Mbuti Pygmies of the Ituri Rainforest CD

These original Folkways recordings of the Mbuti pygmies from the Ituri rainforest in northeastern Congo (Zaire) were first issued over 30 years ago. This anthology documents the Mbuti's many elaborate singing styles, delicate harmonies, and striking instrumental music within their Ituri rainforest sound world. Features extensive notes by anthropologist Colin Turnbull with a new introduction by Michelle Kisliuk, African scholar, who has updated notes to reflect changes. Bibliography, discography. 26 items.

The music of the Mbuti is primarily focused around vocal music, and this recording beautifully captures the extraordinary variety and tonal quality of the solo and choral traditions. The songs are primarily about the Mbuti's nomadic life and the forest, from which their lives and those of the animal kingdom are sustained. This compilation set a new standard for quality ethnic field recordings for all labels in ethnic music. These prized recordings have been remastered and resequenced to reflect Dr. Turnbull's original mode: the recording begins in the forest with music associated with hunting and gathering, then moves to the village for a Bantu initiation ritual and finally returns to the forest for the Mbuti rituals. This record documents the music discussed in the book The Forest People, read by many anthropology classes. A superbly annotated favorite among world music enthusiasts. "...[F]rom the moment Colin Turnbull lets the chatter and work rhythms of the encampment he's approaching engulf the jungle's ambient insect and bird music, I'm hooked." — The Village Voice

     101      In the rainforest approaching a forest camp      Birds, crickets, and young Mbuti Pygmy boys in the Ituri Rainforest      1:38     
     102     Elephant-hunting song     Group of Mbuti men     3:05    
     103     Elephant Hunt song     Group of Mbuti men and boys     5:12    
     104     Spear song     Group of Mbuti men     3:03    
     105     Cries of beaters during net hunting: signalling and shouting     Group of Mbuti Pygmies     0:59    
     106     Honey-gathering song     Group of Mbuti women     2:54    
     107     Animal Dance song     Group of Mbuti Pygmies     2:40    
     108     Flute duet     Two Mbuti Pygmies     1:52    
     109     Flute solo     Pakasi     2:07    
     110     Slit-gong signalling     Slit-gong signalling     1:15    
     111     Mbuti dance in Bantu village     Group of Mbuti men and women     2:15    
     112     Lukembi and voice     Abdul Aziz     2:26    
     113     Lukembi (Mbuti)     Mbuti Pygmy ing lukembi     1:38    
     114     Bachelor duet with Lukembi     Two Mbuti bachelors     1:36    
     115     Musical bow     Ndaka man ing musical bow     2:30    
     116     Musical sticks     Nkumbi initiation dance     1:44    
     117     Nkumbi initiation song     Group of Mbuti boys led by Ndaka villager     0:45    
     118     First song of the Elima, the women's society     Group of Mbuti women     1:54    
     119     Second song of the Elima, the women's society     Group of Mbuti women     1:11    
     120     First Molimo fire dance song     Group of Mbuti men     2:04    
     121     Second Molimo fire dance song     Group of Mbuti men     1:26    
     122     Molimo song with a preliminary argument     Group of Mbuti men and women     2:36    
     123     First Molimo song sung only on occasions of great importance     Group of Mbuti men     2:34    
     124     Second Molimo song sung only on occasions of great importance     Group of Mbuti men     1:53    
     125     Molimo song: Darkness is good     Group of Mbuti men     2:17    
     126     Molimo song of devotion to the forest     Group of Mbuti men     1:30