This week’s post comes from Hazem Jamjoum, Audio Curator for the British Library Qatar Foundation Partnership Programme. Rashīd al-Qundarjī (1886-1945) was one of the early recording artists of Iraq’s Maqam repertoire. In musical contexts, the Arabic word maqam usually denotes melodic and rhythmic modes. In Iraq, however, the word is…

Rahul Giri was one of our Resonations artists-in-residence during 2022. The Resonations artist residency programme is generously supported by the British Council. Also known as _RHL, Rahul Giri is a producer and DJ based in Bangalore, India. While studying broadcast journalism, Rahul became one half of the duo Sulk Station,…

This week’s post comes from Tom Jackson, Workflow Support Officer for Unlocking our Sound Heritage. Rooms above pubs have played a prominent role in the development of the UK’s free improvisation scene. The Horse Improvised Music Club began organising events above the Horse pub in Waterloo, before moving to the…

Jonnie Robinson, Lead Curator of Spoken English, writes: A fortnight ago, I stumbled across BBC football correspondent, Ian Dennis, playing Radio 5 Live’s World Cup Bauble Challenge with Breakfast presenters, Rachel Burden and Rick Edwards. While the game itself was mildly diverting, I was more intrigued to hear – in…

This week’s post comes from Chandan Mahal, Learning Projects Manager for Unlocking Our Sound Heritage. The figures of Mahatma Gandhi, Muhammad Ali Jinnah and Jawaharlal Nehru are well-known but we should also remember the many women who were active in the struggle to free India from British rule. The contributions…