Classic Sheila Chandra trilogy set for re-issue
British Asian World Music pioneer Sheila Chandra’s landmark trilogy of albums set for re-issue.
Fri, 28 April 23
Homrong
Musicians of the National Dance Company of Cambodia
Released 27 May 1991
- Breu Peyney
- Leng Suan
- Homrong
- Tep Monorom Dance
- Nor Kor Reach
- Luok Phsar
- Tropangpeay
- Preah Chinnavong
- Bohrapha
- Mohori Bompay
Liner notes
Music of a venerable and magnificent culture, plus modern Cambodian folk songs previously unrecorded.
The music on this album represents a range of styles, from the classical orchestra to wedding ensembles and folk groups. (It should be noted that the orchestra here is not the full ‘pinpeat’ orchestra, but a smaller version lacking an extra roneat and an extra ghong).
The singers accompanying the dance orchestra tell stories – episodes from Hindu epics and heroic legends – or poems expressing a great love of beauty and pleasure. Of the folk music, many of these pieces are new to western ears having never been recorded before.
Further Listening
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Released 27 May 1991
This is an album of peasant songs from southern Russia, specific to an area known as ‘the wild field’ because it has no natural barriers and over the centuries has been ravaged by invaders and marauding Tartars. The songs all date from before the 1917 Revolution and are still sung by workers on collective farms. -
The Mahabharata (Original Soundtrack)
Various Artists
Released 24 January 1990
A monumental collaboration of international talent featuring musicians from Iran, Turkey, Japan, Denmark, India and France. This album represents a rare vision shared by musicians of different cultures and races in 1990.
Further reading
Simon Emmerson (1956–2023)
Peter Gabriel remembers the life and musical career of Simon Emmerson.
Fri, 17 March 23
Sheila Chandra: The pursuit of radical vocal expression
Sheila's trilogy of albums for Real World is being re-issued on CD, and on vinyl for the first time.
Fri, 28 April 23
Track of the day: ‘Sajanava’ by Jasdeep Singh Degun
Sajanava is taken from Jasdeep Singh Degun's debut album Anomaly.
Fri, 08 April 22