Smithsonian Folkways CK-01023-CCD The Ramayana

Smithsonian Folkways Recordings is the nonprofit record label of the Smithsonian Institution the national museum of the United States. They are dedicated to supporting cultural diversity and increased understanding among peoples through the documentation preservation and dissemination of sound. Folkways Records believe that musical and cultural diversity contributes to the vitality and quality of life throughout the world. Through the dissemination of audio recordings and educational materials Folkways Records seek to strengthen people s engagement with their own cultural heritage and to enhance their awareness and appreciation of the cultural heritage of others. Our mission is the legacy of Moses Asch who founded Folkways Records in 1948 to document "people s music " spoken word instruction and sounds from around the world. The Smithsonian acquired Folkways from the Asch estate in 1987 and Smithsonian Folkways Recordings has continued the Folkways commitment to cultural diversity education increased understanding and lively engagement with the world of sound. Calypso is not the only musical genre known to Trinidad: there is a large East Indian presence on the Caribbean island which ensures that the traditional orchestral sounds of India mingle with the sounds of Afro Caribbean dance musics. In this recording B.O. Girwarr sings a selection from the first great Sanskrit epic the Ramayana. The setting of this religious chanting is accompanied by a five piece Indian ensemble of local and South Asian instruments.- SKU: SFR0421