Gladag-Badung vol 3 -- a cassette of gamelan music recorded and released in Bali

Here we have a cassette I purchased in the mid-1980s. I had very little luck finding out any information about it on the internet. It is nonetheless delightful.

Balinese gamelan is an intricate musical tradition which holds a central place in the island’s rich cultural tapestry. Rooted in the island's Hindu and Buddhist traditions, Balinese gamelan is a complex ensemble of percussion instruments, producing a harmonious and rhythmic symphony that captivates both the ears and the soul.

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.

Transfer: Nakamichi Dragon cassette deck, extensively refurbished and rebuilt.
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

downloads:

24bit, 48kHz FLAC files (733 MB)

very high resolution lossless FLAC files

16bit, 44.kHz FLAC files (385 MB)

these lossless files can be burned to CDR, if you are into that

320 kbps mp3 files (136 MB)

highest quality lossy mp3 files possible 

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. 

Files were downloaded from the Internet Archive. Painstaking manual reduction of surface noise and clicks/pops as well as balancing of the channels (left was 2dB quieter than right) was undertaken in Audacity. Graphic files were optimized in the free Mac software known as "Photos." 

I thank you for listening to this album. 

24bit, 96kHz FLAC file (921 MB)

Very high resolution lossless files

16bit, 44.1kHz FLAC file (277 MB)

Standard resolution lossless files 

320kbps mp3 file (167 MB)

The highest quality lossy mp3 possible

Sacred Music of Tibet (Ocora OCR 71) an LP issued in France in 1983

Here is a wonderful LP released on Ocora of recordings of Buddhist Monks performing rituals in Tibet.

 

This transfer came with no information on who made it or what equipment was used. The levels were quite low (I had to boost them by 16dB -- approximately tripling the volume). After some removal of clicks and pops and reducing turntable rumble, it sounds quite nice -- much better and more dynamic than the later CD issue.

downloads:

16bit, 44.1kHz FLAC file (218 MB)

320kbps mp3 file (97MB)

Imrat Khan: Raga Shree (EASD 1403) an LP issued in India in 1974

Here is another vinyl transfer from the internet which I have tidied up a bit and now present for your enjoyment.

Quite a bit of audio restoration was required. Aside from a lot of effort in removing pops and clicks, I tried to reduce turntable rumble noise where the audio frequencies sometimes reached up into those of the musicians'. Therefore I needed to leave some in place.

I took the liberty of narrowing the stereo image slightly so that there is less of a hard right-and-left image. This idea of having one performer in one channel and another in the other channel might have sounded good at the time, but it can be unpleasant, especially when using headphones.

Imrat Khan here plays surbahar for the alap and then switches to sitar for the gats.

downloads:

16bit, 44.1kHz FLAC file (261 MB)

320kbps mp3 file (111MB)

Parveen Sultana: Self-titled LP (ECSD 2480) an LP issued in India in 1971

Occasionally I will encounter vinyl transfers of world music on the internet which I believe could sound better. 

 

This is one of those LPs. I downloaded it at some point in the past and could find no information about who transferred it or what equipment was used.  

 

The rarity of the music caused me to want to remaster both the audio and the image of the front cover.  After some time spent using ClickRepair and the audio editing program called "Audacity," this now sounds quite nice. 

 

I certainly hope I'll find time to upload more such "rescued and remastered" albums on this blog during the next few months.

 

Parveen Sultana was born in 1950 and began recording for EMI in India in her early 20s. She continues to remain active to this day.

Parveen Sultana: Vocal

Mahadev Indorkar: Tabla

side one:

01 Raga Salag Varali Todi

side two:

02 Raga Lalit

03 Thumri 

downloads:

24bit, 96kHz FLAC file (866 MB)

16 bit, 44.1kH FLAC file (269 MB)

320kbps mp3 file (100MB)

Kanika Banerjee and Hemanta Mukherji: Gems From Tagore [EALP 1267] an LP released in India in 1961

Rabindranath Tagore (1861-1941) distinguished himself in many fields. He won the Nobel Prize for literature in 1913, wrote thousands of songs (including ones which two different countries -- India and Bangladesh -- claim as their national anthem), and gained fame during his lifetimes as a poet, playwright, visual artist, and educator.

This album is one of many devoted to his songs, sung here by Kanika Banerjee (side one) and Hemanta Mukherji (side two).

This album was released in 1961 as part of centenary celebrations of the composer's birth.

Equipment used in transfer:

Preparation: Ultrasonic cleaning for 20 minutes in pure clean water.
Turntable: Audio-technica AT-LP-1240
Cartridge: ATmono3LP
Pre-amplification: Vintage refurbished Pioneer SX-780.
Recorder: Sony PCM-M10 at 24bit/96kHz resolution
Software: Audacity, ClickRepair, and xAct
Monitoring: Schiit Asgard 3 with AK4490 DAC, Focal Spirit Pro headphones

24bit, 96kHz mono FLAC file (370 MB)

16bit, 44kHz mono FLAC file (102 MB)

320kbps mono mp3 file (84 MB)

Dancers of Bali [ML 4618] an LP recorded and released in the US in 1952

Here is a live recording of the Gamelan Orchestra of the village of Pilatan, Indonesia. The sound quality is quite amazing for 1952.

The liner notes were written by well-known composer Colin McPhee who spent many years studying the music of Bali and incorporating it into his works.

Side one: A1 Overture - Kapi Radja (Melody From North Bali) A2 Angklungan A3 Tumulilingan (Bumblebees Sip Honey) A4 Baris Side two: B1 Gambangan (Ancient Melody) B2 Kebyar B3 Gender Wayang; Angkat - Angkatan (Music For A Shadow Play) Legong B4a Lagu Chondong B4b Pengipuk B4c Garuda Credits Design – Meyers*, Monogram (2) Directed By [Gamelan] – Anak Agung Gde Mandera Gamelan – Gamelan Orchestra from the Village of Pliatan, Bali, Indonesia* Producer – John Coast Sleeve Notes – Colin McPhee

Equipment used in transfer: 

Preparation: Ultrasonic cleaning for 20 minutes in pure clean water.

Turntable: Audio-technica AT-LP-1240

Cartridge: ATmono3LP

Pre-amplification: Vintage refurbished Pioneer SX-780.

Recorder: Sony PCM-M10 at 24bit/96kHz resolution

Software: Audacity, ClickRepair, and xAct. 

24bit, 96kHz mono WAV file (497 MB)

16bit, 44.1kHz mono WAV file (142 MB)

320kbps mono mp3 file (106 MB)