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Primitive Music of the World

Various Artists
Primitive Music of the World
*Content Advisory: Though the songs included on this album are valuable in their artistry and cultural significance, this album contains dated language and concepts. We are aware that presenting Indigenous music as “primitive” is harmful to the communities that create it, their descendants, and to public discourse in general. Smithsonian Folkways has chosen to keep this album in circulation because of the value of the unique musical performances it presents. The liner notes, however, reflect a now-discredited school of thought in early-twentieth-century scholarship that assumed that communities not characterized by Western cultural patterns and processes were “pure” reflections of earlier stages of cultural evolution. This album is a collection of songs from non-Western communities presented here to support theories about non-Western music and societies. We have chosen to post the album and liner notes in their original form, as they are historical documents. However, we also acknowledge that this school of thought has perpetuated racist views and policies toward the Indigenous peoples it characterizes. We encourage the reader to learn more by clicking here.
For our policy on controversial recordings, please see our Frequently Asked Questions page.

Track Listing

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101
Semambu Murut men and women
02:05
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102
Two men playing spirit-flute
00:47
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103
Four men playing spirit-flute
01:09
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104
Mahafaly drummers, chorus
00:57
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105
Mahafaly drummers
00:36
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106
Two Guna (Kuna) men, San Blas Islands, Panama
02:17
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107
Two Guna (Kuna) men, San Blas Islands, Panama
01:41
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108
Mbuti men and boys
02:13
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109
Rirratjingu songman with didjeridu puller, rhythm sticks
02:55
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201
Ainu man with chorus, Hokkaido, Japan
00:45
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202
Ainu man, Hokkaido, Japan
01:46
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203
Ainu man with chorus, Hokkaido, Japan
01:14
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204
Mahafaly men and boys
01:34
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205
Angutnak and Matee of Baker Lake, Nunavut
01:55
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206
Temiar men and women recorded at Gerik
03:28
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207
Temiar nose flute player recorded at Gerik
02:04
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301
Navajo performers during Yeibichai ceremony
01:41
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302
Navajo male singers with drum
01:15
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303
Garifuna women, Barrio Cristales, Trujillo
02:08
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304
Male soloist and villagers of Mebo, Abor Hills, Assam
01:53
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305
Per Henderak Haetta, Mathis N. Haetta
01:14
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306
Maguindanaoan woman and man
02:47
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307
Maguindanaoan flute player and lantung players
02:55
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401
Bapende men and women during house-building, Bambala drummer, Bambala chief
02:43
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402
Bapende men with voice and sansa, Bapende xylophone players
01:56
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403
Indo-Trinidadian musicians
03:25
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404
Male singer, Turkmenistan
01:16
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405
Flute player, Turkmenistan
01:21
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406
Male singer, Turkmenistan
01:16
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407
Vedda (Wanniyalaeto) singer with drum, Sri Lanka
02:36
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408
Festival participants, Angola
01:53
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409
Guna (Kuna) man, San Blas Islands, Panama
00:42
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410
Man playing boru flute, Isla del Sol, Lake Titicata
00:33
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411
Māori man with mixed chorus
01:05