Director's Cuts Music Picks for the Holidays
As music director of Weekend Edition Sunday, NPR's Ned Wharton supervises music continuity for the show, keeps tabs on what's new and noteworthy in the music world and produces many of the artist features heard on the program.
For this holiday edition of Director's Cuts, he presents his picks for the season...
'Tchaikovsky's Greatest Hit'
For those who just can't get enough of this holiday chestnut, this collection offers three fun renditions: a classic recording with Eugene Ormandy and the Philadelphia Orchestra, a plucky version from the Modern Mandolin Quartet, a cartoonesque Spike Jones retelling from 1945, and an eight-hand, 40-finger version from a 1941 recording of the First Piano Quartet.
Nutcracker Suite: Overture
Nutcracker Suite: Russian Dance
Nutcracker Suite, Pt. 3 -- The Chinese Dolls/The Fairy Ball: ...
Nutcracker Suite: Waltz of the Flowers
Handel Messiah
Another holiday classic has been reissued this year: the Grammy-winning recording from 1966 by The Robert Shaw Chorale & Orchestra.
And the Glory of the Lord
Hallelujah Chorus
AM60: 'Big as the Sky'
Chris Root, perhaps better known in this country for his work with the retro Brazilianesque group Mosquitos (who, incidentally, have a new CD of their own this year), has been working with this group of his own for quite a while, but only now has the music been released in this country. "Big As the Sky" by A.M. Sixty also has a youthful and sunny sound, a kind of American tropicalia.
Summertime Girlfriend
Just a Dream
'SpongeBob SquarePants'
If you can bear the tracks of SpongeBob himself singing, the soundtrack to the SquarePants movie does have some fun cuts that all ages might enjoy, including songs from The Shins, Wilco, The Flaming Lips and Avril Lavigne.
Spongebob Squarepants Theme
They'll Soon Discover
Daara J: 'Boomerang'
From Senegal, Daara J leader Faada Freddy delivers an extraordinarily virtuosic rap called "tasso" — a rhythmic poetry tradition that goes back generations. The CD Boomerang evokes something like a South Bronx-Dakar musical axis.
Boomerang
Esperenza
Issa Bagayogo: 'Tassoumakan'
Recorded in Bamako, Mali's Issa Bagayogo creates ethereal grooves with a highly produced sound on the cd "Tassoumakan." He's known in his native land as "Techno Issa."
Kanou
Hear 'Ciew Mawele' from Issa Bagayogo's 'Tassoumakan'
'38 Songs of Hope'
Washington, D.C. lawyer Rob Litowitz honors his mother Selma with this collection of music to raise funds for Parkinson's Disease research. With the help of David Crosby, Rob contacted artists and secured music rights to an extraordinary 2-CD compilation that includes tracks from Bonnie Raitt, Alejandro Escovedo, Dar Williams, Dave Alvin and others.
Man in the Bed
Don't Lay Down
'The Beginning of Survival'
Joni Mitchell curated this collection of her own politically-oriented songs, remastered with pristine sound. The songs include "The Magdalene Laundries," "Lakota," "Cool Water" and others.
Lakota
Cool Water
'Refuge of the Roads'
This DVD chronicles Joni Mitchell's 1983 concert tour, featuring high-energy performances of "Raised on Robbery," "Wild Things Run Fast," and "Solid Love," as well as a powerfully stark solo rendition of "Woodstock."