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.

This new release is an enchanting collection of traditional and contemporary music from mainland China and Taiwan, with both sung and instrumental pieces, showcasing traditional Chinese instruments such as the board zithers guqin and zheng, lutes, such as pipa and ruan, flutes, dizi and xiao, as well as erhu (fiddle), yangqin (hammered dulcimer), sheng (mouth-blown bamboo organ) and konghou (Chinese harp). Eastern music specialist Diz Heller compiled the songs featured here and mastered them for optimal sound quality. Authentic ensembles and musicians perform here, including the Pan Jing Ensemble, Mei Han & Red Chamber, Silk & Bamboo Ensemble, and many more. Information about each song is included in the booklet.

This charming collection of music focuses largely on the two main forms of classical music in India: the Hindustani tradition from the north and central regions and the Carnatic tradition form the south. The classical music of India is a mystical tradition dating back millennia. For centuries, Indian classical music played an important part in the lives of worshippers throughout the country. Also, folk songs from the states of Goa and Rajasthan, as well as fusions with African music and jazz are featured on this release.

From Easter Island to New Zealand, travel through paradise with this recording featuring traditional island music. This new release features music from the entire Pacific Islands, including Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Fiji, Hawaii, Tahiti, and everywhere in between. This release includes songs recorded professionally in the studio, as well as raw field recordings which capture the essence of Pacific folk music.

The pipa is a traditional Chinese lute, with a tone that falls somewhere between a European lute and an Indian sitar. Wu Man is one of China's most prominent pipa players. Conservatory trained and internationally renowned, she performs both traditional and contemporary pipa compositions.
Disc one is dedicated to solo performance. The delicate, rapid plucking technique and unique pacing creates a distinctive musical environment. Wu's performance of ancient melodies aims to evoke calm, pastoral settings.
Performing with an ensemble of traditional flutes, zithers and drums, Wu's second disc takes on an even more ethereal tone. Washes of harp-like zither and reedy flute melodies provide a lush backdrop for the plucked pipa.
Some of the contemporary pieces such as 1993's 'Run' value the same dissonance favored by other composers, making their distinctive orchestration all the more interesting. However, for the most part, Wu's album is a serene journey through the history of Chinese music.

The 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. The next release on this series is Music of Tibet, curated by Simon Broughton. Accompanying the album is Deben Bhattacharya’s film, Echoes from Tibet, which was shot in 1979 in Ladakh, Darjeeling and Dharamsala. This is where many Tibetan exiles and the Dalai Lama (who appears in the film) are based. The music on the accompanying album was recorded in 1975 and 1979 in the refugee communities of Ladakh, Himalchal Pradesh, Sikkim and Darjeeling, and also in Sarnath, close to Varansi where The Buddha gave his first sermon. The music on the album was recorded by Deben Bhattacharya on his Nagra in 1975 and 1979. “For the new Musical Explorers series by the British label, the world music expert Simon Broughton has raised a real treasure.”

Spirit of Ecstasy has been out-of-print for more than two decades which makes this reissue highly important. The album consists of the works Spirit of Ecstasy (1977) and the Way to Nepal (1971). Spirit of Ecstasy is lively, being serious and humorous at the same time - ingeniously dramatized and well constructed, the history of the car is used to tell of the most important events in the history of the 20th century. The Way to Nepal (1971) is an exploration in sound, which confronts the listener with a dramatic process shifting between a meditative soundscape and disturbing motor noise.

Chinese pipa virtuoso Gao Hong and Indian multi-instrumentalist Baluji Shrivastav OBE unite their rich musical traditions in a cross-cultural collaboration that shines with emotional depth. Alongside Yousef Ali Khan on tabla, Baluji's expressive Indian raags provide a spacious foundation for Gao's intuitive improvisations - at times echoing his motifs, at others soaring freely.