Classical Music

This boxed set reunites Raul Barboza’s first two albums made in France. For the first time the major titles recorded by this Argentinean accordionist have been selected, finding him in the company of a great variety of artists who sought after his collaboration since he has been living in Paris. This unprecedented compilation is offered with a new recording by Raul Barboza - one of his most memorable concerts given during the tenth accordion festival held in Montmagny (Quebec). Includes a 40 page booklet with both French and English notes.

"Whereas I would not have recommended this a while back, I now advise you to include Reda Caire’s “Le plus beau refrain”, “Jeunesse” and “Ma banlieue” in your record collection". Robert DESNOS. Reda Caire is an outstanding figure of French song. He was born in Egypt though his mother was French and moved to France aspiring to become a singer in the late 1920's. His ascent was to take a few years, but his glory survived until World War II and he acted as a bridge with a new generation of talented singers such as Brel, Aznavour, Ferre, etc. This 2-CD set features his 1934-1962 recordings. Includes a 40 page booklet with both French and English notes.

The Okinawa archipelago (formerly the independent kingdom of Ryukyu) is situated at a crossroads of cultural influences (Japan, China and South East Asia). Blending these elements, Okinawa developed an original musical style, demonstrated here with a collection of classical and courtly songs accompanied on the sanshin lute. Performers include National Living Treasure Choichi Terukina, as well as Shinjin Kise and Masaya Yamauchi.

Griot music accompanied on the delicate dambararou lute, ritual songs of therapeutic possession accompanied on the gogue fiddle to the rhythm of gon and karou drums, and a boldly dynamic women's choir -different aspects of Bariba traditional music from the descendants of a kingdom established in the 15th century, and long reputed for it's fierce resistance to exterior domination.

Traditional festivals are an important part of the culture and history of China, each with their own customs, origins and celebrations. This special collection celebrates music of a variety of these festivals held throughout the Chinese calendar, including the world-famous Harvest, Lantern, Dragon Boat and Spring festivals. These works are performed by UK-based group The Heart of the Dragon Ensemble with their award-winning founder, Jiang LI. Jiang LI has been awarded a Fellowship Programme from NESTA- the National Endowment for Science, Technology, and the Arts. He was also one of three finalists for a Pearl Award in the Creative Excellence category.

The first mention of calypso comes from a dance described by Abbe Masse in 1882. Otherwise, most scholars who have tried to trace the story of calypso agree that the word itself is not connected with the deity who lured Homer’s Odysseus to her island. The origins of the word are unclear and scholars debate this with no definitive answer. Quick wit, knowing observation of human behavior and comment on its absurd aspects are the bill of fare offered in calypso, which probably prompted the American periodical Time to label calypso “The Living Newspaper” in 1944. For eloquence and topical diversity, no other genre can approach the calypso of Trinidad and Tobago, for the calypsonian assumes a stance between reporter, editorialist, moralist and satirist as scandal, disaster, politics, self-praise, sexual indiscretion and everything from local to international events all prove as grist for the mill. The Mighty Duke asked in a song, “What is Calypso?” Well to start to get an idea, one has to merely listen to a song on this compilation. Let your schooling start here.

The guqin zither and pipa lute are the two oldest and most celebrated traditional Chinese stringed instruments, both with over two thousand years’ history. Their musical tradition is closely liked with the self-cultivation of literati and scholars, and the four arts of the Chinese gentleman- guqin, Chinese chess, calligraphy and painting. The strings were made of silk and plucked with the fingers. This album features not only traditional pieces, but also many spontaneous improvisations and contemplations that were inspired by the musicians’ contemporary thoughts, current socio-cultural context and surroundings. It is largely a reflection of 21st century Chinese literati’s musicianship and sentiments. The album was recorded in the context of the London International Guqin Festival in August 2018, organized by the London Youlan Qin Society in collaboration with SOAS, University of London with funding by Arts Council England.

The male choir of the Optina Pustyn Monastery Department in St. Petersburg was established in 1996 by the blessing of its Father Superior, Hieromonach Rostislav. The choir consists of professional singers who graduated from the St. Petersburg Conservatoire. The main goal in forming the choir was the cultivation of the heritage of the old Russian Church singing, its sources and different styles, the study of the different types of early Russian polyphony and the introduction of them into modern Church practices. In order to achieve authenticity in transcribing the various types of ancient Russian scriptures the choir members are in contact with scientists researching medieval patterns of Russian singing. The repertoire of the choir, however, reaches beyond the purely ancient repertoire and represents the great riches and variety of the Russian clerical as well as secular choral art. Apart from recording they maintain a busy schedule of concerts in Russia and abroad.

(2-CD set) The golden age of dancing et cabarets from the Antillas in Paris. Fascinating 22-page booklet to revive memories of the glorious days of the Bal Colonial in Paris's rue Blomet.

This release contains lively and romantic Mariachi songs sung with pride and passion, telling stories of love, won and lost, about patriotic pride, about various customs at festivals and about singing beneath the balcony of the beloved. Fer Gonzalez is a singer of Mexican boleros, rancheras, hupangos, and more. His dream has always been to take Mexican music all over the world. Through his voice, music, and songs, he takes a message of joy from Mexico to the world, and presents his culture, tradition, and roots proving that music is a universal language of humankind that can break down barriers always and anywhere. Fer was born in Aguascalientes, Mexico. He inherited his love of music from his parents, especially his mother who loved Mexican music and had an extraordinary voice. His career as a professional singer did not begin until his adult life, but took off right away with radio and television appearances, stellar reviews, and appearances at international festivals.

Classical Music

The recordings on this double album are the result of field-trips from August 2003 to June 2012 into the region of the Nilgiri Hills (the "Blue Mountains") in South India, which is home to the Kota, Toda, Mele-Nadu Irula and Alu-Kurumba people, among others. These indigenous groups create music - on instruments like the conical, belled 'Shawm,' the bamboo trumpet and the Idioglottal clarinet, with singing in a variety of techniques - that covers a vast aesthetic field, from the immediately "Indian" accents of Kota Bhajan, to Toda singing which seems to come from another world altogether. The release includes an extensive booklet with photographs and notes on the life and languages of these people.

This set features both vocal intensity and religious fervor from the two main Sufi brotherhoods of Senegal (the Tij+�niyya and the Mur+�diyya, founded respectively in the 18th and 19th centuries). Featured selections include hymns and poems to the glory of Allah.

Baden Powell, the legendary Brazilian guitarist - Recorded in Paris - 1994

Classical Music

Lowlin

Though music is a universal thing, Indian classical music has a very distinctive feature of its own. The very origin of Indian classical music is in the praise of the Supreme Power of the Almighty. Thus, Indian classical music has a spiritual value, rather than an entertainment value. A performance is almost like a symphony being played, with the difference that the Indian “symphony” is not written. The artist creates it during the course of his recital, always keeping within the framework of the raga. The music is essentially an extension of a prayer but the artist is morally bound to offer his music as a gift of peace and joy to all who hear the music. The insight of the musician is thus conveyed to the listeners. On this album Rash Behari Datta plays the raga “Koushiki.” On the sitar this raga is very close to the popular raga “Kounsi-Kanhra.” During the Mughal period of India many new ragas were created and many new combinations were tried. Out of these the Kanhras type of raga became very popular. The Kounsi-Kanhra is also a combination of two ragas: the Malkouns and the Kanhra.

The songs on this album could be described as fiery, sensual, gripping, as well as graceful and elegant. The album features tangos, waltzes and milongas, both instrumental and sung, from the pens of the old masters as well as new contemporary composers. The tango is an almost universal music and dance style. It is an authentic and lively expression of everyday experiences and feelings. The famous tango composer Enrique Santos Discepolo described the authentic, graceful and expressive tango as “a sad thought, which can be danced;” another author described it as “two serious faces and four funny legs.” The tango was born on the outskirts of Buenos Aires, in poor neighborhoods where the families of European immigrants settled down in the latter part of the nineteenth century. Since the 1980s, a renewed interest in the national Argentine musical tradition has triggered a revival of the genre.

One of ARC Music's most successful fusion collaborations is that of world renowned Egyptian percussionist Hossam Ramzy, Jose Luis Monton and Spanish guitarist Rafa El Tachuela. The result of their work is a captivating, fiery, and romantic Spanish/Arabian album. The music on this release is a perfect synergy of Arabian and Spanish melodies and rhythms, the two musical genres inspiring each other to create a colorful adventure of sounds and flavors. Arabian dance rhythms meet zapateados (Flamenco 'stepdance'), fiery guitar complemented by sinuous Egyptian violin... it's a feast for the ears! "... a treasure. From the splendors of the Alhambra palace in Granada fusing wonderfully with Arabic cultures." (L. Anderson) "Excellent world-class acoustic fusion... truly captures Andalusian-Arabic synergies." (Rave Magazine India) "Heartfelt and spacious, Hossam's sea of percussion allows the music to soar, providing a bedrock for the elegant acoustic guitar lines... " (Living Tradition)

The roots of traditional Balkan music go back all the way to the ancient Greek civilization. In the two millennia since, it has been influenced both by the East and the West, being the crossroad where the two meet and mingle. Despite this, traditional Balkan music has managed to sustain an original sound and spirit due to the rhythms and melodies which remain closely linked with performing practices and traditions. The lyrics, the melodies, the rhythm of this folk tradition which is very much alive, continue to pulse and are as vibrant as ever, constantly creating new forms and shapes. This ensures an ever changing beauty of Balkan music style and the many ways it can be played. This release presents authentic folk music performed over time by both professionals and amateurs. In just a few verses, they weave stories about past times and traditions, when man lived as one with nature, admired the power of thunder and yearned for nature’s strength and beauty. The times when you could hear the song of the birds before the dawn chasing away the night remind us of a life as it was meant to be for our grandparents and their grandparents, a life which our children and grandchildren might also aspire to.

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 new release featureslively traditional music from Norway, Sweden, Finland, Iceland and Denmark played in modern and traditional renditions by some of the finest exponents of Scandinavian music. The album features traditional instruments such as the kantele, jouhikko, nyckelharpa, Hardanger fiddle and others. The included booklet features descriptions of the folk instruments, the brilliant folk musicians and ensembles, and full texts to the songs in their native languages. Enjoy this sound journey across the beautiful countries of Scandinavia!

Classical Music

Accordionist and composer Charles Peguri was a pioneering recording artist. Along with Emile Vacher he shares the title of originator of the "musette" style, this unique French (shall we even say "Parisian" ?) dancing and already swinging way of playing the accordion. Symbol of the 1930's popular "bals musette", these compositions haven't aged at all! Includes a 12 page booklet with both French and English notes.