Christian Wittman Music: Radio

Saturday, March 29, 2025

My track "First Dawn" on this week Hearts of Space program!

French ambient and electronic music from the 1970s to now

The story of French electronic music over the last hundred years is one of artistic and technical innovations that changed the course of contemporary music.

The late 19th century stylistic inventions of GABRIEL FAURÉ, MAURICE RAVEL, and CLAUDE DEBUSSY led to the emergence of Impressionism and Minimalism in the 20th century—while the revolutionary innovations of ERIK SATIE laid the foundation for ambient background music and personal music for solo piano.

At the same time, the invention of playable French electronic instruments like the "Ondes Martenot" in 1928, accelerated the arrival of live electronic performance, and the French brilliance in style and design produced exceptionally refined sonic and textural quality in recordings after mid-century.

On this transmission of Hearts of Space, a look at French ambient and electronic music from the 1970s to now, on a program called "AMBIANCE FRANÇAIS."

Link

Sunday, February 4, 2024

"Music for Slow Motion Dance" featured on Hearts Of Space

The intersection of classical form and ambient environments

The evolution of western classical art music is a story of evolving cultures, developing instruments, and continuous musical innovation. Over the course of some twelve centuries, acoustic strings, winds, horns, keyboards, and percussion instruments evolved into the symphony orchestra, as well as smaller groups: string orchestras, horn and wind ensembles, and intimate string quartets, trios, and duos. Each group was designed for a specific kind of music and social occasion.

The arrival of electronic instruments in the 20th century was a disruptive innovation that stimulated a different response than the slow evolution of acoustic instruments. Electronics promised the composer freedom from acoustic limitations, the ability to design completely new tones and new instruments, create spatial sound images and virtual environments. In time, these new capabilities led to new genres like Electronic Space and Ambient, with expansive cosmic spaces, infinite floating worlds, and subtle textures.

On this transmission of Hearts of Space, we explore the intersection of classical form and ambient electronics, on program called ATMOSPHERIC CLASSICAL.

Link to the Program

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PGM 1364 : "ATMOSPHERIC CLASSICAL"

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PGM NOTE : the intersection of classical form and ambient environments

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FEED DATE : 2-02-24

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MAX RICHTER

"Zilpha" < 0:00->4:32 >

: TABOO [soundtrack]; Deutsche Grammophon 479 8138; 2017

: Info: www.deutschegrammophon.com/en/artists/max-richter;