Ritual Music of Ethiopia

Undocumented and unreleased before this 1973 album, the music of nomadic tribes in Ethiopia such as the Ajuran, Hanafa, and Tigre is often sung with gasps and shouts, accompanied by both instruments—drum, one-string violin (masequo), five-string kvar, and flute (washint)—and vocalized trills. Music accompanies all types of dances, which are described in the liner notes along with the songs and information on the communities represented in the album’s music.

Track Listing

101	Kammba Drum Solo (Wallano tribe) / Woyisha cow horn (Wallano tribe)	Malko Bokie and cow horn player	02:16
102	Lembola (Hanafa tribe)	Wedding participants near Hagere Selam	01:42
103	Borquekka, Ox Song (Gernu tribe) / Ox song and chant (Gernu tribe)	Gernu tribesman of Arba Minch	03:16
104	Washint (Instrumental)	Three Tigre musicians	04:13
105	Gojjam Endenesh (Where There Is Plenty of Honey) - Tigre tribe	Tigre singers, dancers, and musicians	04:15
106	Introduction of Man to Woman (Adjuran tribe)	Group of Ajuran men	05:25
107	Giddle Instruments: "Hanata" (Horn) / Filla (Flute) / Mira (Pipes of Pan) / Filla (Flute) / Iolata (Horn)	Gidole musicians	04:34
108	Giddle Instrumental (Giddle tribe)	Gidole flute ensemble	02:56
109	Sabbath Service (Falashim tribe)	Beta Israel (Falashim) men and women in Ambovar, near Gondar	03:33
110	Hermana (Bringing the Cattle to the Water) - Borana tribe	Borana women	02:58
111	Siyawe (Wedding Song) - Burgi tribe	Burji woman accompanied by chorus, dancers, and drummers	03:48
112	Guretta (Greeting Song)	Konso men and women	03:48