SNAKETIME INTERLUDES
In the late 1940s, after moving to New York, Moondog developed his signature rhythmic theory he called "snaketime": repetitive odd-meter grooves (mostly in 5/4 and 7/4) played on homemade percussion instruments (called the trimba, the oo, and the uh) which he built specifically for this purpose. Over these pulsing rhythms, singers and instruments would layer rounds in canon form, melodies entering at different points, weaving lyrics that sing about lighthearted satire and existential reflection.
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This became his trademark sound, performed daily on the streets of Manhattan. He first documented it on independent releases like the album Snaketime Series (1954), later reissued by the avant-garde jazz label Prestige Records as the self-titled Moondog (1956). After signing with Columbia in the late '60s, he returned to these snaketime rounds, recording them anew for his 1971 album Moondog 2.
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I chose 3 of these rounds to serve as interludes throughout the listening.
KUNÉ
KUNÉ is an eleven-piece collective bringing together global musical traditions, personal histories, and the shared experience of living in Toronto to create music rooted in connection and collaboration. ​The group was born in 2016 at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto. Over one hundred musicians audition, and twelve are selected to form a new ensemble that reflects Canada’s cultural diversity through music. They recorded their first album in 2018, released by Universal Music.
In 2021 KUNÉ became an independent musicians’ collective and a not-for-profit organization. This marks a shift toward self-directed creation, community engagement, and educational initiatives supporting immigrant musicians. They recorded their second album “Universal Echoes” in 2023. In 2025 KUNE establishes itself as a hub for immigrant musicians through research, community programming and artistic residencies.
GLOBAL SNAKETIME
Kuné embodies the rich diversity of cultures that find their stamping ground in Toronto. For these interludes, the collective's musicians take turns reinterpreting Moondog's rounds through their own voices and instruments, each imprinting their musical heritage into the fabric of the pieces. The result is a mosaic of sounds and cultures woven together.
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These interludes act as a thread throughout the listening experience. Brief moments that ground us in the universality of Moondog's art before each new journey begins.
CREDITS
Matias Recharte percussion (bombo, djembe, tabla, quijada, sankara, , vocals
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Aline Morales percussion (congas, caxixi, blocks), vocals
Ahmed Moneka vocals
Selcuk Suna clarinet, alto sax
Demetri Petsalakis stringed lutes (oud, baglamas,
Dora Wang woodwinds (chinese bamboo flute, tizi)
João Leão harpsichord