World Arbiter 2001: The Roots of Gamelan
bali, 1928:
gong of belaluan
pelegongan of kuta, directed by i wayan lotring
gong of busungbiu
gender wayang of kuta, directed by i wayan lotring
janger group of abian timbul
angklung of sidan
new york, 1941:
colin mcphee's transcriptions
colin mcphee & benjamin britten, duo pianists
georges barrere, flute
Read the liner notes
World Arbiter 2002: Dances and Trances
Taroudannt, Morocco, 1994-1995:
Adhan for early morning prayer
Three Guerreras
Combined Adhans for Salat as-Soubh
Egyptian style Oud song
Two Berber songs
Hadra
Sufi Brotherhoods and Street Musicians
Read the liner notes
World Arbiter 2003: Ancient Court Raga Traditions
Pandit Ashok Pathak, surbahar
Ragas Malkauns, Bageshree
Recorded in 2000
Read the liner notes
World Arbiter 2004: Lost Sounds of the Tao
Lo Ka Ping, guqin. recorded 1970, 1971
The guqin was Confucius' instrument, used by scholars and nobles for self-purifiation. Lo was a Taoist priest (1896-1980) who lived in the remote lands of the New Territories behind Hong Kong, recorded by a pupil in 1970. These rare archival tapes were assembled after an extensive hunt in Hong Kong, New York, California and Taiwan.
Hear Lo Ka Ping performing the traditional work Teals descending on the level sand.
Read the liner notes
World Arbiter 2005: The Sun of Our Lives
Rev. Gary Davis. recorded 1955-1957
In a private archive lay home recordings of works never recorded on LP or CD by this master bluesman, ragtime guitarist and gospel artist, second to none as a musician, who influenced Blind Boy Fuller, Brownie McGee, Bob Dylan, Bob Weir & the Grateful Dead, Bob Dylan, Taj Mahal and so many more. These unique documents, in excellent sound, capture a full cross-section of a remarkable musician who brought to culmination so many traditions. Included is a fiery sermon by the Rev.
1. improvisation: Fast Blues in A
2. improvisation: Slow Blues in E
3. West Coast Blues (Blind Blake)
4. improvisation: Rag in A minor
5. Two-step
6. Horse Thief's Blues
7. Candy Man
8. cigarette break
9. improvisation: Hills and Valleys
10. Seven Sisters
11. Crucifixion
12. I Decided to Go Down
13. Sun is Going Down
14. My Heart is Fixed
15-18: hymn, prayer, song, sermon (church service)
19. improvisation: Coco Blues
rec. 1955-57, licensed from Labor Records.
Hear Rev. Gary Davis perform Improvisation: Fast Blues in A
Read the liner notes
World Arbiter 2006: Blind Lemon Jefferson (1897-1929)
Long Lonesome Blues: Lemon's Texts Revealed
Recorded 1926-1929
Rabbit Foot Blues; Shuckin' Sugar Blues; Booster Blues; Dry Southern
Blues;
Long Lonesome Blues; Got the Blues; Black Horse Blues; Corrina
Blues;
Old Rounder's Blues; Beggin' Back; That Black Snake Moan; Stocking
Feet Blues;
Bad Luck Blues; Broke and Hungry; Chinch Bug Blues; Deceitful
Brownskin Blues;
Electric Chair Blues; See that My Grave is Kept Clean; Low Down
Mojo Blues;
Jack o' Diamond Blues; Chock House Blues; Change My Luck Blues;
Lemon's Cannon Ball Blues; Lemon's Worried Blues; Prison Cell
Blues; Long Distance Moan;
A monumental artist amongst the earliest recorded bluesmen, Blind Lemon Jefferson was a master guitarist and lyricist. While his recordings have been re-issued, often in poor sound, World Arbiter's restoration is the first publication of Jefferson to include transcriptions of the song texts and bring greater clarity to these classic vintage discs.
Hear Blind Lemon Jefferson play Bad Luck Blues
Read the liner notes
World Arbiter 2007: Dancers of Bali
Gamelan of Peliatan, 1952
Gong, angklung and gender wayang of Peliatan under the direction of Anak Agung Gedé Mandera
Kapi Radja
Angklungan
Tumulilingan
Baris
Gambangan
Kebyar
Gender Wayang: Angkat - Angkatan
Legong: Lagu Condong · Pengipuk · Garuda
Legong: Lagu Condong · Bapang · Pangkat ·
Garuda
Hear Kapi Radja
Recordings made in London & New York, 1952
Published with the permission of Sony Music and the John Coast
Foundation
World Arbiter 2010: Japanese Traditional Music
Noh · Biwa · Shakuhachi
Kokusai Bunka Shinkokai, 1941
Music for the Noh theater
1 Takasago (su-utai) utai: Kanze Tetsunojô VI
2 Yashima (su-utai) utai: Kongoô Iwao I
3 Hagoromo (ban-bayashi): part I
4 Hagoromo (ban-bayashi): part II
utai: Sakurama Kintarô, ô-tsuzumi:
Kawasaki Rikichi, ko-tsuzumi: Kô Gorô
taiko: Kakimoto Toyoji, nô: Issô Eiji
5 Matsumushi (su-utai) utai: Kita Roppeita
6 Aoi-no-ue (su-utai) utai: Sakurama Kintarô
7 Hachinoki (su-utai): part I
8 Hachinoki (su-utai): part II
shite: Sakurama Kintarô, tsure: unknown,
waki: Hôshô Arata
9 Youchi Soga (icchô): part I
10 Youchi Soga (icchô): part II
utai: Kondô Kenzô, ko-tsuzumi: Ôkura Rokuzô
11 Teika ichiji no dai (dokugin): part I
12 Teika ichiji no dai (dokugin): part II
utai: Umewaka Manzaburô I
13 Sanekata (su-utai): part I
14 Sanekata (su-utai): Part II
utai: Hôshô Arata
Kyôgen kouta:
15 Tsuchiguruma, "Nanatsu ni naru ko"
16 "Uji no sarashi", "Fuku no kami"
utai: Shigeyama Sengorô
Biwa:
17 Môsô biwa: Jishinkyô
vocal and biwa: Kitada Meichô
18 Heikyoku: Nasu no Yoichi
vocal and biwa: Satô Masakazu
19 Satsuma biwa: Ko-Atsumori
vocal and biwa: Yoshimura Gakujô
20 Chikuzen biwa: Gishi no honkai
vocal and biwa: Tanaka Kyokurei
Shakuhachi:
21 Fuke shakuhachi: Ajikan
shakuhachi: Miyagawa Nyozan
22 Kinko-ryû: Kokû reibo
shakuhachi: Aoki Reibo
23 Tozan-ryû: Iwashimizu
shakuhachi duo: Katayama Yûzan, Sekino Shôzan
24 Miny'ô-shakuhachi: Oiwake-bushi
shakuhachi: Wakui Kogetsu
Hear Matsumushi (su-utai) utai: Kita Roppeita
Read the liner notes (English)
(pdf)
World Arbiter 2011: Bali 1928, vol. 1
Gamelan Gong Kebyar
Music from Belaluan, Pangkung, Busungbiu
The Oldest New Music of Bali
Gamelan Gong Kebyar of Belaluan, Denpasar:
1-6 Kebyar Ding parts I-VI
7 Curik Ngaras
8 Kembang Lengkuas
9 Tabuh Telu
10 Buaya Mangap
Gamelan Gong Kebyar of Pangkung, Tabanan:
11 Gending Sesulingan
12-15 Gending Longgor parts I-IV
Gamelan Gong Kebyar of Busungbiu, Northwest Bali:
16 Tabuh Légod Bawa
17 Tabuh Cacelantungan
18 Kebyar
19 Tabuh Panyelah
20 Tabuh Gari
Hear Gamelan Gong Kebyar of Belaluan playing Kebyar Ding, part 1: Kebyar
Read the liner notes; here is the entire PDF text by Edward Herbst; an abbreviated version is printed in the booklet.
Click here for a glossary of Balinese terms used in the essay.
Note: the CD contains three silent films by Rolf de Maré
Our additional silent films made in Bali, on YouTube:
- I Marya dancing Igel Trompong with Gong Belaluan,
filmed by Miguel Covarrubias circa 1930-33. - Ida Boda teaching légong with the gamelan palégongan of Kelandis,
Ida Boda teaching légong,
filmed by Colin McPhee circa 1935. - Gamelan kebyar from unidentified village in Buléléng, North Bali,
in the style of Busungbiu, featuring the trompong,
filmed by Colin McPhee, circa 1931-38. - I Sampih dancing Igel Jongkok (Kebyar Duduk) with Gong Peliatan (A.A. Gedé Mandera, kendang player),
filmed by Colin McPhee circa 1931-38. - I Gdé Manik playing kendang,
filmed by Colin McPhee circa 1931-38.