Getting near Christmas, and I love the sacred music that gets sung at this time of year. Although this track isn’t Christmas music, it is from the Ukranian Orthodox Christian tradition, and is a haunting and meditative chant. This is from a fine site of russian orthodox music and information.

This is an Antiphon, chanted text that is sung in a servics, often in a planisong setting.

Friday, and time for another mp3 posting. This one is in honour of the fact that yesterday I was promoted to brown belt, which in my tae kwon do training is two belts below black.

So to celebrate, here is a solo track played on a Korean flute called a Dae Geum. I love the way this instrument cracks like a trumpet or a sax. I don’t know if there is a reed involved or how the mechanics of it work, but it adds to the despairing feel of the piece. It reminds me of how much martial arts there is to learn.

This is from a site of Korean meditation music.

Drop dead gorgeous Norwegian song, for a day in which the snow is blowing and the fireplace is the most inviting place to be.

Something soft to go with the rain that is falling today on the west coast of Canada. I know little about this piece other than it appears on a compilation called “Below Code” from Japanese label Comatones Records of 10 years of mix tapes. Comatones describes itself as “dedicated to the production and dissemination of non-categorical contemporary electronic music.” The whole album is a fascinating listen.

I have no idea about these tunes, but I suspect they are Armenian or Georgian choral pieces.

At any rate, have a listen to this one, and if you speak Russian (Raffi?) let me know what it is I have stumbled upon.

UPDATE: In the comments, my Friend Raffi Aftandelian writes from Moscow:

Thanks Raffi.