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 wanderings. Voices from the Nations seek to promote and encourage indigenous cultural music and traditional storytelling amongst ethnic groups throughout the world. Giving a voice to those not yet heard (in the West) and encouraging their God given gifts, so that they may help resource their communities. 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.

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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.♥
  • Pointers and quotes on the journey here.♥
  • A strange collection of photos gathered from our travels, and a jokes page. Encounter the “Far side”here.♥
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  • Links to friends can be found here.♥
  • You can click on any photo to enlarge it.
  • Below this introduction scroll down to our regular blog.

What’s new?

  • EXCITING NEWS …
  • Digital MP3 downloads of single tracks from the “Sing to the Well CD” are AVAILABLE NOW here.
  • NEW PROJECT …
  • recording in Cambodia /February … check out a preview song and pictures here.
  • Your vote could raise the profile of VFTN

    • Click to Vote

  • Check out Santa’s studio session on the Laugh page …. Ho Ho Ho !
  • Top secret drum corps video here
  • Zao water CD now available in the UK …. see CD page


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Cambodian podcast

March 19, 2010

During our recent stay in Phnom Penh we met up with a master roneat player who teaches the children at CCAM. He helped me during the recordings and made sure that all the parts that were being played were correct. We spent some time together chatting about his family history in music and life during the Pol Pot years.  Listen to the podcast interview and hear him playing the roneat with another teacher playing the tro.

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icon for podpress  Standard Podcast [9:08m]: Play Now | Play in Popup

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Interesting new film coming soon

March 2, 2010

Just heard about a new film/documentary about the Killing Fields in Cambodia. Looks like a very interesting project called “Enemies of the people”  … check out there web site here.

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More pictures from Kampuchea

February 10, 2010

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Young monks collecting food for blessings
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Children travel across the river to see the white people

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The river people of the Mekong

February 7, 2010

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Sitting on the slatted wooden flooring covered with a beautiful woven mat … we looked out from the tall stilted house we had come to visit towards the nearby river. We had stepped into another world – a community who’s lifeblood is entangled with that of the Mekong and it’s tributaries, in all it’s wonder and treachery.

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For 3 months of the year during monsoon season the river rises many feet and our hosts home becomes an island on stilts. The dug out canoe becomes the vehicle of choice for travel during this season and food comes to your doorstep – fish that is! When the waters recede the fields are perfect for growing rice.

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Traditional Instruments from Cambodia

February 4, 2010

Kong Wong Thom
Roneat Thong
[click to continue...]

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Moments

February 2, 2010

Recording at Trans-world radio

The last couple of days we have been recording tracks at a radio station called Trans-world radio with the smaller children from the orphanage. I couldn’t but notice one small girl who has a huge smile on her face as she sings. Six weeks ago she was on the streets and now with CCAM’s help she is having fun with newly found friends …. the only signs that remain of her street existence is the colour of her hair, still a shade of red at the ends due to past malnourishment. Another few weeks and  her hair will be completely jet black once again.

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