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Oddio Overplay Showcase Vol 5 - Allure of Asia
Oddio Overplay Showcase Vol 5 - Allure of Asia

Allure of Asia showcases traditional musical forms from the nations of Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Mongolia, Myanmar [formerly Burma], Thailand, Tuva and Vietnam.

Here is a solid trip through the Orient. Our trip begins with Tuvan and Mongolian throat singers who have mastered singing with two voices from one mouth [overtone singing]. We also visit India, Myanmar [formerly Burma], Cambodia, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, China, Indonesia and Japan.

The source for the majority of the music and information is Cliff Sloane in his truly amazing Asian Classical Music site hosted by Ibiblio. Anthropologist Robert Garfias hosts tracks 5 and 14 at his fantastic Ethnomusicology site. Please visit the sites of these gentlemen for information and insights.

The following recordings are made available online by the artists, their labels, or other representatives. The intention of posting links here is to inform visitors to this site of some of the great music out there from lesser known artists. The site informs you of these links to shared music online as a means of supporting the artists. Please enjoy these selections and consider buying music from these great artists!

The current lineup - Tracks: 15, Time: 76.5 minutes
photo by dodo ©2003


[click pics for artist info]



01. Huun Huur Tu - Tu Chiraa Khoo  [not a direct link]
The Republic of Tuva, 2,500 miles east of Moscow, is a sparsely settled region of grasslands, boreal forests and mountain ridges with a musical tradition of throat singing. Check out their website and the Friends of Tuva website to learn the connection with physicist Richard Feynman and musician Frank Zappa!


02. Tuuls [Nyamgerel and Tsogtgerel Miagmar] - Altain Magtaal Altai Kantate
Brothers Nyamgerel and Tsogtgerel Miagmar were both born in Hovd, Mongolia and have studied throat singing for more than a decade. Their performance of "Alag Schaazgai" can be heard at their label, Heartmoon Records in Germany.


03. Li Tingsong - Shimian Maifu  [not a direct link] [c. 1960]
Li Tingsong (1906-1976) was a highly-accomplished pipa player. The pipa is a large, fretted, four-stringed, pear-shaped lute. Shimian maifu roughly translates to "Ambushed from All Sides" and is also known as "The State of Han Conquers the State of Chu." This is a track from Anthology of World Music: China, from Rounder Records where you can listen to all tracks.


04. Phong Nguyêñ - Bac (Joy)
Dr. Phong Nguyêñ is a performer, ethnomusicologist and avid promotor of Vietnamese traditional music. You can learn more about him and purchase his CDs at his website. He plays dan tranh, a 16-string instrument, nearly identical to the Chinese gu-zheng.


05. Ravi Shankar - Rag Kaplu
Ravi Shankar, the infamous sitar master, has been in the news a great deal lately as his daughters, Norah Jones, Ananda Shankar and Anoushka Shankar, are making names for themselves. All Music Guide offers a brief biography. This recording is from a collection of Indian 78s hosted by Robert Garfias.


06. K. Yesudass - Nagumomu Ganaleni (Tyagaraja)
"Dr. K. J. Yesudass is far more widely known as a pop crooner of the Malayalam film industry. He may be the single most popular singer of southern India." - Asian Classical Music site


07. Amjad Ali Khan - Bengali and Assamese Folk Songs
Sarod master Amjad Ali Khan and his sons are recorded here live at the BBC for a concert commemorating the 50th anniversary of India's independence from Britain. The piece was an impromptu encore.


08. Khmer Mahori - Phoumea Tak Lolok
Mahori is secular entertainment music originating in the royal courts of Cambodia that is played by a string-based ensemble. The term mahori is shared with Thai music, and the instrumentation is often the same.


09. Thiphakon - Lao Soi Ngam
Thiphakon hails from Luang Prabang, Laos. Their name roughly translates to Resonance of Angels and the song "Lao Soi Ngam" translates to "Utterly Beautiful."


10. Lanna Orchid - Long Mae Ping
The Lanna Orchid Ensemble of Chiang Mai University are a "salaw saw seung" ensemble, utilizing such northern instruments as the salaw (free bow fiddle), saw (single-reed pipe) and seung (plucked lute).


11. Udom Silapin and Ensemble - Lao Kruan
In Thai funeral music, the ensemble and repertoire are both called "phleng hae sop", or music for the corpse. A typical ensemble consists of ranat ek (wooden key xylophone), ranat lek (iron key xylophone), khong wong (gong circle), a pair of pii (double-reed winds, tuned a fifth apart) and several drums.


12. Ywa Sa Sein Chit Ti - Hsaing Piece 2
Sein Chit Ti is one of the grand masters of the hsaing ensemble. Hsaing means "hanging circle," and refers to the drum circle called the patt waing. Sein Chit Ti is the patt waing player, which is typical for the leader in these ensembles.


13. National Dance Company of Cambodia - Tep Monorom Dance (Pinpeat)
Pin peat is the ceremonial music of the former royal courts. The pinpeat orchestra consists of roneat (xylophones of both wood and metal), khong wong (gong-circles in two sizes), two types of double-reeds and several types of drums.
Hatoma style of dress for this dance

14. Minyo - Hatoma Bushi
Hatoma is a central island of Okinawa and this popular folk song is about the view of the island from its highest hill, Hatoma Nakamuri. Minyo refers to Okinawan folk music. Mr. Garfias does not indicate the artist. My personal favorite Okinawan performer is Kina Shokichi. You can hear his music in Real Audio archives at WFMU, such as "I-Yah Hoy!" and his famous "Haisai, Ojisan" in this show.
Balinese shadow puppet, sourceL http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/mead/field-wajang.html

15. Gamelan Nyai Saraswati - Dolanan Swara Suling
Gamelan is a traditional Javanese/Indonesian ensemble format, and the music is gorgeous. This ensemble is at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. There are similar sites with gamelon information and recordings of performances for the groups Bali and Beyond [fantastic] and Monkey-C. Monkey-C has a neato section where you can play along on your gamelon instrument of choice.