In the late 20th century, it became quite common for Western composers to tap the vein of cultures like Bali or Java for inspiration in their own works. The percussive sound of the gamelan would inform the musical vocabulary of composers from Lou Harrison to Steve Reich. But it was Canadian composer Colin McPhee who was the first Westerner to begin exploring the traditional music of Indonesia in the 1930s, and his best known work, "Tabuh Tabuhan" helped set the stage for the exploration of world-music sounds in classical music thereafter. Guest host Bill Morelock showcases McPhee’s work on this edition of the program.
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