WPRB Princeton 103.3 FM

Hello Marvin -- In Praise of Women ... and in praise of Classical Discoveries for playing their compositions! These "Variations" by Ms. Na are enchanting, exquisite, yet spirited. They remind me of some of the best of William Grant Still's piano works. Great start to the day, thank you.

Thanks so much Richard!! Glad you are enjoying the program!! That music by Hyo-shin Na is a real find!!

WOW! Marvin, through my active involvement with bluegrass music, I know personally (albeit only slightly) two of those musicians accompanying Gao Hong on her "Green Willow Tree" -- Alison Brown, a superb 5-string banjo player (who also owns Compass Records, a very successful independent label specializing in traditional-style acoustic music) and Darol Anger, a brilliant and wonderfully versatile fiddler. (Small correction: I think you were calling him David instead of Darol).

It's not surprising that they and Garry West would prove such a marvelous fit with Ms./ Hong's music -- the Chinese pipa, banjo and fiddle compliment each other so well.

It is funny after I saw your first message and saw what was coming up, I had a feeling you would be interested in the Gao Hong piece!!

Yes indeed! Ah, thwe good karma when one gets awake and going early (or, in my case, at least earlier LOL) in the morning. It must be the secret of your success and goodness, comes from all those early hours playing delightful music for us WPRB listeners! :-))

Yes Allison and Darol are experts that explore the genres.

Hello Brian D! So good to see you here. And, yes, you're exactly right, Allison and Darol are intrepid musical explorers.

I thought I recognized a traditional Indian melody in there. And then I see it was composed by Asha Srinivasan. Now it all makes sense.

Yes, it was based on an Indian devotional song!!