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Laura McPherson
When Music Speaks
Talking drums? Xylophone praises? Flutes that seduce? All around the world, cultures have found ways to communicate using notes and rhythms of music, in what have been called "musical surrogate languages". This podcast explores these incredible traditions and what they can teach us about language, music, and the richness of human culture.
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Ratings & Reviews
good
it was good
pileo foats via Apple Podcasts · United States of America · 04/10/23
Music and language!
Entertaining, thought-provoking stuff, presented in a clear, non-condescending way. Prof. McPherson is a wonderful teacher!
Chuck Ullery via Apple Podcasts · United States of America · 09/30/22
Recent Episodes
In our first ever interview on When Music Speaks, I talk with friend and collaborator Gerald Eze. Gerald is a master of the oja, a wind-blown Igbo instrument from Nigeria, whose poetry can praise, warn, and uplift those it addresses. This is a longer episode, but trust me, it's worth it. We talk...
Published 03/12/23
Published 03/12/23
Just what kinds of musical surrogate languages are out there? What instruments are used? And what are people even saying?  In this episode, I take you around the world in five traditions: Bora slit log drumming in the Amazon, Yoruba talking drums in Nigeria, Hmong mouth organs originally from...
Published 09/27/22
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