Pa jodi nou sou lanmè [We've been at sea for so long]
Jodiya, se jou pa mwen [Today is my day]
Ala yon bèl ti gason se Ogou Fè
Drumming of the Sosyete Dereyal
Ti Kita, bouyi non woy [Ti-Kita, get cooking]
Ti Kita se pa konsa m konmande [Ti Kita, this is not how I command]
Jan Kita, se mwen yo tele Kann Chèch-o [Jean Kita, it's me that they ca
Ezili ma foula pou yo [Ezili, my scarf for them]
Chanpay oke, krètyen pa krètyen pa krètyen anko [Champagne, okay, a Chr
Lè minwit-o se lè mwen [Oh midnight, it's my hour]
Sedye! Sedye O! [Cédieu! Oh! Cédieu!]
Granbwa, manje w pare [Granbwa, you food is prepared]
Zila lan peyi konga [Zila in the country of Kongo]
Drumming-3 drums of the Sosyete Boumba
Mwen salonge, Yaya mwen salonge
Ezili si ou mande manje, map bayou li [Erzulie, you ask for food, I'll
Lwa Zila, se sakre [The Iwa Zila is sacred]
Fèyo-o, tele fèy-o [Leaf, oh, Leaf, oh]
Makaya Penba, m vle wè yo [Makaya Pemba, I want to see them]
Lenba, Lenba sou lemó [Lenba, Lenba over death]
Granbwa-e manje ou pare [Granbwa, your food is prepared
From the time that Alan Lomax left his position as head of the Archive of American — Folk Song at the Library of Congress in 1942 through the end of his long career, he — amassed one of the most important collections of ethn... more »ographic material in the world.
It includes more than 5,000 hours of sound recordings, 400,000 feet of motion
picture film, hundreds of photographic prints and negatives, over 120 linear feet of
correspondence, field notes, research files, and much more. While recording for the
Library of Congress in the 1930s, Lomax made trips to Haiti and the Bahamas. The
recordings made in Haiti in 1936 37 provide a window on Haitian expressive culture
recorded soon after the departure of the American Marines, while Haiti was in the
throes of a nationalist and africentric movement. This groundbreaking production
of the story, the sounds, and the sights of the legendary musicologist s trip to
Haiti features 10 CDs, two books containing extensive notes and Lomax s journal, a
replication of the map he used (with added notations), color video footage, and hours
of amazing, never-before-heard music that no longer exists on earth!« less
From the time that Alan Lomax left his position as head of the Archive of American
Folk Song at the Library of Congress in 1942 through the end of his long career, he
amassed one of the most important collections of ethnographic material in the world.
It includes more than 5,000 hours of sound recordings, 400,000 feet of motion
picture film, hundreds of photographic prints and negatives, over 120 linear feet of
correspondence, field notes, research files, and much more. While recording for the
Library of Congress in the 1930s, Lomax made trips to Haiti and the Bahamas. The
recordings made in Haiti in 1936 37 provide a window on Haitian expressive culture
recorded soon after the departure of the American Marines, while Haiti was in the
throes of a nationalist and africentric movement. This groundbreaking production
of the story, the sounds, and the sights of the legendary musicologist s trip to
Haiti features 10 CDs, two books containing extensive notes and Lomax s journal, a
replication of the map he used (with added notations), color video footage, and hours
of amazing, never-before-heard music that no longer exists on earth!
CD Reviews
Brilliant restoration of Lomax's 30s fieldwork in Haiti
Christopher D. Pino | Washington DC | 12/15/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This set, particularly in the boxed set beign released today with Alan's trip diary and a musicological tour of Haiti was recorded by Alan Lomax with his wife on their honeymoon to Haiti in the Mid-30s. Like most honeymooners of their time (note dry humor), they carried an aluminum disk recording machine and many blank aluminum disks. Brilliantly restored by Magic Studio in NYC, produced by Anna Lomax, fruit of the honeymoon, and Don Fleming these disks can take you into a sound and time that is both eternal and out of both 17th Century Africa and France, little changed by the intervening centuries. The intense polyrhythm drum/song bands are particularly briliant as is the profound ability of song and dance to sustain the morale of peoples subjected to the worst imaginable hardships. I am not affiliated with the estate but did work for Alan for a decade. I believe these will win Grammies as did the Jelly Roll Morton box."
An extraordinary journey through Haitian music
Robert C. Ross | New Jersey | 01/23/2010
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This vast, raw, mystifying collection of artists from Haiti in the 1930s presents the complex nature of that island nation. US marines had invaded the country before the first World War, primarily to protect US interests against a strong German presence that was relatively well integrated into the Haitian power structure. Almost 20 years later, FDR completed the US withdrawal started by Herbert Hoover.
Gage Averill writes that "these were recorded right after one American 'adventure' in Haiti .... It was definitely a fervent period for nationalism and African orientation, with Haiti viewing itself as of African heritage rather than as a weird colony. So here we are following the last American occupation, and Haiti really has the challenge to get itself into governance shape to direct its own affairs and to change the global perceptions of Haiti."
Alan Lomax was just 21 when he arrived in Haiti, and well trained by his father, John Lomax. His goal was to form a comprehensive collection of African-rooted music in the Americas. Despite lack of funds and his bulky equipment by today's standards, Lomax was able to get 1,500 recordings and several movies during his years in Haiti.
The material was deposited in the Library of Congress and basically forgotten for many years. Averill, a teacher at New York University, was engaged by the Lomax family to sort through, compile and annotate the material. Many of the pieces were re-mastered.
As a generalist, I find it impossible to convey the breadth, depth, strangeness and attractiveness of this material. My approach has been simple minded: play a piece, look up the liner notes, do a bit of research on line, go back and listen to the piece again, and then move on. I've marked several of the pieces for another listen and plan to plow through the entire collection over the next several weeks.
Based on the first four hours of listening, reading and studying, I'm sure I'll find great pleasure in this extraordinary view of Haitian music 75 and more years ago. And, I'm happy to learn that a part of the purchase price has gone to help Haitians in a hour of great need.
Robert C. Ross 2010"
A true treasure trove...!
Joe Sixpack -- Slipcue.com | ...in Middle America | 01/14/2010
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Various Artists
"Alan Lomax In Haiti"
(Birdman Records, 2009)
--------------------------------------------
This 10-CD box set is a stunning historical resource, drawing on extensive recording sessions conducted in the 1930s by fabled ethnomusicologist Alan Lomax on behalf of the United States Library of Congress. Lomax recorded hundreds of hours of music, ranging from antique European ballads and dance music to early meringue recordings, Afro-Haitian percussion and extended recordings of authentic voodoo ceremonies. Some of the styles represented here have disappeared entirely -- not just from the popular Haitian repertoire, but from the island itself; many recordings feature artists who were well known regionally but may come as revelations to many listeners. It is a a remarkable cultural resource, documenting a richly cross-pollinated New World island culture, a snapshot of a time and society that were almost entirely lost, and would have been had it not been for Lomax's tenacious urge to document and present the folklore he found across the globe. Recommended! (DJ Joe Sixpack, Slipcue Guide To World Music)"
A great thing for Haiti, it's reconstruction, culture and it
Major | The Internets | 01/19/2010
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I bought this amazing Alan Lomax in Haiti Box set last week direct from the distributor ( Allegro ) when I heard they were donating a portion of the sales toward the Haiti relief fund. Info below.
This is one of the most amazing box sets I have ever seen or owned and the historical importance of Haitian culture this contains is invaluable.
Even if they weren't donating a portion of the proceeds, to say that someone shouldn't buy this because of the Haiti disaster is really short-sighted and narrow-minded. For one thing most people don't stop using products from a country because there are disasters or other tragedies that befall that particular county or portions of it's population. The other side of the equation is that this amazing Haiti box set is raising the awareness of Haitian culture and illustrates how important it is that we work to restore the country and invest in a sustainable, long-term infrastructure that benefits the citizens of Haiti.
Details:
Allegro Media Group and NAIL Distribution in partnership with Harte
Recordings and the Alan Lomax Estate have banded together to do our
part in assisting the disaster relief in Haiti. We are pledging $15 from each purchase of the Alan Lomax in Haiti Box set to the Red Cross International Response Fund to aid in the disaster relief.
Track Listings (23) - Disc #1