This week on The Sound Kitchen, you’ll hear a history of Cuban music put together by our sound engineer, musician Erwan Rome. Just click on the “Audio” arrow above and enjoy!

Hello everyone! Welcome to The Sound Kitchen weekly podcast, published every Saturday – here on our website, or wherever you get your podcasts. You’ll hear the winners' names announced and the week’s quiz question, along with all the other ingredients you’ve grown accustomed to: your letters and essays, “On This Day”, quirky facts and news, interviews, and great music … so be sure and listen every week.
Be sure you check out our wonderful podcasts!
In addition to the breaking news articles on our site, rfienglish.com, with in-depth analysis of current affairs in France and across the globe, we have several podcasts which will leave you hungry for more.
There’s Paris Perspective, Africa Calling, Spotlight on France, and of course, The Sound Kitchen. We have a bilingual series - an old-time radio show, with actors (!) to help you learn French, called Les voisins du 12 bis. And there is the excellent International Report, too.
As you see, sound is still quite present at the RFI English service! Keep checking our website for updates on the latest from our excellent staff of journalists.
Send me your music requests! I’ll make programmes of your favourite music when I can’t be in the kitchen to cook up something new for you … write to me at thesoundkitchen@rfi.fr
To listen to our features from your PC, go to our website and click on the three horizontal bars on the top right, choose Listen to RFI / Podcasts, and you’ve got ‘em! You can either listen directly or subscribe and receive them directly on your mobile phone.
To listen to our features from your mobile phone, slide through the tabs just under the lead article (the first tab is “Headline News”) until you see “Podcasts”, and choose your show.
Teachers, take note! I save postcards and stamps from all over the world to send to you for your students. If you would like stamps and postcards for your students, just write and let me know. The address is english.service@rfi.fr If you would like to donate stamps and postcards, feel free! Our address is listed below.
Another idea for your students: my beloved music teacher from St Edward’s University in Austin, Texas, Br Gerald Muller, has been writing books for young adults in his retirement – and they are free! There is a volume of biographies of painters and musicians called Gentle Giants, and an excellent biography of Dr. Martin Luther King, too. They are also a good way for anyone who is trying to improve their English – that’s how I worked on my French, reading books which were meant for young readers – and I guarantee you, it’s a good method to improve your language skills. To get Br. Gerald’s free books, click here.
Independent RFI Clubs: Be sure to always include Audrey Iattoni (audrey.iattoni@rfi.fr) from our Listener Relations department in all your RFI Club correspondence. Remember to copy me (thesoundkitchen@rfi.fr) when you write to them so that I know what is going on, too. N.B. You do not need to send her your quiz answers! Email overload!
And don't forget, there is a Facebook page just for you, the RFI English Clubs. Only members of RFI English Clubs can belong to this group page, so when you apply to join, be sure you include the name of your RFI Club and your membership number. Everyone can look at it, but only members of the group can post on it. If you haven’t yet asked to join the group, and you are a member of an independent, officially recognised RFI English Club, go to the Facebook link above and fill out the questionnaire!!!!! (if you do not answer the questions, I click “decline”).
There’s a Facebook page for members of the general RFI Listeners Club, too. Just click on the link and fill out the questionnaire, and you can connect with your fellow Club members around the world. Be sure you include your RFI Listeners Club membership number (most of them begin with an A, followed by a number) in the questionnaire, or I will have to click “Decline”, which I don’t like to do!
This week’s quiz: The Sound Kitchen is taking a short break. The quiz will be back on the 21st of August.
Here’s the music you heard on this week’s programme: "La Linda" by Manuel Saumell, performed by Frank Fernández; “El Cadete Constitucional” by Jacobo Rubalcava, performed by the Orquesta Belisario López; “Rompiendo La Rutina” by Aniceto Diaz, performed by Paulina Alvarez with the Gran Orquesta Típica Nacional; "Los Marcianos" by Rosendo Ruiz Jr., performed by the Orquesta América de Ninón Mondejar; “Bonito y Sabroso” by Benny Moré, sung by the composer with his orchestra; "Cuando digo futuro" by Silvio Rodriguez, performed by the composer with his ensemble; "Chirrin-Chirran" by Juan Formell, performed by the Orquesta Los Van Van, "La protesta de los chivos" by José Luis Cortes, performed by the Orquesta NG la banda, and “En Honor al Valor” by César Pedoso, performed by Pupy y los Que Son Son.
Do you have a musical request? Send it to thesoundkitchen@rfi.fr
To find out how you can win a special Sound Kitchen prize, click here
To find out how you can become a member of the RFI Listeners Club, or to form your own official RFI Club, click here
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