This new release is a beautiful album of traditional music from Eastern Polynesia that was taken from David Fanshawe's monumental Pacific Collection. The Pacific Collection was recorded over the course of fourteen years (1978-88), and focuses on the rich variety of authentic himene (hymns) indigenous to Tahiti, the Cook Islands, the Society Islands and others. David Fanshawe was a composer, ethnic sound recordist, guest speaker, photographer, TV personality, and a Churchill Fellow. He was born in 1942 in Devon, England and was educated at St. George's Choir School and Stowe, after which he joined a documentary film company. In 1965 he won a Foundation Scholarship to the Royal College of Music in London. His ambition to record indigenous folk music began in the Middle East in 1966, and was intensified on subsequent journeys through North and East Africa (1969-75) resulting in his unique and highly original blend of music and travel. His work has been the subject of BBC TV documentaries including African Sanctus, Arabian Fantasy, Musical Mariner, and Tropical Beat.

This new release features a varied collection of beautiful music from Welsh choirs, both a cappella and with instrumental accompaniments. This album presents a wide repertoire, covering three decades of choirs formed in Wales from 1986 to the present day. With well-known traditional classics, sacred music and fresh approaches to choir singing with modernized arrangements of traditional songs, this album is a shining example of choral talent in Wales. Featured ensembles include Cor Eifionydd, Bois y Castell, Cor y Wiber, Cow Meibion Machynlleth, and more.

This fun release features both old and new songs and dances from Israel, presented with energy and enthusiasm by Gevatron and by Effi Netzer and Yonathan Gabay. The music is from modern Israel, from the Kibbutz and with Eastern European, Mediterranean and Arabic influence. The Gevatron are representatives of Israeli folk music and songs of the good and lovely Israel. The group was established in 1948, and has since been composed of members of the Kibbutz and its surrounding area. Effi Netzer is a musician, composer, and music director. Choreographer Yonathan Gabay was one of the pillars of Israeli dancing, who passed away in 2011. He left us with a legacy of unforgettable Israeli dances.

Son Real is one of London’s most innovative and contemporary Latin bands today. Founded in January 2006 by Latin Touch Entertainments, Son Real aim to create a fresh sound representative of the UK’s love affair with the “Latin spirit”. Musically, Son Real Orchestra is a collaboration between British and Colombian musicians. Their style is modern yet remains true to traditional tropical roots: salsa in all of its variations, traditional folk rhythms like cumbia and plena, the infectious sounds of merengue and urban Latin beats like reggaeton. Son Real’s seven- to fourteen-piece bands are comprised of a Latin Rhythms section: piano, bass and traditional Latin percussion, and the all-important brass section. Vocally they are fronted by three female singers, engaging audiences with their own unique vocal stylings and harmonies as well as vibrant and dynamic stage performances. Their presence on the scene offers a much-needed female perspective in Latin music today. Son Real’s charm lies in its enthralling rhythms which capture their audiences leaving them yearning for more.

Much has been said and written about the origins and first appearances of the Gypsies. Their first documented existence in Europe dates back to the early fifteenth century and most scholars agree that they originally came from Northern India. This is based on the resemblance of their Romany language to certain languages in Northern India. Apparently, the Gypsies migrated into Persia in the 11th century and further into South East Europe around the beginning of the 14th century and from there into Western Europe. Today, Gypsies live all over the world, including North and South America and even Australia. As many Gypsies worked as musicians or entertainers, they had a considerable impact on the music of the countries in which they lived- their own particular musical style often combined with the folk music of a particular country, thus preserving the traditions over centuries. The so-called Gypsy repertoire can be described as a blend of Russian, Hungarian and Romanian influences but on the other hand the Roma have contributed their own style to many areas of music and influenced other artists in their music, such as Bizet, Brahms and Dvorak, to name but a few. In this compilation, a variety of Gypsy music has been included, from purely traditional to modern, including soloists who excel with their instruments, small Gypsy ensembles, large Gypsy brass bands, some of the greatest Gypsy singers and composers as well as travelling Egyptian Gypsies, recorded on location.

An overview of the massive spread of what can be called Russian traditional music in all of it's manifestations from Orthodox choral music, the rhythmic balalaikas, passionate Gypsy and Cossack songs to a cappella choirs, this collection unveils the grand musical landscape of the Russia that spans 11 time zones with a multiplicity of cultures.

The inspiring group Afrika Mamas are three-time South African Music Awards nominees, and have toured all over the world. They sing in an a cappella or Mbube style, featuring rich textures, thick harmonies, reminiscent of Ladysmith Black Mambazo. The twelve tracks featured on this disc are a fantastic representation of the works of this moving group.

Classical Music

"This album is a collection of my favorite songs from my home country of Norway. On this album, Ken Embrey and Jan eLandstra are playing Hardanger Fiddles. They are both deeply involved in teaching the fiddle, playing for dances and organizing Scandinavian folk music activities along the west coast of America. On double bass I have Piper Heisig who is known for her versatile style. Paul Espinoza on accordion and Margie Butler on harp are my friends from "Golden Bough". They have been performing together for the last thirty-five years. Josef Bornback on keyboards is an experienced recording artist and Jackeline Rago on percussion got her degree in music at the University of San Francisco." - Leif Sorbye

Atmospheric and haunting, meditative flute melodies, solo and in duets, in unaccompanied purity or accompanied with drums, rattles, nature sounds (forest, rain, wind, thunder, eagles calling, wolves howling) or gentle guitars. Relax, close your eyes, let your spirit soar and echo from the stars. Tracks include "A Warrior Sleeps," "Sundown," "Rite of Passage," "Thick Snow," "Wolf Tracks," and more. (ARC Music)

Classical Music

Field Recordings from the archives of the late Deben Bhattacharya from various temples of the Sikh, Buddhist and Hindu religions, recorded on location between 1954 and 1973. Discover the roots of much of India's music in their purest and original form. Extensive information about India's religious music and each of the pieces.

Let yourself be whisked away on a Tropical Holiday with music from around the Caribbean- Haiti, Martinique, Costa Rica, Trinidad & Tobago, and other island nations. Put your sunglasses on and get into the summer mood with irresistible dances. The cumbia is perhaps internationally the best-known form of music and dance from Colombia. It has African roots with a great deal of Spanish and Indian influence. In fact, Colombians consider the cumbia to be the meeting place of these three cultures. It's pace makes it one of the most danceable styles found within South America. Another well-known dance featured on this album is the salsa. Since the salsa's appearance in the early 1960s, it's impact and planet-wide expansion has been phenomenal. Broadly speaking, salsa is essentially an urban, popular dance music with deep roots in Cuban music. It's origins have been traced back to two main styles still heard in Cuba today: the Spanish influenced guajira and the Afro-Cuban son.

Japan’s musical traditions are as ancient as they are enchanting. + There is a fascinating history behind many of the instruments, how they came to Japan and how they were used centuries ago. + The thunderous taiko drum is one such example. + Originally used in battle to intimidate the enemy and issue commands, the taiko has become a symbol of Japanese music worldwide. + Nowadays a performance by a taiko ensemble is one of the most awe-inspiring sights and sounds the music world has to offer. + This collection highlights various forms of traditional Japanese music, from folk and chamber music to classical music by famous composers. + Details of the albums from which these songs are taken, as well as brief synopses of the songs and artists are to be found in the booklet liner notes.

The Japanese tradition of the taiko drum dates back to as early as the 6th century. This new release from Arc explores the rich history of this ancient instrument. The tracks on this release feature powerful rolling beats and multi-layered rhythms from taiko drums in all shapes and sizes. Multiple styles of taiko drumming are explored here, from traditional ‘pure’ taiko to contemporary pieces. Varieties of other world percussion instruments are included in some of these pieces, played by some of the best experts in the genre.