World Music Roots World Information divided by region and with a keyword search facility. Includes news and reviews, interviews and background to world roots and folk music. Musical Instruments of the World Aims to cover all the continents. Also gives introductions to some of the more unusual traditional instruments. Illustrated by sound samples and pictures. African: The Encyclopaedia of African Music Information divided by country with an artist index and sources page. Bright and colourful. Includes links to African musicians' sites. Africa On-Line: Madagascan Music Gives a general introduction to the wonderful and distinctive music of Madgascar. Also check individual musicians' own sites: Njava and Tarika. The Mbira Page Indigenous music from Zimbabwe, with plenty of cultural background. As well as Mbira and Marimba, Chimurenga (revolutionary music from the 1970s) is also covered. The Oud Page The oud is the ancestor of the lute, and is played throughout the middle-east and northern Africa. This website gives details of the instrument, the history of the instrument, music theory, links and some printable sheet music. Tabala Wolof: Sufi drumming of Senegal Small, specific site about religious traditional music from Senegal. Drums of the Firdu Fula West African traditional drumming - an introduction. Sabar Drumming Sabar drumming comes from Senegal and this site gives all sorts of insight into the drums and how they are played, including their cultural background. West African Manding Music As well as giving detailed information and some sound files about Manding music, this site introduces the kora - a West African stringed instrument. Carribean and South American: The Pan Page How to make and tune steel pan instruments - and everything else about them you might want to know. Also lists bands and organisations involved with playing and supplying steel drums. Latin Rhythms Home Page Sound illustrations for Latin American rhythms in a multi-media site. A useful list of percussion instruments and glossary, as well as some general background. Cuban Music and Musicians Afro-Cuban music and dance including Cuban pop, folk, salsa and the various styles of Rumba (Yambu, Guaguanco and Columbia). Features the Cuban National Folkloric Dance ensemble and Grupo AFRICACUBA (the originators of 'Bata Rumba') together with Cuba's most celebrated Rumba group Los Munequitos de Matanzas. Brazilian Music and Folklore Part of a site on Brazilian culture which also features dance, festivals and arts and crafts. Uses RealAudio and gives some useful musical illustrations in the dance section (e.g. on the carimbo folk dance, related to the carimbo drum). Good section on the cultural and historical background - check out the history of carnival music, for example. Cultures of the Andes Good starting point for Andean sites and placing Andean music in its cultural context. Some songs in the Quecha language. European/Mediterranean: Ceolas Celtic Music Archive An extensive site with plenty of specialist links. Includes information on instruments, musicians and tunes (including scores and sound files) and dance. Also lists events. Fado Fado is the traditional café and nightclub music of Portugal. This page has information about the Fado guitar and includes sound samples German and Other Folk Songs Words of folk songs from Germany and other countries, mostly in the main language of origin, with tunes in MIDI files. Some variations on usual lyrics and spellings but a useful starting point for older students and teachers. Russian Music A well-illustrated voyage through all styles of Russian music, from the traditional to the pop. Includes classified section on different styles of music, some Russian lyrics and an extensive collection of folk songs, with sound examples. Sylvain's Sephardic Melodies Extensive collection of Sephardic Jewish music for all occasions, including religious festivals/ceremonies, e.g. Hannukah; Passover; Rosh Hashanah; Yom Kippur; a wedding. Also includes some Judaeo-Arabic melodies from Morocco and some religious music from the Ashkenazi Jewish tradition. Sound files of the Shofar, one of the best known Jewish wind instruments, based on a ram's horn and used in religious ceremonies. Indian: Batish Institute of Indian Music and Fine Arts Worthwhile introduction to Indian music covering theory and technique. Includes information on traditional instruments and a glossary of terms, together with some illustrations and sound files. Indian Classical Arts Home Page A specialist site for Indian classical music including Carnatic music (South Indian) and Hindustani music (North Indian). Theory, classical dance forms and composers also covered. Tzara's Tabla Home Page Probably everything you need to know about these ancient drums. Includes detailed history; discussion of acoustical properties of drums in general and the tabla in particular; specialist glossary; extensive links; world-wide 'Teacher Address Book'; bibliography and research articles for advanced students. Interesting compositions section with database for budding composers and the chance to submit contributions. Malaysian and Cambodian: Gamelan Music Colourful multi-media site full of detail about the gamelan and how to play it. Includes tuning, making, care and history. Also good for Indonesian musical scales and structure. Musical Malaysia A multi-media introduction to Malaysian music, placing it in social, political and geographical context. Site can be explored using 'Music by Region' maps or the 'Types of Music in Malaysia' section. Slightly academic with use of technical terms, but useful with some illustrations and a basic archive of MIDI files. Published by the University Conservatoire, Universiti Putra Malaysia. Cambodian Performing Arts Detailed background of the instruments of the Pinn Peat court ensemble; information on Cambodian musical scales and interpretation; the effect of the Khmer Rouge persecutions in the 1970s; other cultural and historical background - all this and more in this multi-media site. Includes a sacred court dance, 'The Goddess of the Waters', in a multi-media presentation. On The Web