wars and conflicts, we need a deeper understanding and appreciation of other peoples and their civilizations, especially their artistic, moral and spiritual achievements. Nowhere is this more true perhaps than in the world of Islam, a geographical expanse from Morocco to Indonesia. It is far more than belly dancers, caravans, flying […]
Raga Desh
Debu Chaudhuri
This is one of the best recordings of classical Indian music you’ll ever hear. Before an appreciative audience, sitar maestro Chaudhuri explains the structure of Desh, an evening raga often performed during the monsoon season. He begins with a serene, alap, a slow, measured introduction to the raga. He flawlessly plays both Maseet Khani (slow) […]
Bob Dylan: Chimes of Freedom
Mike Marqusee
Bob Dylan is indisputably one of the major musicians of our time. He is a complicated and paradoxical figure that defies categorization. Although his work has undergone some ironic transmutations over the years, his musical development has often been a response to his rebellious and restless nature and refusal to be typecast. Like Picasso and […]
Cuban and Brazilian Music
John Galm
Featuring Professor of Music at CU Boulder John Galm in performance and interview. Mr. Galm is an ethnomusicologist who specializes in, and teaches, percussion instruments and music history, including those of Latin America. Recorded at KGNU. Interviewed by David Barsamian.
Culture & Imperialism
Edward Said
Imperial power is constructed on a bedrock not only of force but of culture as well. Culture provides the crucial underpinning, justification and validation of empire. Its crudest manifestation is perhaps Kipling’s “White man’s burden.” A more refined version is the French “mission civilisatrice,” civilizing mission. Imperialism is often thought of as a European phenomenon […]
Interview
Danny Glover
Interview by David Barsamian.

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