© 2025 Texas Public Radio
Real. Reliable. Texas Public Radio.
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
KCTI-AM in Gonzales is currently off-air. The internet stream is unaffected.

Traveling the world through music with Viatorum

Ethan Wickman (oud) and Berk Agar (guitar).
Nathan Cone
/
TPR
Ethan Wickman (oud) and Berk Agar (guitar).

Culture is great, but when cultures meet, that's what's really great.

Ethan Wickman, composer and founder of the ensemble Viatorum, agrees.

"It's where the magic and the inspiration happens," Wickman says. "Learning a language, or being in a place, or encountering the music, it's an act of compassion, it's an act of understanding, it's an act of sharing. And it just makes all of us richer, and better cultures."

Viatorum as a name, roughly translates to "travelers," and the ensemble will be taking audiences on a musical journey this month with a live concert. The program includes classical and chamber works from Egypt, Iraq, Lebanon, Turkey, and the United States, and takes place on Saturday, May 24 at 7 p.m. in beautiful Mission San Jose. Details are online at this link.

You can hear a preview of the the group's sounds using the audio player at the top of this page, and also hear more from Ethan Wickman about the music and inspiration behind the group's sound.

Viatorum performs live on KPAC 88.3 FM.
Nathan Cone
Viatorum performs live on KPAC 88.3 FM.

Barry Brake is a composer, jazz and classical pianist who has been a part of San Antonio's music scene for decades. You can find his musings and musical exploits online here: http://barrybrake.com/