Israel Centeno dissects “nueva trova” music and analyzes its purposeful construction to infuse the Cuban revolution with a soundtrack all its own.
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Russian journalist Oksana Chelysheva describes the brutal treatment of political activists and musicians carried out by the “Extremism Prevention Centre”, which attempts to create a culture of acquiescence and fear. This article was originally published by Free Muse on April 30, 2014.
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Israel Centeno, writer-in-residence with City of Asylum/Pittsburgh, recalls the “soundtracks” of his youth in Caracas and the power of music in evoking memories.
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In Belarus, musicians fall into two camps under the Lukashenka regime – political or unpolitical. Belarusian musician Lavon Volski belongs to the former and is ardently fighting for the freedom of expression in his country.
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Hamdy El-Gazzar pens a heartfelt ode to the Lebanese singer Sabah: “Sabah… is the spirit of the morning and its bright, chirping sounds. We used to hear her on our way to school, to work, and to the first girl we discovered that we loved.”
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Does a new viral YouTube video signal big changes in Iran? Entitled “New Voyager,” the music video, which has strong similarities with the Obama campaign’s “Yes We Can” video, is largely based on president Hassan Rouhani speeches, shows women singing, and portrays Iran’s diverse society.
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A musical genius, Selman Ada’s operas and other works display an incredible spectrum of creativity. In his column, Tarik Günersel writes about the renowned Turkish composer, conductor, pianist, and collaborator; and highlights four of the operas they’ve created together.
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