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Songs of the Earth: Astonishing and Rare Voices

Various Artists
Songs of the Earth: Astonishing and Rare Voices
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The human voice is not only the world’s oldest musical instrument, but also the most portable, and it can be used in countless ways. This compilation of songs provides nineteen diverse examples.

Selected from across Asia, the Middle East, Europe, North America, Oceania, and Africa, these recordings represent unique vocal arts traditions, including Mongolian overtone singing, Swiss yodeling, an Inuit repetition-based singing game, and Sudanese call-and-response. With songs about love and war, music for religious ceremony and entertainment, and performances that range from quiet soloists to a raucous 250-person vocal percussion ensemble, the album shows the versatility of the human voice as an instrument.

FREE DOWNLOAD
Please enjoy a free download of the song “Switzerland: Zäuerli”

Switzerland: ZäuerliMP3 FLAC

This album is part of the UNESCO Collection of Traditional Music. More than 125 albums are being released by Smithsonian Folkways Recordings to make the series publicly available, including a dozen never-released albums of musical traditions from around the globe.

Track Listing

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101
INDIA: Khyal (extract) Mohin ud din, Amin ud din Dagar 5:10
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102
BALI: Tjak (extract) Singers of Peliatan 2:07
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103
JAPAN: Upopo n/a 2:10
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104
MONGOLIA: The 4-year-old light tan horse n/a 1:49
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105
UZBEKISTAN: Yar-yar (extract) Nazira Baïjanova 2:20
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106
SYRIA: Islamic Ritual Zikr (extract) n/a 3:28
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107
SYRIA: Takhshefto (Like the merchants) Evelyne Daoud 4:50
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108
UKRAINE: The red mountain ash Rosa Jouk, Lioudmilla Tchijouk, Maria Dorodko 2:00
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109
BYELORUSSIA: Round: Spring dance Tatiana Orlenin, Nadeshda Shogol 2:07
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110
BULGARIA: Slow melody Ianka Rupkina, Stoian Vielichkov 3:57
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111
SWITZERLAND: Zäuerli (sung in the inn) Ernst Pfändler 2:21
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112
CANADA: Three Katajjait from Baffin Land Elijah Pudloo Mageeta, Qaunak Martha Meekeega, Napache Samaejuk Pootoogook, Napache Etidloie Toonoo 2:02
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113
SOLOMON ISLANDS: Roiroa (Women's song) n/a 2:37
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114
MALAWI: Buyeni: Kamwana kamwini (Somebody's little child) - Kaya wiyo (Who cares) n/a 4:13
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115
SUDAN: Nagara n/a 2:33
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116
CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: Dikoboda sombe (Hut song) n/a 3:54
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117
CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: Ulepa Mvrele Ensemble 4:24
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118
CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: Ye zame andero (war song) n/a 2:51
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119
BENIN: Song for grinding millet (extract) n/a 3:00

Album Info

Catalog Number

UNES08104

Year(s) Released

1955

Label/Collection

UNESCO Collection of Traditional Music

Genre(s)

Science & Nature; World

Country(s)

Belarus; Byelorussia (former)
Download Liner Notes