Episodes
| Episode | Title | First Broadcast | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hira Gasy And Court Music | 20100109 | Lucy Duran visits the Indian Ocean island of Madagascar to discover its remarkable music. She is joined by guides Justin Vali and Paddy Bush and hears the ancient music of Madagascar's royal court as well as the extraordinary and rarely-recorded Hira Gasy. Hundreds of villagers gather to hear a variety performance which spreads news, entertains and teaches people a lesson. Presented by Lucy Duran Produced by James Parkin Lucy Duran presents music from the 18th-century Malagasy royal court in Madagascar. Programme exploring music from around the world | |
| Justin Vali | 20100102 | Lucy Duran profiles Madagascan musician Justin Vali and records his Malagasy Orkestra. Programme exploring music from around the world | |
| Valiha And The Music Of The Spirit House | 20100116 | Lucy Duran continues her journey through Madagascar recording the ancient music of this mysterious island. This week she hears songs that accompany the important exhumation and reburial ceremonies and visits the village of her guide, Justin Vali. Whilst there she hears the delicate sound of the ancestral zither, visits a Spirit House, finds out why you can't whistle after 6pm. In September 2009, World Routes travelled to Madagascar, the giant Indian Ocean island off the coast of Mozambique - East of the African continent. This mysterious island is full of extraordinary animal and plant life - home to more unique species than just about anywhere on the planet. It's in the grip of political turmoil and its people are some of the poorest in the world. But for us, what makes this island of strange dreams, ancestral worship and sorcery so special is its music. And, like the natural life, its unique evolution - neither African nor Asian - makes it a wonderful melting pot of instruments and styles. Throughout 2010, we'll be broadcasting the recordings we made for World Routes. Two weeks ago on the programme, Lucy was introduced to the music of Madagascar by Justin Vali and his Malagasy Orkestra. This week she continues a journey of her own to discover some of that music in its true context. She's joined by Justin and a great friend of his; someone he calls his brother. An instrument-maker, musician, producer and - it's fair to say - a Malagasy music fanatic: Paddy Bush (who also happens to be Kate's brother). Lucy learns about the ceremony of reburial - the bones of ancestors are removed from their tombs every 7 years and danced around, re-dressed and introduced to new members of the family. This joyous occasion is accompanied by uplifting music for flute. Lucy and the World Routes team then travel deep into the high interior. They visit a zebu (the holy cattle of Madagascar) market and record music in the remote and magical village that Justin was born in. Presented by Lucy Duran Produced by James Parkin Lucy Duran presents Madagascan songs accompanying exhumation and reburial ceremonies. Programme exploring music from around the world | |
| 04 | 20120115 | In the first of two programmes Lucy Duran travels to Madagascar to record that island's unique traditional music. Starting high on the central plateau in the musical capital, Fianarantsoa, she then travels to the seaside town of Tulear in the far south. En route, she shops in a magic market, goes Lemur spotting, and passes through the wild boom-town of Ilakaka, famed for its precious stones. All along the way there's specially recorded music from some of the island's best musicians. Producer James Parkin. In January 2010 World Routes broadcast three programmes made on the high central plateau of Madagascar. In January 2012, Lucy Duran and the team continue the journey, moving from the plateau down to the coast in the far south. As with all World Routes on-location programmes, all the music was specially recorded in or near the homes of the musicians. This mysterious island is full of extraordinary animal and plant life - home to more unique species than just about anywhere on the planet. But for us, what makes this island of strange dreams, ancestral worship and sorcery so special is its music. And, like the natural life, its unique evolution - neither African nor Asian - makes it a wonderful melting pot of instruments and styles. Lucy Duran visits the the musical capital of Madagascar, Fianarantsoa. Programme exploring music from around the world | |
| 05 | 20120122 | Lucy Duran's in Madagascar to record the island's unique traditional music. This week, she's in the sleepy seaside town of Tulear, home of musician, wrestler and magician Mandindry. Plus she takes a small boat to the remote community of Anakao where she meets a group who play mandolins stringed with fishing line, and has to kill a goat in order to visit the grave of renowned local musician Robert Rindy. Producer James Parkin. In January 2010 World Routes broadcast three programmes made on the high central plateau of Madagascar. In January 2012, Lucy Duran and the team continue the journey, moving from the plateau down to the coast in the far south. As with all World Routes on-location programmes, all the music was specially recorded in or near the homes of the musicians. This mysterious island is full of extraordinary animal and plant life - home to more unique species than just about anywhere on the planet. But for us, what makes this island of strange dreams, ancestral worship and sorcery so special is its music. And, like the natural life, its unique evolution - neither African nor Asian - makes it a wonderful melting pot of instruments and styles. Lucy Duran travels to Tulear and Anakao in Madagascar to hear traditional music. Programme exploring music from around the world |