VARIOUS – Music From The Mountain People Of Vietnam – LP – Vinyl [OCT 24]

LP – Recorded live on location by Vincenzo Della Ratta between 2003-2023, this extremely limited-edition LP includes a 4-page full-colour insert with photos of the musicians and surroundings, a detailed track list and liner notes by Vincenzo Della Ratta.

Other worldly folk music from the Central Highlands of Vietnam performed by some of the most renowned musicians of the region, this exceptional document features small ensembles & solo performers on a variety of unique instruments (many with vocals). This is rare and disappearing music from the Jerai, Banhar, Ede, and Rongao ethnic groups and although the recordings are made during informal settings, they are raw, emotional, dreamy, and transcendent.

From Vincenzo Della Ratta‘s liner notes: ” In recent decades, the traditional cultures of various ethnic groups in Vietnam have undergone dramatic changes, leading to the radical transformation or even loss of some long-standing traditions, all of which has also had a significant impact on the musical traditions of the Central Highlands. The recordings on this album reflect this period, in which the last representatives of the old musical traditions have coexisted with a new wave of musicians and performers. This shift has affected the musical instruments used, the functions or contexts in which they are played, the repertoires, and the playing styles. A further characteristic of musical change in the Central Highlands is the influence of Western or Vietnamese music, evident in the way young musicians perform with a clean and measured style, with the standard Western tuning. This contrasts with the traditional playing style of older generations, and both styles are featured on this album.

Rather than just being a musical postcard, this album is intended to provide an accurate sonic representation of the musical landscape in the Central Highlands over the past two decades, while still being highly enjoyable. I feel that it is particularly significant, considering the present period of major change, during which the music of the older generations is fading from the villages of the region, making way for new forms of musical expression.”

Recorded live on location by Vincenzo Della Ratta between 2003-2023, this extremely limited-edition LP includes a 4-page full-colour insert with photos of the musicians and surroundings, a detailed track list and liner notes by Vincenzo Della Ratta.

Tracklist:

Side A
1. Jarai Ethnic Group two gng 02:18
2. Jarai Ethnic Group gng + voice 02:05
3. Jarai Ethnic Group kni. 02:20
4. Jarai Ethnic Group tojap 00:51
5. Jarai Ethnic Group gng + kni 02:00
6. Jarai Ethnic Group gng + kni + voice 02:02
7. Jarai Ethnic Group guitar + voice 01:12
8. Bahnar Ethnic Group ding djng #1 01:29
9. Bahnar Ethnic Group pt png 01:13
10. Bahnar ethnic group br. 02:25
11. Bahnar ethnic group ding djng #2 00:49
12. Bahnar ethnic group lm ding 00:47

Side B
13. Bahnar ethnic group ting ning + voice 02:27
14. Bahnar ethnic group ting ning. 02:45
15. Ede ethnic group tak ta. 01:08
16. Ede ethnic group ng kram 01:44
17. Ede ethnic group bru + voice. 01:31
18. Ede ethnic group g. 01:12
19. Ede ethnic group ding but 01:27
20. Ede ethnic group ding nm + voice. 02:27
21. Ede ethnic group gng kram 00:49
22. Ede ethnic group ki pah 00:36
23. Rngao ethnic group t tn #1 01:04
24. Rngao ethnic group ting ning + voice. 01:26
25. Rngao ethnic group t tn #2 01:57
26. Rngao ethnic group t tn + voice 02:05