Hearts of Space Promo Podcast

SUMMER...officially arrives in the Northern Hemisphere the third week in June. Also known as the Summer Solstice, it's the longest day and shortest night of the year. For fans of the ambient guitar, it's an event worth celebrating. The cold and dark of winter is forgotten; the bright promise of spring has come and gone; now, fair skies, gentle breezes, sweet melodies, and the warm harmonies of early summer invite us to melt...into the season of the sun. Instrumental music for the guitar continues to evolve, and whether the genre is traditional acoustic, 20th century electric, or 21st century electronic, the slow pace and spatial sound images of the ambient guitar bring us new dimensions in atmospheric music. On this transmission of Hearts of Space, another seasonal journey for ambient guitar, on a program called "SIX STRING SUMMER." Music is by SOULFOOD & BILLY McLAUGHLIN, TOM CAUFIELD, MIKHAIL MEDVEDEV, ASCHE & SPENCER, STEVE SMITH, CHUCK JOHNSON, ERRANT SPACE, MATT BORGHI, CLIVE WRIGHT, ROBERT FRIPP & BRIAN ENO. [ view playlist ] [ view Flickr image gallery ] [ play 30 second MP3 promo ]

As spring slowly morphs into summer, the music becomes more energetic and expansive. In the long days and mild nights,the sounds and rhythms of the warm weather cultures call to us. For ambient musicians, a brighter palette and hotter beats are in order, along with the changing sounds of an environment moving into overdrive. On this transmission of Hearts of Space...an ambient excursion for the spring/summer transition called "WARM FRONT." Music is by TWILIGHT ARCHIVE, YAGYA, LEO ABRAHAMS & JON HOPKINS, ALPHA WAVE MOVEMENT, CYBERCHUMP, STEVE ROACH, and ERIK WØLLO. [ view playlist ] [ view Flickr image gallery ] [ play 30 second MP3 promo ]

It's been almost 50 years since 1978, when the influential English recording artist and producer BRIAN ENO—in a historic bit of cultural appropriation—took the name “ambient” for an emerging genre of atmospheric contemporary music, and started an independent record label to publish it. The approach had been evolving since the early 20th century in artistic and experimental music circles, including impressionism, avant garde, electronic, psycho-acoustic soundscapes, new age, and minimalism. If there was a common element in these diverse genres, it was an emphasis on tone, texture, atmosphere, and spatial sound images, over traditional musical theory and structure. The genre was unusually open to influences from slow, quiet music from other cultures and historical eras, where it found hypnotic repetitions, psychoactive fractal patterns, modal drones, and consonant harmony. In time, modern listeners also came to appreciate the therapeutic power of ambient music to manage stress, enhance concentration, and support meditative and spiritual experience. Today, a new generation of dedicated ambient composers are creating new music of great subtlety and power. On this transmission of Hearts of Space, therapeutic ambient for unpredictable times, on a program called "RESTORATION." Music is by DAVID HELPLING & ERIC "THE" TAYLOR, MICHAEL STEARNS & CHRISTIAN HALTEN, ISHQ, MATTHEW STEWART, ANDREW HEATH, and STEVE ROACH. [ view playlist ] [ view Flickr image gallery ] [ play 30 second MP3 promo ]

Consider, gentle listener, the chordophone family of musical instruments. It's a large, diverse brood including almost anything with stretched strings: zithers, lyres, harps, lutes, guitars, the violin family, hundreds of ethnic string instruments like the Japanese koto and the African kora, and not least — keyed zithers like the harpsichord and the piano. Chordophones can be plucked, strummed, bowed, keyed, or struck. Looking back in time, zithers, lyres and harps were the foundational instruments of the chordophone family. They were used in antiquity to accompany recitations and promote healing. On this transmission of Hearts of Space, we ride the soft strings of the harp and zither to a place close to silence, on a program called 'CHORDOPHONICS.' Music is by PETER STERLING, HARP 46, LYSA LYNNE, DA WO's, HAROLD BUDD, CYMBER LILY QUINN, KLAUS WIESE, and LARAAJI. [ view playlist ] [ view Flickr image gallery ] [ play 30 second MP3 promo ]

At its core, Ambient is a sensibility — a way of perceiving or sensing the world around us. As a sensibility, it gives us a heightened awareness of our physical and cultural surroundings; as a contemporary music genre, the name may be new, but the music has old, even ancient roots, arising from the discovery that slow tempos, repeated patterns, hypnotic rhythms, and resonant enclosures can alter our sense of time, and transform our experience of space. The 20th century saw the invention of electronic music, along with technical advances in communication, travel, sound recording, and music distribution—all of which sparked unprecedented exposure to non-western folk, classical, and tribal music from indigenous cultures around the world. In 1987, the European and North American music industry—determined to avoid the confusion and criticism that accompanied the choice of "New Age" for an earlier emerging genre—opted for simplicity and called the entire non-western traditional category "World Music." In time the World Music genre expanded to include ethnic fusions, crossovers, and hybrids, and the ethereal sounds of Tribal Electronic and World Ambient. On this transmission of Hearts of Space, we journey over the high desert mesas, wind-blown dunes, and endless plains of the Ethno-Ambient soundscape, on a program called "AMBIENT TRAVELER 4." Music is by LAYNE REDMOND & TOMMY BRUNGES, BYRON METCALF & ARI URBAN, SUZANNE TENG & GILBERT LEVY, MARLA LEIGH, STEPHAN MICUS, and ANOUSHKA SHANKAR. [ view playlist ] [ view Flickr image gallery ] [ play 30 second MP3 promo ]

SPRING CREEPS IN with delicate leaves and fragrant flowers. The winds sweep through, the rains wash away the accumulated debris of winter, and we bathe in new light and energy. It's a time for music that flows with grace and melody—a confirmation of the release we feel. On this transmission of Hearts of Space, the music is fresh and the harmonies are lush...on a program called 'FLOWING INTO SPRING'. Music is by SECRET GARDEN, ANDREAS VOLLENWEIDER, NANCY RUMBEL, BILL DOUGLAS, SAVINA YANNATOU & PRIMAVERA EN SALONICO, LEE JOHNSON, and SANCTUARY. [ view playlist ] [ view Flickr image gallery ] [ play 30 second MP3 promo ]

Ahhhh, spring at last. Or is it? Our most anticipated season has a habit of arriving in fits and starts: a few days of temperate glory...and then a chilled rerun of late winter; a sweet day of sunshine and birdsong...and then, a nasty day of cold rain and hail. It breeds a kind of disorientation you feel in your body...and makes you question where you are. When ambient musicians focus on spring, they're thinking of brighter timbres, more energetic rhythms, and warmer harmonies. Will the weather take the hint? It's a toss-up, but the psychological effect, at least, can be comforting. On this transmission of Hearts of Space...ambient electronics to summon and celebrate spring, on a program called WARMING TREND. Music by ERIK WØLLO, RUDY ADRIAN, STEVE ROACH, ANDREW LAHIFF, AMONGST MYSELVES, TOM EATON, and PATRICK O'HEARN. [ view playlist ] [ view Flickr image gallery ] [ play 30 second MP3 promo ]

THE ARRIVAL OF SPRING is, as they say about the future, "unequally distributed." While our friends in the northern states and upper elevations are enjoying a last round of snow, the seasonal transition has been underway here in California for over two months. Whatever your weather, after the grey skies and dark drones of winter, we're due for some spring spacemusic: light, airy, energetic, ready to venture out and enjoy the world around us. On this transmission of Hearts of Space, an hour of sparkling Ambient electronics for spring, on a program called 'VERNAL TRANSIT.' Music is by ASCENDENT, CONNECT.OHM, STATE AZUR, RAY SAMMARTANO, CHRONOTOPE PROJECT, and ISHQ. [ view playlist ] [ view Flickr image gallery ] [ play 30 second MP3 promo ]

THE MUSIC OF EASTER—with its traditional themes of death and rebirth—touches the extremes of the emotional spectrum, from deepest anguish to radiant joy. Over the past 40 years, Hearts of Space has often celebrated this special holiday with the help of our longtime guest producer for classical and sacred music, ELLEN HOLMES. This year, once again, Ellen brings us a collection of sublime choral and instrumental music for Easter, on a program she calls “OF SOUND AND SPIRIT.” “Traditionally,” she says, “on Easter Sunday and during the week before Easter—concerts of majestic music are performed all over the world…celebrating the miracle…of life's eternal renewal. This special Easter program follows that tradition, featuring exceptionally beautiful pieces and performances from ancient to contemporary.” With music by FRANZ SCHUBERT, HENRIK ØDEGAARD, JORDI SAVALL, J.S. BACH, SIGVALDI KALDALÓNS, GUSTAVE MAHLER, MAX RICHTER, CHARLES GOUNOD, and others. [ view playlist ] [ view Flickr image gallery ] [ play 30 second MP3 promo ]

Armed with a studio full of synthesizers and powerful production software, many electronic musicians will create sonic images of vast, cold, cosmic space. Others will conjure up infectious sequencer rhythms, and attract a high energy crowd with electronic dance music. Still others, following the great European symphonic tradition, will electrify the orchestra, or create ambient electronic soundscapes. A smaller group find inspiration in the environment, incorporating the sounds of nature in their music. But perhaps the most unusual are inspired by the supernatural—the worlds of myth and legend, literature and folklore. They create music for spirits, fairies, sprites and elves, wood and water nymphs, elementals, and other invisible denizens of the magic forest. On this transmission of Hearts of Space, it's a magical journey in supernatural spaces, on a program called "ENCHANTED LANDS." Music is by LEMONGRASS, ISHQ, DESENSITIZED, KEVIN BRAHENY FORTUNE, THE AMNIS INITIATIVE, RICHARD ROSS, and ALPHA WAVE MOVEMENT. [ view playlist ] [ view Flickr image gallery ] [ play 30 second MP3 promo ]

It takes increasing effort, but if we can just turn away from the political chaos that has overtaken the Middle East for the moment, we can still hear the expression of artistic traditions that have been evolving for over 5000 years. From source cultures in Persia, Arabia and North Africa come instruments and musical traditions. Today, both native and expatriate artists are working to extend these traditions and adapt them to the world of contemporary music. It's an effort that aims for harmony and understanding in the face of dissonance and division: cultural in the best sense — a human treasure to be loved and shared. On this transmission of Hearts of Space, a journey to the quiet heart of Middle Eastern music, on a program called DOOR OF SILENCE. Music is by MERCAN DEDE, OMAR FARUK TEKBILEK, AZAM ALI & LOGA RAMIN TORKIAN, ANOUAR BRAHEM, and DHAFER YOUSSEF. [ view playlist ] [ view Flickr image gallery ] [ play 30 second MP3 promo ]

The story of French electronic music over the last hundred years is one of artistic and technical innovations that changed the course of contemporary music. The late 19th century stylistic inventions of GABRIEL FAURÉ, MAURICE RAVEL, and CLAUDE DEBUSSY led to the emergence of Impressionism and Minimalism in the 20th century—while the revolutionary innovations of ERIK SATIE laid the foundation for ambient background music and personal music for solo piano. At the same time, the invention of playable French electronic instruments like the “Ondes Martenot” in 1928, accelerated the arrival of live electronic performance, and the French brilliance in style and design produced exceptionally refined sonic and textural quality in recordings after mid-century. On this transmission of HEARTS of SPACE, a look at French ambient and electronic music from the 1970's to now, on a program called "AMBIANCE FRANÇAIS." Music is by DEBUSSY via TOMITA, JEAN MICHEL JARRE, THIERRY DAVID, CHRISTIAN WITTMAN, PAUL SAUVANET, and AIR. https://bit.ly/HOS-1394. [ view playlist ] [ view Flickr image gallery ] [ play 30 second MP3 promo ]

This week we transit the Spring Equinox, the official beginning of spring and a good time to check in on the ambient space guitar. Acoustic or electric, live or sampled, looped or direct, straight up or processed, folk, jazz, or classical — even in the electronic age, the venerable six string guitar continues to make itself indispensable almost everywhere music happens. Guitarists of the Ambient persuasion take it slow, quiet, and spatially expanded, leaving the virtuosic fireworks to their rock brothers and sisters. Occasionally...a heroic rock guitarist like JEFF BECK or BUCKETHEAD will journey to the contemplative side of the instrument just to do something completely different. On this transmission of Hearts of Space, a spacey, twangy, laid-back, subtle, turn-of-the-season journey for ambient guitar — on a program called SIX STRING SPRING. Music is by CHRIS HAUGEN, LISA BELLA DONNA, CLAES NILSSON, CARL WEINGARTEN, BLUE STAR, and TONY GERBER, with PHIL KEAGGY and DREAMHUB. [ view playlist ] [ view Flickr image gallery ] [ play 30 second MP3 promo ]

NEW ZEALAND MUSICIAN DAVID PARSONS—in retrospect one of the greatest (though less well-known) world-ambient-electronic musicians—passed away in February 2025 at 80. His recorded legacy is so innovative, extensive, and important, that we are doing a two-part tribute. Last week we repeated our first Parsons retrospective from 2003—"LONG TONES." This week we focus on music from the later years of his innovative musical career, on a program called "DEEP TONES." Parsons was one of the earliest western musicians to embrace North Indian classical music, traveling to India in the late 1970s to study the sitar with female master KRISHNA CHAKRAVARTY. Fascinated by the sound of drones and “long tones” in Indian music, Parsons was one of the first to recognize the connection between Indian classical and electronic music, and pioneered popular fusions between the genres. In the late 1980s he went digital, incorporating samples of ethnic instruments, ambient sounds, and the chanting and ceremonial instruments of Tibetan Buddhist monks into his music. In the 1990s Parsons' music became deeper, more abstract, and purely electronic. He released a series of albums using only synthesizers and custom electronic sounds he produced from basic oscillators and filters. He said he was trying to create "atmospheric and surrealistic landscapes into which the listener can place their own thoughts and images." On this transmission of HEARTS of SPACE, "DEEP TONES"— Part 2 of our 2-part tribute to David Parsons. [ view playlist ] [ view Flickr image gallery ] [ play 30 second MP3 promo ]

New Zealand musician DAVID PARSONS had a unique and fascinating musical career. In fact, you probably couldn't make it up if you tried. Back in the early 1960s, he was a jazz drummer, longing for a more melodic instrument. Years before The Beatles brought the sitar to pop music, Parsons heard a recital in New Zealand by RAVI SHANKAR. That was it. Inspired to make the sitar his new instrument, he spent three years trying to get one imported into NZ, then 8 years teaching himself to play it. At that point he was ready to get serious!…and he made several trips to India to study with one of the few female sitar masters, KRISHNA CHAKRAVARTY. In the late 1970s, fascinated by the sound of drones and long tones, Parsons discovered the connection between Indian music and synthesizers, and began creating electronic-Indian music fusions. In the late 1980s, he went digital, incorporating samples of ethnic instruments and ambient sounds from his travels in Asia, including the chanting and ceremonial instruments of Tibetan monks. His record company hired him to document ethnic music, a project that took him to exotic places like Iran, Armenia, Cambodia, Vietnam, Bali, and Malaysia. Like many of these cultures, his own music is rooted in India—with the melodic construction of the raga, the rhythmic cycles of the tala, and the extended, contemplative space of the alap. He created dozens of amazing albums, and doesn't read a note of music. David Parsons passed away in February 2025 at 80. On this transmission of Hearts of Space, part 1 of a 2 part DAVID PARSONS RETROSPECTIVE called "LONG TONES." [ view playlist ] [ view Flickr image gallery ] [ play 30 second MP3 promo ]

At the nadir of winter, the time of deepest cold and lowest natural activity, the sound of the resonant percussion family of instruments takes on a special appeal. The metallophones—bells, bowls, gongs, chimes, and cymbals—speak eloquently in the chilled, quiet air. Whether used for religious ceremonies in ancient Buddhist mountain cultures like Tibet; for sound healing and therapeutic work; or for creative experimental music—these instruments have a sublime elegance and power. On this transmission of HEARTS of SPACE, another winter journey for resonant percussion, on a program called "METALLOPHONIC 2". Music is by SHAWN FEENEY, LAURA INSERRA, HANG MASSIVE, THOMAS BRETT, ED MANN, and KARMA MOFFETT. [ view playlist ] [ view Flickr image gallery ] [ play 30 second MP3 promo ]

The latter days of winter bring a special kind of fatigue mixed with impatience. For residents of snow-crossed parts of the country, winter has begun to overstay its welcome; while here in California, the trees are blossoming, and February feels like spring. As the sound of the season evolves, music of the far north and Arctic countries still resonates, connecting with contemplative acoustic mainstays like the cello and the piano. From deep minimalist patterns to Romantic melodicism, we find the soul and comfort to endure. On this transmission of Hearts of Space, wintry acoustic spacemusic for the season, on a program called WINTERTONES 2. With Icelandic musicians OLAFUR ARNALDS and HILDUR GUTHNADOTTIR, cellist DAVID DARLING with SYLVIA NAKKACH and JACQUELINE TSCHABOLD BHUYAN, MICHAEL HOPPE & HAROLD MOSES, BRUNO SANFILIPPO, and RALPH ZURMUHLE. [ view playlist ] [ view Flickr image gallery ] [ play 30 second MP3 promo ]

For ambient and electronic artists, the music of the winter season holds a special appeal. Dense drones, chilled harmonies, bright bells and percussion, and the psychoactive power of minimalist patterns — add up to a powerful palette of musical elements. The small but artistically mighty countries of Scandinavia and the Arctic north produce far more than their share of world-class music across a wide range of contemporary genres and music for film. Nourishing it all is the influence of the extraordinary natural environment: the cold North Sea and volcanic islands, the dramatic coastal mountains and fjords, the vast boreal forests, the visual magic of fog, mist, and snow, and the otherworldly spectacle of the auroras—the famous northern lights. On this transmission of Hearts of Space, wintry ambient from Scandinavia and the Arctic north to Northern California, on a program called "NORTHERN LIGHTS 5." Music is by ROBERT JÜRJENDAL, ERIK WØLLO, PHILLIP WILKERSON & CHRIS RUSSELL, SNOWDROPS, TERJE ISUNGSET & EIVIND AARSET, MARK BANNING (RIP), and JEFF PEARCE. [ view playlist ] [ view Flickr image gallery ] [ play 30 second MP3 promo ]

We're at the nadir of winter in the Northern Hemisphere...a time when the yearly journey around our native star seems arbitrary and endless. Battered by storms, challenged by cold, starved for light, we have no choice but to wait...for the return of the sun and the bright promise of spring. It's a trial we repeat in miniature each long winter night, as we turn away from the sun into the cosmic darkness. But while we can escape most of the night in sleep, winter...must be endured. It's a test of fortitude and patience, a confrontation with our own desires for ease and comfort. On this transmission of Hearts of Space, a nocturnal winter journey called "THE LONG NIGHT." Music is by JEFF GREINKE, ROBERT RICH, A PRODUCE, STEVE ROACH & KELLY DAVID, SEAN WASHBURN, and NUNC STANS & MYSTIFIED. [ view playlist ] [ view Flickr image gallery ] [ play 30 second MP3 promo ]

In 2016, Icelandic film composer ATLI ÖRVARSSON was having a great career — working with industry heavyweights, scoring dozens of movies and TV series, and winning awards. But after more than a decade in Los Angeles, he was moved to return to his small hometown in the north of Iceland, build a film-scoring studio, create a record label for Icelandic artists, and help establish the scoring orchestra “Sinfonia Nord.” All this has made tiny Iceland a new center for film and television scoring, helping to meet the expanded demands of the video streaming era. On this transmission of Hearts of Space, we have a great example: a journey into a post-apocalyptic dystopian future world, based on HUGH HOWEY's “Wool” trilogy of science fiction novels, and inspired by the APPLE TV Plus Sci-Fi Series “SILO.” We feature ATLI ÖRVARSSON's brooding, powerful score from “SILO,” plus related music from HANS ZIMMER's score for “INCEPTION" — on this transmission of Hearts of Space. [ view playlist ] [ view Flickr image gallery ] [ play 30 second MP3 promo ]

If you're old enough to have been watching network television in 1990, just the first two notes of this music should have sent an involuntary shiver down your spine. It conjures up atavistic, possibly suppressed, memories of the strange, disconcerting world of the late film and television director DAVID LYNCH—creator of the award-winning series “TWIN PEAKS,” who passed away in January, 2025. It's a perfect example of the Lynch brand of “Visionary Surrealism,” a mixture of the banal, the beautiful, and the sinister —a juxtaposition of mysterious or menacing sounds and images with mundane, everyday environments. On this transmission of HEARTS of SPACE, a tribute to the banal, bizarre, beautiful, and disconcerting world of DAVID LYNCH, on a program called "SO DARK.” Music is by ANGELO BADALAMENTI, JULEE CRUISE, TOM NEWMAN, JEFF GREINKE, and GABRIEL YARED. [ view playlist ] [ view Flickr image gallery ] [ play 30 second MP3 promo ]

Last year, the Surgeon General of the United States released a report warning about “an epidemic of loneliness.” What's being called “an anti-social century of self-imposed solitude” was becoming a social fact, with negative effects on health equivalent to tobacco or obesity. In 2020, over half of Americans were unmarried, separated, divorced, or widowed. Of those, two thirds had never been married. In 2023, 38 million Americans were living alone—more than 30% of households—and three quarters of all restaurant business...was take-out. For those who did eat in a restaurant, dining alone had increased by 29%. At the same time, the highly social entertainment business was moving to digital home delivery: video was booming, while theaters and clubs were closing. For those who did venture out, thanks to ear buds, music consumption on mobile phones created a class of “audio-isolated” individuals. in the wake of these developments came an ambient music sub-genre called “Isolationist Ambient.” It creates a sense of being alone in vast, empty spaces. It's an experience that has both positive and negative aspects: it can immerse listeners in sublime natural or virtual environments, with powerful psychological and physical benefits. Like meditation, it can lead to increased self-awareness, and respect for the natural environment. It can also deepen feelings of loneliness, depression, and despair. On this transmission of HEARTS of SPACE, an ambient winter journey in solitary spaces, on a program called ISOLATION. [ view playlist ] [ view Flickr image gallery ] [ play 30 second MP3 promo ]

The serene spaces of contemplative minimalism have attracted some strange bedfellows over the years, including classical, new music, and experimental composers, serious jazz artists, ambient-electronic sound sculptors, and native musicians from the far north. They share a taste for consonance, repetition, slow tempos, electro-acoustic instrumentation, and expanded ambience. In these vast, frigid spaces, time seems to slow and even stop. On this transmission of Hearts of Space, timeless soundscapes inspired by the Arctic North, on a program called "FROZEN TIME." Music is by CHRISTEL VERAART, JEFF GREINKE, TIGRAN HAMASYAN, JOHN LUTHER ADAMS, MICHAEL JON FINK, SOMEI SATOH, and OLAFUR ARNALDS. [ view program page ] [ view Flickr image gallery ] [ play 30 second MP3 promo ]

Smooth...chilled...and mysterious: the electronic orchestrations of the late German electronic music pioneer KLAUS SCHULZE — just one of the new styles to emerge from the hyper-creative incubator that was Berlin in the 1960s and 70s. Electronic synthesizers ultimately fueled dozens of new genres, the most famous being “Kraut Rock.” But the confluence of cosmic electronic soundscapes and the classical music of Europe led to a widely popular genre that came to be known as “spacemusic.” It was well-suited to the winter months, when listeners could easily make the perceptual leap from the new sound to the frigid vacuum of interstellar space—a natural conjunction that was recognized by the first generation of academic electronic musicians, like German composer KARLHEINZ STOCKHAUSEN. On this transmission of Hearts of Space, another interstellar flight on electronic wings, on a program called WINTERTRONIC 4. Music is by KLAUS SCHULZE, MARK DWANE, ANDREW LAHIFF, DREAMSTATE LOGIC, ISOSTATIC, OXIA PALACE, and HOLLAN HOLMES. [ view playlist ] [ view Flickr image gallery ] [ play 30 second MP3 promo ]

The legacy of choral singing is never more cherished than during the holiday season, when it brings warmth and light to the winter darkness by opening the heart and feeding the soul. From the Christian churches and cathedrals of Europe and the U.S., to the Orthodox churches of Russia, central Asia, and the Holy Land, the human family gathers to listen, sing, and worship together. After more than ten centuries of evolution, some of the finest choral music was written during the last 100 years by a special breed of contemporary composers, who respect and extend the tradition. On this transmission of Hearts of Space, another compilation of sublime choral pieces from our longtime guest producer ELLEN HOLMES called "TO THEE WE SING." Music is by the cream of liturgical composers from Russia, Estonia, Bulgaria and the U.S., including SERGEI RACHMANINOV, ARCHBISHOP IONAFAN, DOBRI CHRISTOV, MORTEN LAURIDSEN, and others. [ view playlist ] [ view Flickr image gallery ] [ play 30 second MP3 promo ]

This week we honor our pagan ancestors and celebrate the winter solstice, the shortest day and longest night of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. We journey over the snow-covered mountains, frozen forests, and blue-gray fjords that inspire the music of northern Europe and Scandinavia. In a land of dark and cold, the focus turns within, and the music of this frigid region warms the heart and nourishes the soul. Classical, jazz, and traditional folk sounds stretch from majestic and powerful, to intimate and ethereal—with brilliant timbres, gorgeous melodies, and rich harmonies. On this transmission of Hearts of Space, another winter solstice celebration, on a program called "STARLIGHT NORTH 2." Music is by ORCHESTRA INDIGO, DEAD CAN DANCE, STEPHAN MICUS, TRINE OPSAHL, ANNBJØRG LIEN, BUKKENE BRUSE, CANTUS, ANNE DUDLEY, HEILUNG, HAGATHORN, SKÁLD, SHIGERU UMEBAYASHI, and ÁINE MINOGUE. [ view playlist ] [ view Flickr image gallery ] [ play 30 second MP3 promo ]

The eternally innocent sound of the boy soprano: whether you're Christian or not, it's a sound that floats high and pure, far above our worldly cares. The boy soprano or "treble" voice has been used in Christian religious music for centuries, especially in England. True fact: Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones sang for Queen Elizabeth II in Westminster Abbey as a boy soprano! Since Medieval times, some of the Western world's greatest composers have written music for sacred services. The immersive ambience of great stone churches and cathedrals, the majestic tones of the pipe organ, and the massed voices of the choir and the worship community created the context; from it came a genre of sacred space music, including vocal and instrumental pieces, great liturgical works, and hymns and psalms of sublime beauty. It's a repertoire we come back to every year during the holiday season. On this transmission of Hearts of Space, another offering from our longtime guest producer for classical and sacred space music ELLEN HOLMES, featuring sacred choral and instrumental classics for the holiday season, on a program called "GLORIA." Music is by the boy choir LIBERA, MOZART, HANDEL, VIVALDI, CHARPENTIER, PADOVANO, STRIGGIO, PALESTRINA, MONTEVERDI, MOUTON, BENCINI, PÄRT, LAURIDSEN, and HOLBORNE. [ view playlist ] [ view Flickr image gallery ] [ play 30 second MP3 promo ]

In the brief interlude between Thanksgiving and the winter holiday celebrations, we undergo a rapid change in emotional tone. Gone are the fearful ghosts and goblins of Halloween, the somber melancholy of the autumn season, and the quiet gratitude of Thanksgiving. Approaching the shortest day and longest night of the year on the winter solstice, we celebrate the return of the light. Today, we chase away the gloom and transform our environment with millions of colorful lights and dazzling screens. From the brilliance of our seasonal displays to the hypnotic warmth of a single candle — we embrace the joy of light and color, and the fulfillment of sound and music. On this transmission of Hearts of Space, electronic ambient for the season of light, on a program called 'LIGHT TIME.' Music is by DAVID HELPLING and singer MIRIAM STOCKLEY, JOHAN AGEBJÖRN and singer LISA BARRA, ERIK WØLLO, TOM EATON, ROSS CHRISTOPHER, ROBERT RICH & LUCA FORMENTINI, JON HOPKINS & ÓLAFUR ARNALDS, and WILL BANGS. https://bit.ly/HoS-1386 [ view playlist ] [ view Flickr image gallery ] [ play 30 second MP3 promo ]

After the Thanksgiving holiday the chilled months of the winter season begin in earnest, and with them the celebration of light itself, conjoined with the year-end religious celebrations. From the pre-Christian and Pagan festivals of the sun, to Christian, Jewish and Hindu celebrations of light, we chase away the gloom of the season with a special radiance. The music of midwinter embodies this transition from the dark harmonies of late autumn to the festive atmosphere of the year-end solstice and religious celebrations: lyrical, optimistic, and heartwarming. On this transmission of Hearts of Space, ambient chamber music for the transition to the season of light, on a program called ILLUMINATION. Featured artists are KEVIN KELLER, JENNIFER ZULLI, TIM STORY, and RUSSEL WALDER. [ view playlist ] [ view Flickr image gallery ] [ play 30 second MP3 promo ]

We live in a complex and ever-changing world. When things go wrong, it's all too easy to fall back on cynicism, worry, even despair. In difficult times, we tend to forget that despite our problems and injustices, our world is still supporting more people, at a higher standard of living, than at any time in human history. That's why the Thanksgiving holiday is a welcome respite. From its origins as an after-harvest celebration, it evolved into something more: an opportunity to convene family and friends; share comfort food and conversation; and at the heart of the holiday, the simple act of pausing, looking back, and expressing gratitude for what life has brought us this year. Like prayer, the attitude of thanks is quiet, reflective, and humble. But while prayer is normally personal, giving thanks is something we like to share — an expression of the spirit of abundance, inclusion and generosity. On this transmission of Hearts of Space, music for acceptance and gratitude, on a program called "GIVING THANKS." Music is by JONATHAN ELIAS, ELENI KARAINDROU, KEVIN KELLER, PULUSHA, HECTOR ZAZOU and DAVID DARLING. [ view playlist ] [ view Flickr image gallery ] [ play 30 second MP3 promo ]

The impulse to combine music and film goes back to the very beginning. The Lumiere brothers first silent film screening in Paris in 1895 was accompanied by a pianist. When films were added to vaudeville theaters at the beginning of the 20th century, music was provided by an in-house musician or organist, small ensembles, and even full orchestras. Pipe organs for theaters—at the time the most wide-ranging and loudest instruments available—were built by the American musical instrument company Wurlitzer. The famous "Mighty Wurlitzer" theatre organ was introduced in 1910, and was installed in theatres, museums, and churches around the world. Romantic-Classical styles and orchestration dominated the early years of sound films, and an emotional language of film music became widely understood. As film subject matter expanded, jazz and other "modernist" genres were added. Powerful rhythms, memorable melodic themes, and repeated motifs were common, as well as more subtle, quiet music to create mood and atmosphere. What we call ambient music today, was—and still is—a major part of film music, and came to be called the "underscore." On this transmission of Hearts of Space, ambient and atmospheric music for film, on a program called "UNDERSCORE 3." Music is by TIM STORY, LISA GERRARD & PIETER BOURKE, LUDOVICO EINAUDI, HANS ZIMMER, MYCHAEL DANNA, ENNIO MORRICONE, TOM HOLKENBORG, and featuring BRIAN KEANE'S score for DANTE: INFERNO TO PARADISE. [ view playlist ] [ view Flickr image gallery ] [ play 30 second MP3 promo ]

In good times, life moves swiftly, with little time for reflection. Warnings of impending disaster may go unheeded — until it's too late: confusion and chaos rule the day. In stormy times, the wise remain calm, even when the world around them is in turmoil. Turbulence may destroy structures that lack a firm foundation, but this is necessary to build stronger ones. In nature and in society, excess must be corrected. Destruction...is also a path to renewal. On this transmission of Hearts of Space, an electro-ambient journey for turbulent times called INTO THE STORM. Music is by MARCONI UNION, ADHAM SHAIKH & TIM FLOYD, MICHAEL STEARNS, DAN BARRIO, RUBEN GARCIA, IAN BODDY, PHILIPPE EMANUEL GEUBLE, and KIT WATKINS. [ view playlist ] [ view Flickr image gallery ] [ play 30 second MP3 promo ]

Descending into the autumn soundscape, we return to the slow, dark, electro-acoustic sounds of the season—strings, horns, acoustic and electronic keyboards. It's a time for descending progressions, dark drones, somber tone colors and minor key harmonies, as the music echoes the cooler days and waning light following the autumn equinox, culminating in the shocking loss of “Daylight Saving Time.” On this transmission of HEARTS of SPACE, it's an ambient-atmospheric-classical journey for early fall, on a program called "AUTUMN TRANSIT." Music is by the indispensible MAX RICHTER, JÓHANN JÓHANSSON, WILLIAM ST.HUGH, BOB HOLROYD, and KEATON HENSON. [ view playlist ] [ view Flickr image gallery ] [ play 30 second MP3 promo ]

Even in these days of extreme and unpredictable weather, our astronomical position in the Northern Hemisphere of a tilted planet all but guarantees that October is the month we finally descend into autumn. The Fall Equinox has come and gone, the days grow ever shorter, the light grows ever dimmer. In the natural world, it's a time of withering flora and busy fauna preparing for winter's chilled embrace. For ambient musicians, it's a time for dark drones, descending progressions, and minor key harmonies, a realm of muted colors, bittersweet melodies, and a bit of melancholy for the lost days of summer. On this transmission of Hearts of Space, we follow the dimming light to a realm of quiet acceptance, on a program called DESCENDING DARK 4. Music is by RUDY ADRIAN, DRIFTING IN SILENCE & TINEIDAE, ROBERT RICH & LUCA FORMENTINI, STEVE ROACH & LINDA KOHANOV, JEFF PEARCE, ANDREW LAHIFF, CHRIS RUSSELL, and SERENA GABRIEL. [ view playlist ] [ view Flickr image gallery ] [ play 30 second MP3 promo ]

The gentle tones of the Native American cedar flute have propagated far beyond their origin — a rare case of a humble ethnic instrument succeeding on natural charm and sonic appeal. Resurrected from decades of cultural neglect by native musicians in the mid 20th century, it proved to be a versatile and satisfying instrument for both amateur and professional musicians. We like to revisit it in the fall, when its pentatonic minor scale seems to magically express the deepening energy and complex colors of the season. On this transmission of Hearts of Space, a Southwest autumn journey featuring the Native American flute, called MYSTIC CANYONS. Music is by COYOTE OLDMAN, JONN SERRIE & GARY STROUTSOS, SCOTT AUGUST, JOHNNY WHITEHORSE, JAMES MARIENTHAL, SHERRY FINZER, JOHN HULING, and KENNETH HOOPER. [ view playlist ] [ view Flickr image gallery ] [ play 30 second MP3 promo ]

At the elevated heights of musical skill, we encounter different styles of virtuosity. In classical and jazz, playing fast and furious commands the attention, raises the energy, and concentrates the mind; while playing slow, deep, and intense focuses hearing, and opens up a world of subtle timing and melodic sensitivity. This is the perception that underlies ambient, space, atmospheric, and contemplative music. For centuries the small Scandinavian country of Norway has exceled at slow, patient, intensely melodic music. It's not about how many notes you play, but how beautifully you play them. Unlike the virtuosity of fast tempos, says one of these musicians, “it's about loving every note.” On this transmission of HEARTS of SPACE, we revisit the lyrical, atmospheric world of Eurojazz, on a program called LOVING EVERY NOTE. Music is by ØYSTEIN SEVÅG and LAKKI PATEY, THE TORD GUSTAVSEN TRIO, RUSSEL WALDER, KETIL BJORNSTAD & DAVID DARLING. [ view playlist ] [ view Flickr image gallery ] [ play 30 second MP3 promo ]

CONFESSION...it's simple in theory: to tell the truth. In practice? It's more complicated. Confession plays a critical role in the justice system, in religion, in therapeutic and personal relationships. And at a time when the very idea of objective facts and truth is being challenged, confession is more important than ever. A true confession is a revelation — a release of hidden knowledge. And it's often accompanied by powerful, even cathartic, emotions. No wonder confessional songs and music are found in some of the oldest cultures on earth. On this transmission of Hearts of Space...the quiet sound of emotional truth, on a program called CONFESSIONS. Music is by ADAM HURST, ELINA DUNI, MIRABAI CEIBA, SAVINA YANNATOU, BADI ASSAD, JOSÉ LUIS MONTÓN, ESTÁS TONNÉ, ANDRÉ GERAISSATI, and AMBERFERN. [ view playlist ] [ view Flickr image gallery ] [ play 30 second MP3 promo ]

One of the most durable program concepts in the now 41 years of Hearts of Space is the experience of virtual space travel on electronic waves. And like our "Space Guitars" series—now up to lucky number 13—we've been working on another series for electronic touring called "ELECTRON TRAVELER." This week, we arrive at number seven. Whether flying effortlessly across vast cosmic spaces on the kinetic rhythms of electronic sequencers and the fractal patterns of loop echoes, or floating peacefully in star-crossed fields of cosmic gas and dust, we celebrate the awe and wonder of the celestial spectacle. On this transmission of Hearts of Space, it's another cosmic-electronic journey, on a program called ELECTRON TRAVELER 7. Music is by ASCENDANT, TIME BEING, JAJA, JUTA TAKAHASHI, JIM OTTOWAY, and DREAMSTATE LOGIC. [ view playlist ] [ view Flickr image gallery ] [ play 30 second MP3 promo ]

It's only three short months from the summer solstice to the autumn equinox, and we make the most of them: travel, vacation, backyard parties, fun at the beach or the lake, and sports and water activities of every description. All that plus balmy nights, and the hypnotic rhythm of the crickets to lull us to sleep. Summer can be a magical respite in our complicated lives, but when mid-September comes, we know it's drawing to a close. Instrumental music can express our complex feelings about the end of summer—good memories, a sense of nostalgia, a tinge of melancholy, and quiet acceptance. Acoustic instruments like piano, guitar and cello are perfect for the job, especially when enhanced by electronics. On this transmission of Hearts of Space, music for the summer/fall transition, on a program called SUMMER'S END. Music is by HELEN JANE LONG, JEFF PEARCE, KATHRYN KAYE, ANGELO RABAN, and the late DAVID DARLING. [ view playlist ] [ view Flickr image gallery ] [ play 30 second MP3 promo ]

THESE HOT SUMMER DAYS inspire a more energetic music, born out of ancient rituals, festivals, and religious ceremonies, and featuring primitive instruments whose descendants are still with us—flutes, rattles, drums, and other members of the global percussion family. Whether played for practical communication on hunts, for social and military occasions, or to accompany artistic performances, percussion music served many functions in cultures all over the ancient world. According to Grateful Dead drummer MICKEY HART in his essential book PLANET DRUM: “World Music—and the percussive impulse that drives it—reaches past the needs of the marketplace, into emotional and spiritual dialogue with older oral traditions. Underneath the world's extraordinary musical diversity is another, deeper realm, in which there is no better or worse, no modern or primitive, no art music or folk music—no distinctions at all—but rather an organic compulsion to translate the emotional fact of being alive into sound, into rhythm, into something you can dance to.” On this transmission of HEARTS of SPACE—an ambient/trance/world percussion journey—on a program called PLANETARY RHYTHMS. Music is by JAMES HOOD, SPACE DRUM MEDITATION, DON PEYOTE, JAMES ASHER, MICHAEL SHRIEVE, HANG MASSIVE, SHAMANIC DRUMS, BYRON METCALF, and MICKEY HART. [ view playlist ] [ view Flickr image gallery ] [ play 30 second MP3 promo ]

It's been over 50 years since electronic music emerged from academic laboratories and embarked on the road to mainstream popularity. One of the most influential early artists was Greek musician EVANGELOS PAPATHANASSIOU—mercifully shortened to VANGELIS—who began as the keyboard player of the biggest rock band ever in Greece (APHRODITE'S CHILD), then quit and moved to London, where he began scoring films and documentaries. While the Germans focused on technology, Vangelis adapted the Romantic Classical genre to electronic keyboards, created lush, melodic, emotionally expressive music, and became an A-list film composer. It's a style that still reverberates today. On this transmission of Hearts of Space, inspired by a classic Vangelis album celebrating the world's oceans, a deep blue journey called OCEANIC REALMS 2. Music is by VANGELIS, THE AMNIS INITIATIVE, APOCLIPTIC & ROMERIUM, LOSCIL, JEAN-MICHEL JARRE, RUDY ADRIAN, and LIQUID MIND. [ view playlist ] [ view Flickr image gallery ] [ play 30 second MP3 promo ]

IASOS—one of the inventors of New Age music, passed away in January, 2024, three days before his 78th birthday. Born in Greece, raised in upstate New York, he moved to the San Francisco Bay area in 1968, adopted the stage name Iasos, and began a nearly 50 year solo career as an independent musician. Brilliant, exuberant, and completely original, he advocated for what he called “paradise music,” and claimed that what he heard in his head was sent to him by a being from a “distant dimension” named VISTA. His debut album from 1975 was called "Inter-Dimensional Music." Where other New Age composers promoted music that was relaxing or healing, Iasos's mission was nothing less than raising the “vibratory frequency” of all humanity!! And though he often made claims that were impossible to substantiate, there could be no doubt of his absolute conviction and utter sincerity. Because of his metaphysical beliefs, and his ability to invent new methods of music production to realize them, he was able to create a body of work that was widely influential yet virtually unequaled. His music ranged from languid technicolor tropical to intensely dramatic, with lush textures and cosmic chords; from heavenly harmonies and angelic realms, to ethereal meditations with shimmering translucent curtains of sound. The overall impression is optimistic and positive, with a sense of unbounded potential. In addition to his music, Iasos was a tireless advocate for Visionary Art. His web site featured an online gallery of paintings and videos by kindred visual artists. He also published two DVDs of his own video art and original music—"Crystal Vista" and "Realms of Light." On this transmission of HEARTS of SPACE, a Iasos retrospective called VISIONS OF PARADISE. [ view playlist ] [ view Flickr image gallery ] [ play 30 second MP3 promo...

SUMMER...inspires an even more ethereal brand of Ambient electronica. Whether flying or floating on the balmy breezes, the sounds are airy and the movement is light and buoyant. The words we use to describe the moods it creates are superlative: joyous, blissful, ecstatic, delightful — even heavenly. And when it comes to heaven, for some reason we prefer the seventh. On this transmission of Hearts of Space, an ambient-electronic-summer-journey called CLOUD NINE. Yes, we also number the clouds. Music is by CHRONOTOPE PROJECT, FANGER & SCHONWALDER, JOHN LYELL, ARIEL KALMA, and DAVE LUXTON. [ view playlist ] [ view Flickr image gallery ] [ play 30 second MP3 promo ]

IN THE LAST FOUR DECADES, the ardent world of Indian devotional music has been transformed by an international group of world and ambient musicians. Inspired by this venerable heart-centered vocal tradition called bhakti, working with both traditional and progressive Indian musicians, they've stretched the boundaries and expanded the atmosphere of the genre with electronics, echoes, reverberations, overdubs, and studio magic. Slow, deep, and meditative, with vocals in classical Sanskrit, you don't have to know anything about Indian music or religion to enjoy it. On this transmission of Hearts of Space, devotional chants and contemplative instrumentals inspired by the bhakti religious tradition of India, on a program called DEVOTION 3. Music is by WHITE SUN, RUSSILL PAUL, SHANTALA, SERENA GABRIEL, DAPHNE TSE & MIKE PSZONAK, SIVAKUMAR, and MANISH VYAS. [ view playlist ] [ view Flickr image gallery ] [ play 30 second MP3 promo ]

BELIEVE IT OR NOT, the combination of ambient nature sounds and electronic music was actually an innovation in the 1970s. And you may be surprised that the idea had a history in European classical music, especially in England and France. In England, it was the so-called "pastoral" composers like ARNOLD BAX and RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS, who created orchestral images of nature. In France, it was the Impressionists, from CLAUDE DEBUSSY to OLIVIER MESSIAEN. They didn't have recordings, so they created new instruments and playing techniques to imitate natural sounds like wind and birdsongs. By the mid-20th century, we could record the sounds of nature, edit them and play them back at will. In the 1950s, avant-garde composers like JOHN CAGE were promoting an awareness of ambient sound as equal to music. Music...was how you listened. Incorporating nature sounds into music was the next step; beside, film soundtracks had been doing it for years. The psychology is foundational: humans evolved listening to natural sounds, and they send a message we respond to instinctively. For example, birdsong on a gentle summer morning is delightful and calming. Blend in some subtle synthesizers, season with gourmet reverberation and you have what two young Canadians named MYCHAEL DANNA and TIM CLÉMENT called "environmental electronic music." It's an idea that was embraced by New Age musicians and in time became a bit of a cliché. But it led to an electronic genre of extended tone-color journeys in virtual space, which is still alive and well. On this transmission of Hearts of Space, the fluid, airy sound of summer spacemusic, on a program called SUMMERTONES 3. Music is by MEG BOWLES, DANNA & CLÉMENT, CHRONOTOPE PROJECT, ALTUS, and STELLIA. [ view program page ] [ view Flickr image gallery ] [ play 30 second MP3 promo ]

THE ARRIVAL OF PRACTICAL ELECTRONIC SYNTHESIZERS in the late 1960s and early 1970s caused a sensation around the world, but nowhere more than Germany. Postwar German artists were restless, intent on leaving behind all forms of traditional German music, as well as the Rhythm & Blues roots and song structure of popular Anglo-American rock. An innocent feature of early modular synthesizers called a “step sequencer” provided a tool that led to the development of an original style called “Kosmische Musik” or "Cosmic Music" in Germany, and—more playfully—“KrautRock.” The step sequencer made it easy to create hypnotic rhythm loops with up to 32 notes or steps, set a tempo, and mix them over flowing electronic drones. The effect was to “float” the listener through endless terrestrial or cosmic space: it was addictive. Seminal groups and individuals like CAN, KLAUS SCHULZE, TANGERINE DREAM, KRAFTWERK, CLUSTER, ASH RA TEMPEL, HARMONIA and others, created an enduring style that has influenced genres from Minimalism, Ambient and Electronic Dance Music, to New Age and Techno. Today we call it the "Berlin School." On this transmission of Hearts of Space, another timeless flight on electronic rhythms, on a program called SEQUENCER AIRLINES. Music is by ALPHA WAVE MOVEMENT, STATE AZURE, STEVE HAUSCHILDT, STARTERRA, MARTIN STURTZER, SYNTH REPLICANTS, STRAY THEORIES, NILS FRAHM, and EDGAR FROESE. [ view playlist ] [ view Flickr image gallery ] [ play 30 second MP3 promo ]

HAWAII, ladies and gentlemen: our 50th state, a subtropical archipelago of 137 volcanic islands arising from the Pacific Ocean, 2000 miles southwest of the U.S. mainland. Unique in many ways, it's a rich multi-ethnic melting pot of indigenous Hawaiian, Polynesian, East and Southeast Asian, and North American cultures. All this diversity gives Hawaiian music a sweetness and charm that led to popularity for the steel guitar and the ukulele in the early 20th century, and a revival of the so-called "slack key" or re-tuned finger-style guitar in the 1970s. The languid pace and tropical ambience of the music echoes the astonishing beauty of the natural setting. One visit to the Garden Island of Kauai turns a word like "paradise" from hyperbole...to description. On this transmission of Hearts of Space, the languid music and lush subtropical ambience of Hawaii, on a program called SLACK KEY PARADISE. Music is by BRUCE KAPHAN & JAKE SHIMABUKURO, BOB BROZMAN & LEDWARD KAAPANA, KEOLA BEAMER & R.CARLOS NAKAI, TAIMANE, KAWIKA KAHIAPO, and WAYNE POWELL. [ view playlist ] [ view Flickr image gallery ] [ play 30 second MP3 promo ]

The primal sound of prehistoric hand drums, brought to the present by space-defining ambient electronics. In the 1980s, elements of ancient indigenous music were embraced by electronic musicians searching for an earthy, vital sound to balance the dematerialized tones of electronic instruments, ground the atmospheric soundscapes of ambient, and gain the power of ritual experience. The new genre was originally called "Techno-Tribal," but as the Techno label became associated with electronic dance music, it was renamed "Tribal Ambient." Today, the period of discovery is long past, but a dedicated group of electro-acoustic artists with a taste for rhythm-powered trance continue to explore the sound and release new music. On this transmission of Hearts of Space, another ethno-tronic journey on psychoactive rhythms, on a program called TRIBAL AMBIENT 2. Music is by STEVE ROACH & ROBERT RICH, BYRON METCALF + ARI URBAN & MARK SEELIG, FRORE & SHANE MORRIS, SERENA GABRIEL, SOLITAIRE, and STEVE ROACH solo. [ view playlist ] [ view Flickr image gallery ] [ play 30 second MP3 promo ]

Flying and floating: two weightless activities we associate with the airy skies and watery delights of summer. Of course, spacemusic allows you to fly and float all year 'round, but somehow it's even more enjoyable in the warm weather months. On this transmission of Hearts of Space, we ride the air currents and float on blissful waves, on a program of ambient electronics for summer called THERMALS. Music is by MARCONI UNION, ASHERA, GULAN, STU JENKS, and A PRODUCE. [ view playlist ] [ view Flickr image gallery ] [ play 30 second MP3 promo ]

The yearly anniversary of the signing of the American Declaration of Independence on July 4th, 1776, has become a festive national holiday with food, music, and fireworks, celebrated by millions of Americans of all ages and backgrounds, in every part of the United States. It's a good time to revisit the roots of Ambient Americana—influences from American folk songs, blues, jazz, and country, classics from the American songbook, and the pan-diatonic harmonies of AARON COPLAND. On this transmission of HEARTS of SPACE we celebrate the spirit of American Independence, on a program called AMERICAN HORIZON. Music is by BRIAN KEANE, MARK ISHAM, JEFF OSTER & VIN DOWNES & TOM EATON, SPENCER BREWER & PAUL McCANDLESS, GEORGE WINSTON, CHAD LAWSON, BARRY STRAMP, JOHN WILLIAMS, ("Ambient country" band) SUSS, CHUCK JOHNSON, and MARK PRESTON. [ view playlist ] [ view Flickr image gallery ] [ play 30 second MP3 promo ]

Underlying the political and religious differences that have provoked centuries of unrest in the Middle East and North Africa is the landscape—an austere region of desert and mountains, transected by great rivers: the Nile, the Tigris, the Euphrates. This environment, along with centuries of cultural exchange, accounts for a rough musical unity across countries and ethnicities. Thus the music of Turkey, Israel and Palestine has similarities with the Arabic and Berber music of North Africa, and the Persian traditions of Iran. Today, progressive artists working within these traditions have created a Virtual Middle East, a cultural blend that effectively ignores ethnic, religious and political differences, and brings us an image of what a peaceful future in the region might sound like. On this transmission of Hearts of Space, soulful sounds from the Virtual Middle East, on a program called DESERT SOUL. Music is by MICHEL BANABILA, DHAFER YOUSSEF, MARJAN VAHDAT, NIYAZ, ARCHETRIBE, and ANOUAR BRAHEM. [ view playlist ] [ view Flickr image gallery ] [ play 30 second MP3 promo ]