TAIWAN Polyphonies Vocales des Aborigènes de Taiwan – Inédit W 460011

TAIWAN
Polyphonies Vocales des Aborigènes de Taiwan – Ami / Bunun / Paiwan / Rukai – Inédit W 460011, recorded by Pr Lu Pin-Chuan (1966) and Pierre Simonin (1988) (Cassette)

The indigenous people of Taiwan have lived on the island for over five millennia. The ten remaining tribes, which live alongside the Chinese Han majority (that began immigrating to the island from mainland China in the 17th century), share a strong sense of community. Each of the tribes has its own language, customs and belief systems, which revolve around the cult of the ancestors, annual fertility rites, deities and shamanism.

These stunning and inspired vocal polyphonies featuring fascinating drones and harmonics are performed by the Ami from the western coastal plains, the Bunun from the Central Mountain Range; and the Paiwan-Rukai from the Southern mountains. They include work songs (A1-A3, A5-A7), an abstract millet fertility song (B5), a hunting song (B1), a song for the ancestors (A4), healing, invocation and shamanic songs (A9, A10, B2), a drinking song (A8) and seduction and marriage songs (B6-B9).

Les peuples autochtones de Taiwan vivent sur l'île depuis plus de cinq millénaires. Les dix tribus restantes – qui vivent aux côtés des chinois Han majoritaires qui ont commencé à immigrer sur l'île depuis la Chine continentale au XVIIe siècle – ont tous un sens aigu de la communauté et de la solidarité. Chacune des tribus a sa propre langue, ses coutumes et ses systèmes de croyances, centrées autour du culte des ancêtres, des rites de fertilité annuels, des divinités et du chamanisme.

Ces polyphonies vocales étonnantes et inspirées, avec des harmoniques et des bourdons fascinants, sont chantées ici par des Ami des plaines côtières occidentales, des Bunun de la chaîne de montagnes centrale; et des Paiwan-Rukai des montagnes du Sud. Elle comprennent des chants de travail (A1-A3, A5-A7), un chant de fertilité du mil abstrait (B5), un chant de chasse (B1), un chant pour les ancêtres (A4), des chants de guérison, d'invocation et chamaniques (A9, A10, B2 ), une chanson à boire (A8) et des chansons de séduction et de mariage (B6-B9).

Ami People

A1 & A2 – Weeding Song

A3 – Harvest Song

A4 – Song for the Ancestors

A5 & A6 – Weeding Song

A7 – Foundation Song

Bunun People

A8 – Drinking Song

A9 – Healing Song

A10 – Invocation Song

B1 – Hunting Song

B2 – Shaman Meeting Song

B3 – Victory Song

B4 – Nostalgic Song

B5 – Millet Germination Song

Paiwan People

B6 & B7 – Seduction Song

B8 – Mariage Song

Rukai People

B9 – Mariage Song

Field recordings in Taiwan by Pr Lu Pin-Chuan, 1966 (A1, A3, A5-A10, B8-B9)

Recorded at Maison des Cultures du Monde, Paris, by Pierre Simonin, May 26-29 1988 (A2, A4, B1-B7)

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A fantastic Bunun polyphonic harvest song from the essential Voices of the World – An Anthology of Vocal Expression – Le Chant du Monde 3-CD compilation, 1996:

The French Inédit label created in 1985 by Maison des Cultures du Monde (World Cultures Institute), Paris, released over 70 outstanding albums of authentic traditional music from around the world.
http://maisondesculturesdumonde.org/catalogue

Photographs below from vintage postcards of Taiwan's indigenous people:

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