merry xmas / world music

Much enjoyed, last night, a midnight mass at the newly restored Basilica of the Assumption in Baltimore ("America's First Cathedral" -- or more fully, and per Wikipedia, Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary), officiated by a friend-of-friends, Bishop Denis James Madden. A good 80% (or so) of the choir's music was drawn from Handel's Messaih -- a treat. Madden's well-wraught sermon musings were likewise most enjoyable. What could have been merely ritualistic and dry, was rendered thoughtful, heartfelt and fresh.

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Another treat: clips of diverse world musics -- from one Robert Garfius, spanning performances from 1966-1982 -- including a lot of Korean music, and also notably featuring (under rubric of Indian music) Ustad Zia Mohiuddin Dagar's Rudra bin, and T. Brinda's Saraswati vina. (Needs Real Player to view.)