7001 Makruli—Polyphonic songs from Georgia
Anthology of music from the Caucasus #3
Male polyphonic choir ‘Kutaisi’ performs a remarkable set of songs from Georgia, both religious and secular. 53+ min, ADD, 6-p. booklet. ...The Ensemble Kutaisi are the featured choir here and for fans of that wonderfully rich, textured, vocal sound it’s an absolute must; the choir sweeping from church and even pre-Christian pieces to work songs, lullabies and the odd yodel... (Folk Roots 133, July 1994).

7002 Vorotarchik / The Gate-Keeper
Songs from the Ukrainian countryside
Ensemble Berehinya Polyphonic singing from the Ukrainian countryside by mixed male and female choir. Some tracks are accompanied by small instrumental ensemble on characteristic instruments. 52+ min, ADD, 12-p. booklet.

7003 Chilik—Songs and melodies of the Nagaybaks
The Nagaybaks are a group of christened Tatars who live in the Nagaybak area in Chelyabinsk Province, Russia. Folk polyphony is typical in their music, with complex song melodies. 72+ min, DDD, 8-p. booklet.

7004 Batonebo—Songs from Georgia, performed by Ensemble Kolkheti
Anthology of music from the Caucasus #5
That wonderful Georgian male polyphonic singing! The liner notes give ample explanation about Georgian singing. 58+ min, ADD, 8-p. booklet. ...Although the vocal art of the ensemble Kolkhethi creates an impression of trained perfection, their interpretations come so pure and natural that often one wonders if it’s the nightingales or the trees singing, is it the wind that I hear... (Benti Banach, New Folksounds 44, April 1996).

7005 Sestri Bisserovi—Pirin wedding and ritual songs
Studio recordings of a capella ritual two-part songs from the Pirin Mountains in south-east Bulgaria, bordering Macedonia, performed by the Bisserov Sisters. 50+ min, DDD, 8-p. booklet.

7006 Kapanski Ensemble—Female choir from north-eastern Bulgaria
One of the finest women’s ensembles practicing the Bulgarian multi-voiced a capella vocal style. 67+ min, ADD, 6-p. booklet.

7007 Ko E Temipale Tapu / The Holy Temple Church Music of Tonga
Anthology of Pacific Music #7
No religious music from pre-Christian times has survived on Tonga, but the religious music that developed after the missionaries' arrival is far more than ‘Western import with a Tongan flavour’. The Tongans employed remnants of their old melodies and harmonies from their polyphonic tradition and mixed these with imported Western elements to create their own Tongan church music. 72+ min, ADD, 12-p. booklet. ...Even non-believers should make a point of going to church if they’re ever in Tonga on a Sunday. Ties aren’t necessary and the singing’s invariably a treat... (Folk Roots, August/September 1998).

7008 Solovka—The Moscow Folk Song Ensemble
In the past two decades Moscow choir Solovka built up a name as the best revival choir in Russian polyphony. The repertoire consists of South Russian songs, Siberian Russian songs, polyphonic songs of the peoples of the former USSR and so-called chastushki (balalaika duo and singing). 64+ min, ADD/DDD, 12-p. booklet. ...Real village singing can be quite demanding to listen to, so this makes a good introduction. Several tracks can be found in authentic, village-style performance on Pan’s other Russian discs... (Rough Guide to World Music, Vol. 1, 1999).

7009 ‘Ímene Tapu—and other choral music of the Cook Islands
Anthology of Pacific Music #13
Traditional church songs are the most important form of choral music on the Cook Islands. Many of these unique polyphonic songs date from pre-Christian times and have indigenous Polynesian roots. These songs are called ‘ímene tapu (‘ímene being a transliteration of ‘hymn’). 70+ min, ADD, 8-p. booklet.

7010 Iavnana—Songs from Georgia: Ensemble Kolkheti
Anthology of music from the Caucasus #6
Georgia has many lingual and musical dialects. The songs—named after its geographical parts—differ considerably from one another in rhythm, intonation, texture and harmony. However one common feature can be found: polyphony. This CD covers songs from all parts of Georgia, played and sung by the renowned Kolkheti Ensemble. 59+ min, ADD, 6-p. booklet.

7011 Raspláchetsa dushá gréshnaîa—The tormented soul weeps and mourns
Irina Raspópova and her Russian-Dutch Ensemble Zarjánka
The second CD by the Russian-Dutch Folklore Ensemble Zarjánka is devoted to chants, hymns and spiritual verses of Russian Orthodox Church Old Ritualist communes, chants from the Russian Orthodox Patriarchal Church liturgy and forms intermediate between the ancient známennyi chant and Russian folk polyphony. 75+ min., DDD, 20-p. booklet.

7012/13 Alili. Multi-part folksongs of Yunnan's ethnic minorities, CDs 1 and 2.
7014/15 Nanwoka. Multi-part folksongs of Yunnan's ethnic minorities, CDs 3 and 4.
A fantastic collection of multi-part folksongs from 20 ethnic groups in the Province of Yunnan in China. A major fieldwork undertaking by Professor Zhang Xingrong from Kunming University reveals previously unknown polyphonic song traditions. Yunnan Province lies in the far southwest of China. At the end of the 1990s the population was about forty million, of which one third are members of twenty-five officially recognized ethnic minorities, each of which has its own language and culture. Many ethnic groups still preserve and hand down multi-part folk songs rich in history, content, and form. In particular, those in four to eight parts are rare or unique in China as a whole, and represent a repository of the experience of Yunnan's peoples. Yunnan's multi-part folksongs are found at sacred and secular festivals; in communal social events such as courtship, weddings, dances, games, labour, welcoming guests to feasts, and celebrating the completion of new houses; and during other singing activities. 2x 2 CD-set (each CD with 60+ min.), 16-page, resp. 20 page booklets in English. Recordings and liner notes by Prof. Zhang Xingrong of Kunming University. Translated by Helen Rees and Yang Hong.