FEATURED THIS WEEK:

Monday 12/12/05
OHM: PIONEERS OF THE OSCILLATION ZONE
Virtually every music you hear today is the result of electronics, whether it's a symphony performance with dozens of edits or the latest space music opus. Britney Spears and Karlheinz Stockhausen are equally wired. A collection called OHM: GURUS OF ELECTRONIC MUSIC (Ellipsis Arts) explores some of the early pioneers of this sound, including musicians who made their own instruments and the first turntable scratchers from the 1940s. We'll talk to Ohm compiler Jason Gross and hear comments from several pioneers of electronic sound, including the late John Cage and Brian Eno.

Tuesday 12/13/05
OTTMAR LIEBERT: NOUVEAU ZEN CHRISTMAS
The creator of Nouveau Flamenco guitar is a disciple of Zen Buddhism and lives in Santa Fe, but on a new CD called WINTER ROSE, he evokes a trancey and hypnotic seasonal meditation. Mixing a couple of Christmas carols, classical works by Fauré and Tchaikovsky and a collection of originals, Ottmar Liebert conjures up a Christmas that is mystical and atmospheric. Ottmar Liebert talks about his seasonal designs.

Wednesday 12/14/05
THE BEST OF ECHOES: 2005 LISTENER POLL
The votes are being tallied as you read, with listeners selecting their favorite Echoes CDs from 2005. We'll hear their choices in this edition of Echoes.

Thursday 12/15/05
TRISTEZA: PSYCHEDELIC SURF
Tristeza is among a new breed of guitar instrumentalists who take the sound of groups like The Ventures and launch them into the 21st century. In a San Diego living room, we gather the original members of the group, including departed founding member, Jimmy LaValle, now with The Album Leaf. They talk about a sound emerging from surf guitar, spaghetti westerns, minimalism and more on their new CD, A COLORES.

Friday 12/16/05
MARK O'CONNOR'S CLASSICAL AMERICANA
For the last 30 years, violinist Mark O'Connor has been creating at the intersection of classical and country. Cutting his teeth in bluegrass fiddle contests as a child, O'Connor has gone on to compose classical concerti and collaborate with cellist Yo-Yo Ma and bassist Edgar Meyer on APPALACHIAN WALTZ. He's played with just about everybody from the Dixie Dregs to Emmy Lou Harris. His latest albums include his DOUBLE VIOLIN CONCERTO and CROSSING BRIDGES, with his Appalachia Waltz Trio (Omac Records). Mark O'Connor takes us on an Appalachia Journey.

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