# The Essential Music Library: Non-Western/World **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 12, 2005, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-essential-music-library-non-western-world/335217 "2005-12-12T04:24:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2005, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-essential-music-library-non-western-world/335217/1 "2005-12-12T04:24:57Z")
The Essential Music Library project is an attempt to get the many musical minds of the SDMB to sit down and discuss what works are absolutely necessary for a well-stocked musical library. There will be roughly 20 threads detailing a variety of genres so that we can get the depth that would be missing from a single-threaded discussion and the breadth necessary to cover what’s out there. This thread’s topic is what’s generally known as world music (which only an American could call it) or non-Western (although saying Celtic music is non-Western is just a bit of a stretch, don’t you think?). Previous threads: [Project Planning](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=335665) | [Classical](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=336834) | [Rock](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=337956) | [Jazz](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=339051) | [Modern Rock](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=340081) | [Blues](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=341203) | [Punk/Post-Punk/New Wave](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=342310) | [Opera/Choral Music](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=343551) | [Rap/Hip-Hop](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=344056) | [Gospel](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=344690) | [Electronica](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=345226) | [Contemporary Classical](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=345831) | [Pop](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=345832) | [Film Music/Musicals](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=346844) | [R&B/Soul](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=347413) | [Grass & Roots](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=348001) | [Funk/Disco](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=348507) ---
**Author:** ![DfrntBreign](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f6c823/32.png) [@DfrntBreign](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DfrntBreign)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2005, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-essential-music-library-non-western-world/335217/2 "2005-12-12T05:16:26Z")
I know almost nothing about this genre that I didn’t learn from Peter Gabriel’s stage show (on video). But I have heard and enjoyed **Ma Ya** by Habib Koite and Bamada **The Return of the Juju King** by King Sunny Ade I don’t know if they fit this category or not but Strunz and Farah are from Costa Rica and Iran respectively and the CD **Americas** owes a lot to the music of South and Central America. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2005, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-essential-music-library-non-western-world/335217/3 "2005-12-12T06:08:09Z")
> [@ultrafilter](#): > > world music (which only an American could call it) It’s called “World Music” everywhere I’ve seen in Japan. Anyways. You can’t find their CDs anywhere (except Akira), but by far I would recommend all music by Geinoh Yamashirogumi. Akira Ecophony Rinne Cantics Mostris (Oogonrin Sanyou) Silk Road Ecophony Gaia Osorezan 少年達への地球讃歌 (Damn… I just realised that I don’t have all of everything they’ve released.) ---
**Author:** ![E.Thorp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@E.Thorp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E.Thorp)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2005, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-essential-music-library-non-western-world/335217/4 "2005-12-12T06:25:24Z")
My essential in this category (I think) is Georgian folk music, especially as performed by the men’s choir Rustavi or its affiliated Boyz-II-Men choir, Mdzlevari. ---
**Author:** ![Jayrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Jayrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jayrot)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2005, 6:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-essential-music-library-non-western-world/335217/5 "2005-12-12T06:33:16Z")
Manu Chao – _Clandestino_ and _Proxima Estacion: Esperanza_ Amadou & Miriam – Dimanche A Bamako Youssou N’dour – Best of The Gypsy Kings – Best of Ali Farka Toure & Ry Cooder) – Talking Timbuktu Les Nubians – Princesses Nubiennes Buena Vista Social Club – Soundtrack Habib Koite – Ma Ya **absolutely seconded!** ---
**Author:** ![Jayrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Jayrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jayrot)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2005, 6:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-essential-music-library-non-western-world/335217/6 "2005-12-12T06:35:20Z")
Oh and also many of the compilations/mixes released by Putumayo and the various Buddha Bar CDs. ---
**Author:** ![Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a9a28c/32.png) [@Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oslo_Ostragoth)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2005, 6:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-essential-music-library-non-western-world/335217/7 "2005-12-12T06:48:55Z")
Rushed reply, but no collection is complete without: Zouk. I recommend [Hurricane Zouk](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00000JK11/qid=1134369667/sr=2-1/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_1/102-0912377-0181744?v=glance&s=music) as an intro. Mbaqanga (? I’m not sure if this is the correct name for this genre.). I recommend **Mahlathini and the Mahotella Queens** , [Paris Soweto](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000001FR2/ref=m_art_li_5/102-0912377-0181744?v=glance&s=music). There is also some West African music typified by fast guitar thrashing, but I don’t know the name for it. The [Gipsy Kings](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000002H6X/qid=1134369830/sr=1-3/ref=sr_1_3/102-0912377-0181744?v=glance&s=music). [Angelique Kidjo](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000003QKW/qid=1134369909/sr=1-9/ref=sr_1_9/102-0912377-0181744?v=glance&s=music). Don’t know if she represents a particular genre. And if you’ve never heard it, **The Bulgarian State Radio and Television Female Vocal Choir** , aka [Le Voix Mystere Bulgares](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000005IYL/qid=1134369988/sr=1-7/ref=sr_1_7/102-0912377-0181744?v=glance&s=music). ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2005, 11:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-essential-music-library-non-western-world/335217/8 "2005-12-12T11:40:08Z")
Anything by: Guillermo Portabeles (Cuba) Hamza el Din (Nubia) Karaikudi Dubrananiam (South India) Ali Farka Toure (Mali) Gyutu Monks (Tibet) Georgian Voices (Georgian Republic) Putumayo CD: “Music from the Coffee Lands” That first David Byrne-produced Brazilian mix (Belleza Tropical?) ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2005, 11:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-essential-music-library-non-western-world/335217/9 "2005-12-12T11:42:36Z")
> [@JKellyMap](#): > > Georgian Voices (Georgian Republic) Darn, I meant “Rustavi Choir”. Thanks, **E. Thorpe**! ---
**Author:** ![PookahMacPhellimey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pookahmacphellimey/32/3175_2.png) [@PookahMacPhellimey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PookahMacPhellimey)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2005, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-essential-music-library-non-western-world/335217/10 "2005-12-19T15:47:55Z")
Since this project is ongoing I hope it is alright to revive this thread. I spotted it when it was new but didn’t have the time to do it justice. Here’s my somewhat biased view for some good generalised starting points: Irish traditional: - De Dannaan: The Mist Covered Mountain - Planxty: Cold Blow and a Rainy Night. - The Bothy Band: The Bothy Band (These are the classic bands. I know various bands/artist are popular right now that I haven’t included but that’s due to personal taste. On the other hand, I have not included some musicians I love because I feel they are of more limited appeal if you have no prior knowledge of Irish music. Anyone may always contact me for Irish music advice.) Scottish traditional: -Silly Wizard: Live Wizardry. - Tanahill Weaver: Best of. - Dick Gaughan: Handful of Earth. (Or is that Folk? Who cares? The album’s stunning.) That’s just the tiniest tip of the iceberg for the more “Celtic”\* sound. Feel free to ask me more. ---
**Author:** ![PookahMacPhellimey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pookahmacphellimey/32/3175_2.png) [@PookahMacPhellimey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PookahMacPhellimey)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2005, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-essential-music-library-non-western-world/335217/11 "2005-12-19T15:50:16Z")
> [@PookahMacPhellimey](#): > > That’s just the tiniest tip of the iceberg for the more “Celtic”\* sound. Feel free to ask me more. \*Most “serious” musicians here in Ireland dislike the term Celtic. ---
**Author:** ![PookahMacPhellimey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pookahmacphellimey/32/3175_2.png) [@PookahMacPhellimey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PookahMacPhellimey)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2005, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-essential-music-library-non-western-world/335217/12 "2005-12-19T16:07:56Z")
As for World Music: Some of my completely random favourites: Yath - Ka: Yensei Punk (website seems to have vanished into the wilds of Siberia): Tuvan Throat singing mixed with loud guitars. [Sevara Nazakhan](http://www.sevaranazarkhan.com) : Yor Yor: Beautiful melancholy Uzbeki songs from a young female singer. [Merdoum Kings](http://www.artistdirect.com/nad/store/artist/album/0,,40524,00.html): Merdoum Kings Play Songs of Love: From Sudan. Cross between Arabic music, disco, reggae and a James Bond Sountrack. Sort of. [Goran Bregovic](http://www.polishmusic.ca/skok/cds/west/groups/b/bregovic/bregovic.html): Tales and Songs from Weddings and Funerals: If I have it right he’s half Croat and half Serb and wholly a great musicians. Got famous doing film soundtracks for Emir Kustarica films. [Varttina](http://www.varttina.com/): Seleniko: Great harmonies from a bunch of hyper-enthusiastic Finnish ladies. A bit like that Bulgarian choral stuff but sped up and more cheerful (mostly). [Garmarna](http://www.garmarna.com/): Guds Spieleman: Swedish band who mix Swedish traditional songs with Gothy metal and dance sounds. Dark. For those who like it more traditional lead singer Emma Hardelin also sings in the sublime Swedish traditional band Triakel. This is just a quick selection. I will return if I can find more time later. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2005, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-essential-music-library-non-western-world/335217/13 "2005-12-19T16:17:54Z")
Anything in Hebrew or Yiddish by Dudu Fisher. His voice is unbelievable. Germany’s Katja Ebstein is also excellent