Help: Folk Music other than English

Subject: Folk Music other than English
From: Metchosin
Date: 06 Feb 00 - 06:45 PM

Does anyone have any recommendations of available recordings of folk music in languages, other than English or Gaelic? I am looking for traditional music that, aside from saying, "Hmm, that's interesting, has blown you over, by the humanity and beauty of the musicians and/or singer, to the point that it doesn't matter that you are unable to understand the language. I have some Russian songs by Ivan Rebroff that do that, Marta Sebastyn - Hungarian, and a recording of the Music of Greece, compiled by the National Geographic Society. Any other suggestions?

Subject: RE: Help: Folk Music other than English
From: Grey Wolf
Date: 06 Feb 00 - 06:50 PM

You don't mention where you live. If you're in the UK there is a splendid (and very cheap) series of CDs under the 'Rough Guide' title. There must be similar stuff elsewhere.

Wolf

Subject: RE: Help: Folk Music other than English
From: Sorcha
Date: 06 Feb 00 - 07:00 PM

Joan Baez did "Songs of My Father's People", Mexico, and I have an old vinyl album by Ynonne Carre called "A World Wide Folk Bag" that has the following on it: 1)USA-Go Tell it on the Mountain, 2)France-Clair De la Lune,3)Russia-OochiChoornia,4)US-House of the Risng Sun, 5)Sweden-Och Junfru,6)Finland-Taivas on Sininen,7)Venezuela-La Perica,8)Wraggle Taggle Gypsies,9)Israel-Eli Ahoo Hanavi
10)Israel-Hava Nagila,11)Mexico-La Golodrondrina,12)Greece-I Vlacha,13)England-Foggy foggy Dew,14)Canary Islands-La Fiesta,15)Japan-Haganasa Odori,16)England-I Gave My Love a Cherry,17)Israel-Ketzele Baroiges, & 18)Bahamas-All My Trials.
(spellings from liner notes).I am sure the record is out of print, but I would tape the non English tracks and sent it if you want. Also, saw John McCutcheon last fall and he has a new Russian lullaby out that may be on his new release.

Subject: RE: Help: Folk Music other than English
From: Nancy-Jean
Date: 06 Feb 00 - 07:30 PM

Jacques Douai (see thread I started) for French traditional. BEAUTIFUL! --don't know whether his recordings still exist.

Subject: RE: Help: Folk Music other than English
From: John in Brisbane
Date: 06 Feb 00 - 09:08 PM

To hear what I believe is the most haunting contralto voice in the world try any of the recordings by Maria Farandouri (variants of the anglicised spelling such as Pharandoori exist). She has collaborated with Mikis Theodorakis for a long time and specialises in his songs. While this is clearly not trad folk music he writes his songs using traditional Greek styles and if it helps his authenticity he has been imprisoned for his views and writings. Regards, John

Subject: RE: Help: Folk Music other than English
From: Escamillo
Date: 07 Feb 00 - 01:37 AM

I would like to remind anyone interested in South American music, that I'm here in Buenos Aires, near the sources, especially for music from Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay. Since there is such a wide variety of music (instrumental, quartets, solos,orchestral,choral,country, urban, US-folk alikes, etc.) I would need some further orientation to be able to recommend something. Please feel free to ask me.
Un abrazo - Andrés

Subject: RE: Help: Folk Music other than English
From: M. Ted (inactive)
Date: 07 Feb 00 - 01:59 AM

I love a lot of Balkan/Middle eastern sort of stuff, and it is kind of hard to find really good collections-- a lot of people really like Le Mystere Des Voix Bulgares, which is the Bulgarian Women's Chorus, which is available on Nonesuch--. Another wonderful album, with songs that are probably easier to learn, is Songs of a Russian Gypsy, by Theodore Bikel.I am not sure if it has been released on CD, but it is one of the classic albums. If you learn every song(and you will probably want to), you will have learned most of the basic repertoire of Russian Folksongs, and, surprisingly, many songs that are very familiar--

On a completely different front, there are two CDs on EMI, Paris at Night and Paris After Dark, that are collections of original recordings of many of the best and most popular French Cabaret Songs, performed by the artists who made them popular--not, perhaps, technically folk music, but then again, the melodies tend to be simple and singable, the music ensembles have a traditional sound, and the songs will last forever--

Of my many "International" albums, these are four that I never tire of hearing--

By the way, I have that National Geographic Greece album, and it has some great stuff on it!!

Subject: RE: Help: Folk Music other than English
From: Metchosin
Date: 07 Feb 00 - 05:00 AM

Thank you all for the recommendations. As I haunt second hand shops for such things, I don't mind spending small change and taking chances and I have found some gems, so I will make a list, as I usually forget what I'm looking for once I get in the door.

Grey Wolf, I live in Canada, but I usually don't have too much trouble getting European stuff. Is Rough Guide in any way related to a TV travel show similar to Lonely Planet?

John in Brisbane, I fell in love Theodorakis' music after seeing the movie "Z" a few years ago (quite a few now that I think of it) but I am not familiar with Maria Farandouri so I will take note.

Andrés, what I am looking for is not necessarily sophisticated music, but traditional folk music with soul, if that is any clarification. P.S. Have fun with the German language, if your English is any indication, you should have no problem.

M.Ted, I've usually stayed away from choral works, as I find that, what I perceive as authenticity, is sometimes lost in over arrangement, but I will trust your judgement on this. Jeez I wouldn't attempt to sing any of these songs, I find plain English challenge enough. The Music of Greece has some incredible cuts, especially when you want to dance like there's no one watching.

Subject: RE: Help: Folk Music other than English
From: GeorgeH
Date: 07 Feb 00 - 05:17 AM

We've a fairly wide "non-English" section to our collection, the "middle European" section of which has already been touched on; however if you also enjoy classical music I'd strongly recommend "The Bartok Album" (but I need to look up the group . . sorry". Other than that, three outstanding recordings are:

Pancho Alvarez "Flocencio, O Cego Dos Villares" (Galician traditional music; see the article on FolkWorld Issue 12 at http://www.folkworld.de/ for a description; this was their "album of the year" for 1998; richly deserved)

Svart Kaffe (only have one recording, whose title translates as "French Roast") which we bought from the band and I've never seen listed anywhere; Swedish music with French and African influences.

Ali Fakar Toure with Ry Cooder - "Talking Timbuctoo" - much acclaimed when it was released, and has certainly stood the test of time in our collection.

OK, the last two are "cross-cultural" efforts, but they are ones in which the "parent" culture (Swedish and African respectively) remains paramount.

G.

Subject: RE: Help: Folk Music other than English
From: Metchosin
Date: 07 Feb 00 - 12:48 PM

Speaking of Ry Cooder, I heard Ellades Ochoa's spin off from the Buena Vista Social Club, at a friends on Friday night. He does some incredible tradtional stuff on his solo album. If anyone is also looking for sheer humanity and musicianship, I highly recommend seeing the film the "Buena Vista Social Club" as well, but I don't know if the film receives the same treatment in the U.S. as Cuban cigars.

In the last year or so, I also heard a recording by a minority ethnic gentleman from southeast Asia or China that also pinned me, but I can't remember anything more about it, as I didn't write it down at the time. Anyone have any ideas?

Subject: RE: Help: Folk Music other than English
From: Grey Wolf
Date: 07 Feb 00 - 03:57 PM

The Rough Guides started out as a series of travel books for people on a budget.

They've expanded into other areas and produce an excellent book The Rough Guide to World Music which you may find useful in your search. In conjunction with the book they've produced a series of CDs featuring music from various areas of the world. Not all of it is 'folk' but they're a really good introduction, and I've found that each CD contains a couple of really cracking tracks.

There's an excellent site www.worldmusic.net which distributes the titles.

Happy hunting

Wolf

Subject: RE: Help: Folk Music other than English
From: GUEST,Rich(stupidbodhranplayer...)
Date: 07 Feb 00 - 05:44 PM

There is a lot of really interesting Scandinavian stuff ot there with names I can't spell. There are a couple of CD samplers out as an attempt to spread Nordic music with the titles Nordic Roots I and II (*Cheaper Than Food* and *Still Cheaper Than Food*). They retail at $2.99 U.S. Each are over 70 minutes with one track each by a number of artists. All the Best, Rich

Subject: RE: Help: Folk Music other than English
From: gianluca
Date: 07 Feb 00 - 06:40 PM

please , try SARDINIAN MUSIC, you'll love it ;

In US & Canada you can quite easily find the work of the finer singer ELENA LEDDA or vocals group like Tenores di Bitti (now produced by P.Gabriel) and the marvellous Tenores de Oniferi (a live album being issued, but now the American WMR label reissued an anthology from 2nd e 3rd records) For traditionals instruments, try find launeddas, a reed instrument with one drone & two chanters , played by circular breathing (A bagpipe whose "bag" are the cheeks of the player)

Anyone interested in more ?

Loves to ev'ryone ; Mudchat has become my favourite hobby I never take parts in discussions... but I enjoy them a lot ; My appreciation for the long NIC JONES thread [e-mail]

Subject: RE: Help: Folk Music other than English
From: Metchosin
Date: 07 Feb 00 - 07:03 PM

Gianluca, please tell me more about about the launeddas too! Are there any current recordings you would recommend?

Subject: RE: Help: Folk Music other than English
From: GUEST,petr
Date: 07 Feb 00 - 07:30 PM

I would like to add one of my favorites. A Moravian band called Hradistan from the Czech Republic. They are something like the Chieftains in that theyve been around for a long time (since the 50-60s) and the musicians have changed. The cd in question that I picked up on a trip to the Czech Republic in 95 is called Ozveny Duse (echoes of the spirit) and is full of haunting melodies accompanied by Cimbalom (dulcimer type of instrument) and clarinet and fiddle. There is a lot of gypsy hungarian influence in Moravian music and it's amazing how it differs from the Even though Im primarily interested in Celtic music this recording is one of my favorites of all time. I believe it is under the Czech label Supraphon and not sure if its all that easy to obtain out west. The band has at least 9 recordings. Cheers Petr.

Subject: RE: Help: Folk Music other than English
From: emily rain
Date: 07 Feb 00 - 08:00 PM

norwegian singer kirsten braten berg (insert a little circle mark over the a in braten) is one of my personal heroes. don't know where you might find her solo albums, but i have a copy of a various artists sort of thing called "nordisk sang" that you could probably find at cdnow.com or somewhere similar. it's got both vocal and instrumental tunes, and kirsten is on several tracks.

Subject: RE: Help: Folk Music other than English
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 07 Feb 00 - 09:02 PM

Here are some useful links for Finnish music:

Virtual Finnland (music):    click here

Virtual Finnland (song):    click here

Digelius   (Online Record Shop specialising in Finnish and Scandinavian music ):    click here

Malcolm

Subject: RE: Help: Folk Music other than English
From: gianluca
Date: 08 Feb 00 - 09:28 AM

to metchosin (quite unfortunately) traditional sardinian music is a big part of my job...

if you were so kind to leave me your e-mail (you cand send one e-mail to me with your address , I can send you lots of written stuff , if you send me the real mail I can send you lots of tapes ; I'm selling a Launeddas too (professional instrument, NEW!!!)

thanks

gianluca

[e-mail]

PS Add to list a singer/songwriter from Yemen, now living in Austria called TIMNA BRAUER

Subject: RE: Help: Folk Music other than English
From: GUEST,Roger the skiffler
Date: 08 Feb 00 - 09:34 AM

And don't foget the Greek urban "blues", Rebetika ,often available in "World Music" categories: look for recordings by by Sotiria Bellou, the Greek Billie Holiday, and Vamvakakis among others.
RtS

Subject: RE: Help: Folk Music other than English
From: gianluca
Date: 08 Feb 00 - 09:36 AM

Sorry it's me again ...

for recordings of launeddas I don't know what's available in America . In Italy they're reissuing lots of RACE RECORDS recorded among and for sardinias immigrants to Italy in the early 30s ; Among the contemporary I suggest AURELIO PORCU (90 years old and still one of the best) and Luigi Lai . Among the youngsters I love Franco Melis and Orlando Maxia, but they've been never recorded . In Sardinia we still have... oral tradition !!! Loves and let me know...

gianluca

Subject: RE: Help: Folk Music other than English
From: GUEST,Philippa
Date: 08 Feb 00 - 10:41 AM

Yes, it is funny that the most frequent language featured on the Cat besides English is Irish Gaelic. I think a large reason for this is that there are so many Irish songs in English, and performers of Irish music often include an Irish-language song or two along with a repetoire of instrumentals and English-language songs. Thus many English-speaking 'folkies' become attracted to the Irish language.

But here are some past threads that indicate Mudcatter interest in songs in other languages:

Russian folk
Hebrew, Yiddish and Ladino songs
the last teardrop Victor Jara
rembetika
Afrika
Egyptian folksongs
Algerian links
French-Canadian songs
Scandinavian sites

The above list is by no means exhaustive. Just do a forum search for 'French' and you'll find many threads on particular French language songs. Several of the threads I list here include links to sites specialising in music from particular parts of the world.
I sure hope I got all my links right!

Subject: RE: Help: Folk Music other than English
From: GUEST,PHILIPPA
Date: 08 Feb 00 - 10:47 AM

Clarification:
Last teardrop
Jara

Subject: RE: Help: Folk Music other than English
From: Metchosin
Date: 08 Feb 00 - 11:40 AM

Thanks Philippa, how did you come up with all those threads? I did a power search of the Forum using most of the key words I could think of and only came up with two threads, only one of which you have listed.

Subject: RE: Help: Folk Music other than English
From: Angun
Date: 08 Feb 00 - 11:49 AM

Hi, You can find recordings with Kristen Bråten Berg (the singer emily rain did mention) on this sites:

http://www.rootsworld.com/rw/feature/senorway.html

http://www.ecmrecords.com/ecm/artists/258.html

Best wishes, Angun

Subject: RE: Help: Folk Music other than English
From: Metchosin
Date: 08 Feb 00 - 06:29 PM

Thank you for all your suggestions and help with links. It may take me awhile to complete this collection, as it will blow my Sally Ann budget, but it sure gives me a more certain direction, when confronted with an array in my local music store and on the Net.

Cheers
Susan

Subject: RE: Help: Folk Music other than English
From: moocow
Date: 29 May 00 - 09:18 AM

finnish music is constantly wafting through my head but this is okay cos i could never tire of those strange,beautiful sounds.if there are any others who have fallen for this music please send something to me (no buckets of fish or empty margarine containers) [e-mail] moi moi!

Subject: RE: Help: Folk Music other than English
From: Rana who SHOULD be working
Date: 29 May 00 - 11:58 AM

As someone has mentioned - the Nordic Roots compilations are a great start for Scandinavean.

In particular - Hedinarga, Gardamana are 2 groups I like (also Wimme is interesting with his Sami/techno mix! - "Hip Yoyk" as opposed to Hip-Hop)

I always enjoyed Kolinda who were around in the 80's = Eastern European.

French groups like Tri Yann and Malicorne were another of my favourites.

Another Norwegian group was Kalenda Maya - I only came across one CD and couldn't get anymore info.

Rana

Subject: RE: Help: Folk Music other than English
From: Jo Taylor
Date: 29 May 00 - 05:22 PM

GROUPA and FRIFOT are two amazing Swedish bands worth looking for.
Jo

Subject: RE: Help: Folk Music other than English
From: Jo Taylor
Date: 29 May 00 - 05:54 PM

...and here you can listen to them -
GROUPA's home page Click on the link for the new album to hear an interview and some clips.

FRIFOT's home page- there's a link to a sample from their latest album.

Here is The World's Global Hit with a lot of articles about 'world music'. (The World is Co-produced by Public Radio International, the BBC World Service, and WGBH Boston)

And finally...
Rootsworld

Enjoy!
Jo Taylor

Subject: RE: Help: Folk Music other than English
From: GUEST,Simon on the Isle of Wight
Date: 30 May 00 - 05:31 PM

Beg borrow or steal a ticket to see La Bottinne Souriante. The most fresh and brilliant folk sound I have heard in a very long time. Quebecois French and a wonderful (unique) combination of celtic folk and Latin brass sounds!! (CD La Mistrine http://www.hemisphere-records.com)

If you are in the UK then you can very often hear some excellent non-English folk music presented on BBC Radio 3's excellent Late Junction programme (10.15-midnight, Monday to Thursday).

Simon Gardner