Loving to record everything what can possibly emanate sound, I am especially proud of always bringing recordings from the places I visit. All sounds from the different libraries are on request.
- Vietnam (2009): small sound library (More in the research pages!)
- Lisbon (Portugal; 2008 & 2009): small sound library
- Chibale (Zambia, Africa; 2008): recordings of bands, musicians, including a small sound library
Vietnam
Hồn Lìa Khỏi Xác a ‘Ngâm Thơ’ by Hàn Mặc Tử
In Viet Nam poems can be presented as spoken words or in a particular kind of singing. They are are called ‘ngâm thơ’, and are written with the melody already in mind. The artist is highly specialized, and therefore it is like looking for a needle in the haystack to find somebody who is still carrying on this tradition. Happily I was able to meet two singers who I was able to record singing one of Viet Nam’s most famous poems.
Depending on the area of Viet Nam, people have a different accent in their pronunciation, which, of course, takes a striking influence on the singing, resulting in the three different styles.
More about ‘ngâm thơ’, and other topics related to Vietnamese music can be found in the research section.
North of Viet Nam
Center of Viet Nam
South of Viet Nam
Chibale (Zambia)
One Monday morning we decided to visit the ‘Kalindula Band’ in the neighboring town. After driving for an hour through the wild over streets half washed away from the last rain season, we finally met with really great musicians, playing a special concert only for us.
‘Solola uwandetelela’
‘Ndeamukuipusha kuatchilolo’
Every now and then local musicians dropped by at our farm, where we were teaching our teams from Chibale in handling cameras and recording gear. During one of these visits I recorded Gabriel talented flute player, who grew up in the west of Zambia before he came to Chibale. The strong South African influence on cultural life can still be heard in his melodies.
‘Welcome to Africa’
In this song he is playing his own overdubs: ‘Last Six Pence’