GREECE – GRÈCE Folk music of Northern Greece – Epirus & Macedonia – Albatros – VPA 8298

GREECE – GRÈCE

Folk music of Northern Greece – Epirus & Macedonia – Albatros – VPA 8298, recorded by Wolf Dietrich between 1969 and 1975, released in 1976 (LP)

I’m delighted to present this panorama of 14 stellar recordings of authentic traditional folk music from the regions of Epirus, Macedonia and Thessaly in northern Greece, bordering Albania, North Macedonia, Bulgaria and Türkiye. 

 

Many of these tunes are beautifully lyrical instrumental pieces, featuring lyres, lutes, violins, clarinets, zurna oboes, gaida bagpipes, flutes, tambourines and daouli drums, played solo (A2, B5 & B8) or by small ensembles of two to five musicians playing for dances and other social occasions, plus two all-vocal tracks (A4, A5).

 

Je suis ravi de présenter ce panorama de 14 enregistrements de musique folklorique traditionnelle authentique des régions d'Épire, de Macédoine et de Thessalie, dans le nord de la Grèce, aux frontières de l'Albanie, de la Macédoine du Nord, de la Bulgarie et de la Turquie. 

 

La plupart de ces morceaux sont des pièces instrumentales lyriques d’excellente facture, comprenant des lyres, des luths, des violons, des clarinettes, des hautbois zurna, des cornemuses gaida, des flûtes, des tambourins et des tambours daouli, joués en solo (A2, B5 & B8) ou par de petits ensembles de deux à cinq musiciens pour des danses et d'autres occasions sociales, ainsi que deux morceaux entièrement vocaux (A4, A5).

A1 – Choreftikos Beratis Epirou (I Go Into The Vineyard) Beratis Dance from Epirus;

Zísis Tsiotíkas (clarinet & voices) / Vasílios Kasiáras (tambourine) / Lámbros Tsiotíkas (lute) / Nikólaos Gjoulíkas (violin);

Recorded in Grevená, Macedonia, in 1974.

 

A2 – Miroloi (Lament);

Konstantínos Kóstas (flute);

Recorded in Vissani, Epirus, in 1975.

 

A3 – O Skaros (Pastoral melody);

Nikolaos Paparas (clarinet) / Akhileas Zervas (tambourine); Recorded in Aïóphyllon, Thessaly, in 1969.

 

A4 – Klephtiko (Klephtic song);

Zois Zois (voice);

Recorded in Arísti, Epirus, in 1975.

 

A5 – Pogonianiko Tragoudi (Maro Go to the Well);

Maria Tsouni & Panyiotis Tsounis (voices)

Recorded in Pogoniani, Epirus, in 1975.

 

A6 – Karagouna Kai Pogonisios (Song and Dance);

Ioannis Halkias (clarinet) / Haralambos Mellis (tambourine) / Loukas Harisiadis, Nikolaos Harisiadis (lute) / Stavros Tsoukas (violin);

Recorded in Delvinaki, Epirus, in 1975.

 

B1 – Tsamikos Ton Grevenon (Tsamikos Dance);

Zísis Tsiotíkas (clarinet & voice) / Vasílios Kasiáras (tambourine) / Lámbros Tsiotíkas (lute) / Nikólaos Gjoulíkas (violin);

Recorded in Grevena, Macedonia, in 1974.

 

B2 – Yerakina (instrumental);

Ioannis Mettos & Nikolaos Batzis (zurna oboes) / Panayiotis Batzis (daouli drum);

Recorded in Flampouro, Macedonia, in 1975.

 

B3 – Choros Tou Gamou (Wedding Dance);

Yiorgos Zanetis (lute) / Athanasios Kareklas (violin);

Recorded in Liména, Thassos, in 1974.

 

B4 – Dhipat (Pontic Dance);

Theodoros Stephanidis (Pontic lyre);

Recorded in Mavrothalassa, Serres, in 1975.

 

B5 – Tuo Trapeziou (Music of the Table);

Ilias Kostopoulos (gaida bagpipes);

Recorded in Skoútari, Serres, in 1974.

 

B6 – O Mikrokonstantinos (Little Constantine) 

Tune from the Anastenaria Festival);

Stergios Lantzos (daouli drum) / Dimitrios Reklos (lyre);

Recorded in Agia Eleni, Serres, in 1975.

  

B7 – Choros Tou Dromou (Dance of the Anastenaria);

Panayis Psistelis (daouli drum) / Dimitrios Reklos (lyre);

Recorded in Agia Eleni, Serres, in 1975.

 

B8 – Choros Kaloyerou (Monk's Dance);

Dimitrios Lantzos (lyre);

Recorded in Agia Eleni, Serres, in 1974.

Download:

Flac

MP3 

Our other Greek music posts:

Musik der Pontos-Griechen – Museum Collection Berlin MC5 here 

Orient-Okzident – Museum Collection Berlin MC3 (rec.by Wolf Dietrich) here 

Greek Folk Music Volume III – Wedding Songs – PFF 3 here 

Rebetika History/Ρεμπέτικη Ιστορία 1925-55 Vol. 4 Regal here

Greece in Music & Song – Argo ZFB 70 here

Please help me purchase important traditional records 

to pursue my global curation project and share the 

best finds with you on this blog:

GAMBIA National Ensemble of The Gambia – Traditional Music – Melodiya - S80 – 14951-54

THE GAMBIA

National Ensemble of The Gambia – Traditional Music – Melodiya - S80 – 14951-54, recorded in the former Soviet Union in 1976 (2 LPs)

The Soviet label Melodiya recorded the National Ensemble of The Gambia during their tour of the Soviet Union in 1976, and in 1980 released this excellent double album underscoring the richness of the Gambian musical heritage.

 

The music here is performed by griots—called jalis in Mandinka, gewel in Wolof and gawlo in Fula—masters and keepers of time-honored knowledge and artistry at the heart of the cultural identity of many Gambian and West African ethnic/cultural groups. These outstanding singers and virtuoso musicians, who played long-necked 21-string kora lutes, balaphons with wooden bars and calabash resonators and drums, were also storytellers and important transmitters of history, culture and tradition, who played a vital role in collective events such as ceremonies and marriages.

 

The 20 tracks on this precious double LP feature 12 different male and female lead singers with backing vocals, kora lutes, balaphons and drums to weave a sensual, majestic music that radiates fire, serenity and lofty dignity. This is the only recording of the National Ensemble that I know of.

 

Le label soviétique Melodiya enregistra l'Ensemble national de Gambie lors de leur tournée en Union soviétique en 1976 et en 1980 publia cet excellent double album présentant la richesse du patrimoine musical Gambien. 

 

Ces musiques sont interprétées par des griots – appelés jalis en mandingue, gewelen wolof et gawlo en peul – les maîtres et gardiens d'un savoir et d'un art ancestral au cœur de l'identité culturelle de nombreux groupes ethniques/culturels en Gambie et en Afrique de l'Ouest. Ces chanteurs et musiciens virtuoses, qui jouaient du luth cora à 21 cordes, du balafon et des tambours, fûrent également des conteurs et d'importants passeurs d'histoire, de culture et de tradition, qui jouaient un rôle essentiel dans les événements collectifs (cérémonies, mariages, etc.).

 

Les 20 titres sur ce précieux double album sont interprétés par 12 chanteurs et chanteuses différents, accompagnés de chœurs, de coras, de balafons et de tambours, qui tissent des sonorités sensuelles et majestueuses qui rayonnent de feu, de sérénité et de noble plénitude. Il s'agit du seul enregistrement du National Ensemble que je connaisse.

A1 – Segu Turu

Keni Soumamou, vocals;

 

A2 – Lammanon

Sukari Seko, vocals;

 

A3 – Traditional Chant I

Keni Kanteh, vocals;

B1 – Traditional Chant II

Bajamme Sekiliba, vocals;

 

B2 – Yamam Samalay

Kombeh M'Bai, vocals;

 

B3 – The Legend of Keva Sana

Baba Sousou, vocals;

 

B4 – Cheddo

Momoudu Sousou, kora harp & vocals;

 

C1 – Jau Joina

Maisan Mbaimbu, vocals;

 

C2 – Massane Sisse

Keba Sousou, vocals;

 

C3 – Song Kula Balong Kula

 

C4 – Traditional Song "Vahled Jenny Niuhes Al N'Diubai"

Ibrahim M'Bai Chao, vocals;

 

D1 – Bamba Boujang

Malamini Jovate, kora & vocals; 

 

D2 – African Unity

Banna Kanuteh, balafon & vocals;

 

D3 – Nyi Bara Nya

Keni Soumamou, vocals;

 

D4 – Galamba

Keni Kanteh, vocals;

 

D5 – Lammanon

Sukari Seko, vocals;

 

D6 – A Traditional Tune in the nature of vocalise;

 

D7 – Sesnala Deganala

Kombeh M'Bai, vocals;

 

D8 – Improvisations for Balafons I

Banna Kanuteh, balafon;

 

D9 – Improvisations for Balafons II

Banna Kanuteh, balafon.

Download:

Flac

MP3

Our other Gambian music posts:

African Journey – A Search for the Roots of the Blues Volume 1 – Sonet SNTF 666 here

 

African Journey – A Search for the Roots of the Blues Volume 2  – Sonet SNTF 667 here

Vintage postcard of Jola drummers, The Gambia:

Please help me purchase important traditional records 

to pursue my global curation project and share the 

best finds with you on this blog:

CHINA – TAIWAN Professor Liang Tsai-Ping and His Group – China's Instrumental Heritage – Lyrichord - LLST 792

CHINA – TAIWAN 

Professor Liang Tsai-Ping and His Group – China's Instrumental Heritage – Lyrichord - LLST 792, recorded in Taiwan c. 1960 (LP)

The great Lyrichord label has released a unique collection of precious recordings of authentic Chinese classical music, including this delicate, contemplative gem of 11 traditional songs from northern China composed between the 7th and the 20th centuries and performed by Professor Liang Tsai-Ping (1911-2000) and his group. The instruments used here are the 16-string cheng zither, hsia bamboo flute, sheng mouth pipe-organ, nan-hu fiddle, and hsun ocarina.

 

Le grand label Lyrichord a publié une collection unique de précieux enregistrements de musique classique chinoise authentique, dont ce joyau délicat et contemplatif de 11 chansons traditionnelles du nord de la Chine composées entre le VIIe et le XXe siècle et interprétées par le professeur Liang Tsai-Ping (1911-2000) et son groupe. Les instruments utilisés ici sont la cithare cheng à 16 cordes, la flûte hsia en bambou, l'orgue à bouche sheng, la vièle nan-hu et l'ocarina hsun.

A1 – Wild Geese Alighting on the Sandy Shore ("P'ing Sha Lo Yen")

17th century North China folksong;

Professor Liang Tsai-Ping, cheng zither, & Wong Chen-Hwa, hsia bamboo flute.

 

A2 – Old Monk Sweeping the Buddhist Temple ("Lao Sen Saqo Tien")

14th century North China (Shantung) folk song;

Liang Ming-Yueh, sheng mouth pipe-organ.

 

A3 – Ascending to the Top of a Tower ("Teng Lou")

18th century North China (Hopei) folk song;

Liang Min-Shih (Miriam Liang), cheng zither.

 

A4 – Hundred Birds Courting the Phoenix ("Pai Niao Chao Feng")

17th century North China (Honan) folk song;

Professor Liang Tsai-Ping, cheng zither, & Lin Pei, nan-hu fiddle.

 

A5 – The Farewell ("Yang-kuan San Tieh")

8th century North China (Shensi) folk song;

Liang Ming-Yueh, hsun ocarina.

 

A6 – Freedom March ("Tsu-yu Hsing")

Composed by Professor Liang Tsai-Ping in 1952;

Liang Min-Shih (Miriam Liang), cheng zither.

 

A7 – Flowers on Brocade ("Chin Shang Hua")

16th century North China (Hopei) folk song;

Professor Liang Tsai-Ping, cheng zither, & Wong Chen-Hwa, hsia flute.

 

B1 – Remembering an Old, Old Friend ("I Ku-jen")

Composed by Professor Liang Tsai-Ping in 1951;

Professor Liang Tsai-Ping, cheng zither.

 

B2 – Relieving My Heart ("Shu-hua Ch'u")

Composed by Professor Liang Tsai-Ping in 1951;

Professor Liang Tsai-Ping, cheng zither, Miriam Liang, sheng mouth pipe-organ.

 

B3 – Winter Ravens Sporting Over the Water ("Han Ya Hsi Sui")

10th century North China (Shensi) folk song;

Professor Liang Tsai-Ping, cheng zither, & Wong Chen-Hwa, hsia bamboo flute.

 

B4 – The Spring River in the Flowery Moonlight ("Ch'un Chiang Hua Yueh Yeh")

7th century North China (Shensi) folk song;

Professor Liang Tsai-Ping, cheng zither, Liang Ming-Yueh, sheng mouth pipe-organ, Wong Chen-Hwa, hsia bamboo flute & Lin Pei, nan-hu fiddle.

Download:

Flac

MP3

Our other Chinese classical music posts:

The Music of China Vol. 1 – Chinese Instruments – Anthology AST 4000 here

China– A Musical Anthology of the Orient – BM 30 SL 2032 here

Musik in Asien II – Südost- & Ostasien – BM 30 SL 5107 here

Photograph below is from The Art of East Asia by Gabrielle Fahr-Becker, Sabine Hesemann & Michael Dunn, published by Konemann, 1999:

 

Study of wonderful Birds and Other Living Creatures by 

Huang Quan (903-965), handscroll, ink and color on silk:

 

The photograph below is from my visit last summer to the Cleveland Museum of Art's remarkable collections and museography here:

 

Architectural brick with dancer in relief, molded terracotta with slip coating, from the exterior wall of the Pagoda at the Xiudingsi Buddhist monastery near Anyang, Henan province, China, Tang Dynasty (618-907):

Please help me purchase important traditional records 

to pursue my global curation project and share the 

best finds with you on this blog: