INDONESIA – Javanese Court Gamelan Volume II – Nonesuch Explorer Series H-72074

INDONESIA – INDONÉSIE
Javanese Court Gamelan Volume II – Nonesuch Explorer Series H-72074, recorded at the Istana Mangkunegaran in Surakarta, Central Java, by Robert E. Brown in January 1976 (LP)

These tracks, recorded on January 5 and 8, 1976, inside the Pendopo of the Mangkunegaran Palace during the rainy season, were performed by the Gamelan Kyai Kanyut Mesem (tracks A1, B1, and B2) and the Gamelan Kyai Udan Arum (track A2). The ensembles' enthralling, interwoven clusters feature gongs, metallophones, a wooden gambang xylophone, kendang drums, eerie male and female voices, a celempung plucked zither, a whimsical bamboo suling flute, and a stark, abstract bowed rebab violin. Together, these instruments create a delicate, fluid, seemingly suspended, and otherworldly, multilayered tapestry of sound radiating sophisticated elegance and lofty nobility.

 

This LP from the excellent Nonesuch Explorer Series introduced me to the wonderful, timeless art of traditional Javanese gamelan music in the early 1980s.

Ces morceaux, enregistrés les 5 et 8 janvier 1976 dans le Pendopo du palais Mangkunegaran pendant la saison des pluies, ont été joués par le Gamelan Kyai Kanyut Mesem (morceaux A1, B1 et B2) et le Gamelan Kyai Udan Arum (morceau A2). Ces musiques de gamelans faites de sonorités profondes  entremêlées, comprenant des gongs, des métallophones, un xylophone gambang en bois, des tambours kendang, une cithare pincée celempung, des voix féminines et masculines évanescentes, une flûte suling à quatre trous et un violon à archet rebab caverneux et abstrait, forment une tapisserie sonore complexe, délicate, fluide, et éthérée qui semble suspendue dans l'espace et rayonne d'une noble plénitude.

 

Cet album de la série Nonesuch Explorer, que j'ai découvert au début des années 1980, m'a fait découvrir l'art merveilleux et intemporel de la musique gamelan traditionnelle de Java.

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Dr. Robert E. Brown (1927–2005) was an influential American ethnomusicologist and educator. He is best known for coining the term "world music" and for his pioneering efforts in integrating the study and performance of non-Western musical traditions into Western academia. He also founded the Center for World Music in 1973.

My other Javanese gamelan posts:

*Gamelan Garland – Fontana 858 614 FPY here

*Gamelan Kjahi Kaduk, Manis Rengga – Gamelan Music from Java – Philips 831 209 PL here

*Sunda – Gamelan Degung – Galloway Records GB 600 524 B here

*Java – Concert au Puro Mangkunagaran – Galloway Records GB 600 540 here

*Gamelan of Jogja Kraton – Gamelan of Java – Seven Seas – GXC 5014 here

*Java – Gamelans from the Sultan's Palace in Jogjakarta – Archiv Produktion here

*Java – Glagah Wangi Gamelan – CBS 65440 here

*Musique de Java – L'Ecole de Loka Wangi – Disques Alvarès C 462 here

*Java – Pays Sounda – Musique et Chants Traditionnels – Disques Alvarès LD 110 here

The photograph below is from The Art of East Asia by 

Gabriele Fahr-Becker, Koneman, 1999:

Gambyong dancer puppet; Wayang Golek three-dimensional wooden rod puppet theater; second half of the 19th century.

This graceful, beautiful three-dimensional figure is introduced at the end of a Wayang Kulit shadow puppet theater performance to encourage reflection on its moral and philosophical lessons.

Please help me purchase important traditional records to 

pursue my global curation project and share the 

best finds with you on this blog here below:

INDIA – PAKISTAN – IRAN – TURKMENISTAN – TURKEY – ALGERIA – MOROCCO – NIGERIA – UGANDA / Music in the World of Islam – 4: Flutes & Trumpets – Tangent TGS 134

INDIA – PAKISTAN – IRAN – TURKMENISTAN – TURKEY – ALGERIA – MOROCCO – NIGERIA – UGANDA 

Music in the World of Islam – 4: Flutes & Trumpets – Tangent TGS 134 – Recorded by Jean Jenkins and Poul Rovsing Olsen between 1960-1975, released in 1976 (LP)

The landmark World of Islam Festival, held in the UK in 1976, was a large-scale events designed to showcase the rich history, art, culture, and science of the Islamic world, which spans from West Africa to Southeast Asia. This monumental festival featured exhibitions across several major institutions, where approximately 6,000 artworks and artifacts from 30 countries were displayed in locations like the Science Museum, the British Museum, and the Victoria and Albert Museum. A key component was the ‘Music and Musical Instruments in the World of Islam’ exhibition at the Horniman Museum, which featured over 200 musical instruments curated by ethnomusicologists Jean Jenkins (1922-1990) and Poul Rovsing Olsen (1922-1982). To accompany this display, the curators simultaneously released the seminal Music in the World of Islam series on the great Tangent label, a set of six LPs organized by instrument family: The Human Voice (Vol. 1), Lutes (Vol. 2), Strings (Vol. 3), Flutes & Trumpets (Vol. 4), Reeds & Bagpipes (Vol. 5), and Drums & Rhythms (Vol. 6).

 

I'm thrilled to share Vol. 4: Flutes & Trumpets LP, a personal favorite in the series. Its presents superbly curated tracks from nine countries: Nigeria and Uganda in West and East Central Africa; Algeria and Morocco in North Africa; Turkey and Iran in West Asia; Turkmenistan in Central Asia; and India and Pakistan in South Asia. The collection highlights various flutes and trumpets, including the satara and düduk duct flutes (A1, B2), nay (ney) and gasba flutes (A3, A4a, A4b, B4, B5), the bansuri transverse flute (A6), and a donaly flute (B3). Also included, are nafir trumpets (A2, A5), a general term for long ceremonial trumpets in the Muslim world; a quirky bankia Rajasthani folk trumpet (B6); and the extraordinarily powerful collective music of an Alur ceremonial ensemble from Uganda (B1), comprising forty aguara ivory trumpets of various sizes and small horn cone flutes.

 

Le célèbre World of Islam Festival, qui s'est tenu au Royaume-Uni en 1976, était un événement d’envergure destiné à mettre en valeur l’histoire, l'art, la culture et la science du monde islamique, qui s'étend de l'Afrique de l'Ouest à l'Asie du Sud-Est. Ce festival monumental comprenait des expositions dans plusieurs institutions majeures, où environ 6 000 œuvres d'art et objets provenant de 30 pays ont été présentés dans des lieux tels que le Science Museum, le British Museum et le Victoria and Albert Museum. L'un des temps forts était l'exposition « Musique et instruments de musique dans le monde islamique » au Horniman Museum, qui présentait plus de 200 instruments de musique sélectionnés par les ethnomusicologues Jean Jenkins (1922-1990) et Poul Rovsing Olsen (1922-1982). Pour accompagner cette exposition, les conservateurs ont simultanément publié sur l'excellent label Tangent la série phare Music in the World of Islam, un ensemble de six disques vinyles classés par famille d'instruments : Les Voix (Vol. 1), Les Luths (Vol. 2), Les Vièles (Vol. 3), Les Flûtes et Trompettes (vol. 4), Les Anches et Cornemuses (vol. 5) et Les Tambours et Rythmes (vol. 6).

 

Je suis ravi de vous présenter le quatrième volume, l’album Flutes & Trumpets, l'un de mes tout préférés de la série. Il rassemble des superbes morceaux provenant de neuf pays : le Nigeria et l'Ouganda en Afrique de l'Ouest et de l'Est ; l'Algérie et le Maroc en Afrique du Nord ; la Turquie et l'Iran en Asie de l'Ouest ; le Turkménistan en Asie centrale ; ainsi que l'Inde et le Pakistan en Asie du Sud. Cette collection met en avant divers types de flûtes et de trompettes, y-compris les flûtes à conduit satara et doudouk (A1, B2), les flûtes nay (ney) et gasba (A3, A4a, A4b, B4, B5), la flûte traversière bansuri (A6) et la flûte donaly (B3). On y trouve également des trompettes nafir (A2, A5), terme général désignant les longues trompettes cérémonielles dans le monde musulman, une trompette folklorique bankia du Rajasthan (B6), ainsi qu’une musique collective extraordinairement puissante d'un ensemble cérémonial alur d'Ouganda (B1), composé de quarante trompettes aguara en ivoire de différentes tailles et de petites flûtes coniques en corne !

INDIA

A1 – Lahara (introduction to a tune)

Kammo Khan, plays a pair of satara duct flutes; one is fingered and the other acts as a drone; 
Recorded in Jodhpur, Rajastan, 1968.

 

MOROCCO

A2 – Wedding Procession
Long straight nafir trumpets, ghaita oboes, and a large tabl drum;

Recorded in Marrakesh, 1975.

 

TURKEY (TÜRKIYE)

A3 – Nay solo

Niyazi Sayın;

Recorded in Istanbul, 1975.

 

ALGERIA

A4a – Nay (or gasba) and handclapping

 

A4b – Polyphonic religious music

Two singers accompanied by a nay (or gasba) flute; 

Recorded in Messaad, 1970.

 

NIGERIA

A5 – Nafir
Bariba song of welcome. Horns and drums;

Recorded in Okuta, 1960.

PAKISTAN

A6 – Langaga Patanchanada

Punjabi folk song performed by a village band.

Sian ditta Quadri, bansuri transverse flute; Nubarak Ali, santur dulcimer; Rehmat Khan, ghara struck earthen pot; and Jalit Hussain, dholak double membrane drum;

Recorded in Lahore, 1975.

 

UGANDA
B1 – Festival 
Music of the Alur people. Around 40 aguara Ivory trumpets of various sizes and small horn cone flutes;

Recorded in Arua, 1968.

 

TURKMENISTAN
B2 – Pair of düduk duct flutes

One plays the melody while the other acts as a drone;

Recorded in Ashkabad, 1960.

 

PAKISTAN

B3 – Dehi Sher (patriotic ballad)

Baluchi music.

Samad Khan, donaly flutes; Baluch Khan, singing in a throat monotone and controlling his voice by pressing his throat;

Recorded in Quetta, 1975.

 

ALGERIA

B4 – Hadra

Muslim brotherhood music.

Two nay (gasba) flutes and four bendir frame drums inspire trance;

Recorded in Metlili Châamba, 1970.

 

IRAN

B5 – Nay Solo

Hasan Naheed;

Recorded in Teheran, 1975.

 

INDIA
B6 – Podina

Rajasthani folk music. Gopal, bankia trumpet; Manudin, sarangi fiddle; Ramjar, harmonium; Aligar, majira cymbals; Shabudin, dholak drum; Bumi, dhol drum;
Recorded in Jaipur, 1975.

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Jean Jenkins (1922-1990) was a major 20th century ethnomusicologist known for her seminal recordings of traditional music, notably from Africa, central Asia, and with a specific focus on the music in the world of Islam. She also wrote books and diaries, took many excellent photographs, and built a traditional musical instrument collection which she donated to the National Museum of Scotland in 1980.

Poul Rovsing Olsen (1922–1982) was a Danish composer and ethnomusicologist who worked at the Danish Folklore Archives. He is best known for his work on music from the Persian Gulf region.

My other post recorded by Jean Jenkins:

Music of Eritrea – Ethiopia Vol. 3 – Tangent Records TGM 103 here 

Poster of the exhibition ‘Music and Musical Instruments in the world of Islam’ held at the Horniman Museum, London, from April 6 to October 6, 1976, as part of the World of Islam Festival 1976:

The photographs below are from Music and Musical Instruments in the World of Islam by Jean Jenkins and Paul Rovsing Olsen, Horniman Museum, London, World of Islam Festival 1976:

Nay, classical end-blown flute, Fez, Morocco:

Hausa musicians playing the nafir or kakaki (the Hausa royal trumpet,) northern Nigeria:

Rajasthani folk music with bowed kemayche, dhol drum, 

and double-reed surnai. Jaisalmer, India:

Karna metal trumpet of the Qashqai nomads. Near Shiraz, Iran:

Argun player. One pipe produces a drone. Iskenderun, Turkey:

Ghaita player gathering wedding guests. Tlemcen, Algeria:

Please help me purchase important traditional records to 

pursue my global curation project and share the 

best finds with you on this blog here below:

INDIA Amir Khan – Memorable Evenings with Ustad Amir Khan Saheb – HMV – STC 04B 7371 to 7374

INDIA – INDE

Amir Khan – Memorable Evenings with Ustad Amir Khan Saheb – HMV – STC 04B 7371 to 7374 (4 Cassettes)

The unrivalled and highly influential 20th century Hindustani classical Khyal vocalist Amir Khan (1912-1974), was born in Kalanaur, Punjab State. After first studying the bowed sarangi under the tutelage of his father Shahmir Khan, Amir embraced singing, and later founded the Indore Gharana school based on the styles of three towering vocalists, namely Abdul Wahid Khan (1871–1949), Rajab Ali Khan (1874–1959) and Aman Ali Khan (1888–1953).

Author Susheela Misra (1920-1998) wrote, “His music combined the massive dignity of Dhrupad with the ornate vividness of Khayal. (…) What set him apart from his contemporary artistes was the fact that he never made any concessions to popular tastes, but always stuck to his pure, almost puritanical, highbrow style.”* 

 

According to musicologist Deepak Raja, “Ustad Amir Khan was easily the single most influential Hindustani vocalist of the 20th century. His music deeply influenced his contemporaries and (…) continues to shape the dominant tendencies in vocalism, as well as instrumental music…he set standards of musicianship that have yet to be bettered.”**
 

I first heard these recordings some 20 years ago, and they were a true revelation. The level of inspiration and the amazing sound texture flowing throughout these four cassettes offer a remarkable showcase of Khan’s deep, mellow baritone voice that effortlessly expressed intensity, sensuality, creativity, dignity and glowing majesty. This is music of the highest order.

Amir Khan (1912-1974), né à Kalanaur, dans l'État du Pendjab, fut un chanteur Khyal classique Hindustani sans pareil et extrêmement influent. Après avoir étudié la vièle à archet sarangi sous la tutelle de son père Shahmir Khan, il se dévoue au chant et fondera par la suite l'école Indore Gharana qui synthétisa les styles de trois chanteurs majeurs d'antan : Abdul Wahid Khan (1871-1949), Rajab Ali Khan (1874-1959) et Aman Ali Khan (1888-1953). 

L'auteur Susheela Misra (1920-1998) affirma : « Sa musique combine la grande dignité du Dhrupad avec la vivacité ornementale du Khayal. (…) Il se distingua des artistes de son époque en refusant de faire des concessions pour s’adapter aux goûts du jour du public et en restant fidèle à la pureté de style, empreint d’érudition, voir même d’une certaine austérité ».*

Selon le musicologue Deepak Raja, « Ustad Amir Khan était de loin le chanteur Hindustani le plus influent du XXe siècle. Sa musique a profondément influencé ses contemporains et (…) continue de façonner les tendances dominantes non seulement du chant classique, mais également de la musique instrumentale ».**

Ces enregistrements, que j'ai découverts il y a une vingtaine d'années, furent une véritable révélation. Le niveau d'inspiration remarquable et la riche texture sonore qui imprègnent ces quatre cassettes illustrent avec brio sa voix de baryton fluide et suave qui exprimait l'intensité, la sensualité, la créativité, et la dignité avec une majesté éclatante.

A1 – Raga Bairagi – Mansumarat Nis Din Tumharo Naam

A2 – Raga Charukeshi – Laaj Rakho Tum Mori Gusaiyan

B1 – Raga Puriya – Chin Chin Baat Takat Hun Tori

B2 – Raga Madhu Kauns – Bairanbhai Rain

C – Raga Shuddha Kalyan – Khayal Vilambit In Jhumra Taal Tarana In Teentaal

D – Raga Bageshri Khayal – Vilambit In Jhumra Taal

E – Raga Miyan Malhar – Karim Naam Tero

F – Raga Miyan Malhar – Barasan Lagi Re Badariya

G – Raga Jog Khayal Vilambit In Roopak Taal Khayal Drut In Teental

H – Raga Darbari Khayal Vilambit In Jhaptaal Khayal Drut In Teental 

*Susheela Misra’s Great Masters of Hindustani Music (1981).

** http://swaratala.blogspot.com/2011/08/ustad-ameer-khan-1912-1974.html

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My other Hindustani Khayal male vocal posts:

Amir Khan – HMV – EASD 1331 here
Amir Khan – Rare Creations of Ustad Amir Khan – Inreco here
Faiyaz Khan – HMV – EALP 1292 here
Faiyaz Khan – Hindusthan Record – LH 5 here
Bade Ghulam Ali Khan – Padma Bhooshan – Odeon MOAE 5004 here
Bhimsen Joshi – HMV – 7 EPE 1246 here
Bhimsen Joshi – HMV – ECLP 2264 here
Nazakat & Salamat Ali Khan – HMV  – 7 EPE 1356 here
Salamat and Nazakat Ali Khan – HNBL 1332 here
D. V. Paluskar – HMV – EALP 1295 here

Mallikarjun Mansur – Sings Rare and Complex Ragas – Inreco here
Kumar Gandharva – Hindustani Classical – HMV – ECLP 2360 here
Omkarnath Thakur – SEDE 3302 COLUMBIA here

The Emperor Bahadur Shah (reigned 1707-1712) mounted on an elephant, late 17th century (Wikipedia Commons):

Please help me purchase important traditional records to 

pursue my global curation project and share the 

best finds with you on this blog here below: