Toumani Diabaté - New Ancient Strings
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Free Music Notes for New Ancient Strings
Free Music Review: Mesmerizing
Hit: 5 Stars
This album joins John Coltrane's "Gentle Side" as one of my favorite albums.The two musicians and their songs are from Mali, West Afrika. Each plays a Kora, a multi-stringed instrument. The eight songs are all instrumentals -- there are no voices. And this is not the usual fast-paced, festival-stage rhythms often associated with the Kora. These are slower-paced, more reflective pieces.
There are wonderful twists and turns and improvisations throughout.
Underscoring the songs are a bass line that is gentle, unobtrusive but absolutely alluring. Listen for it.
Songs were recorded in a cavernous, marble hall in Mali. There is no electronic amplification here. The reverberations you hear are what the instruments themsleves produced. Wonderful!
Each musician is the son of another great Kora master. Ahhhh -- The fruit does not fall far from the tree.
Free Music Review: A star on the world music scene
Hit: 5 Stars
New Ancient Strings introduced me to the kora, a 21-string, traditional African harp-lute from the ancient land of Mali in Africa. It is a cross between a harp and a lute (and the lute, of course, is African in origin as well.) It has the softness of a lute, the tuneful note range of a harp and the gentle, plucked sound of both instruments. I really like it! It's exotic, yet not strange or hard to listen to.Toumani Diabate is a reknown kora master, and this all-intrumental album is pleasing in every respect. The sound is foreign (to American ears) but immediately accessible. Because there is no singing, if you are new to world music, you will find this a charming introduction to a new land of music.
Free Music Review: Malian Magic
Hit: 5 Stars
Listening to Toumani Diabate's NEW ANCIENT STRINGS is the next best thing to sitting in the audience of one of his concerts in Bamako (the capital of Mali and Toumani's hometown). The melodies have been passed down from the rich traditions of Malian music and are newly interpreted by Toumani. Both he and Ballade Sissoko, who accompanies him, are sons of two outstanding Malian musicians, revered till today across all of West Africa. Toumani Diabate has become one of the world's leading interpreters of the `kora', a 21-string, traditional African harp-lute, which originates in Mali. It was the favourite instrument at the courts of the kingdoms of Mali, going back to at least the 13th century.The techniques and interpretations have evolved since then and are still changing and adapting to popular styles. NEW ANCIENT STRINGS is a completely instrumental collection of traditional Malian melodies and rhythms. Most of the tunes go back to the eighteenth century. They will not be well known to the listener outside West Africa but the interpretations by Toumani make them easily accessible to the unaccustomed ear. The virtuosity of the players enables the music to flow in beautiful rhythms and brings out emotional depth as well as playful harmonies.
NEW ANCIENT STRINGS is not only a great introduction to West African music it is also a great addition for everybody who enjoys traditional solo instrumental music of lute, guitar or harp. Just magic!
Free Music Review: superb world music
Hit: 5 Stars
Toumani Diabate has now carved out a niche for himself as the world's premier player of the kora, a traditional West African stringed instrument that sounds something like a cross between a harp and a hammered dulcimer when played. Diabate's several other recordings have all been very good as well, but this one is truly first-rate. Here he is teamed with Ballake Sissako, another fine instrumentalist, to produce a set of light, sparkling, dancing, mesmerising duet performances of traditional and original material. The kora lends itself to real virtuoso performance potential moreover, and Diabate is fully capable of realizing that potential. Great stuff!Free Music Review: Excellent
Hit: 5 Stars
This collaborative album differs from Toumani Diabate others because it is totally instrumental. The music is essentially meditative and percussion based and slow. The sound has been reproduced to a high quality allowing for reflection and smoothness. It can be played along side traditional Chinese music which it has a great deal in common with.