N. Sengedorj of Mongolia demonstrates khöömei throat-singing

Smithsonian Global Sound | Global Sound Live | Vodcast

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Throat-singing, a guttural style of singing or chanting, is one of the world’s oldest forms of music. It is predominantly practiced in rural areas of Central Asia, where it is called khöömei. The herder/hunter lifestyle in rural Central Asia, with its reliance on the natural world and deeply felt connection to the landscape, is reflected in this vocal tradition. Throat-singers often imitate sounds of the natural surroundings--animals, mountains, streams, and the harsh winds of the steppe. Find recordings of this incredible vocal technique at www.smithsonianglobalsound.org.

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Los Camperos de Valles perform "El gusto"
Posted: 2007-07-09 02:30:00
Since the group’s inception in 1974, Los Camperos de Valles have come to represent the best in one of Mexico’s most distinctive and uplifting folk mus [more...]

Since the group’s inception in 1974, Los Camperos de Valles have come to represent the best in one of Mexico’s most distinctive and uplifting folk music traditions—the son huasteco. In the son huasteco tradition, poetic lyrics often deal with themes of longing, love, and nature. The melancholy themes often contrast with and yet somehow complement the playful melodies. “El gusto” (The Pleasure) is about lost love and typifies how imagery of rural life is often used to portray this pain and longing in son huasteco. Find the recording and lyric translations of the song at www.smithsonianglobalsound.org.
Grupo Cimarrón perform "Y soy llanero" (And I Am a Plainsman)
Posted: 2007-07-06 02:30:00
The lively sounds of traditional joropo music can be found throughout the plains of Colombia and Venezuela. Created by ranching people with a love of [more...]

The lively sounds of traditional joropo music can be found throughout the plains of Colombia and Venezuela. Created by ranching people with a love of cattle, horses, music, and dance, the joropo's driving rhythm and percussive stringed instrument sound draw from centuries-old Spanish, African, and New World musical traditions that contributed to the region's unique mestizo (mixed) culture. The music reflects the pride the plains people have in their history and culture. Here, Grupo Cimarrón, a "supergroup" of Colombia's finest joropo musicians, perform "Y soy llanero" (And I Am a Plainsman), a song that extols and romanticizes the plains and its cattle ranchers. It is from their GRAMMY-nominated CD, Sí, Soy Llanero, available at www.smithsonianglobalsound.org.
Rahim AlHaj, Iraqi oud virtuoso, records "Rast"
Posted: 2007-07-04 02:30:00
The oud, a traditional Middle Eastern string instrument, is over 5,000 years old and the ancestor of many other string instruments. In this video, Rah [more...]

The oud, a traditional Middle Eastern string instrument, is over 5,000 years old and the ancestor of many other string instruments. In this video, Rahim AlHaj, Iraqi oud virtuoso and composer plays, accompanied by master percussionist Souhail Kaspar. It is a glimpse into recording sessions for AlHaj's "When the Soul is Settled: Music of Iraq" CD, SFW-CD-45033, released October 2006. AlHaj is one of a very few professional oudists who are actively re-vitalizing and thereby preserving the Iraqi art music tradition. Explore more oud music from around the world at www.smithsonianglobalsound.org.
Los Pleneros de la 21 perform "El Testigo"
Posted: 2007-07-02 02:30:00
Los Pleneros de la 21 gelled as a group in 1983, when conservatory-trained percussionist Juan "Juango" Gutiérrez followed his pride in his Puerto Rica [more...]

Los Pleneros de la 21 gelled as a group in 1983, when conservatory-trained percussionist Juan "Juango" Gutiérrez followed his pride in his Puerto Rican culture and assembled a group of street-corner musicians in New York City to perform the signature genres of Afro-Puerto Rican music: bomba and plena. The group took its name from a bus stop in Santurce, Puerto Rico, one that identifies a neighborhood known for its plena musicians. This live performance at the 2005 Smithsonian Folklife Festival presents the rich instrumentation blended with rhythms and melodic lines as well as the festive mood with which this music is usually associated. Find music from their GRAMMY-nominated album Para Todos Ustedes at www.smithsonianglobalsound.org.