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.
Appearing first in small venues, these international artists now fill large venues playing to increasingly sophisticated audiences. From there, CDs make their way into the record collections of an avid Western population intent of cultural enrichment. What was once an ethnic sound has become familiar with exposure.
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.
With this hybridization, the genre has had to expand its classification and there are now labels such as World Fusion, Global Fusion, Ethnic Fusion and Club Beat. These terms may be considered sub-genres of pop, rock and jazz. It has gone beyond its pure roots to embrace a more diverse, broader approach with more depth.
The one place that is thoroughly behind this amalgamation is Paris. With large West and North African populations, as well as Algerian and Moroccan, an intense appreciation for differing musical styles proliferates. Add a culture with strong institutional support for the arts and you have a lively scene. Middle Eastern sounds, especially Persian, are on the rise in the United States. Jamaican Reggae has been thoroughly assimilated.
There are many web sites dedicated to this genre and one of the better ones, The World Music Network, can begin your musical appreciation voyage. On this site you will find out the latest styles causing excitement, be able to access an archive the best indigenous groups and purchase CDs or MP3s. You will find links to radio stations. With stunning photography, this is user-friendly, professional site.
If you think you may have listened to Pink Floyd maybe one too many times, have worn out your Nirvana records, have listened to so much Grateful Dead your brain is dead, check out some of the exhilarating musical offerings around the world. It might be just the thing to get your mojo working with some new jump and jive. Globalization never sounded sweeter. Read more about: music from around the 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.
Appearing first in small venues, these international artists now fill large venues playing to increasingly sophisticated audiences. From there, CDs make their way into the record collections of an avid Western population intent of cultural enrichment. What was once an ethnic sound has become familiar with exposure.
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.
With this hybridization, the genre has had to expand its classification and there are now labels such as World Fusion, Global Fusion, Ethnic Fusion and Club Beat. These terms may be considered sub-genres of pop, rock and jazz. It has gone beyond its pure roots to embrace a more diverse, broader approach with more depth.
The one place that is thoroughly behind this amalgamation is Paris. With large West and North African populations, as well as Algerian and Moroccan, an intense appreciation for differing musical styles proliferates. Add a culture with strong institutional support for the arts and you have a lively scene. Middle Eastern sounds, especially Persian, are on the rise in the United States. Jamaican Reggae has been thoroughly assimilated.
There are many web sites dedicated to this genre and one of the better ones, The World Music Network, can begin your musical appreciation voyage. On this site you will find out the latest styles causing excitement, be able to access an archive the best indigenous groups and purchase CDs or MP3s. You will find links to radio stations. With stunning photography, this is user-friendly, professional site.
If you think you may have listened to Pink Floyd maybe one too many times, have worn out your Nirvana records, have listened to so much Grateful Dead your brain is dead, check out some of the exhilarating musical offerings around the world. It might be just the thing to get your mojo working with some new jump and jive. Globalization never sounded sweeter. Read more about: music from around the world
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