Sierra Leone - Musiques TraditionellesOcora C 580036, 1996
1. Chant de louange avec petit luth et choeur de voix à bouche fermée
2. Chant de louanges avec guitare et voix (Femme)
3. Solo de flûte foula
4. Tambours temné (Société insourou)
5. Chanteur de louanges avec harpe en calebasse
6. Filles mandingo, hymne chrétien
7. Xylophones karanko
8. Tambours limba
9. Femmes mendé, (Société boundou)
Recorded 1976/77
The traditions of the Fula griots and the Mende, Themne, Limba and Karanko drums, compose the present musical panorama.
The first track is 10 minutes of a man singing, occasionally joined by another male singer, over a drone of repeated chords on an instrument that sounds much like a ukelele. The second track consists of a woman singing a somewhat more interesting line over an equally repetitious accompaniment played by what the notes identify as three guitars; but whose most notable characteristic for European trained ears is their non-Western standard tuning and tone color--rather restricted in upper overtones (dull) by our standards. The third track is a nine minute solo on a three holed flute; the construction of the piece results from the immediate repetition several times in succession of very small fragments--4, 5, or 6 note fragments. Track 4 is a village chant/dance, with drums, rattles and cowbells in a style that may well be familiar to anyone who has had a slight exposure to 'traditional African village music'. Track 5 is rather similar in nature, but with lutes, and not the best recording quality. Track 6 is a Christian Hymn sung by two schoolgirls. Track 7 is a xylophone and chant track; track 8 more chanting with drums and cowbells, very repetitious; track 8 is women singing with a rattle.
There is a nice variety of instruments and styles; but not one track stands out as particularly fascinating. The collection demonstrates how different African and European music and aesthetics are; jazz, blues, and the like notwithstanding. For someone looking in particular for examples of music from Sierra Leone, of course this will do; but for someone in search of something really special and unique I doubt they will be satisfied with this particular CD.
192 kbps; no scans
http://rapidshare.com/files/112692162/SL-MT.rar
