Classic and popular recommendations in ethnic music

ByggnanVäsen

Väsen – Byggnan (14)

This is a performance by Väsen, a band that plays traditional Swedish music.

They use an instrument called the nyckelharpa.

The nyckelharpa, also known as a “keyed fiddle,” is shaped somewhat like a guitar with keys, but it produces sound by bowing the strings.

Brave Scottish March (Scotland the Brave)Watson’s College Pipes and Drums

Scotland Bagpipes [The Brave Scotland March]

The bagpipe is a traditional Scottish musical instrument, and “Scotland the Brave” is the most famous tune played on the bagpipes.

Within Scotland, it is treated as a national song.

It was also featured in NHK’s serial drama Massan.

freedomJoshi Jūnigakubō

12 Girls Band –女子十二楽坊– Freedom – (MV)

“Freedom” is a signature piece by the band Twelve Girls Band, a group of female musicians who play traditional instruments used in China.

Although the piece features a modern arrangement, each member is a well-trained performer on her instrument, allowing listeners to enjoy the diverse timbres of various classical instruments.

SaranbeniSapporo Upopo Hozonkai

Saranbeni (Sapporo Upopo Preservation Society)

This is traditional music of the Ainu people.

Ainu music includes several types, such as the round song upopo and the epic yukar.

It also sometimes features distinctive instruments like the tonkori, which is similar to a guitar, and the mukkuri, a type of jaw harp.

Raag KhamajRavi Shankaru, Anushukā Shankaru

Celebration: Raga manj khamaj

This is a performance on the sitar, a traditional musical instrument from northern India.

The sitar has 19 strings and is played by plucking them.

The performers are Ravi Shankar, a leading master of the sitar, and his daughter, Anoushka Shankar.

Ravi Shankar is also the father of Norah Jones.