THIS SECTION WILL BE BUILT IN
MARCH/APRIL 2009
For a great overview of
music from around the world, and music for kids, I heartily
recommend the Putumayo
offerings.
Many countries have
their own versions of the Blues, or current music that is a credit to
their culture. Greece, where I spend a lot of time, has
Rembetika, which was born out of forced migrations of
Turks and Greeks based on religion back in 1922. Here is
a great example of a Rembetis (a Rembetika player)
Marcos Mamvakaris playing Φραγκοσυριανή
. Don’t ask, my Greek is
pretty basic. Rembetika songs are wistful, but often
amusing, telling stories of wine (Retsina), women and
hashish. It was banned several times by the authorities
or occupying forces, but is now enjoying a resurgence.
Φραγκοσυριανή is an example.
In the lands of the far
east, there is a ton of music that we never get to here,
for example Balinese and Javan. In Northern Asia, there
is Tuvan folk music, and you have to listen to
the music of Huun Huur
Tu. Play around
in their site too, listen to their music. It’s songs
dedicated to the land and to their mothers. See if you
can find them playing “Eki
Attar”. Their web
site shows an up-coming US tour so, if you can, go see
them.