The KRAB Audio Archive
Spectrum, produced by Carlos Hagen
Carlos Hagen was a Chilean who came to the US in the 1950's, as he received his master's degree in geography in 1957 at the University of Washington. He appears to have left Seattle before KRAB arrived, moving to Los Angeles, and taking the position of head of the UCLA Map Library. His interests and curiosity were expansive. According to the memorial (linked below) he came to the US because of his interest in filmmaking, but eventually settled on producing radio documentaries. He produced a vast array of documentaries on subjects ranging from Latin American music to black lung disease, and Edith Piaf.
Many of Hagen's programs were aired on KPFK and other non-commercial stations, and appeared on KRAB from 1970 through 1984. Hagen was a fascinating, if slightly bizarre character. To call him a hoarder doesn't give him credit for his discriminating collections of thousands of off-the-air recordings of KPFK programs, vinyl LPs, newspapers, and magazines. From March 2001 to June 2002 Firesign Theatre archivist Taylor Jessen helped organize parts of Carlos' archive in Malibu (he describes his efforts here).
Among Hagen's early productions was recording the 5th Annual Contemporary Musical Symposium that was held in the spring of 1963 at Mount St. Mary's College in West Los Angeles. In 1974, when he revisited this production, he talks of his disappointment in 1963 when the examples of "conventional classical" music that he had recorded at the festival were aired on KPFK during "prime time", but his recordings of twenty-two year old Frank Zappa's performance of experimental "electronic visual music" were relegated to off times and with the commentary deleted.
It seems that Carlos Hagen's first documentaries on KPFK were titled either simply "Carlos Hagen Presents", or "Electronic Magazine". Later the series was called "Spectrum".
Carlos Hagen died in 2010. You can read the memorial here.
Tarot and Gypsies - KRAB Jun 11, 1971
Carlos Hagen talks with Dr. Walter Starkie, who explains the meaning and philosophical symbolism of each card. (KPFK)
Listen now - Spectrum: Tarot and Gypsies - KRAB Jun 11, 1971 (60:22)
Recording courtesy University of Maryland Special Collections and University Archives, collection of the National Federation of Community Broadcasters (NFCB)
The Atacama Desert - KRAB Feb 28, 1974
Carlos Hagen takes the listener on a trip across the Atacama Desert through the use of readings, field recordings, illustrations, and anecdotes bringing us out high in the Andes. Hagen, a geographer by profession, also discusses the generalist concept of geography. He has crossed the Atacama twice himself.
Listen now - Spectrum: The Atacama Desert - KRAB Feb 28, 1974 (60:22)
Recording courtesy University of Maryland Special Collections and University Archives, collection of the National Federation of Community Broadcasters (NFCB)
Patriots, Poetry and War - KRAB Apr 18, 1974
Carlos Hagen brings you a sort of counterpoint collage of sound, describing the feelings of war and patriotism. This program blends many actual historical recordings from the World Wars with a series of poems and readings describing the misery and reality of war.
Listen now - Spectrum: Patriots, Poetry and War - KRAB Apr 18, 1974 (62:11)
Recording courtesy University of Maryland Special Collections and University Archives, collection of the National Federation of Community Broadcasters (NFCB)
Irrational Love - KRAB Jun 21, 1974
Carlos Hagen explores the emotional discovery of love in contemporary American society, especially the many sad and destructive way people "fall in love". In addition to Hagen's commentary, the program includes portions of a lecture by Dr. Carl Faber.
Listen now - Spectrum: Irrational Love - KRAB Jun 21, 1974 (61:11)
Recording courtesy University of Maryland Special Collections and University Archives, collection of the National Federation of Community Broadcasters (NFCB)
Reading of Neruda's Poetry - KRAB Jun 28, 1974
An homage to Chilean poet Pablo Neruda. The program begins with a biographical commentary, followed by readings by Carlos Hagen and David Ossman, closing with music.
Listen now - Spectrum: Reading of Neruda's Poetry - KRAB Jun 28, 1974 (60:48)
Recording courtesy University of Maryland Special Collections and University Archives, collection of the National Federation of Community Broadcasters (NFCB)
Sounds and Soul of Rural America - KRAB Oct 24, 1974
Hagen presents "answer-back" or "follow-up" songs, a peculiar type of music originating in Anglo-Saxon settlers' songs and now heard in country-western music.
Listen now - Spectrum: Sounds and Soul of Rural America - KRAB Oct 24, 1974 (59:29)
Recording courtesy University of Maryland Special Collections and University Archives, collection of the National Federation of Community Broadcasters (NFCB)
Spectrum #186 Carlos Hagen Presents: Reflections on Death - KRAB Feb 27, 1975
Carlos Hagen presents a remarkable conversation with Stanislav Grof and Joan Halifax. Grof is the Czech medical doctor and researcher who, with his wife Joan, an outstanding Anthropologist specializing in rites of passage, has done extensive work in the application of LSD therapy to terminal cancer patients to help them in their final transition. In this conversation they describe some of the most impressive cases they have worked with, and the feelings and visions of patients at the moment of death.
Listen now - Carlos Hagen Presents: Reflections on Death (61:21)
This recording has been shared under a Creative Commons license by the Internet Archives, RADIOM, and the Pacifica Archives.
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Parody in Music - KRAB Jul 3, 1975
A selective survey of parody in music, employing rare and forgotten examples such as Carl M Ziehrer's turn-of-the-century curiosity "Dream of an Austrian Army Reservist." Other selections deal with the Beatles and Spike Jones. With Carlos Hagen.
Listen now - Spectrum: Parody in Music - KRAB Jul 3, 1975 (60:09)
Recording courtesy University of Maryland Special Collections and University Archives, collection of the National Federation of Community Broadcasters (NFCB)
National Anthems - KRAB Sep 25, 1975
Recordings of several countries' national anthems are used to illustrate the uses of these compositions and the lore built up around them through history. With Carlos Hagen.
Listen now - Spectrum: National Anthems - KRAB Sep 25, 1975 (60:54)
Recording courtesy University of Maryland Special Collections and University Archives, collection of the National Federation of Community Broadcasters (NFCB)
Early Electronics - KRAB Feb 26, 1976
Carlos Hagen makes a brief survey of some of the techniques used by the early electronic composers, mainly composing their works in the 1930's, 40's and 50's. He can see that despite the paucity of means and the great technical limitations, some outstanding compositions were produced in those "pre-Moog" days.
Listen now - Spectrum: Early Electronics - KRAB Feb 26, 1976 (59:49)
Recording courtesy University of Maryland Special Collections and University Archives, collection of the National Federation of Community Broadcasters (NFCB)
Loneliness, Part I - KRAB May 13, 1976
A poignant social commentary on the problems of loneliness and alienation that affect millions of Americans, especially those in urban centers. Produced by Carlos Hagen.
Listen now - Spectrum: Loneliness, Part I - KRAB May 13, 1976 (61:06)
Recording courtesy University of Maryland Special Collections and University Archives, collection of the National Federation of Community Broadcasters (NFCB)
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