As winter comes to a close, Inside the Music has been busy with spring cleaning. We're embracing the thaw by re-releasing old shows unavailable until now. Each week we'll release a batch of classic Inside the Music broadcasts, from popular music movements across the world, to bizarre experiments in sound. We'll even bring back some classics from our regular series My Playlist, and we'll recap the historic RPM series, which discussed 5 crucial albums in Canadian music. Join us every Tuesday for more and more episodes from the archives.
Tuesday March 12th 2013
As we delve deeper into the Inside the Music archives, you'll be immersed in musical cultures and languages from across the planet. Geographically, these documentaries span from South America to China, spending time in Europe and India in between. But thematically, the range is much broader. These are the stories of struggling Roma, known as gypsies. Or the stories of celebration through cumbia music, or musical education in Venezuela. They are histories, and at the same time developing legacies. So join Inside the Music and transport yourself.
North America
In this edition of Inside the Music, writer, poet, radio broadcaster, and artist Janet Rogers has produced a radio documentary exploring the sounds of the Indigenous protest music in North America. A Mohawk from Six Nations, Janet is entrenched in Indigenous music culture. This is music that cries against oppression and injustice. We'll also hear from the educators behind the music. Just bring your drum.
1Click to Listen to Bring Your Drum: Protest Music from Indian Country
Venezuela
A connection is often made between music education and its positive effects on other aspects of learning and living. Today on Inside the Music, we have a documentary keeping with that theme. Venezuela is the location of one of the most unusual and effective music education systems in the world. The goal was not to create musicians, but to save the lives of the youth. They call it 'El Sistema' and it was created by Jose Antonio Abreu. This is their story, told by the children and Dr. Abreu.
2Click to Listen to Playing for Their Lives: Music Education in Venezuela
Columbia
Today's documentary explores the many charms of the worlds' most popular Latin music - cumbia: how it travelled from the Caribbean coast of Colombia to the clubs, cafes, and car stereos of the world. But this is not just a documentary about music. It's about identity. Sergio Elmir hosts today's documentary, and is joined by leading players in Canada's cumbia movement.
3Click to Listen to Yo Soy Cumbia: The Most Popular Latin Music You've Never Heard
Ukraine
Inside the Music features the fascinating story of Ukrainian popular music in Canada - way beyond polkas and perogies. From Pagans to Popstars offers an entertaining look at Ukranian music in Canada from the beginnings, to it's high watermark in the 70s, and the uncertain place it occupies in the contemporary landscape. This is a documentary for Ukrainians, friends of Ukrainians, anybody who has been to Uki-fest, or anybody else who wants to join in the jam.
4Click to Listen to From Pagans to Popstars: Music of the Ukraine
Hungary
In 1893, Franz Josef, Emperor of Austria and King of Hungary, conducted a census of all the Roma living in Hungary. When they were asked what they did for a living over half put down "musician." Gypsy music has flourished in eastern Europe for centuries. It changes and shifts over time in front of your ears. The Roma have always wandered and shifted. Over the centuries they have been persecuted, oppressed, murdered, and nobody seems to want the Roma in their backyard. In Hungary, this is a tension played out in the past and present.
This is Karin Wells documentary The Music Burns the Middle of My Heart.
5Click to Listen to The Music Burns the Middle of My Heart
India
This two-part feature documentary examines the world of Bollywood music in Mumbai. Written and produced by award-winning documentary maker Paulo Pietropaulo and presented by by Raakhi Sinha.
Part Two of The Subcontinental travels north to Punjab to explore how Bhangra music has been transformed from a traditional folk dance to a genre heard in nightclubs around the world.
6 Click to Listen to Part 1 of The Subcontinental
7Click to Listen to Part 2 of The Subcontinental
China
Chances are, you’re holding or wearing something manufactured in the Middle Kingdom - China. Maybe it's even the radio or computer beside your ear. Simply put, a good deal of what we consume now comes from China. But what about music? How much do we know about the music that’s “Made in China?" China's Long Song is an informative yet personal 2-part journey into the roots of Chinese music. Host Mei Han, a musician and scholar, takes us on a personal journey inside China’s twentieth century and through its musical revolutions, with additional narration from Vancouver music producer Matthew McFarlane.
8 Click to Listen to Part 1 of China's Long Song
9 Click to Listen to Part 2 of China's Long Song
Related
Inside the Archives: My Playlists featuring Robbie Robertson, Sarah Harmer and more