David Fanshawe, 68, Composer Of African Sanctus

“The popularity and ubiquity of African Sanctus – with more than 1,000 performances round the world – mask how far ahead of its time it was. It used backing tracks ‘live’, which was uncommon even in the pop world; it in effect introduced sampling; it brought world music to the fore; it fused genres; and it scored pop, ethnic and classical instruments and vocal styles together.”

Dance Theatre Of Harlem Poised For A Comeback

“Last month, Dance Theatre of Harlem’s ensemble performed to strong reviews at the Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival in Massachusetts, the troupe’s first full season at the prestigious annual festival in more than 20 years. … After shutting down more than five years ago following years of mismanagement that resulted in a $2.3 million deficit, a shrinking of its board to three people, and declining enrollment at its school, the storied institution is staging an encore.”

The Restless Mind Of Nitin Sawhney

“Despite my best mental efforts, I just can’t keep pace with his verbal sprint through several millennia of philosophies this early in the day. The [celebrated Indian-English] musician has skipped from the Hindu Vedas to Einstein via Kepler and Heisenberg, and all before his first sip of coffee. So I’m surprised when he claims not to understand why people call him ‘intense’.”