Wednesday, December 6, 2023
Nass El Ghiwane: Sinya (Polydor 222 5008) a single released in Morocco in 1972
Tuesday, December 5, 2023
Nas Labsat: Single (Disques Gam BG 125) a 7-inch single recorded and released in Morocco in about 1976
Here we have a single from Morocco from a band named Nas Labsat. I couldn't find out much about the group other than the Discogs listing.
Monday, December 4, 2023
Asha Bhosle: Asha's Stage Hits (SEDE 3309) an EP recorded and released in India in 1963
I recently purchased a small stack of Indian EPs from a local used record store. Most seem to be songs from stage plays in the Marathi language. Some are modern Marathi songs. Here we have four songs performed by famed Bollywood singer Asha Bhosle from the play Manapman by Krushnaji Prabhakar Khadilkar.
Saturday, December 2, 2023
Music of the Edo Period (BM 30 L 2014) an LP recorded in Japan in 1962 and released in Germany in 1966
Here we have a LP recorded in 1962 by NHK in Japan and released as part of the well-known UNESCO series of LPs on the Bärenreiter-Musicaphon label in 1966.
The Edo period in Japan, lasting from 1603 to 1868, was marked by profound cultural and artistic developments, including the evolution of a distinct musical landscape. During this time music played a crucial role in reflecting societal changes and expressing the unique aesthetic sensibilities of the time.
One of the notable characteristics of Edo period music was its integration of various traditional Japanese musical styles, such as gagaku (court music), shomyo (Buddhist chanting), and min'yo (folk songs). These diverse influences contributed to the rich tapestry of Edo music, creating a mixture that mirrored the eclectic nature of the period.
Friday, December 1, 2023
Kishori Amonkar: Marathi Songs (EMI 7EPE 1365) an EP recorded and released in India in 1968
Here is an interesting EP of classical vocalist Kishori Amonkar singing two modern songs in the Marathi language in 1968.
The two songs are, "He Shyamsunder Manamohan" and "Jain Vicharit Raanfula."
The lyrics are by Shanta Shelke and the music was composed by Hridaynath Mangeshkar (brother of Lata and Asha).
Saturday, November 25, 2023
Gladag-Badung vol 3 -- a cassette of gamelan music recorded and released in Bali
The origins of gamelan can be traced back over a thousand years, with influences from Java and the Majapahit Empire. The music is deeply intertwined with religious ceremonies, traditional rituals, and artistic performances.
Central to gamelan is its distinctive ensemble of percussive instruments. These include metallophones, gongs, drums, and other metallic instruments, collectively creating a shimmering and resonant sound. The instruments are organized into sets, or "gamel," each with a specific role and pitch range.
Pre-amplification: Vintage refurbished Pioneer SX-780.
Recorder: Sound Devices MixPre6ii at 24bit/48kHz resolution
Software: Audacity and xAct.
Monitoring: Digital line out from a MacBook, Focal Spirit One headphones with Schitt Audio Asgard headphone preamp with 4490 DAC
Sunday, November 19, 2023
Oum Kalthoum: Rabiaa El Adawia (Sono Cairo SC 22-117) an LP issued in France in 1968
We begin again here at the World Music Village blog. The goal as always is to make some sort of effort to help preserve our precious human musical culture against the forces of neglect. In my opinion this process is most successful when the highest audio and graphic standards are maintained and files are allowed to be downloaded rather than just streamed.
Here is a really lovely LP released in 1968 in France featuring the great Oum Kalthoum.