World Folk Music & Dance

Item I: Bulgarian Music

Here is Rhodopeman’s channel on Youtube, over 228 videos uploaded and a treasure trove of Rhodopes music. I recommend it highly.

youtube.com/user/Rhodopeman

Although I can’t read the (Bulgarian script) names of the songs, I can pull up a second tab with google online translator, copy and past the song title, and get a rough english translation. I recommend that, too.

OH NO!! UNANTICIPATED TROUBLES!! Many of the comments I’m translating on google translator seem upset that Rodopeman is uploading Muslim videos, which many Bulgarians, especially Rhodopeans, take exception to. Not sure if the problem is a few videos from Muslims or that Rhodopeman is Islamic? Still looks like a nice assortment of beautiful videos. Some ugly commenter fights after some of them, will have to figure that out.

AHA! If the Bulgarian translate doesn’t work on google, change the language to Macedonian. Got some Macedonia comments after the videos. Interesting stuff.

I anticipate being in Rhodopeman’s Youtube videos for a while, translating with the google online translator and learning what I can from the video descriptions, comments and musical sounds – also pursuing more methodical research from the article on Rhodopean music. Sooo…

ITEM II:
If anyone who wants to upload vids from ANY old musical tradition, please do, keep the thread diversified.

Looking for any, however absurd or improbable, celtic connections, I came upon… ROTFL… the true Lord of the Dance… drumroll…

Stavros Flatley!

youtube.com/watch?v=6bDUvqQkhno

shoot me now.

HOLD THE PRESSES!!
THIS IS HUGE!!

The Georgian 3-stringed instrument, the pandur/i, has been confirmed as the earliest of the lute type instruments. Reliefs of this instrument have been found in ancient Sumeria from whence it spread to other places, and where it was called… drumroll… the pandur/i

More confirmation of linguists’ assertions that at some time the Georgians and ancient Sumerians co-habited (current theory is still that Georgians were slaves in Sumerian mines and did adopt some of the culture). So the Georgian song Chela song in my previous post may well indeed be the oldest living (unbroken) hymn to a god/dess – Nanna in Sumerian Ur, Innana in Ur, Nana in Georgia.

Here’s the link again, for those who missed it. Some of the lyrics, the appropriateness of the Christian icons in the vid, and the history of singer Hamlet Gonashvili are discussed in the previous post. Hear the panduri and the unique musical scale known only in Georgia BUT now anticipated as ancient Sumerian.

youtube.com/watch?v=5XcjldoQaMA

Some days it is good to be an amateur researcher of ancient music traditions. I am weeping.

Now Samm is weeping – he just found a recording of Hamlet Gonashvili singing Samm’s favorite Georgian song, Suliko (the soul, the rose and the nightingale). Following is a link to the full 30+ minute tape of the enigmatic Georgia singer Hamlet Gonashvili, who died in 1985 in a fall from an apple tree. Suliko is toward the end of the vid.

Samm says he wants to move to a little place in Georgia and spend his days listening to the wonderful music and watching people live “outside the lines”. (Referring to one Westerner’s anecdote about learning, the hard way, that in Georgia, “lines are for beginners”)

The late Hamlet Gonashvili, a memory:
youtube.com/watch?v=U3n91B2_5-Y

Meanwhile back in the Rhodopes region of Bulgaria – still looking for that distinctive Rhodopes sound in nearby regions. Striking out badly in Greece, Turkey, Macedonia (although there should be some musical links there, just haven’t found them yet), Romania (also should find some links there, but so far, musically, nothing) and Thracian music (a disappointment, but I may have been hearing only Western Thracian music).

I’m doing some genetic dna research for a clue as to where to look. So far, the Rhodopes sound is distinct to the Rhodopes. It’s a beautiful, unique and fascinating sound; either it came from somewhere, it’s a source, or it’s an isolate, and I haven’t a clue which.

One thing when researching the Balkans, one is never short of controversy in Youtube comments. The Balkans remain a hot bed. If you get bored, just sit back and read the comments.

If anyone listening to Youtube hears ANYTHING that sounds like the Rhodopean ladies, I don’t care where it claims to be from, please post it here.

Beautiful, haunting musical vignette (18 mn) from a Rhodope Mt. concert group. I have a feeling this is truly representative, and since the rest of the program describes the history of and other areas of Bulgaria, we have a basis for comparison.

youtube.com/watch?v=c3dzpkjk … plpp_video

A popular folk dance performed all over Western Europe and North America. What could it be except…

The Chicken Dance:
youtube.com/watch?v=GmC_GX5rMK0

That’s right, I’m stuck on the Rhodopean music tracking right now. I just watched a series of vids of EVERY traditional musical style in the Balkans, and the Rhodopean sound wasn’t there, except in Rhodopes. So now I’m tracking Rhodopean genetics, probably the y-chromosome haplotype is R1a or, more likely, I2a. There’s still no clue where the music came from or where it traveled to. Maybe an isolate?

Another lovely vid from Rhodopeman, this time an old man singing. Youtube comments are very positive:

youtube.com/watch?v=bbiovoDV … plpp_video

And this one, the same male singer, apparently almost a national hero, with nice pictures of old Rhodopes:

youtube.com/watch?v=IIqDEsuP … re=related

I would have expected to find a hint of this musical style among the neighbors of Rhodopes, but so far no go. Still looking, but looking more and more into the possibility this is a music isolate. I’ve read claims, from Macedonia for example, that there are similarities – but I can’t hear them. It seems to me that the rest of Bulgaria has those characteristic Balkan odd rhythms which the Rhodopeans simply do not.

And forgive this indelicate statement, but most of this region’s male dancers exhibit an extremely “light-in-the-sandles” style of dancing uncharacteristic of the Rhodopeans.

If the genetic trails and history of the common instruments don’t pan out, I’m stumped and will have to just sit back and enjoy the Rhodopean recordings available to us, until someday some clue rears its head. I’ve run out of places to look.

But I’m ever so thankful Chakra led me to this exquisitely beautiful Rhodopean style of song. I started collecting mp3 albums.

Digression into bittersweet American traditional music –

One of America’s greatest voices and finest human beings, the late Paul Robeson, hit a tragic trifecta:
a)American,
b)black, in the pre-Civil Rights era, he was the son of a slave, and
c)a socialist/communist and strong civil rights advocate during the McCarthy era.

I’ve read that the UK deserves credit for getting much of Robeson’s music recorded and archived during controversial times in America. Thank you.

Robeson’s deep bass/baritone lends a special dignity to one of America’s most beautiful traditional “Negro” spirituals, Deep River (1930’s recording):

youtube.com/watch?v=9qXBG5BRT3c

As I listen to this incredible rendition of our American traditional song “Shenandoah”, I can’t help but think that all Americans should hang our heads in shame for the way we treated this great and gracious man:

youtube.com/watch?v=9gtJkeXAMt0

I’ve had the opportunity to attend a folk music festival at a state park in West Virginia. It was amazing. Folk music represented primarily from the eastern half of Canada and the US. I appreciate the instruments; the guitar, banjo and fiddle. What I found of interest was that each regional influence seemed to come with a specialization of one of these instruments. The north brings with it the guitar, the Appalachian Mountain region the banjo and in the deep south the fiddle, boy those Cajuns can fiddle.

So during the day there was the usual of stage performances, but at night it really got interesting. Nearly 90% of the participants camped on the grounds in a city of tents that wondered along the parks roads filling ever possible open area. For one reason or another they generally tended to congregate into neighborhoods all representing different folk traditions. These people came to this world with a passion, playing music. My wife and I were guests of two regular attendees and we took a walk through the park at mid-night to one of the most entertaining venues available. Over a hundred different neighborhoods where a jam session was taking place. When you go to a festival like this you don’t go planning to get a good night sleep. You go planning to be kept awake by the serenade of sweet music.

We drank homemade moonshine, beer, smoke what ever the locals were offering and could not help but dance the road along the way. I got a chance to meet some pretty fair musicians that weekend, few were all that famous but boy they can play. If you get the chance look up Adam Hurt, a great banjo player that specializes in traditional folk songs. A humble and unassuming fellow who would sit down and play music with anyone.

We’d not heard of Adam Hurt before – he’s past our generation – but I note that he’s all over Youtube and plays with this excellent string band. He really is good, isn’t he?:

youtube.com/watch?v=FHIic_z5ZtI

Before we became interested in world music, we attended a couple of old timey/bluegrass festivals. They were everything you described and more. Except for one caution: NEVER pitch your tent near the path where the inebriates will be stumbling at 2 in the morning – it’s not a lot of fun when 3 of them fall and crush your tent, with you in it.

Here’s a really old chestnut which was filmed by a local tv station near our home. The late Bill Monroe and his long-time fiddle player Kenny Baker jamming on my all-time favorite fiddle tune, Jerusalem Ridge:

youtube.com/watch?v=bpzoLAwZ-gs

Since we’ve temporarily stalled out in our Bulgarian/Rhodopes research, and we’ve depleted most of our other world music ideas, it seems like a good time to explore the American (and to some extent, Canadian and UK) musical traditions. We hope that these will be familiar enough to encourage other ILPers to post some traditional or semi-traditional songs (or classics in the making) from your own traditions.

We’re going to work through a few parts of the folk collector Alan Lomax’s American Music anthology, at least whatever we can find on Youtube. And we hope that ILPers will feel free to post any vid or lyrics or descriptions or opinions from your own music traditions.

samm (and rebecca)

Few types of traditional songs are as much fun to sing as an old sea shanty:

Santy Anno (Kingston Trio) – Santy Anno refers, of course, to Mexican General Santa Anna of Alamo fame:
youtube.com/watch?v=h-7byyTHh1Q

The Drunken Sailor – Irish Rovers
youtube.com/watch?v=qGyPuey-1Jw

Haul Away Joe – The Clancy Brothers
youtube.com/watch?v=YvBHdw-EqLM

Farewell to Nova Scotia – The Irish Rovers
youtube.com/watch?v=0v3MAaQLSSI

Speaking of Irish music… My mom (rest her memory) played the violin way back when she was in high school and college. When her kids (me included) were out of the nest she when back to school to relearn it after 35 years of not playing at all. After a few years in university she had gotten fairly good again. Good enough to play in the local civic symphony. Friends of our family are really Irish, they got together to play in an Irish folk band and played a few gigs around town. It was really a pleasure to hear her play in that band. Memories I will cherish until I am but a memory.

Thank you for the reminder.

You’re welcome. As much as you love traditional music, perhaps, if your time permits, you can help add more Youtube videos to this thread – it needs more contributors than samm and me. rebecca

A post for the Irish and/or Irish Americans:

A exceptionally beautiful version of Danny Boy:
youtube.com/watch?v=Animp6Ub7Tg

An American (Stephen Foster Collins) classic done the Irish way. Wow, you Irish really know how to do a sing-a-long.
youtube.com/watch?v=s5T0vy0-Oak

There Were Roses – the troubles, wars are never started by friends, only fought by them
youtube.com/watch?v=SVlIV9dqVXA

From traditional American musician Tim O’Brien’s Irish-American Album “The Crossing”, which includes a who’s who of Irish and American backup musicians:
“John Riley” is the story of a little known (historically hidden in American textbooks) Irish-American brigade during the Mexican American War (indefensible American land-grab), the St Patrick’s Brigade or San Patricios. Outraged by the injustice of the affair, they switched to the Mexican side and got whopped at the Battle of Churubusco, survivors were hung, except for the leader, John Riley. To this day, the San Patricios are still celebrated in Mexico, which celebrates St. Patrick’s Day in their honor –
youtube.com/watch?v=rJiGXrfbq1A

rebecca

A large number of early American settlers were of Scot descent (many were the Scot-Irish, Scots who had been transplanted, by England, to Ireland, and who then moved to America). Scots, Wha Hae!! This should be the first of 2 Scots posts. I think.

Ye Jacobites By Name –
After the Jacobite rebellion in Scotland failed, some continued to use the extinct rebellion as an excuse for continued bloodshed and murder. These lyrics, penned by famed Scot poet Robert Burns, claim that these opportunists were Jacobites in name only, but not Scotsmen of honor (like true Jacobites), and he called for them to stop their brutality, accept the clear defeat, live in peace and go on with life.

This particular version by The Corries begins a bit softer than some of the more bombastic pipe n drum style versions, but all the big drums and amplifiers on Youtube can’t match the quiet intensity in Ronnie Browne’s and the late Roy Williamson’s marvelous voices and true Scot hearts. Williamson and Browne, as The Corries, were the voices of Scot music for over 2 decades before Roy’s untimely death in 1990 (brain tumor).

youtube.com/watch?v=QeVdejmRqRw

Lyrics, in original Scots form:
Ye Jacobites by name, lend an ear, lend an ear,
Ye Jacobites by name, lend an ear,
Ye Jacobites by name,
Your fautes I will proclaim,
Your doctrines I maun blame, you shall hear.

What is Right, and What is Wrang, by the law, by the law?
What is Right and what is Wrang by the law?
What is Right, and what is Wrang?
A weak arm and a strang,
The short sword and the lang, for to draw.

What makes heroic strife, famed afar, famed afar?
What makes heroic strife famed afar?
What makes heroic strife?
To whet th’ assassin’s knife,
And hunt a Parent’s life, wi’ bluidy war?

Then let your schemes alone, in the state, in the state,
Then let your schemes alone in the state.
Then let your schemes alone,
Adore the rising sun,
And leave a man undone, to his fate.

Scotsman Eric Bogle, visiting Flanders Fields and seeing all the gravestones, particularly one of 19 year old Willie McBride, was inspired to write this incredible song (this version is sung by an Irish group, The Fureys, with Davey Arthur)

youtube.com/watch?v=ntt3wy-L8Ok

The Green Fields of France

"…Do all those who lie here, do they know why they died –
Did they really believe when they answered the call,
Did you really believe that this war would end wars?

Well the suffering, the sorrow, the glory, the shame,
The killing, the dying was all done in vain.
For young Willie McBride, it’s all happened again,
And again, and again, and again and again…"

“Did they beat the drum slowly,
Did they play the fife lowly,
Did they sound the Death March as they lowered you down?
Did the band play The Last Post and Chorus,
Did the pipes play The Flowers of the Forest?”

3 of 3 Scottish music posts:

Americans of Scot descent have been stereotyped as somewhat dour and more serious than their Celtic cousins, Irish Americans. Although the Scot sense of humor is different from that of the Irish, it is equally rich.

Andy Stewart singing Donald Where’s Your Troosers (a song about wearing a kilt in public):
“Let the winds blow high, let the winds blow low, through the streets in m’ kilt I’ll go…”

youtube.com/watch?v=Eg0m5bQGcVc

The first Scottish song I ever learned was in the Laurel and Hardy movie “Bonnie Scotland”; the song was “W’ A Hundred Pipers”, still a rollicking delight to hear:

youtube.com/watch?v=l286QgBHP5o

The Scots have a longstanding, well deserved reputation as extraordinary warriors/soldiers: tenacious, fearless, and a wee bit mad. I am awed by the Scottish tradition of having the piper playing right there in the middle of the field of battle, even as late as WWII. Makes you wonder about the life expectancy of a military bagpiper during times of war, doesn’t it? I mean, could an enemy ask for more tempting target?

THE classic Scottish Bagpipe anthem, Scotland the Brave –
“Land of my heart forever, Scotland the Brave”

youtube.com/watch?v=1EKCbIetrEw

1 of 2

Although his career has peaked and is in natural decline now, some of my interest in world music was sparked by Helmut Lotti, the Belgian super-singer and all-around-nice-guy who made many international friends and fans during his busy years.

A Helmut Lotti music sampler from around the world:

Naples/Sicily – “Tiritomba” – festival song
youtube.com/watch?v=SiQFFOOGzzE

Russia – Otschi Tschornije – Dark Eyes (Mysterious Eyes Like Dark Precious Stones), Russian love song.
The first time we heard Lotti’s version of this song, when Lotti popped the high note at the end, my hubby popped right off the couch!
youtube.com/watch?v=LIWQE-8t5ew

The Ukraine – Lutshje Bulo –
Ukrainian song of a fellow who goes to a party and has his heart stolen, OR, according to others, Lotti’s cleaned up version of a bawdier Cossack song?
Per the liner notes, this recording was plagued by a sound-disc technician who got carried away with the song and couldn’t help but dance while trying to hold the disc!
youtube.com/watch?v=aLNSf_3et3A

South Africa – Nkosi Sikele Africa and Umakoti – The National Hymn of South Africa and a Wedding Song.
Lotti has spent considerable time working in South Africa on behalf of UNICEF; he truly loves the country.
youtube.com/watch?v=RSpCYMgVfiI

Jewish, Hebrew wedding song – Hava Nagila
The lyrics are in Hebrew. The melody for the song comes from the Bukovina region of the Ukraine; it is a variant of the Hora circle dance. The song is a staple at Jewish weddings.
youtube.com/watch?v=tXS73OD8MMI

More to come, especially from Lotti’s Latin American repertoire

The Estonian Singing Revolution

Estonians, a Baltic Finno-Uralic people, are 1st cousins (genetically and traditionally) to Finns and Karelians, Udmurts (featured in the 1st video in this thread) and Mari peoples. Estonia is traditionally a land of song.

When fighting for their independence from the USSR, the Estonians turned to their musical heritage in the now-famous non-violent “singing revolution”. Their voices could not be stilled. Facing possible national annihilation by the Soviets, but without firing a shot at their oppressors, they gained their freedom in one of history’s most courageous and beautiful bloodless revolutions.

youtube.com/watch?v=DA9PmZo-2jo

Estonia had finally declared her independence, but on that day the Prime Minister issued a frantic radio message to the country: the government building and national council at Toompea were under attack by violent Soviet protestors. Within minutes of the call, thousands of Estonians surrounded the building, with thousands more on the way. The Soviets were now outnumbered and trapped. From Russia, orders were given to marshal troops and tanks for imminent violence.

Thousands of Estonians were shouting “Freedom!” “Estonia!”. The Estonian leaders on the balcony at Toompea asked the crowd to make way and allow safe exit for the Soviets trapped in the building. The Estonian crowd locked arms into two groups and parted, creating a safe corridor of passage for their former oppressors, shouting “Out! Out!”. Not one drop of blood was shed. After the Soviets were gone, thousands of Estonians began singing, in one voice, the patriotic song “Muu Isamaa On Minu Arm” (My Country Is My Love):

youtube.com/watch?v=34mYlYkzPVU

I’d like to spend a little time exploring the traditional music of Estonia. If anyone wants to post or comment, please do – what I know of Estonia and its music is what I’m reading on Wikipedia.

As always, samm and I would love to have people post or comment on traditional music from any culture – jump in any time. rebecca

I’m enjoying your commentary as much as the music, Rebecca… we’ll most of the music… not so keen on Stavos Flattley etc.

PS: love the history lessons via music, too. Nice.