Originally published on Tue April 2, 2013 10:04 am
Making art out of war is an ancient path — either as a means to quite literally sing the praises of warriors' brave deeds and martial power, or to forward a particular political agenda, noble or not.
Originally published on Tue April 30, 2013 12:22 pm
The music of electroacoustic composer Dan Deacon is defined by its extreme eclecticism. A tangle of sputtering beats, Disklaviers and homemade instruments, Deacon's compositional style draws as much from Conlon Nancarrow and electronic music pioneer Raymond Scott as it does from the worlds of pop, electronic and dance music.
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Pablo Helguera is a New York-based artist working with sculpture, drawing, photography and performance. His new book isHelguera's Artunes. You can see more of his work atArtworld Salon and on his own site.
Osvaldo Golijov's St. Mark Passion at Carnegie Hall.
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Although Golijov's St. Mark Passion requires a specialized orchestra of musicians, including Cuban and Brazilian drumming and dancing, it has been performed around the world some three dozen times.
Credit Melanie Burford / For NPR
More than 100 choristers from area high schools and the Songs of Solomon choir sang in the Passion, here representing the angry crowd at Jesus' crucifixion.
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Although Robert Spano has conducted Golijov's Passion before — and has made a recording — he says he still feels "totally intimidated" by the diversity of the score. "It was learning a new musical vocabulary," he said.
Credit Melanie Burford / For NPR
Members of the Forest Hills High School Concert Choir,the Frank Sinatra School of the Arts Concert Choir and Songs of Solomon singing in Golijov's St. Mark Passion.
Credit Melanie Burford / NPR
Brazilian singer Luciana Souza sings "Lua descolorida" (Aria of Peter's Tears), one of the Passion's most heartbreaking songs.
Credit Melanie Burford / NPR
Soprano Jessica Rivera, left, Deraldo Ferreira, center, and Renaldo Gonzalez-Fernandez received enthusiastic applause after performing in Osvaldo Golijov's Passion according to St. Mark, with Orquesta La Pasion and conductor Robert Spano at Carnegie Hall, March 10, 2013.
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The St. Mark Passion incorporates Brazilian Capoeira (martial arts) and the traditional stringed percussion instrument the berimbau, both specialties of musician Deraldo Ferreira.
Credit Melanie Burford / For NPR
With his St. Mark Passion, composer Osvaldo Golijov turns the traditional Passion (like those of J.S. Bach) on its head and gives it a spin or two. Here, Javier Silva performs in front of the Forest Hills High School Concert Choir, the Frank Sinatra School of the Arts Concert Choir and Songs of Solomon at Carnegie Hall.
Credit Melanie Burford / NPR
Golijov's Passion calls for sacred Cuban bata drums, plus congas and a battery of Brazilian drums.
Credit Melanie Burford / NPR
Vocalist Gioconda Cabrera with the local choristers, and the cello section of Orquesta Pasion.
Credit Melanie Burford / NPR
Deraldo Ferreira, left, pierces Jesus, played by Afro-Cuban singer and dancer Reynaldo Gonzalez-Fernandez.
Credit Melanie Burford / NPR
Deraldo Ferreira, left, and Reynaldo Gonzalez-Fernandez, as Jesus, perform in the St. Mark Passion.
Credit Melanie Burford / NPR
Conductor Robert Spano led a cast of some 195 musicians, including several choirs. Golijov's updated Passion, from 2000, seamlessly combines elements of western choral music, western orchestral instruments and deep folkloric Latin American rhythms, instruments and dances.
