This new Musical Explorers series from ARC Music makes available, often for the first time, a valuable range of historical films and audio recordings gathered from all over the world. Deen Bhattacharya presents his film ''Krishna in Spring'' made in 1969, depicting lively and extraordinary scenes from the Holi festival in Krishna's heartland of Braj, Uttar Pradesh, India. The accompanying album includes performances from 1954 and 1968 in this second release of the Musical Explorers series (curated by Simon Broughton). ''The artistic expression - both classical and folkloric - of the theme of Radha and Krishna's love has taken many different parts of India. The most notable among these are poetry, painting, dance-drama and music.'' (Deben Bhattacharya)

Classical Music

Isla st Clair is one of Scotland's most popular traditional singers and has gained international acclaim for her pure and distinctive voice. Arc Music releases a fine selection of popular and treasured songs performed by an accomplished singer and quite possibly the voice of Scotland.

Classical Music

The Latin Sextet was founded in the 1990s. It's members, all of them seasoned musicians, hail from Brazil, Chile and Germany. In their music, they combine Latin American tradition with European and American styles. The six-piece band present folkloristic melodies from Brazil or Cuba, driven by Brazilian/Cuban rhythms fused with jazzy harmonies. The sizzling hot result could be called "Latin Jazz." The Latin Sextet is Gerd Marino, Jonas Mo, Carsten Ulbricht, Mauricio Calquin, and Rogerio Jardim. The group is joined for these recordings by some of the most talented Latin and jazz musicians on the scene today, including Victor Hugo Ormeno, Griselle Colon, and Geppino Guadagno.

Born 1969 in Baghdad, Iraq, performer, composer and music consultant Ahmed Mukhtar has played the oud since age ten. He first worked with many traditional music groups and musicians in Baghdad, later studying in both Syria and Britain. From 1990 he's become a performer and teacher, touring the Middle East, Europe and the US. He currently teaches oud, percussion and Arabic music theory at several schools in London. The music on Babylonian Fingers, rooted in rich and complex Iraqi traditions and Middle Eastern music, is based on maqams and rhythms from ancient Babylon to the present.

David Fanshawe (1942-2010) was a composer, ethnic sound recordist, photographer and TV personality. His ambition to record indigenous folk music began in the Middle East in 1966, and intensified on subsequent journeys through North and East Africa (1969-75).David's legacy is cemented in the Fanshawe Collections, some 3000 tapes and 60,000 images recorded on his travels in Arabia, Africa, South East Asia and the Pacific between 1967-94. This colorful album of exotic and beautiful music from Thailand and Laos, recorded by Mr. Fanshawe, is enchanting, hypnotic and full of charisma.

Gypsy meets tango in this release of fiery Romani and Russian instrumental pieces. The euphoria of gypsy music blends with the melancholy and nostalgia of Argentinean tango.

In a career that has spanned four decades, the acclaimed recording artist, multi-instrumentalist and singer of Irish music ballads, Noel McLoughlin has carved a repertoire that in addition to Irish Folk, includes Scottish, English, American folk and country music. The pristine format of vinyl is suited to this collection of popular Irish folk ballads sung with the characteristic softness of McLoughlin's vocals.

Oleg takes the music in exciting new directions while still retaining that Russian Gypsy magic... nothing less than incandescent virtuosity for the duration of the show..." - The Scotsman This recording includes the Lautary piece featured in the film Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter.

• This 2 CD set from Arc Music contains a collection of Irish Music. • The 28 pieces range from the very traditional to today’s modern renditions, and they are presented by some of the finest exponents in the genre.

Enjoy an hour of gorgeous summer sun with this very enjoyable, laid-back and relaxed island music. This album travels from the Caribbean to the Pacific Islands and Hawaii, the Marquesas Islands, Fiji, New Zealand, Tahiti, the Cook Islands, and Micronesia. This lineup is comprised of both studio recordings and field recordings which were gathered by musicologists over the last few decades. Especially notable is the Tahiti recordings by David Fanshawe. The song was recorded by Fanshawe at “Heiva I Tahiti,” the biggest annual cultural event of the year in Tahiti. It presents four weeks of traditional competitions, reenactments and nonstop performance in the annual dance and singing competitions. The song is an Aparima, which is often performed in the kneeling or sitting position and every gesture in the dance is symbolic and has very great meaning.

The riches of music from Ottoman Turkey and neighboring regions, from the 10th to the 21st century. The D�-Sems Ensemble use authentic period instruments, recreating the way historical Turkish music interacts with that from other countries such as Greece, Iran, the Balkans and Syria by performing with musicians from these countries.

Classical Music

This CD presents a Mediterranean musical voyage, introducing along the way music typical of every port-of-call. All the music is played by artists intimately connected with the seven countries and associated territories represented on this compilation. The included booklet contains information concerning the music and the artists as well as some original lyrics to the songs.