Music from around the world has come a long way from its indigent roots. Since the eighties, with the proliferation of a global culture, there has been an increased interest and appreciation for sounds outside the mainstream of Western culture. With pop stars like Paul Simon and Sting corroborating with third-world musicians, an appreciation has grown for indigenous styles.
Often referred to as ethnic music, with a wide-ranging geography and instrumentation, it is not quite so easily categorized now. Musicians of wildly diverse cultures have managed to assimilate styles creating a profusion of sounds that have led to sub-categories. Compositions and harmonies have melded.
International groups now regularly tour Britain and North America. Once playing small venues, they are now playing larger concert halls with sold-out shows. A billing trend to have indigenous groups open for major pop stars has added to their stature and record sales.
Tibetan chants, Japanese koto, Indian raga, Eastern European folk have all been imported for a Western audiences. Tribal harmonies from the Middle East, Asia, Central and South America are now becoming familiar. The Celtic harp reached world-wide popularity in the previous decade. Reggae, perhaps the most well-known infiltration, is thoroughly saturated into the mainstream.
This genre has become a hybrid of assimilated styles. We now see categories called World Fusion, Global Fusion, Ethnic Fusion and Club Beat that all have similarities but the various strains are fusing into separate idioms. And it is only just beginning. They crossover into new age, pop, ska, jazz, lounge and blues. Eastern European folk evolves into American country and western.
In Paris, always a cultural trend-setter, a large West and North African population has bestowed upon the city a diverse musical scene. Add in the Algerian and Moroccan influences and you have a lively mix. With strong support for the arts, Paris may be the world music capital as it was once the art capital. In the United States, Middle Eastern sounds are growing in popularity. South American rhythms are warmly welcomed. Sufi whirling dervishes tour regularly.
A great way to learn about what is being produced is by visiting the Internet. It is a great source of information on what is new and exciting as well as an archive of indigenous music. You can listen to a diverse collection of sounds, purchase CDs or MP3s, find out where the festivals are taking place this summer and expand your musical horizons in numerous ways. With stunning photography, you can do some armchair traveling.
If your sixties, seventies and eighties classic rock records are beginning to sound like, well broken records, leave your comfort zone and check out the exhilarating offerings from around the world. If you could use a new groove, find out what is happening in Peru, Ghana, North Africa, Bolivia, Brazil. Access to the global culture is definitely one of the perks of our ever expanding world.
Often referred to as ethnic music, with a wide-ranging geography and instrumentation, it is not quite so easily categorized now. Musicians of wildly diverse cultures have managed to assimilate styles creating a profusion of sounds that have led to sub-categories. Compositions and harmonies have melded.
International groups now regularly tour Britain and North America. Once playing small venues, they are now playing larger concert halls with sold-out shows. A billing trend to have indigenous groups open for major pop stars has added to their stature and record sales.
Tibetan chants, Japanese koto, Indian raga, Eastern European folk have all been imported for a Western audiences. Tribal harmonies from the Middle East, Asia, Central and South America are now becoming familiar. The Celtic harp reached world-wide popularity in the previous decade. Reggae, perhaps the most well-known infiltration, is thoroughly saturated into the mainstream.
This genre has become a hybrid of assimilated styles. We now see categories called World Fusion, Global Fusion, Ethnic Fusion and Club Beat that all have similarities but the various strains are fusing into separate idioms. And it is only just beginning. They crossover into new age, pop, ska, jazz, lounge and blues. Eastern European folk evolves into American country and western.
In Paris, always a cultural trend-setter, a large West and North African population has bestowed upon the city a diverse musical scene. Add in the Algerian and Moroccan influences and you have a lively mix. With strong support for the arts, Paris may be the world music capital as it was once the art capital. In the United States, Middle Eastern sounds are growing in popularity. South American rhythms are warmly welcomed. Sufi whirling dervishes tour regularly.
A great way to learn about what is being produced is by visiting the Internet. It is a great source of information on what is new and exciting as well as an archive of indigenous music. You can listen to a diverse collection of sounds, purchase CDs or MP3s, find out where the festivals are taking place this summer and expand your musical horizons in numerous ways. With stunning photography, you can do some armchair traveling.
If your sixties, seventies and eighties classic rock records are beginning to sound like, well broken records, leave your comfort zone and check out the exhilarating offerings from around the world. If you could use a new groove, find out what is happening in Peru, Ghana, North Africa, Bolivia, Brazil. Access to the global culture is definitely one of the perks of our ever expanding world.
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