Why Music? The Key to Memory
Kathryn Tickell presents performances by British-Iraqi singer Alya Al-Sultani, Senegalese kora player Seckou Keita and UK folk singer Sam Lee from Wellcome Collection in London.
Kathryn Tickell explores how music is remembered and passed down from generation to generation in three very different traditions from around the World with performances by British-Iraqi singer Alya Al-Sultani, Senegalese kora player Seckou Keita and Mercury Prize nominated UK folk singer and song collector Sam Lee.
Recorded earlier this evening at the world-renowned Wellcome Collection as part of 'Why Music? The Key to Memory' - a weekend of live events, concerts and discussions exploring music's unique capacity to be remembered.
Alya Al-Sultani was born in the southern Iraqi city of Basra, and moved to London with her parents following the Iran-Iraq war. Her first musical experiences were Iraqi folk songs sung by her great grandmother and radio broadcasts of Um Kolthum, Abdel-Halim and Fairouz which she listened to with her family whilst growing up in Tottenham. With her ensemble SAWA she puts a fresh take on these Iraqi folk songs drawing on elements of free jazz and post-classical composition.
Seckou Keita comes from a long lineage of Senegalese musical heritage: his father is from the Keita royal line, and his mother was a Cissokho, a clan associated with musicians. He has been a champion of the kora music of the Casamance region of southern Senegal, but he plays styles from throughout the country, embracing the four different traditional kora tunings.
Over the course of the last five years and two albums Sam Lee has tirelessly worked at collecting and sharing traditional music from Britain and Ireland; in particular from the Romany Gypsy and Irish traveller communities. His stunning arrangements of these traditional songs both preserve and push forward the tradition in new and exciting ways.'.
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Why Music? The Key to Memory
Wellcome Collection hosts a weekend of fascinating programmes on music and the mind.
Music Played
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Alya Al-Sultani
Win Ya Galoub
Performer: Alya Al-Sultani. -
Suleima Murad
Hatha Mou Insaf Minek
Performer: Suleima Murad. -
Alya Al-Sultani
Hatha Mou Ansaf Minek
Performer: Alya Al-Sultani. -
Alya Al-Sultani
Chal Chal Alay
Performer: Alya Al-Sultani. -
Alya Al-Sultani
Foug El Nakhal
Performer: Alya Al-Sultani. -
Alya Al-Sultani
El Hilwa Di
Performer: Alya Al-Sultani. -
Seckou Keita
Distance
Performer: Seckou Keita. -
IsmaΓ«l LΓ΄
Tajabone
Performer: IsmaΓ«l LΓ΄. -
Seckou Keita
Little Bro
Performer: Seckou Keita. -
Seckou Keita
If Only I Knew
Performer: Seckou Keita. -
Seckou Keita
Tatono
Performer: Seckou Keita. -
Joaquin Diath
Dize la Nuestra Novia
Performer: Joaquin Diath. -
Ruth Rubin
Vos Vilsti Mutter Hobn
Performer: Ruth Rubin. -
Γ“scar ChΓ΅vez
Macondo Cumbia
Performer: Γ“scar ChΓ΅vez. -
Sam Lee & Sam Lee and Friends
Airdog
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Freda Black
Bonny Bunch of Roses
Performer: Freda Black. -
Sam Lee
Bonny Bunch of Roses
Performer: Sam Lee. -
Sam Lee
Over Yonders Hill
Performer: Sam Lee. -
Sam Lee
Moss House
Performer: Sam Lee. -
Sam Lee
Moon Shone
Performer: Sam Lee. -
Sam Lee
Blackbird
Performer: Sam Lee & Friends. -
Sam Lee & The Roundhouse Choir
Lovely Molly
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Sam Lee
Goodbye my darling
Singer: Sam Lee.
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