artist : VA
title : Music of Indonesia Vol 8: Vocal and Instrumental Music From
label : Smithsonian Folkways
cat# :
genre : Ethnic
street date : 1995-00-00
tracks : 14
bitrate : 178 kbps avg. 44.1/Joint Stereo
size : 92.00 mb
source : CD
type : Retail
url : http://www.folkways.si.edu
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These 1993 and 1994 recordings present the virtually unknown, rich, and
highly diverse singing traditions from the eastern regions of the island
of Flores, an island east of Bali. Among the wonderful traditions
presented here are polyphonic singing styles strikingly similar to some
Balkan music, large powerful choruses from Sikka, music for double flute,
gong and drum ensembles. Extensive notes and map. 70 minutes. "Each volume
is an education in itself." ù Request
http://www.mustrad.org.uk/reviews/indones2.htm
It must be the dream of anyone who travels the world with a tape-recorder
to be able to put down valuable sounds. Imagine that you are visiting an
island in a large archipelago, and you invite people to perform something
of their music. They burst out in complex songs, with thrilling voices
that join in at unpredictable moments and come together in shrill and tart
dissonance, but will flower into warm and open harmonies in an instant. I
would hurriedly produce my equipment, set it up, and let the tape roll. I
would listen with my mouth wide open, and just hope fervently that all
will be recorded as well as can be, that no accident will befall this
material in the next stages of the trip or on the way home.
And then, a few miles down the road, there is another village - full of
mind-blowing polyvocal song, performed with the same quality and spirit,
but totally different in style. Next village, same thing, and again music
of incomparable beauty. The pile of tapes grows and grows; this is
getting far too much for just one CD.
Philip Yampolsky must have felt blessed when he visited the Indonesian
island Flores to make recordings for a series of CDs with unusual and
relatively unknown music from this archipelago. He made two CDs from the
material he collected, devoted to different districts of the island. In
the inserts to the albums he discusses the astonishing variety of of these
song cultures, he admits that this compilation cannot by far do justice to
their sheer riches, he assumes that that is still much that he missed
during his stay.
He expresses his surprise at the similarities between singing styles from
East Flores and from the Balkan peninsula (mentioned decades earlier by
Jaap Kunst). He is impressed by the inventiveness that underlies the
diversity that he came across in this relatively small area. Still, he
maintains his cool, as if it doesn't become a scientist to overflow with
rapture and enthusiasm, as if he must approach this music neutrally at all
costs.
But I think that he was jumping and flouncing with impatience and barely
controllable excitement to take this music home with him, and say to his
chief: "Listen to this." And he must have played Oambele (to be found on
part 8 of the series), and with moist eyes they must have sat listening,
and zealously downed a bottle of booze. So beautiful, so sad; there's
only one thing you can do - get drunk.
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01 Sikka Regency: Central Region - Jalae Men's Chorus 5:10
02 Sikka Regency: Central Region - Lero Men's Chorus 7:47
03 Sikka Regency: Central Region - Sora Men's Chorus with Drums 9:27
04 Sikka Regency: Central Region - Gong Bladung Blabat Gongs and 8:26
Drums
05 Sikka Regency: Central Region - Oambele Mixed Chorus 6:45
06 East Flores (Flores Timur): Tanjung Bunga Region - Bau Leko 5:02
(Excerpt) Women's Duets
07 East Flores (Flores Timur): Tanjung Bunga Region - Berasi Kremet: 3:56
Lego Mala Le Gelek (Excerpt) Men's Duets
08 East Flores (Flores Timur): Tanjung Bunga Region - Berasi Kremet: 3:14
Oe Bala (Excerpt) Men's Duets
09 East Flores (Flores Timur): Tanjung Bunga Region - Lelu Lia 3:54
(Excerpt) Double-Flute Solo
10 East Flores (Flores Timur): Tanjung Bunga Region - Lalu Gokok 3:36
(Excerpt) Women's Duets
11 East Flores (Flores Timur): Tanjung Bunga Region - Belasi 2:56
(Excerpt) Mixed Duets
12 Ngada Regency: Toto Region - Gore Mixed Chorus 5:12
13 Ngada Regency: Toto Region - Gore: Ana Redu Nedu Men's Chorus 3:43
14 Ngada Regency: Toto Region - Gore: Taku Dhenge De Mixed Chorus 1:44
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