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 To the Best of Our Knowledge
Author! Author: Great Writers on Great Books
A Four Part Series from TTBOOK!

PRI
Public Radio International

WPR
Wisconsin Public Radio

 

 
spacer from Wisconsin Public Radio  
HOOKED ON SONICS
Program 06-07-23-A Listen!

You might have thought that the ukulele was gone forgood after Tiny Tim tiptoed through the tulips for the umpteenth time. But singer/songwriter Victoria Vox is doing her part to bring the ukulele back into popular music. In this hour of To the Best of Our Knowledge, we'll meet Victoria Vox. Also, the master musical craftsmanship of Antonio Stradivari.

SEGMENT 1:

Mark Brend created the Strange Sounds Orchestra and is the author of "Strange Sounds: Offbeat Instruments and Sonic Experients in Pop." He tells Anne Strainchamps about odd inventions like the Ondes Martenot and how composers have used them. And of course we hear examples. Also, Peter Doyle is the author of "Echo and Reverb: Fabricating Space in Popular Music Recording, 1900-1960. He explains the difference between the two sound techniques to Steve Paulson and explains how recording engineers used them. And we hear examples.

SEGMENT 2:

Tony Faber tells Jim Fleming about his book - "Stradivari's Genius: Five Violins, One Cello and Three Centuries of Enduring Perfection." Faber says violins have to age for fifty years to sound their best, and we hear lots of recorded examples of sublime Strads.

SEGMENT 3:

Victoria Vox is leading a one woman ukulele revival in popular music. Intrepid TTBOOK producer Doug Gordon tracked her down to get the story behind her ukulele album, "Her Jumping Flea." And of course we hear lots of ukulele music, even a bit of Tiny Tim!

CD copies are available at 1-800-747-7444. Ask for program number 06-07-23-A.

................................................................

Books:

Websites:

Music:

  • -- Music used in Mark Brend interview:
    -- "Motion Picture Soundtrack"/Radiohead
    from the CD, "Kid A" (Capitol)
    http://www.radiohead.com/
    -- "Runaway"/Del Shannon
    from the CD, "Greatest Hits" (Rhino/WEA)
    http://www.delshannon.com/
    -- "Telstar"/The Tornados
    from the CD, "It's Hard to Believe It: The Amazing
    World of Joe Meek"/Various Artists (Razor & Tie)
    http://www.rhis.co.uk/jmas/
    -- "Family Affair"/Sly & The Family Stone
    from the CD, "The Essential Sly & The Family Stone"
    (Sony)
    http://www.slystonemusic.com/
    -- "Omnichord Theme"/The Strange Sounds Orchestra
    -- "A Strange Sense of Liberty"/The Strange Sounds Orchestra
    -- "Ondes Martenot," "Clavioline" and "Ace Tone FR2
    Rhythm Ace" sound samples
    from the CD that accompanies the book, "Strange Sounds:
    Offbeat Instruments and Sonic Experiments in Pop" by
    Mark Brend (Backbeat Books)
    http://www.backbeatbooks.com/?p=0879308559
  • -----------------------------------------------------------
    -- Music used in Peter Doyle interview:
    -- "Come On In My Kitchen"/Robert Johnson
    from the CD box set, "Robert Johnson/The Complete Recordings"
    (Sony)
    -- "Hey There"/Rosemary Clooney
    from the CD, "16 Biggest Hits" (Sony)
    -- "How High the Moon"/Les Paul & Mary Ford
    from the CD, "The Best of the Capitol Masters: 90th Birthday
    Edition"/Les Paul with Mary Ford
    -- "Mystery Train"/Elvis Presley
    from the CD box set, "Elvis The King of Rock 'N' Roll: The
    Complete '50s Masters" (RCA)
    -------------------------------------------------------------
    -- "Three-30-Blues"/Duane Eddy
    from the CD, "Twang Thang: The Duane Eddy Anthology"
    (Rhino)
    http://www.rhino.com/
  • -------------------------------------------------------------
    -- Music used in Toby Faber interview:
    -- "Perpetuum mobile"/Novacek
    Yehudi Menuhin (violin)
    from the CD box set, "EMI Classics/Centenary Edition: 1897-
    1997" (EMI Classics)
    -- "Cello Concerto in E minor -- 3rd mvt."/Elgar
    Jacqueline du Pre (cello) Sir John Barbirolli
    from the CD box set, "EMI Classics/Centenary Edition: 1897-
    1997" (EMI Classics)
    -- "Largo" from "Winter, The Four Seasons"/Antonio Vivaldi
    Yo-Yo Ma, baroque cello Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra
    Ton Koopman, conductor
    from the CD, "Vivaldi's Cello"/Yo-Yo Ma (Sony Classical)
    -------------------------------------------------------------
    -- "Concerto for Viola d'Amore, Lute & Orchestra"/Antonio
    Vivaldi
    Yo-Yo Ma, baroque cello Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra
    Ton Koopman, conductor
    from the CD, "Vivaldi's Cello"/Yo-Yo Ma (Sony Classical)
    -- "Tiptoe Through the Tulips with Me"/Tiny Tim
    from the CD, "God Bless Tiny Tim" (WEA International)
  • -------------------------------------------------------------
    Music used in Victoria Vox/ukulele mix:
    -- "Should I Stay or Should I Go/The Ukulele Orchestra of
    Great Britain
    from the CD, "Top Notch: A Selection of the Best from The
    Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain" (Ukulele Orchestra)
    http://www.ukuleleorchestra.com/main/home.aspx

    -- "Ukulele Lady"/Victoria Vox
    -- "Somewhere Over The Rainbow"/"What A Wonderful World"/
    Victoria Vox
    -- "Le Vent Nous Portera"/Victoria Vox
    -- "Psycho Killer"/Victoria Vox
    -- "America"/Victoria Vox
    -- "My Darlin' Beau"/Victoria Vox
    these six tracks all from the CD, "Victoria Vox/"Her Jumpin'
    Flea" (Victoria Vox/Obus Music)
    http://www.victoriavox.com/
    http://www.myspace.com/victoriavox
    -------------------------------------
    -- "Cancion Mixteca"/The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain
    from the CD, "Top Notch: A Selection of the Best from The
    Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain" (Ukulele Orchestra)
    http://www.ukuleleorchestra.com/main/home.aspx

Distribution dates:

week of 06/24/2007 - hour 2
week of 07/23/2006 - hour 1
 Listen!

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Questions and comments can be addressed to: flemingj@wpr.org
     


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