Voices from the Nations

Karibu Aloha Welcome Velkomen Bienvenido

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“(Music) is a means of union among people ……. indispensable for the life and progress towards well-being of individuals and of humanity.” ….. Tolstoy.

Welcome to the stories and news of Martin and Rebekah Neil’s musical wanderings. We hope you will have fun exploring and learning from the many unique sounds and expressions of the different people we have encountered on our travels. Entwined in their individual musical heritages are the stories and make up of their societies and communities. Looking through their eyes can give us a different perspective and allow us a glimpse into their world.

Voices from the Nations also sells projects that seek to promote and encourage indigenous cultural music and traditional storytelling. Giving a voice to those not yet heard (in the West) and encouraging their God given gifts, so that they may help to regenerate their communities. 100% of the funds from these projects go directly to local community initiatives.

You can donate online to these projects here and help to transform communities through traditional and creative musical expressions.

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  • We have fostered many musical partnerships that have produced songs and music reflecting traditional indigenous styles and more modern interpretations, a melding of the ancient and the new. Various CD’s available here.♥
  • Read travel reports and see photo galleries from our various wanderings here.♥
  • The drum, often said to be the heartbeat of an indigenous culture. Discover unique expressions of sound often sculpted from resources found in their natural surroundings here.♥
  • A strange collection of photos gathered from our travels, and a jokes page. Encounter the “Far side”here.♥
    We met these Albanian traditional musicians on our travels.jpg
  • GET INVOLVED – Links to friends here.♥
  • You can click on any photo to enlarge it.
  • Below this introduction scroll down to our blog.
  • For older blog entries click “Older entries”  at the  bottom left of page

    • What’s new?

  • LATEST POSTS
  • Digital MP3 downloads of sample album or single tracks from the “Sing to the Well CD” at ITunes, Amazon, Emusic, Rhapsody, Napster etc are AVAILABLE NOW
  • Digital MP3 downloads of sample album or single tracks from the “Fragile Warriors CD” at ITunes, Amazon, Emusic, Rhapsody, Napster etc are AVAILABLE NOW

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Flash mob

April 17, 2012

This made me smile – Russia enjoys the flash mob phenomenon.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KgoapkOo4vg

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Vegetable music!

April 14, 2012

Brothers Nan Weidong and Nan Weiping in China have discovered that vegetables can not only be eaten but used to make music.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2rw3QYOy7-8

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Pluto studios – Tel Aviv

March 28, 2012

Enjoying a few days in Tel Aviv @ Pluto studios I am here recording a Hebrew project with Ruth Fazal – Canadian violinist and singer/songwriter. Although I don’t have much down time -  it was been very interesting being in Tel Aviv,  a vibrant city that never seems to slow down, and as one taxi driver told me “This is one big party city, the world comes here to play”.

 

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Through a musicians eyes

January 30, 2012

Excellent short documentary of a musicians perception of North Korea.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=biDhru9ON0M

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Dispensary update

January 23, 2012

We have just had a note detailing the use that the dispensary has had in the last couple of months. Thanks again for all who have helped with the purchase of the Sing to the Well CD. Our Tanzanian contact writes :

I WOULD LIKE TO LET YOU HEAR JUST FEW THINGS ABOUT THE MNASE VILLAGE DISPENSARY-

1.NOV,2011 PATIENTS ATTENDENCE WAS 468 PEOPLE.

2.FIRST 2WEEKS OF DEC.2011   ATT. WAS  142     ”         THE DOCTOR ATTENDED A SAMINER,

3.BED RESTS BELOW 3DYS TIME ATT.WAS 25 PEOPLE IN TWO MONTHS NOV/DEC 20011.

4,NEW BORN/ 4 WOMEN GAVE BIRTH 2 IN NIGHTS AND 2 AT DAY TIMES.

NEXT: We have been asked to help with a supply of towels, curtains and table covers.

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Inuit throat singing

January 20, 2012

I have been reading a wonderful book written in the 1950’2 called “People of the Deer” by Farley Mowat who as a young man spent time with the Ihalmiut people in the Barrens – what is now the Canadian Arctic. Farley also wrote the short story The Snow Walker which later became a wonderful film.

The Inuit’s  “throat singing” is  a singing technique almost exclusively practised by women. (Unique in nature compared to the other 2 throat singing styles – Khöömei, from Mongolia and a style called eefing used by the Xhosa people in South Africa. Here is a video clip explaining a little of how the Inuit use this expression.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8IqOegVCNKI

 

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