Music of Haiti, Vol. 3 Songs and Dances of Haiti (1952) CD

"This item is part of the Folkways (Cook, or Paredon, or Monitor) archives. The original liner notes from the LP are included."

The Ayida Group, a troupe folklorique of Port-au-Prince that sprung (with many similar troops) out of a 1930’s—’40s social movement revaluing traditional cultural practices as critical artistic expression, demonstrates religious and dance musics associated with the deities of vodoun. In addition, a blind troubadour and the Jazz Majestic play popular méringue-s and an itinerant Rara band comprised of saxophone, trumpet, drums and whistle plays in the streets for the pre-Mardi Gras festival. Folklorist, ethnographer and ethnomusicologist Harold Courlander, known for his important early work documenting the “vast unwritten literature, dances, music” of the Haitian peasants, released these field recordings from the urban cities and mountain villages of Haiti before nearly any other recordings were available.


     101      Cé Moin Ayida (Zépaule Dance)      The Ayida Group      2:59     
     102     Ayida Déesse Arc en Ciel (Mahi Dance)     The Ayida Group     2:06    
     103     Ayida Pas Nan Bètise (Pétro Dance)     The Ayida Group     2:27    
     104     Vive le Roi (Martinique Dance)     The Ayida Group     2:11    
     105     Mambo Ayida (Congo Dance)     The Ayida Group     1:57    
     106     Legba Aguator (Nago Dance)     The Ayida Group     3:32    
     201     Angélique Oh (Jerico)     Blind minstrel with guitar, young boy with cha-chas     2:46    
     202     Balilé (Carnival Music)     Wandering Rara band from Pétionville     3:59    
     203     Fiolé (Rara Song)     Rara band from Pétionville     5:49    
     204     Belle Manman (Meringue)     Jazz Majestic Group     3:58