In Celebration of the Human Voice - The Essential Musical Instrument
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World Music CDs
There are so many wonderful choirs around the world who sing the traditional music of their homeland. The various influences these traditions have had is fascinating to listen to. Here we list choral music by country or region. |
Germany
Germany has always flourished culturally and the choral music that developed along the way is no exception to the richness prevalent in other art media. Some of the world's most renowned composers hail from Germany, including Johann Sebastian Bach, George Frideric Handel, Ludwig van Beethoven, Richard Wagner and many other names that have become household names in Classical, Baroque, and Romantic music.
Estonia
African music is one of the first types that come to mind when you think of world music, especially in a cappella. Whether Gospel, Freedom songs or love songs, all of it is celebratory; African choirs and groups have an ability to convey joy and happiness that is unique and beautiful. If you like Ladysmith Black Mambazo, you'll love listening to these albums. Some of the groups here were inspired by Ladysmith, while others served as inspiration FOR Ladysmith!
South Seas
If you’re like most people, you probably think of the “South Seas” in terms of warm beaches and great spots to vacation. You should know, though, that there is much, much more to this region of the globe – including some amazing vocal music. We’ve got music from one of the most southern of the inhabited places on the planet here! Here you can explore the chants and hymns from indigenous peoples whose music developed long before they were discovered by Europeans, and long before their musical traditions were influenced by the Church music of the day. It’s a fascinating journey through cultures little-known to Western audiences, and for a music fan, it’s a must-listen!
Bulgaria
The rich, musical history of Bulgaria has a tradition of heartfelt, passionate vocal music, and what better way to express it than in a choral ensemble? For a small nation that doesn't appear on the world stage often, Bulgaria is rich in what counts the most - the arts. Both their traditional cultural music and that which celebrates their Christian faiths appears in the repertoire of Bulgaria's amazing choirs. You've heard of them, you know you have. Now why not actually hear them?
Russia
Not surprisingly for one of the largest countries on the planet, Russia has a wide and diverse spectrum of music, including a broad range of a cappella styles & genres, ranging from exquisite Jazz to spectacular sacred pieces, performed by children's ensembles and adult groups both - with each recording you'll explore and discover a different facet of a centuries-old, beautiful culture that is little explored in the West.
Africa
African music is one of the first types that come to mind when you think of world music, especially in a cappella. Whether Gospel, Freedom songs or love songs, all of it is celebratory; African choirs and groups have an ability to convey joy and happiness that is unique and beautiful. If you like Ladysmith Black Mambazo, you'll love listening to these albums. Some of the groups here were inspired by Ladysmith, while others served as inspiration FOR Ladysmith!
Latin America
Most Latin American countries have strongly Christian ties, and as is common in Christian countries, there are some beautiful liturgical pieces written locally. But it's not all religious music - there are waltzes from Peru, tangos from Argentina, Cuban salsa, folk music from Venezuela, even a processional hymn sung in the Incan language Quechua! Whether the ensemble is a local or a foreign group singing the music of Latin America, it's all great stuff.
Hungary
When you have a nation that was rich in tradition before the first Europeans ever arrived in North America, you have a nation with millennia-old musical heritage, and yes, sometimes age does matter. Unlike many countries, Hungarian choral ensembles focus particularly on home-grown music by such internationally-known composers like Zoltan Kodaly and Bela Bartok. If you're a choral music fan, you've heard Kodaly, Bartok and other Hungarian choral composers, even if you don't know it. But no one does it like the Hungarians!
Sea Shanties
For more than 400 years, the sailors of the seas sang sea chanties while they worked – the chanties kept the repetitive tasks from getting boring, and helped them keep their movements synchronized. While the best known sea chanties are sung in English, other cultural groups had shipboard work songs, and we’ve got some of them here. These albums are collections of stirring music that celebrates a way of life long gone – they evoke a memory both historical and musical, and even if you don’t come from a seafaring background, you’ll find the chanties irresistible!
Christmas CDs From Around the World
You knew that Christmas is celebrated in many countries, but did you know how much Holiday music comes out of those countries? You do now. Whether the groups are singing the Holiday music well-known around the planet, or the lovely music indigenous to one particular country, the music is wonderful and the message is communicated in any language. Some of these songs are indicative of centuries-old traditions that predate the birth of America; take the chance and explore a beautiful-sounding history!