VALENTINE'S DAY LISTENING
As we programmed my national public radio show Sound & Spirit every year, we tried to throw in something seasonally appropriate. Valentine's Day was the best - our programming ranged from the affirming . . . .
MY BETTER HALF (written with Titilayo Ngwenya)
http://www.wgbh.org/programs/Sound--Spirit-226/episodes/My-Better-Half-5039
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.
. . . . to the "Yeah, well, what about those of us who are NOT in a couple this year?" cranky . . . .
BREAKUPS (written with Justine Larbalestier)
http://www.wgbh.org/programs/Sound--Spirit-226/episodes/Breakups-5093
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-winning program, Ellen Kushner looks for answers, with the help of poets and musicians from around the world.
. . . . to those wishing to slip the surly bonds of earth altogether:
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.
(Actually, I'm not sure we ever programmed "Love Divine" for Valentine's Day - but we should have! I'm doing it now.)
Click on each title to listen to the show.
Playlists are clickable on each show's page.
And if you can figure out a way to get rid of that irritating blue stuff above (without re-typing the whole thing) . . . just let me know!
MY BETTER HALF (written with Titilayo Ngwenya)
http://www.wgbh.org/programs/Sound--Spirit-226/episodes/My-Better-Half-5039
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.
. . . . to the "Yeah, well, what about those of us who are NOT in a couple this year?" cranky . . . .
BREAKUPS (written with Justine Larbalestier)
http://www.wgbh.org/programs/Sound--Spirit-226/episodes/Breakups-5093
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-winning program, Ellen Kushner looks for answers, with the help of poets and musicians from around the world.
. . . . to those wishing to slip the surly bonds of earth altogether:
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.
(Actually, I'm not sure we ever programmed "Love Divine" for Valentine's Day - but we should have! I'm doing it now.)
Click on each title to listen to the show.
Playlists are clickable on each show's page.
And if you can figure out a way to get rid of that irritating blue stuff above (without re-typing the whole thing) . . . just let me know!