Showing posts with label Folk. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Folk. Show all posts

Monday, November 10, 2025

Muzsikás: The Bartók Album - featuring Márta Sebestyén & Alexander Balanescu

 


The Muzsikás Ensemble was founded in 1973 modelling the early village peasant ensembles, the "muzskás"-es (music-makers) and they reflect the same world of sound. They have learned authentic music-making from the presently existing village orchestras and musicians. On their first LP, "Living Hungarian Folk Music 1", they performed tunes collected from several regions of Hungarian-speaking areas. They were awarded the title "Young Masters of Folk Art" in 1974.

On this release they collaborate with Hungarian folk singer, composer and actress Sebestyén Márta (who performs regularly with Muzsikás) and composer/violinist Alexander Balanescu.

Style: Hungarian Folk Music, Népzene

1 Dunántúli Friss Csárdások (Transdanubian Fast Csárdás) 2:43

Themes From Violin Duo No. 32

2 Jocul Barbatesc 0:34

3 Bartók Béla: 32. Duó "Máramarosi Tánc" (Duo No 32 ("Dance Of Máramaros") 0:42

4 Máramarosi Táncok (Máramaros Dances) 3:23

5 Porondos Víz Martján (On The Riverbank) 3:09

6 Kanásztáncok Két Hegedűn (Swineherds' Dance) 2:09

7 Dunántúli Ugrósok (Transdanubian "Ugrós") 3:36

8 Pásztornóták Hosszúfurulyán (Shepard's Flute Song) 2:45

Themes From Violin Duo No. 28

9 Forgácskúti Legényes (Forgácskúti Lad's Dance) 2:46

10 Pejparipám Rézpatkója (My Horse's Shoes) 1:10

11 Bartók Béla: 28. Duó "Bánkódás" (Duo No 28 "Sorrow) 2:21

12 Bonchidai Lassú Magyar (Slow Lad's Dance From Bonchida) 1:54

13 Magyarbecei Öreges Csárdások (Magyarbece Csárdás) 3:16

14 Pe Loc 1:20

15 Botos Tánc (Bota Dance) 5:11

Themes From Violin Duo No. 44

16 Torontáli Táncok (Torontáli Dances) 4:08

17 Ardeleana 0:38

18 Bartók Béla: 44. Hegeduduó Erdélyi Tánc (Transylvanian Dance) 1:47

19 Füzesi Ritka Magyar (Lad's Dance From Füzes) 1:53

20 A Temető Kapu (Churchyard Gate) 4:06

21 Mérai Lassú Csárdás És Szapora (Dances Of Kalotaszeg) 9:06

22 Elindultam A Hazámból (I Left My Homeland) 1:38

Muzsikás: The Bartók Album


http://www.muzsikasband.com/en/


Monday, March 17, 2025

El Tanbura – Between The Desert And The Sea - traditional Egyptian music

 


El Tanbura is an Egyptian band, formed in the 1980's by Zakaria Ibrahim, the organizer. Its performances are based on traditional Egyptian music, featuring the simsimiyya and tanbura instruments.

In 1989, a small nucleus of veteran performers recruited by Zakaria came together to form the fledgling El Tanbura group, augmented by younger singers. In the formative years, El Rayis Imbabi, one of the group members, was responsible for passing key repertoire from Port Said's past to the younger members.

The Simsimiyya is a five-stringed instrument of the lyre family. Originally, the body was made of wood in a bowl/box shape, covered with stretched goat or camel skin. The strings, once various intestinal parts, are now made of wire. The Tanbura is a large six-string lyre. It was often used in private healing ceremonies during the 19th century following the Egyptian conquest of Sudan.

The Tanbura is very similar to the Simsimiyya. However, compared to the Simsimiyya, the strings of the Tanbura are softer and it has the addition of tuning pegs which can expand melodic range and nylon replacing dried animal gut strings, allowing for more refined tuning and intricate performances.

Their second album, Between the Desert and the Sea, was named by Songlines Magazine as one of the all-time Top 50 world music albums.

1 Waziery

2 I Saw The Moon

3 My Heart Was Burnt by Love

4 Sar a Lay

5 Zayy el Nhardah (The Canal Song)

6 Between the Desert and the Sea

7 One Day We Blamed Each Other

8 Dundarawi

9 Shoft Toshy

10 Salah

11 Gamel Weno


Between The Desert And The Sea

Friday, March 7, 2025

Loreena McKennitt – The Journey Begins

 


Loreena Isabel Irene McKennitt (born February 17, 1957) is a Canadian singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and composer who writes, records, and performs world music with Celtic and Middle Eastern influences. McKennitt is known for her refined and clear soprano vocals. She has sold more than 14 million records worldwide.

McKennitt's music has generally been classified as World or Celtic music even though it contains aspects and characteristics of music from around the globe and is sometimes classified as folk music in record stores.

Before McKennitt composes any music, she engages in considerable research on a specific subject which then forms the general concept of the album. Before creating Elemental and Parallel Dreams, she travelled to Ireland for inspiration from the country's history, folklore, geography and culture.

This 3CD set (plus bonus live disc) released in 2008 combines three of her early albums Elemental, Parallel Dreams and The Visit, plus a bonus 6-track live disc.

Elemental

1-1 Blacksmith 3:20

1-2 She Moved Through The Fair 4:05

1-3 Stolen Child 5:05

1-4 The Lark In The Clear Air 2:06

1-5 Carrighfergus 3:24

1-6 Kellswater 5:19

1-7 Banks Of Claudy 5:37

1-8 Come By The Hills 3:05

1-9 Lullaby 4:26

Parallel Dreams

2-1 Samain Night 4:27

2-2 Moon Cradle 4:29

2-3 Huron ‘Beltane’ Fire Dance 4:20

2-4 Annachie Gordon 8:22

2-5 Standing Stones 6:56

2-6 Dickens' Dublin (The Palace) 4:40

2-7 Breaking The Silence 6:23

2-8 Ancient Pines 3:35

The Visit

3-1 All Souls Night 5:04

3-2 Bonny Portmore 3:57

3-3 Between The Shadows 4:03

3-4 The Lady Of Shalott 11:05

3-5 Greensleeves 4:15

3-6 Tango To Evora 4:03

3-7 Courtyard Lullaby 4:50

3-8 The Old Ways 5:25

3-9 Cymbeline 4:48

Bonus Disc

1 Caravanserai (Live)

2 The Bonny Swans (Live)

3 The Highwayman (Live)

4 Penelope's Song (Live)

5 The Mummers' Dance (Single remix)

6 Dante's Prayer (Spanish-language version)

The Journey Begins

Thursday, January 16, 2025

Buena Vista Social Club - produced by Ry Cooder - Afro-Cuban Jazz, Trova, Son, Danzon, Bolero, Guajira, Ballad

 


Buena Vista Social Club is a studio album by Buena Vista Social Club, an ensemble of Cuban musicians directed by Juan de Marcos González and American guitarist Ry Cooder. Produced by Cooder, it was recorded at Havana's EGREM studios in March 1996 and released on September 16, 1997, through World Circuit internationally and Nonesuch Records in the United States. It is the only standard studio album exclusively credited to the Buena Vista Social Club.

The album was recorded in parallel with A toda Cuba le gusta by the Afro-Cuban All Stars, a similar project also promoted by World Circuit executive Nick Gold and featuring largely the same lineup. In contrast to A toda Cuba le gusta, which was conceived as a revival of the son conjunto, Buena Vista Social Club was meant to bring back the traditional trova and filin, a mellower take on the Cuban son and bolero, as well as the danzón.

1 Chan Chan 4:16

2 De Camino A La Vereda 5:03

3 El Cuarto De Tula 7:27

4 Pueblo Nuevo 6:05

5 Dos Gardenias 3:02

6 ¿Y Tú Qué Has Hecho? 3:13

7 Veinte Años 3:29

8 El Carretero 3:28

9 Candela 5:27

10 Amor De Loca Juventud 3:21

11 Orgullecida 3:18

12 Murmullo 3:50

13 Buena Vista Social Club 4:50

14 La Bayamesa 2:54


Saturday, January 11, 2025

The Most Beautiful Songs Of Africa - various artists - Folk,Traditional,Soukous,World,African

 


1 Orchestra Super Mazembe– Kasongo 5:22

2 Bomas Of Kenya– Raha Leo 4:19

3 Bomas Of Kenya– Karibuni Wana Wa Africa 4:06

4 Super Mazambe*– Shauri Yako 9:23

5 Super Mazembe* With Lo Six Orchestra– Bwana Nipe Pesa 4:29

6 D.O. Misiani & Shirati Luo Voice Jazz– Lala Salama 5:30

7 Miriam Makeba– Malaika (Live In Guinea) 4:26

8 Bopol Mansiamina And Mode Success*– Pitie 9:02

9 Afro 70*– Dirishani 5:07

10 Western Jazz Band– Rosa 5:19

11 D.O. Misiani & Shirati Luo Voice Jazz– Amuka 5:04

12 Moreno* And Orchestra Moja One– Dunia Ni Duara 9:34


The Most Beautiful Songs Of Africa

Saturday, January 4, 2025

The Rough Guide To The Music Of Portugal - various artists compilation - Celtic, Fado, Folk

 


1 José Afonso– Saudades De Coimbra 2:54

2 Dulce Pontes– Fado Da Sina 3:15

3 Realejo– Canção Go Gaiteiro/Dança Do Gaiteiro/Marcha Dos Foli~oes/Murinheira 4:56

4 Teresa Silva Carvalho– Verdes São Os Campos 2:19

5 Carlos Paredes– Despertar 3:52

6 Amália Rodrigues– Ai, Mouraria 3:11

7 Vai De Roda– Contra-Dança I (Auto Da Floripes - Tema Dos Turcos) 2:52

8 Terra A Terra– O Rapaz Do Casaquito 3:21

9 V Império– Décadas 4:13

10 Lendas & Mitos– Barquinha Do Mar 3:50

11 Anabela– Avenidas 4:14

12 Maria Da Fé– Quem O Fado Calunia 2:22

13 Margarida Bessa– Fala Da Mulher Sózinha 2:53

14 Vitorino– Menina Estás À Janela 3:14

15 Maria Teresa De Noronha– Fado Em Cinco Estilos 3:00

16 Lenita Gentil– Sou Um Fado Desta Idade 2:28

17 Carlos Zel– Maldito Fado 4:18

18 Manuel De Almeida– A Alma Do Ganhão (Fado Do Alentejo) 3:27

19 Ronda Dos Quatro Caminhos– Cravo Roxo 2:24

20 Grupo Cantadores Do Redondo*– É Na Vila Do Redondo 2:00

21 José Afonso– Grândola Vila Morena 3:30


Tuesday, December 24, 2024

Putumayo Presents A Putumayo Christmas - World, Folk, Blues, Jazz and Soul

 


1 John Gorka– Christmas Bells

2 Ottmar Liebert– We 3 Kings (Of Orient R)/Santa Fe X'Mas

3 Margie Joseph– Christmas Gift

4 Machel Montano– Soca Santa

5 Michael Doucet– Bonne Annee

6 Dan Crary– What Child Is This

7 Otis Redding– Merry Christmas

8 Mason Williams– The Virgin Mary

9 Koko Taylor– Merry, Merry Christmas

10 Son Seals– Lonesome Christmas

11 Maggie Sansone– The Holly And The Ivy

12 Loreena McKennitt– Dickens' Dublin (The Palace)

A Putumayo Christmas

Tuesday, November 26, 2024

The Alias Acoustic Band – Irish Songs Of Rebellion, Resistance And Reconciliation

 


Easter 1916 / Caoimhneagdh Roisin 1:05

To Welcome Paddy Home 2:47

Boolavogue 5:01

Shan Van Vocht 2:04

Erin's Lovely Lee 4:57

Boys Of Bar Na Strade 5:03

Johnny I Hardly Knew Ya 3:36

Brennan On The Moor 3:05

Wind That Shakes The Barley 3:43

Reconciliation 5:26

Grand Aul' Dame Britania 2:16

Glory-o To The Bold Fenian Men 4:23

Pursuit Of Farmer Michael Hayes 4:05

James Connolly 3:40

Roddy McCorley 3:57

Dunlavin Green 5:41

Reobert Emmett's Last Words / Scaffold Passage 1:23

Cry Cry Cry 4:11

Kitty/Tadie O'Neill 6:17

Force Of Argument / Lament Of Limerick 2:42

Wearing Of The Green 3:11

Patriot Game 5:25

Skibereen 3:29

Home Fire/Beyond The Pale 4:14

Foggy Dew 6:00

Boys Of County Cork 2:46

Follow Me Up To Carlow 2:56

Four Green Fields 5:37

God Bless England 2:08

Boys Of Mullaghbawn 3:28

Praties They Grow Small 2:31

Truth And Understanding 4:08

Mountains Of Pomeroy 7:01

Sands Of Time / Kesh Jig 4:46

Rocks Of Bawn 3:47

Sea Around Us 2:36

Nation Once Again / Amhran Na Bhfiann (National Anthem) 4:39


Irish Songs Of Rebellion, Resistance And Reconciliation


Sunday, November 17, 2024

Lila Downs – Tree Of Life


 Ana Lila Downs Sánchez is Mexican-American singer-songwriter and actress. She performs her own compositions as well as tapping into native Mesoamerican music of the Mixtec, Zapotec, Maya and Nahuatl cultures.

Tree of Life was released in 2000. This work found Downs turning to her indigenous past and the album features pre-Hispanic sounds and instruments. Several of the songs on the album are sung in native Mexican languages such as Mixtec, Zapotec and Nahuatl. 

https://www.liladowns.com/language/en/

Simuna 3:36

Nueve Viento 4:44

Arenita Azul 2:50

La Iguana 3:05

Yunu Yucu Ninu 3:28

Xquenda 5:03

Nueve Hierba 3:33

Tres Pedernal 5:15

Luna 3:38

Semilla De Piedra 4:23

Arbol De La Vida 5:55

Icnocuicatl 3:15

Uno Muerte 3:04


Lila Downs – Tree Of Life



Wednesday, October 16, 2024

Azam Ali – Portals Of Grace - Andalusian classical/folk/Celtic/medieval

 


Azam Ali is an Iranian musician/vocalist. She has released several full-length albums with the bands VAS and Niyaz, as well as solo albums.

In 1996, Ali formed "alternative world" group VAS with percussionist Greg Ellis after meeting the year prior at a concert at UCLA. She and her husband, Loga Ramin Torkian, are part of another group, Niyaz, an Iranian acoustic electronic group.

In 2002, Ali released her first solo album, Portals of Grace. This was followed in 2006 by Elysium for the Brave, which reached No. 10 on Billboard's World Albums chart on 23 September 2006. Ali's third album, From Night to the Edge of Day (2011), is a collection of lullabies inspired by her son. Lamentation of Swans – A Journey Towards Silence (2013), Ali's fourth album, is a joint effort with her husband Loga Ramin Torkian that began in 2009 and explores the intimate spaces they had to carve out for themselves to escape the demands of touring.

In 2003 she sang "Inama Nushif" in the fictional Fremen language for the soundtrack to the 2003 Sci Fi Channel mini-series Frank Herbert's Children of Dune, written by Brian Tyler. In 2006 she was featured vocals in the movie 300. In 2011, Ali's vocals were featured several times on the soundtrack of Uncharted 3. In 2012, she was the vocalist for Square Enix's Final Fantasy video game tech demo Agni's Philosophy. She appeared as vocalist on the Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 for the track "Pakistan Run".

In September 2013, Ali announced that she would provide vocals for the soundtrack of the film Thor: The Dark World.


Portals Of Grace

https://www.azamali.com/

Monday, August 19, 2024

Putumayo Presents Louisiana Gumbo

 


1 Charles Sheffield– It's Your Voo Doo Working 1:48

2 Carol Fran & Clarence Hollimon– Door Poppin' 3:25

3 James Booker– African Gumbo 2:44

4 Clifton Chenier– Ti Na Na 3:10

5 Johnny Adams– It Ain't The Same Thing 4:10

6 Lynn August– Lead Me On 3:46

7 The Neville Brothers– Voo Doo 4:26

8 Eddie Bo– Piano Roll 5:42

9 Rockin' Dopsie Jr. & The Zydeco Twisters– I'm Coming Home 5:16

10 Rockie Charles– Festis Believe In Justice 2:05

11 Percy Mayfield– Louisiana 2:02

12 Snooks Eaglin– Nine Pound Steel 5:30


Putumayo Presents Louisiana Gumbo

Wednesday, June 12, 2024

John Williams – El Diablo Suelto - Guitar Music Of Venezuela

 


1 Los Caujaritos 2:36

2 El Totumbo De Guarenas 1:37

3 Como Llora Una Estrella 3:58

4 Seis Por Derecho 3:19

5 No Me Olvides 3:09

6 Las Perdices 2:18

7 Alma Llanera 2:50

8 Salve 2:15

Five Pieces

9 Cántico 1:33

10 Cantemos, cantemos 1:21

11 Si De Noche Ves Que Brillan 1:32

12 Malhaya La Cocina 0:57

13 Ave María ¡Que Muchacho! 1:10

-

14 Quirpa Guatireña 1:56

15 Angostura 1:47

16 El Diablo Suelto 2:19

17 Virgilio 2:36

18 Pasaje "Aragueño" 1:50

19 Que No Te Quiera Más 2:25

20 Romanza 2:49

21 Priva Resuello 2:16

22 María Carolina 2:33

23 Vals Venezolano 3:22

24 Nelly 2:21

25 El Marabino 1:20

26 Preludio De Adiós 3:53


El Diablo Suelto

Wednesday, December 13, 2023

Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan & Michael Brook – Night Song

 


Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan & Michael Brook – Night Song

Released: Feb 20, 1996

Genre: Electronic, Folk, World, & Country

Style: Fusion, Qawwali

1 My Heart, My Life 5:30

2 Intoxicated 7:34

3 Lament 5:14

4 My Comfort Remains 6:39

5 Longing 5:35

6 Sweet Pain 6:28

7 Night Song 4:47

8 Crest 6:14


Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan & Michael Brook – Night Song

Monday, October 16, 2023

Vusi Mahlasela – When You Come Back

 


Vusi Mahlasela was born in Lady Selbourne, Pretoria in 1965 and grew up in Mamelodi, a township famed as a cradle of culture which has produced many of Black South Africa’’s greatest musicians and writers. Vusi can’t remember a time when he wasn’t singing as a child... "I’m sure I learned to sing before I could talk" he says. Listening-in his grandmother’s shebeen-to men singing ‘ingomabusuku or ‘songs of the night?

The young Vusi began to teach himself to play his home-made guitar, a remarkable instrument made of tin cans and fishing line. Formal guitar lessons began when he entered high school, where he set about putting together a vocal group of his own. His teachers marveled at his amazing vocal range which enabled him to continue singing soprano parts in school productions well into his teens.

He found himself drawn to themes with social and political significance and he became much in demand at political rallies and cultural events. This drew him into close contact with poetry groups, which led to him joining the Ancestors of Africa. This group of poets, musicians and actors, formed in 1981, stirred up some turbulence among the current police force, who harassed its members.

It was after joining the Congress of South African Writers in 1988, that Vusi developed a new level of confidence as a poet and a writer and into contact with other artists and poets who were to influence him greatly. He struck up a creative friendship with South African poet Lesego Rampolokeng at the same time he fell under the jazz and traditional music spell of artists like Miriam Makeba and Philip Tabane. He was exposed to the work of Victor Jara, whom Vusi acknowledges as having had perhaps the strongest influence on his music and lyrics.

When You Come Back:

Released: 1993

Genre: Jazz, Pop, Folk, World, & Country

Style: Cape Jazz, African

1 When You Come Back 4:08

2 Melodi Ya Mamelodi 2:46

3 Manana 4:47

4 Tonkana 4:47

5 Epitolo 3:31

6 Gijimane Mabsotsha 3:06

7 Hello Mams 3:58

8 In Solitary Confinement 3:52

9 Red Song 4:23

10 Vision 4:14

11 Untitled 4:01

12 Maybe 2:43


Vusi Mahlasela – When You Come Back


Sunday, July 9, 2023

Roots, Reels + Rhythms - A Scots Fusion Experience

 


1 Mac Umba– Glenmalambo 2:58

2 Capercaillie– Inexile 4:26

3 Mouth Music– Hé Mandu 5:16

4 Big Sky– Las Temporadas 5:45

5 John Rae's Celtic Feet– The Napier Stride 3:03

6 Shooglenifty– Venus In Tweeds 4:06

7 Mary Jane Lamond– Òran Snìomh 5:11

8 Martyn Bennett– Joik 3:34

9 Tartan Amoebas– Reggaelypso 5:16

10 Simon Thoumire & Fergus McKenzie– Totally Tropical 4:23

11 The Keltz– The Reel Of Revelation 4:35

12 Talitha MacKenzie– Funky Bird Medley 3:55

13 Seelyhoo– Cait Na Dh'fhag Thu'n Fhichead Gini? 3:54

14 Paul Mounsey– Remembrance 5:27

15 Peatbog Faeries– Macedonian Woman's Rant 4:53

16 Natalie MacMaster– Space Ceilidh 3:41


Roots, Reels + Rhythms

Friday, November 18, 2022

The Planet Sleeps - 16 Traditional Lullabies From Around The Globe - Various Artists


 1 The Rankin Family– Chì Mi Na Mòrbheanna

2 Sherrilyne Blakey-Smith– Yhanaway Hay Yowna

3 Hun Sarath With Marc Marder– Phnom Penh Lullaby

4 The Kingdom Of Tonga Cultural Group– Ana Latu

5 Houria Aïchi*– Berceuse

6 Familion– Hace Tuto Guagua

7 Boukman Eksperyans– Mayi A Gaye

8 Maria Doyle Kennedy With Liam O'Maonlaí*– Ag Criost An Siol

9 Wes– Sweet Bitowo

10 Baluji Shrivastav– Sleep, Queen Of The Dolls

11 Sophie Meriem Rockwell*– Fais Do Do, Colin Mon Petit Frère

12 Yermi Kaplan* And Haya Samir– Noomey

13 Traditional Japanese Music Ensemble Of New York– Itsuki No Komoriuta

14 Michelle– Schlafe Mein Prinzchem, Schlaf Ein

15 Hinewehi Mohi– Moe Moe

16 The Trebevic Choir– Oj Talasi


The Planet Sleeps

Saturday, May 7, 2022

Milica Ilic - Stir the Sky - classical/folk/world guitarist

 


Milica Davies (née Ilić, born 1981 in Bosnia and Herzegovina), is an Australian classical guitarist. She has released three albums, Rouge Guitar (2005), Stir the Sky (2007) and Evie's Song (2012). In 2002, she toured Australia and Asia backing José Carreras. As from 2004, Davies is based in London where she also teaches guitar.

Milica Davies took up classical guitar at seven years old and was 11 when the family relocated to Perth, Western Australia. Davies has toured in Australia, Asia and Europe, performing as a soloist, with orchestra and as an accompanist. She holds a First Class Honours degree in performance, from the University of Western Australia, Perth, where she studied with guitar teacher, John Casey. In 2002, she toured Australia and Asia backing José Carreras. In 2004 she was honoured with a Western Australian Citizen of the Year Award for her contribution to the state's Youth Arts. Davies' work - live and on record - has been played on the BBC, Classic FM (UK) and the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

Milica released her debut album, Rouge Guitar, which had been recorded in Perth in March, 2004 with Paul Wright on violin. From 2006 she has periodically performed and toured with guitar duo, Desert Child, which are Guy Ghouse and Damian Watkiss. For her second album, Stir the Sky (May 2007), she used Wright with Ghouse on guitar, Watkiss on acoustic guitar and Jessica Ipkendanz on violin. She co-produced the album with Lee Bundle and issued it on Twilight Classics.

In 2004 Davies relocated to London where she performs and teaches guitar. During 2009 she toured Australia with Guitar Heaven Quartet, which comprise Ghouse, Watkiss and Simon Fox. Davies released her third album, Evie's Song in November 2012. Again, she worked with Ghouse, Ipkendanz, Watkiss and Wright. The album is dedicated to Davies' idol, Eva Cassidy. Her fourth album, Go South in the Winter, released in 2016, is in collaboration with the flamenco master Ramon Ruiz.


Stir the Sky

Sunday, May 1, 2022

Carl Cleves - Tarab: Travels With My Guitar

 


Carl Cleves, singer, songwriter and guitarist was born in Mechelen, a traditional Flemish town in Belgium. Even as a child he would entertain his siblings and schoolmates with his vivid imagination. At 15 he was fronting his own band The Dragons and writing songs. His first recordings were made in Dusseldorf during one of his many escapes from student life, hitchhiking around Europe. In the mid 1960s he worked the folk clubs in London in the good company of Paul Simon, Al Stewart, Bert Jansch, Jackson C. Frank, Davey Graham and others, but instead of following a career path to musical fame like his contemporaries, Carl went travelling.

Carl's nomadic past results in highly original songs, which have won numerous awards in the categories of folk, world & roots, including two of the most coveted national Australian Music Awards (Music Oz and the Australian Songwriters Association). Ranging from polyrhythmic exuberance to intimate subtlety, the personal to the political, styles are interchanged and blended with great ease. Traces of Brazil, Africa, folk, blues and dance are the spice in the stew of Carl's songs. Approach and sound vary widely with each release but always with 'a complete lack of pretence and trendiness' (R. Jasituowicz, Diaspora World Beat). His pallet is as broad as life itself.

Tarab: Travels With My Guitar was released in 2008 and, although stated on the back insert as "this compilation of songs", it was an album of new recordings. The word "Tarab" means "a place where music and poetry bestow true bliss upon the lucky one" (as per liner notes).

1 Texan Lion 4:09

2 To Coroico 3:51

3 Mustapha 4:29

4 Trem Mineiro 7:35

5 Party At My House 4:30

6 Zimbabwe Zimbabwe 8:09

7 Penkele 5:26

8 A Long Way 4:50

9 Welcome Home 1:38

10 Tashi's Song 1:59


Wednesday, January 19, 2022

Stephan Micus – Athos (A Journey To The Holy Mountain)

 

Athos is a 1994 album by Stephan Micus that was released on ECM.

Based on a three-day visit to Mount Athos, Micus tries to capture his experiences with the Greek Orthodox liturgy he experienced in the monasteries there, framing it with pieces that evoke his emotions at going to and leaving the isolated peninsula. Between them he recreates the liturgical experience of the services during his stay, in six alternating pieces of night and day.

As in his other works, Micus uses a combination of traditional instruments from various cultures to capture the feel of the monastery. These include: the sattar (a bowed 10-string instrument used by the Uyghur), the shakuhachi (a Japanese bamboo flute), the suling (a reed flute from Bali), the ney (a Middle Eastern flute), and 22 flowerpots, filled with water, which he plays with his hands and with mallets. These instruments are only used in the pieces representing the days on Mount Athos.

To emulate the Greek Orthodox tradition of not using musical instruments in their services, his pieces devoted to the nights are performed by a 22-man choir singing prayers to the Virgin Mary.

Tracklist
1        On The Way 4:57
2        The First Night 5:35
3        The First Day 6:38
4        The Second Night 4:47
5        The Second Day 3:32
6        The Third Night 6:19
7        The Third Day 5:55
8        On The Way Back 8:58


 Athos (A Journey To The Holy Mountain)

alt link 

 

Friday, November 20, 2020

klapa VESTIBUL - Traditional Dalmatian Songs sung a cappella

 klapa Vestibul are a Croatian a cappella folk group who sing traditional Dalmatian folk songs. This album was recorded in Split, Croatia, 2009/2012.

 Tracklist
1     Ribar Plete Mrižu Svoju     
2     Oj, Marjane     
3     Švet Ivane Od Moga Trogira     
4     Jute San Se Zajubija     
5     Kaleto Moja Draga     
6     Kad Sam Bio Na Tvom Grobu     
7     Baška J' Malo Selo     
8     Spušta Se Noć     
9     Čija Je Ono Divojka     
10     Pismo Moja, Hrli Tamo     
11     Dobro Jutro     
12     Izresla Ruža Rumena     
13     Ponistra Je Drivo     
14     Splite Moj     
15     Projden Kroz Pasike     
16     Šetala Se Jelica I Ive     
17     U Polju Se Mala     
18     Zaspalo Je Siroče     
19     Vilo Moja     
20     Zvona Moga Grada     
21     Pismo Ćali     
22     Cvijet Čežnje     
23     Bodulska Balada     
24     Ave Maria

The Vestibule (The Rotonda), (The Atrium), is the first section of the imperial corridor in Diocletian's Palace that led from the Peristyle which was once the formal entrance to the imperial apartments of the Palace.

It was built up to the beginning of the 4th century, as the original part of the ancient palace. It is a circular hall, once topped with a dome, 17 meters in height and 12 meters in diameter. Built as a grand meeting hall only for and selected audiences such as ambassadors. The entrance was adorned with a large door dimension of 2.56 x 3.96 ms with an abundance of relief decorations. The Vestibula area was cleared of four semicircular niches that were filled with statues of unknown deities. Southeast of the vestibule is the Medieval quarter, where the oldest building is the early Romanesque house from the 10th century. 

The space is used by klapa groups to perform popular folk songs during the summer months, taking advantage of the acoustics for an a cappella performance.

                                                    klapa Vestibul