• While Sony's Service Center in Hanoi was destroying our Digital Video Camera (they said they would fix it), we followed some advise from the "HANOI NATIONAL CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC": on our bikes we arrived to Hoa Binh, and met the musicians; after 5 minutes, the microphones were plugged into the MiniDisc-Recorder, and they started to introduce their culture: the gong concert Size: 666 kb
• Then came the lullaby (my favourite)  ; Size: 1459 kb
  (it's a heavy file because I didn't want to lose too much of it's quality)
• Here is finally a music from the South of Vietnam, from Phan Rang. Don't you think it's got something arabic (like the music from Tunis: soufisfax.mp3 for example) ? Size: 683 ko

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• In the Fine Arts University of Pnom Penh, 10 students invited us for this concert. We shared it into two parts, to help you download it. Both are as interesting. Queue them on winamp and use the repeat mode (if you like).
  part one: cambodge-pnompenh-10instruments-concert1.mp3 ; Size: 947 kb
  part TWO: cambodge-pnompenh-10instruments-concert2.mp3; Size: 1.20 Mb

We had a little problem with one of our nicest Mini-Disc. So, don't expect too many recordings.

• However, the few recordings we have are interesting: they give a rather precise idea of the traditional music you can find, in the street (cambodge-pp-concert-rue.mp3, 673 kb) or elsewhere.

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• If you come to Bangkok, you'll probably hear from time to time that tiny typical instrument, called Sa-Ou ; size: 383 kb. The sound is not very pure, I'm afraid, but I couldn't ignore that instrument alone surrounded by aggressive motorbikes. I find it touching, that's all.


• Then comes the rock band, from the Thai Cultural Center. It was an exciting day, with music everywhere, and those musicians (Pong Lar, from the North East) enjoyed playing their ancestors' instruments on newer rythms; size: 1.16 Mb.
  They saw very quickly I enjoyed it a great deal, so they also played a "solo with two intruments" ( size: 721 kb), and their favourite one, played with a Kan: they call it "the bee" ; size: 816 kb. I don't speak Thai at all, so they had to look just like bee and say "BZZZZZ".
  
• We left Bangkok in a hurry as usual, took a bus and arrived in Song-Khla (south of Thaïland) the following day. We went to the University (Thaïland Cultural Center) to meet some music teachers. At first, they let us watch and record a lesson with Sao-Ou and Gratanee (2 strings instrument and xylophon), Size: 823 kb; listen to the discreete voice-like flute in the background; the day after, they all organised an exciting concert in a beautiful old fashioned wooden house. When we listen to the music they played there, we feel like cobras turned on the Pee-Naï's charm ; Size=1,53 mo.

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• In kota-Baru's tourist office, they said "There's water everywhere, big floods; don't even try to go to Gua Musang".
  So we rode the bikes to Goa Musang and then Kuala Betis, and, deep in the jungle: Lambo. Some Orang Asli tribes live in that "village" (2 houses), and they said OK for playing the following evening. We decided to set a big wood fire. The children helped us to collect the wood and immediately began to play with bamboo sticks; Size: 544 kb . Then the neighbourssss came with another enormous bamboo they cut, using saw and axe; Size: 889 kb (you'll hear the jungle sounds at night, while they are sawing). After the sunset, everyBODY began to sing and dance, including us ; Size: 1365 kb. Another incredible night we'll never forget !

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• Let's be clear: you might enjoy OUR recordings, but for those brazilian ones, only thank Isa and Scott: Isa is the one who brought the Mini-Disk Recorder in the Salsa School (Size: 493 kb), and all around, in Rio de Janeiro. That evening, they were rehearsing for the Carnival 2001. - the sound is slightly saturated, but it was more or less the same in everyBODY's ears, thanks to the tremendous loudspeakers.
  
  Another day, she climbed up the Lapa Stairs, covered with azulejos from the entire world; there, she met Pedro and Ivan, who were playing harmonica (Size: 999 kb), and drums on a cheap and broken chair (Size: 1241 kb) and finally, singing (Size: 1243 kb).



• In Salvador, we met Scott, a great and tireless guy, fond of Capuera. But the point is he was looking for south american musics and dances and making video reports about all those; here is an extract of one of his recordings (Size: 961 Mb).
  By the way, if you want some more information about his video work, do write him !

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• After a short flight, we were dropped in Lisboa. Thanks to Isabelle's inquiries, we found a nice musicologist who agreed to spend a whole afternoon with us and with his 307 wifes. That's the way he calls his 307 guitars. Taking a beautiful portugueese one, he gave us his voice and his passion (Size: 1.15 Mb); after a short while, he lead us to that Taverna de Juliao, where he and his friends play every evening (Size: 259 kb). Then, one by one, some customers sang Fado Tango (Size: 1.01 Mb) and Mercado da Ribeira (Size: 1.21 Mb).
  
  Step by step, you're getting to the point: in Lisboa, the Fado expresses mostly sadness.



• Following Isa's portugueese friends' advise, we got to Coimbra, the mythic and warmful town for european students. Janeth (portugo-american) took good care of us. She introduced us to Patrick, the Golden Voiced Man. His band's rallying symbol (Size: 252 kb) opened a magic session:

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• For us, Spain and Portugal were the beginning of Europe. At first sight, hospitality is nonesense here. However, a few days in Coïmbra, Salamanca and Uzurbil (Euskadi) helped us to believe THERE ARE EXCEPTIONS. Saul, Iker and Lukasz+girlfriend opened their home after a short discussion. When they knew more about the bike-trip, understood our search, they invited their best friend to play guitar (Size: 1.03 Mb). The concert started at 2:00 am. As you can see, he's strongly influenced by his gipsy teacher, and his style is closer to flamenco than to the one of Salamanca. After a few other pieces (Size: 1.2 mo) with percussions, we all got to the river to listen to an improvisation in the open air (Size: 699 ko); it lasted till 5 am.
  
  
• A few miles away from Salamanca-la-Maravillosa, we found by chance a small and joyful 50 years old guy: Juanxo. He's the center of Euskadi, the Pais Basco: he and his friends Fernan' and Tomas gathered on a hill; they brought their txalaparta (Size: 1.38 mo): the three wooden beams instrument is to be hit with loud drumsticks. Two young virtuosi play together, challenging each other with frantic rythms.
  In the old days, the txalaparta allowed people to communicate from hill to hill with specific rythms and melodies, announcing cider parties, births, weddings, deaths. The heavy mobile phone of the last millenium...
  Spending a wonderful time with all those Basque friends, we also undestood their music might be a vector for communication, but it mostly constitutes a way of sharing joy and happiness.
  
  

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