In this episode of Curious Ears, Irish harpist, composer and improviser Rosie Murphy takes the listener on a journey through the harp's history. Rosie's career and artistic vision, being deeply rooted in the origins and significance of the harp across the globe, seeks to honour the cultures, harpists and music makers who have come before her, dating from as far back as 5,000 years ago to the present day. Rosie explores this from researching the political history of the harp in Ireland, playing music inspired by Irish folk music and Irish traditions of bardic accompaniment to exploring the harp's origins in Southwest Asia; examining sources in Chester Beatty Library, premiering an extended Maqam composition by composer Saad Haddad, and seeking to understand the Maqam with Sami Abu Shumays.

The podcast features guest appearances by Saad Haddad and Sami Abu Shumays.

Playlist of music featured :

It rained when people prayed (live performance), Riwa Saab and Rosie Murphy

paidir chiúin a rá for harp and electronics (2024) by Rosie Murphy

Fighe/The Wee Weaver (2026) a live improvisation by Rosie Murphy

Tasalsul II (2024) by Saad Haddad

Takemitsu's Dream Harp Arrangement by Greg Caffrey

https://www.instagram.com/kelsorosie/ https://www.youtube.com/@therosiemurphy

https://saadnhaddad.com/

https://maqamlessons.com/ http://www.samiabushumays.com/

https://www.gregcaffrey.com/

Watch an interview about this podcast episode with Rosie and Gaudeamus programmer Jonás Bisquert here: https://youtu.be/62V0fmN3o9M

This episode of Curious Ears takes the form of a captivating exploration of a Sufi tradition of music healing, in Tangier, Morocco. The tradition in question is called Hmadcha, and it's named after the mystic saint who founded it in the 17th century: Sidi Ali Ben Hamdouch. The sound piece delves into the socio-historical context of this spiritual sonic tradition, featuring field recordings that capture the musicians’ conversations, instrument practice, rhythmic performances, and mystical narratives, all whilst embedding it in the present day times. The voice of Fayçal Lahrouchi guides us and anchors us all throughout the episode, providing insight into the political and historical ramifications behind the emergence of this tradition.

Watch an interview with Fayçal and Gaudeamus programmer Jonás Bisquert here: https://youtu.be/1_dhGWoS4c8

Sound recordings: Chloé Despax, Cengiz Arslanpay, Fayçal Lahrouchi

Interviews & editing: Fayçal Lahrouchi

Music & words of: Mohamed Said Zhar, Mohamed Zhar, Jaouad Doukali

www.amme.ma

www.tekchbilaproject.com

In this episode, pianist and mathematician Dr Laura Farré Rozada shares her experience within the field of music and mathematics, and introduces us to the main connections between these two worlds. The music examples featured include her own performances of piano works (both solo and with orchestra) written by Ofer Ben-Amots, Thierry Escaich, Unsuk Chin, Anna Thorvaldsdóttir, Philippe Manoury, Angela Elizabeth Slater and Pierre Jodlowski.

Watch an introduction interview about the podcast here: https://youtu.be/r6t-2F8ccds

Photo by David Ruano

Hardi Kurda is a composer, improviser, sound artist from Kurdistan who researches the concept of 'urgent listening': becoming aware of sounds that are always present but mostly ignored, even to the point of trying to listen to smells or silence. In this podcast, he invites the audience to practice this kind of listening, with an extended composition specially made for this podcast, using his extensive catalogue of field recordings. Kurda is also jury member for the Gaudeamus Award 2026.

Watch an interview with Kardi Kurda by Jonás Bisquert about his podcast: https://youtu.be/cdNWMXgIBGU

Composer Igor C Silva, born in Porto and currently living in Amsterdam, made a new addition to our podcast series Curious Ears, in which he zooms in on collaboration as a trigger for new ideas and as an important part of his practice as a composer.

Brazilian composer, musician, designer, and artist Rafaele Andrade presents a collection and reflection of Brazilian music, its technologies and its socio-ambiental impact. In 3 acts she reflects on this topic in regards to the field of new music instruments, feminism and indigenous cultures.

Emine Bostancı and Ardashes Agoshian talk about contemporary music and traditional instruments: Kemenche of Istanbul and Cretan Lyra with sympathetic strings.

Emine Bostancı (Turkey/ Netherlands) is on a mission: performing on traditional instruments, she aims to push the boundaries and bridge the gap between traditional Ottoman-Turkish and contemporary classical music.

In this episode, she introduces her instruments, summarises their historical and traditional context, and speaks about her doctoral research and artistic practices and projects. Her guest, composer Ardashes Agoshian, highlights the intrigue and opportunities for composers in writing new music for traditional instruments.

Full playlist of music:

00:00-04:39

Ardashes Agoshian:

Fragment from "Ancient Istanbul Tales" for septet, III. mov.,

"Kız Kulesi" (Maiden's Tower)

04:40-06:20

Emine Bostancı

Solo kemenche improvisation

06:36-07:24

Ardashes Agoshian:

"Ancient Istanbul Tales", IV. mov., Final of the Interlude, " The Afternoon at the Grand Bazaar"

07:25-11:05

Ardashes Agoshian:

Fragment from "Ancient Istanbul Tales", V. mov., "Khalkedon"

(The ancient name of the decent neighbourhood of Istanbul, now known as Kadıköy, which is thought to be the place where Byzantium was first founded)

11:06-14:13

Emine Bostancı

"Ghost Secrets" (Dareyn)

14:25-15:56

Ardashes Agoshian:

Fragment from "Ancient Istanbul Tales", VI. mov.,

"Constantine's dream"

16:13-23:42

Ardashes Agoshian:

Fragment from "Ancient Istanbul Tales", VII. mov.,

"Beyazıt'ta Panayır" (Fair in Beyazıt)

24:04-26:44

Ardashes Agoshian:

Fragment from "Ancient Istanbul Tales", I. mov., "Hagia Sophia"

26:52-30:53

Ardashes Agoshian:

Fragment from "Ancient Istanbul Tales", II. mov., "Samatya"

(The ancient name of the decent neighbourhood of Istanbul. The name is still unofficial using by the residents. Agoshian's birthplace.)

30:54-32:36

Ardashes Agoshian:

Fragment from "Ancient Istanbul Tales", III. mov.,

"Kız Kulesi" (Maiden's Tower)

32:38-33:32

Ardashes Agoshian:

Fragment from "Contact" for classical kemenche/Cretan Lyra and double bass, IV. mov,

"The Ambassadors",

(After the painting of H. Holbein)

33:40-34:28

Ardashes Agoshian:

Fragment from "Contact", V. mov,

"Tea'n Coffee"

34:33-35:27

Ardashes Agoshian:

Improvisation from "Contact",

35:33-37:16

Ardashes Agoshian:

Fragment from "Contact", VII. mov,

"Silk Road"

37:23-38:13

Ardashes Agoshian,

Fragment from "Contact", IX. mov,

"Orient Express 1883"

38:20-38:47

Ardashes Agoshian:

"Ancient Istanbul Tales", IV. mov., Final of the Interlude, " The Afternoon at the Grand Bazaar"

38:50-39:59

Ardashes Agoshian:

Fragment from "Ancient Istanbul Tales", I. mov., "Hagia Sophia"

40:06-41:12

Ardashes Agoshian:

Fragment from "Ancient Istanbul Tales", VII. mov.,

"Beyazıt'ta Panayır" (Fair in Beyazıt)

41:16-42:06

Ardashes Agoshian:

Fragment from "Ancient Istanbul Tales", VI. mov.,

"Constantine's dream"

42:15-43:22

Ardashes Agoshian:

Fragment from "Ancient Istanbul Tales", VII. mov.,

"Beyazıt'ta Panayır" (Fair in Beyazıt)

43:30-44:44

Ardashes Agoshian:

Fragment from "Ancient Istanbul Tales" for septet, III. mov.,

"Kız Kulesi" (Maiden's Tower)

Julian Tjon Sack Kie is a composer, DJ and electronic music producer, operating under his own name and his alias Julian Alexander. In his podcast for Gaudeamus, he takes us through the history, local variations and the future of the music of the West African Mandinka people, all revolving around an instrument called the Kora.

The featured music in this podcast in order of appearance:

Amadu Bansang Jobarteh - Kelefa Saane

Field recording

Kélétigui Diabaté - Djandjo

Jali Nyama Suso - Kuruntu Kelefa et Kelefabaa

Sidiki Diabaté & Batrou Sékou Kouyaté - Sunjata

Lamin Konté - Mama Tamba

Kemba Sussoko - Kourambesai

Mamadou Diabaté -Yaka Yaka

Ballaké Sissoko - Berekoy

Jalikunda Cissokho - Konkoba

Djeli Moussa Diawara - Yékèlè

Foday Musa Suso - Tesitio

Herbie Hancock & Foday Musa Suso - Moonlight

Kiya Tabassian, Ablaye Cissoko, Patrick Graham - Réveries

3MA - Anfaz

Balimaya Project - Balimaya

Sona Jobarteh - Jarabi

Kim Spierenburg is a violinist and composer who works with live electronics and animation. In her podcast that she made for Gaudeamus, she talks about how her disability inspired her to fuse electronics and acoustics and in that way forge her own artistic path.

Dirge Secil Kuran is a Turkish percussionist/composer/singer/performer with a broad experience in classical, contemporary music and music theatre. In her podcast 'Listen Through My Ears As A Performer' she gives an insight on how she listens to music as a performer. A look at how music sounds for a musician on a stage - which is different in many more ways than you'd expect.