v.a. - The Harp of Apollo [Songs Accompanied by the Krar] [1989]

       A nice collection of both semi-ancient and relatively recent songs from Ethiopia, accompanied by the krar (a harp said to have been played by the Apollo, the Greek God) as well as the masanko, a single-stringed fiddle similar to the rebab. 

       The music is nice -- vocals work around one another, and the constant instrumental looping helps to move the song through itself. Being essentially the only area untouched by colonial powers in the scramble for Africa period, Ethiopia kept its traditions relatively pure and un-Westernized. 

           The influences that do show here though are mostly Egyptian, West Asian, and maybe North African. The only major thing lacking here would be more extensive liner notes - that is, more extensive English liner notes (the Japanese portion seems to be quite extensive). Other than that, it's a nice collection of Ethiopian forms. ~ Adam Greenberg

Recorded Mar. 18, 1989, JVC Aoyama Studio, Tokyo.

Getachew Abdi, kebero ; 

Kute Ojulu, kirar, tomm ; 

Elias Tebabal, vocals, masanko ; 

Konsso song (3:15) 

Gonder gjam (4:41) 

Shewa oromo song (4:07) 

Harrar oromo song (7:14) 

Shankila song (4:28)

Tomm (2:03) 

Tigringna song (3:57) 

Na gamme love song (3:13) 

Gurague song (3:20) 

An'chi jidg (4:03) 

Wollaita song (4:00) 

Keberro (2:35) 

Ethiopian classical melodies (7:31)