AIRS A DANSER POUR CITHARE
sud-ouest de madagascar
DANCE TUNES FOR ZITHER
southwestern madagascar
Anthologie de la Musique des Peuples, 1981, AMP 2907
All the albums produced by this label are excellent under the direction of Bernard Dupaigne. This album is no exception. Bernard Koechlin made these recordings in the field between 1967 and 1969. The group of people presented here are the Vezo who live on the coast as semi-nomads travelling by pirogue or schooner. Among the different types of musical expressions the practice of the zither maaru vaani is quite developed and rich. All the pieces are instrumental demonstrating that this instrument is first of all a solo instrument with a vast repertoire.
As Koechlin says the zither was beginning to lose ground to the diatonic accordion especially where possession music is concerned; but it is still widely played nowadays.
The presentation text in English is very informative.
This is a copy of an album borrowed from a library.
