After a long, tiring day at work, I spend my evenings with wonderful Brazilian company. This song, a masterpiece by Vinicius Cantuária, is dedicated to that company, who makes the days pass easily.
Obrigado, fofi!
Ethnic
[Video] Köyhät Ritarit – Kallon vienti honkaan (Hanging the skull on a pine tree)
I didn’t expect to find this charming bit of Finnish folk in my inbox today, but here is Köyhät Ritarit with some soothing new music.
[Video] Zlatko Origjanski feat. Beni Shaqiri – Generale
Though I am a big fan of Zlatko’s work (as evidence by the previous post featuring his old band, Lola V. Stain), I can’t say I was a big fan of Beni’s in the past. He seemed like a great guy, decent to the core of his bones, but his music never quite moved me, as it reminded me too much of 80s power ballad tripe that I ran away from in Los Angeles.
Hearing this piece has caused me to utterly reevaluate his music. This seems precisely what he was made to be doing, and Zlatko is bringing out the best in him Bravo to both!
[Video] Lola V. Stain – Makova Polja
Lola V. Stain were one of the founding members of Macedonian ethnocore. The project, featuring Zlatko Origjanski, gave a platform to musicians like Goran Trajkoski, who would found Anastasia, as well as the legendary gaija player Pece Atanasovski.
Earliest ancient Chinese musical instruments unearthed in tomb complex
From the rather odd archaeological website, Ancient Origins:
China Daily reports the musical finds were uncovered in the tomb complex in Hubei province. A plucked string instrument was found, known as the “Se”. Thousands of years ago, the long, flat board instruments were fitted with 50 strings of twisted silk, and were instruments for the elite used in rituals and sacrificial offerings. Eventually the instrument evolved into the guzheng, notes Wikipedia. The se is one of the most important Chinese stringed instruments to be created, but there are very few modern musicians who can play the se.
Interesting, indeed! Read more here.
[Video] Galymzhan Zholdasbay – Ak Tilek
Galymzhan Zholdasbay, also known as Alimhan Yoldaşbey or Галымжан Жолдасбай, is a Kazakh folk-pop singer melding traditional Kazakh melodies into a catchy, accessible ditty.
[Video] Zagasan Shireet Tamga – Eki Attar (Mongolian Music [Rap Style] Throat Song “Fish Symboled Stamp”)
I take a tremendous amount of pride bringing interesting (dare I say, tasteful?) things to my friends and subscribers. This is one of the most unique offerings I’ve been fortunate enough to come across in quite a while. Mongolia offers many great styles of ethnic music, but I never thought I’d see Khöömei (throat-singing) paired with rap. I’m not much of a fan of modern hip-hop at all, but this really has me fascinated.
Points for anyone who can find the name of the band and the actual name of the song. I’d love to hear more from these guys.
UPDATE: The band is called Zagasan Shireet Tamga. The song, apparently is ‘Eki Attar’ (Good Horses).
[Video] Fairouz – Aâtini Ennaya wa Ghanni / فيروز – اعطني الناي وغني
A lovely piece by Fairouz, the grand dame of Lebanese music (and Arab, in general, really).
[Video] Aleksandar Pejovski – Black Raindrops Upon The Flower Blossoms [live]
The final post of the year, and it’s a sublime cut. Aleksandar Pejovski is a pianist from Skopje, Macedonia who records for local label PMG Recordings. I thank my friend Biljana Vasileva for this treasure. A good way to wind down the year.
Have a Happy 2015!
[Video] Asonance – Podivný Rytíř
A pleasant surprise from the Czech Republic. Asonance are a folk band which was formed in 1976. Perfect music for your next troubadour party.
A Miscellany Of Tasteful Music 