The blind and homeless Viking of the 6th Avenue – Louis Thomas Hardin (Moondog) was born in 1916, at the age of 16 he became blind, but already one year later he started learning the violin and the cello. In 1943 he came to New York, where he led a life of a street freak for 30 years, gradually becoming famous among the local artistic bohemia, in particular among jazz musicians. His Viking attire and a horned helmet were his brand marks. He also constructed a few music instruments, among which the best known is the trimba. Music created by that exocentric captivated the passers-by and such musical figures as Philip Glass, Janis Joplin, Artur Rodziński – a Polish conductor, and Charlie Parker. Two French groups – Dedalus and Muzzix created a programme devoted to Moondog on the 100th anniversary of Hardin’s birth last year. The album Round the World of Sound shows the composer in a way as a descendant of Bach or Monteverdi, so his pieces are presented as a cycle of madrigals.

PROGRAMME / 70'

Round the World of Sound 1: Madrigaux [Polish premiere]
Moondog – Invocation (instrumental)
Moondog – Bells are Ringing; What´s the Most Exciting Thing; All is loneliness
Moondog – Stamping Ground (instrumental)
Moondog – Why spend a dark night with you?; Coffee Beans; Down is up
Moondog – Theme (instrumental)
Moondog – Nero´s Expedition; With my wealth; Maybe
Moondog – Bird’s Lament (instrumental)
Moondog – Imagine; Behold; Sparrows
Moondog – Heimdall Fanfare (instrumental)
Moondog – Witch of Endor (instrumental)
Moondog – Be a Hobo; Trees against the sky

Dedalus Ensemble
Muzzix Ensemble