The History Book Club discussion

This is the thread which is dedicated to discussing the world's music (music from a variety of countries around the world).

World music is a general categorical term for global music, such as the traditional music or folk music of a culture that is created and played by indigenous musicians and is closely related to the music of the regions of their origin.

Source: Wikipedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_music

Some resources.

http://worldmusiccentral.org/


by John Armstrong

Celtic/Gaelic/Irish/Scottish folk/folk pop:

Some History


From the allmusic guide:

Rising up from the Iberian peninsula, over the span of two millennia the Celts engaged in cycles of conquest and retreat that left pockets of their descendents across Western Europe. The most evident homelands of the Celtic people are Ireland, Scotland, Cornwall and Wales, where they play a dominant cultural role and where their languages (with the exception of Cornish) still are spoken side by side with English. However, Celts still live in large numbers in the Brittany region of France and Galicia in Spain and Celtic music has survived in those areas. The Irish diaspora has also brought Celtic culture to the New World, with unique Celtic music styles arising from places like Cape Breton in Canada. In the U.S., large Irish settlements in Chicago and Boston produce musicians who play music that at times sounds more traditional than that produced by their fellow musicians in Ireland.

Traditional Celtic music is song-based, and ranges from melancholy tales of lost love and heroes to largely instrumental jigs and reels used for dancing. Stringed instruments, hand-held drums like the bodhran, and a variety of pipes and flutes are played by musicians who usually play solo or in small groups. Modern Celtic music has made a major impact on the New Age genre; its influence on pop and rock is a two-way street, with some modern Celtic bands absorbing the harder-edged sound of rock, while rock bands like the Pogues and the Saw Doctors incorporate Celtic instruments and rhythms into their music.

Irish Folk refers to folk songs and folk singers from Ireland, who often incorporate traditional Irish and Celtic music into their own style. The style encompasses both traditional Irish folk and contemporary Irish folk, which blends the traditional with contemporary rock and folk influences.

The Chieftains - "The Dingle Set"

Jimmy Mo Mhile Stór - Cara Dillon

During the '80s and '90s, there were several artists that expanded the boundaries of Celtic music by adding elements of pop, rock, folk, jazz, and new age music. These artists, such as Clannad, hailed the beginning of Contemporary Celtic.

1)EUROVISION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It's such an awesome show. It all got started when I was looking at Laura Pausini an Italian singer i scrolled down wikipedia and saw music from other countries clicked and found Croatia. There i clicked on Antonija Sola because that's my mom's name (Antonija)and found that she performed in Eurovision. Here is the Eurovision info from Wiki!!!!!!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eurovisi...


2)Laura Pausini sings in English/Native Italian and Spanish but speaks Portuguese and French as well as the three above
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laura_Pa...

Krystal wrote: "EUROVISION! "

Wow.

Thank you so much Krystal, of course Garret as always and Andre for looking in.

Anybody ever heard of Lizzy Mercier Descloux?

She tried different styles but my favorite album is one she recorded with Brazilian musicians - and CHet Baker.
There is a Japanese re-edition available but they changed a lot during the remaster making it almost sound like a remix. The original charm is gone but still it's better than missing out on this great musician altogether.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KIPNWs...

Some information on the artist:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lizzy_Me...

Another great World Music artist:

Manu Dibango performing Soul Makossa live in Paris - celebrating his ... 75th birthday!!!:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3IiEQj...

sorry for the bad sound - here's the same song with better sound:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A14Nwn...

and back in 74:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hOLuf2...


You might have recognized the parts Michael Jackson, Rihana and others used...

Manu jamming with friends in Paris:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dfT6Ct...

Manu Dibango

I know this is mostly an English speaking site - but for those who speak French (this is after all the world music thread), here's Manu talking about how things started out:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPBGph...

Manu is one of the most gentle and talented musicians around.

More Manu:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T07lVD...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cptsF8...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_xdT2U...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=evne1w...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydhvUl...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p66QIL...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8w3b72...

Staying in Africa but moving from Cameroon to Nigeria:

Fela Kuti:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HmCnOP...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-SQH9...


and Fema Kuti, his son:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PX0-X8...

From Congo: Papa Wemba:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKeCfO...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lb1gdv...

From Zambia: Mulemena Boys : Amalumene:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pmV6Oe...

Some great adds Andre; will look at the remainder over the rest of the week.

Youssou N'Dour & Neneh Cherry

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHdVK8...

the original video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=txpkLA...

Youssou N'Dour

Osibisa

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MeH3Od...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=er90_q...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nSIgjw...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rgkXmN...


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=feFgEp...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z514wX...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hOtdpN...

Miriam Makeba

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kCc61z...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0fEHgu...

Miriam introduces her daughter Bongi:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3aywwy...

Miriam Makeba:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GrOXVM...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QhwAX_...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uAlC_V...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oztzZu...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7coXOf...

Miriam Makeba

The WILD ONES...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PGxI6S...

Marianne James:
Dans Ma Rue - a nice song about living amidst all the colors and races right there in that little street in Paris.

http://www.jukebo.com/marianne-james/...

Here is the wonderful bossa nova Brazilian singer Rosa Passos singing "Dindi". I love her style and her voice.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSFIWn...

Terrific, Jill. The guitar is fine too!!!
Bentley will soon open the new thread for Brazilian and South/Middle American music I asked for.
I love that music and have lots of musicians to add there - as will you, I'm sure.
But this is great. Please post it in the other thread too.
- no rush, Bentley!

I will post that to the new thread. Her music is so soothing that it is a great CD to listen to at bedtime.....very relaxing.

Have you heard of Céu? - I won't spoil the fun. We'll meet up in the other thread.

I don't think I know who that is......will be anxious to have you share that music.

Back to Africa - from Mali: Fatoumata Diawara

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PI27cj...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8eCer...

Very nice, Andre. (The first one was too short!!!)

Jill wrote: "Andre. (The first one was too short!!!)"

Yeah, cut short - but nice!!!

More Fatoumata Diawara

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CSth8Q...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4WXjTD...

Very fitting today:

Alpha Blondy: Jerusalem

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3iTh7...

and the original version from 1986:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tDWHgL...

Manu Dibango: Waka Juju - live in 1983

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iKBBoY...

from the same session:

Soul Makossa:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_VP48o...

How about a nice little visit to Italy?

Zero Assoluto:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vWe6fa...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4cuqcM...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q4VARe...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qj64De...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qcCJDJ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w550Yd...

Biagio Antonacci:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m28cAZ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LNOWiH...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=765Nu7...

Here is something you don't hear everyday.....the Honk Horn music of Ghana. This music was once banned by the British....it is music played by drivers to honor other distinguished drivers and is kind of like the New Orleans funeral parades. The driver's ride to heaven is paved with car horns and a whole lot of honking. It is rather joyful and fun.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vkb1rD...

Jill wrote: "the Honk Horn music of Ghana..."

Depending on the traffic and the time of the day you get that in Barcelona too - the singing is slightly more agitated; the rythm different...
The Catalan drivers also have a great time.
But I can see why the British didn't like their tea time spoiled...
I"m sure it will chase the evil spirits.
Personally I prefer the musically much more diverse funeral parades in New Orleans but I guess spirits' tastes also differ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EG6KH9...

The Treme Song by John Boutté:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FCNFmY...

A Funeral Parade with The Dirty Dozen Brass Band:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvMJVn...

Leroy Jones: When The Saints Go MArching In:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hL68d9...

Louis Armstrong:

St. James Infirmary
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QzcpUd...

Louis Armstrong

Andre, you are a powerhouse. Thanks for all of the adds which are terrific.

Bentley wrote: "Andre, you are a powerhouse. Thanks for all of the adds which are terrific."

How right you are.....Andre has introduced us to several artists that are fantastic and not well known here in the US. A music maven!!!

Bentley wrote: "Andre, you are a powerhouse. Thanks for all of the adds which are terrific."

Thank you very much, Bentley, Jill - it all comes down to one thing basically: I just love music. And I never give up hope that maybe one day soon the industry will realize that that's where their roots are and not in the let's-play-it-safe-money-monkey-business...

Jill - your posts weren't bad either! Honky Horns from Ghana - Have you heard of Fred Wesley and the Horny Horns? That would be the Funk thread though.

Parliament Funkadelic!!!!!

Let's change gears and listen to Celtic music. This is the 3 time All-Ireland champion fiddler Brian Conway and he makes the strings sing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8BFwcu...

You can almost see the people dance in the green valleys, forgetting about their everyday lives...

As to dancing: check out the Mambo/Jazz of Poncho Sanchez:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJkYWY...

some Cha Cha?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xo3Zfc...

That is the music that makes you get up and dance!!!! Perfecto!!!!

Another take on the mambo by one of the greats, Tito Puente.....Mambo Caliente.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=esa-jp...

Ah... Tito!!!!
For more Salsa magic featuring Tito together with Celia check the 'Music from South America' thread, in particular the Celia Cruz posts.

From Mali:

Amadou & Mariam

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPbsg2...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=03gQg9...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKYGUm...

and from the album produced by Manu Chao:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GpuFMa...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PM5O4C...

Back to Europe:

Katika

Katika is an Italian singer living in Austria.
I stumbled over her fantastic CD in a music store

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yhyfvt...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pR4Bzy...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SE6V4h...

Great adds Andre.