David Lewiston is highly acclaimed both as a collector of traditional music, and as a photographer documenting traditional music and dance. His recordings were made at a significant juncture, when lightweight portable recording equipment had matured sufficiently to allow excellent recordings to be made in remote places, and just before the traditional music of these places suffered the ravages of globalization. Often cited as the father of modern field recording, David Lewiston spent more than four decades documenting the traditional music of many of the world’s cultures – often alone and usually at his own expense. Motivated primarily by a strong personal interest, he brought to his groundbreaking work an artist’s love of great music well played.
Bali and Java, 1966
Kecak, Peliatan
Gamelan angklung, Banjar Titih, Den Pasar
Barong dance, Singapadu
Gamelan gong, Peliatan
Djoged bumbung
Suling suralaya of Mengwi
Gender wayang, Ubud
Gender wayang, Ramayana Style
Sad Merte gamelan gong, Den Pasar
Gengggong, Ubud
Gambuh ensemble, Batuan
Unaccompanied female vocals, Ubud
Processional music, Bangli
Unusual gamelan scales, Bangli
Four-tone angklung, Bangli, Kelentengan
Banjar Delod gong saron, Pangkung Village, Sukawati
Sekehe gambang, Pangkung Village, Sukawati
Java: Sundanese and Javanese music for small ensemble
1967
Delhi & Kathmandu: miscellaneous recordings
South America 1968
Colombia
Bogotá: Les Tres del Alba
Bogotá: Antero Agualimpia, chocoano, clarinet
Popayan: Holy Week music
Pueblito, near Silvia: music of the Guambino Indians
Guapi: Muertos
Guapi: Conjunto Guapirano, arrullos, currulaos, fugas and bundes
Guapi: Torres family, bambucos, rubas and arrullos
Buenaventura: Conjunto Folklorico, arrullos and currulaos
Cali: Manrique sisters, female vocals
Ecuador
Harp music, Sezar Muquinche of Izamba, Tungurahua province
Banda Mocha, Chalguayaco, primitive black music
Flute music, Chalguayaco
Peru
Ayacucho: Salvador Palomino and friends, guitar, flute and voice
Ayacucho: Antonio Sulca, harp
Ayacucho: Conjunto Mensajeros Dos de Mayo, Andean folkloric music
Chuschi: Fiesta music
Catac, Huaraz: Guitar and voice
Huaraz: Music at the Estampa Departmental de Folklore
Trujillo: Estampas del Peru, guitars and vocals
Pisac: Feria and after-church procession
Paucartambo: Fiesta of the Virgen Carmen
Puno: Sicuris Juventud Obrera, panpipe band
Bolivia
La Paz: Conjunto Los Jairos, folkloric music
Guaqui: Fiesta music
La Paz: Conjunto Los Choclos, panpipe band
La Paz: Los Jairitos, children performing folkloric music
Chile
Margot Loyala, folklorist, with a friend
Paraguay
Music at the Festival of Folklore
Brazil (Salvador, Bahia)
Dance group “Os Palmares”
Samba da Roda of Doña Augusta
Capoeira of Mestre Pastinha
Candomblé of Lulu
Academia de Capoeira Angola S. Jorge
Stellavox Recordings 1972-1983, 105 hours
Tibetan Buddhism
Rituals of Gyuto Tantric University, Dalhousie, Himachal Pradesh, 1972: Sangwa Dupa Gyushung (recitation of the text of the Guhyasamaja Tantra in Gyuto’s special chordal chanting style); Gonpo (Mahakala rite); summer retreat ritual.
Dalhousie, Himachal Pradesh, 1972: Rituals at Kailash Mahayana Monastic House; songs at the Tibetan school.
Khampagar Monastery, Paprola, Himachal Pradesh: Rites of the Drukpa Kagyu tradition:
1972 Performance of Gesar & Garcham dances at Sapru House, N. Delhi.
1973 Invocation to Padmasambhava, Gonpo (Mahakala) rite.
1974 Garcham festival of sacred dance.
1977 Garcham, festival of sacred dance; songs of Mila Repa.
1981 Long Life Inititiation of Padmasambhava and Demchog rite.
1983 Gonpo (Offering to Mahakala) comp. Padma Karpo, 1527-15-92, and Kagyé
desheg dhupe tsog (Offering to Kagyé Desheg) comp. Terdak Lingpa, b. 1646.
(These 1983 recordings have been lost.)
1994 Yamantaka Trochu rite.
Rituals of the Sakya Tradition, Sakya Centre, Dehradun, Uttar Pradesh, 1972: Dorje Phurba (Vajrakilaya) rite, Chö Chod, Sakya Pandita’s Manjushri Prayer.
Lumbini, Nepal, 1973: Rituals, Sakya Monastery; Gyaling (shawm) duets performed by the King of Mustang and others
Darli, Darjeeling, 1974: Drukpa Kagyu rites, led by H.H. Drukchen Rinpoche and Drukpa Dhungsey Rinpoche, Chö tsok rinchen thren wa, and Mahakala sadhana
Sonada, Darjeeling, 1974: Dorje Phagmo (Vajrayogini) rite of the Karma Kagyu tradition.
Rumtek Gompa, (seat of the Gyalwa Karmapa) Sikkim, 1974: Rites of the Karma Kagyu tradition — gyaling (shawm) duets, radung (bass trumpet) duets, and a major ritual.
Enchay Gompa, Gangtok, Sikkim, 1974: Dorje Sempa Sadhana, a Nyingma rite.
Dharamsala, Himachal Pradesh, 1977: Rituals of Gyumey Tantric University—Heruka, Long Life Puja for the Dalai Lama, Jigje (Yamantaka) sadhana
Dharamsala, Himachal Pradesh, 1978: Complete Shedur Ghost Exorcism of the Ngagpa tradition, performed by Yeshe Dorje Rinpoche.
Folk music of the Himalaya, Karakoram, and India
Dalhousie, 1972
Tibetan nomad playing piwang (fiddle)
Asian Fair, New Delhi, 1972, Indian folk music
Music of Bihar
Dances of the Chang tribe, Tuensang, Nagaland
Dances of Assam
Rajasthani song
Himachal Pradesh, 1972-74
Sahoo Village, near Chamba, folk songs
Lalit Kala Sangam, Chamba, traditional songs
Chamba, festival and procession music at the Minjar Fair
Young women of Chamba Home Guards, songs
Chamba, wedding music
Songs of Pangi valley
Songs of Kinnaur district
Music at a wedding in Kangra Valley
Kangra Valley, instrumental music: Shawms & drums; trumpet, clarinet & drum.
Instrumentalists and singers of All India Radio, Simla: Himachali folk music.
Traditional music of Kashmir, 1972/73
Wedding music
Ghulam Nabi Dolwal and party
Lateef Sheikh and party
Ghulam Mohammed Butt and party
Mohammed Abdullah Tibetbaqal and party, Soofiana Kalam, rebab and sarang solos.
Mohammed Abdullah Ganai and party, Sari Dangarpura village
Karakoram (Northwest Frontier Province, Pakistan) Gilgit & Hunza, 1973
Musicians of the Gilgit Scouts: Folk songs and dances.
Musicians of the Northern Scouts: Folk songs and dances.
Traditional music at a polo tournament.
Folk dances of Yasin Valley.
Music from Skardu, Baltistan.
Folk songs and dances at Altit Village, Hunza.
Music of Hunza’s traditional musician caste from Mominabad village.
Complete performance of Hunza’s last shaman.
Bards of Hunza: Taveel Shah, Alif Shah, and Hashim Shah.
Music of Wakhan.
Darjeeling, West Bengal, 1974
Tibetan School: Tibetan folk songs.
Tibetan Refugee Centre: Lhamo excerpts, songs from the Tibetan epics.
Himalayan Kala Mandir: Nepali songs.
Sikkim, 1974
Rumtek Monastery: Lhamo (Tibetan epic) performance.
Gangtok, Norkhill Hotel: Concert of Nepali and Lepcha folk music.
Gangtok, Enchey School: Concert of Lepcha and Tibetan songs.
Ladakh, 1974
Reli, Kidar, Rabgyas and friends: Traditional and contemporary music.
Traditional music for shawm and drums.
Traditional music for piwang (Tibetan fiddle).
Traditional Ladakhi and Tibetan songs.
Old Ladakhi songs.
Tibetan Refugee Settlement, Leh: Traditional Tibetan songs.
Two itinerant women singers.
Harvesters singing work songs.
Lahul, 1981
Folk dances at Independence Day festival.
Thakur Dass and party: Lahuli folk songs.
Central America, 1975-76
Guatemala
Guatemala City: Conjunto Guatemala Mayo.
Guatemala City: Emilio Caal Champney, arpista, quechua melodies.
Chimaltenango: Brass band at fiesta of San Martin Jilotepeque.
Sumpango: C. Patix and A. Rucal, pito and tambor.
Sololá: D. Palax and M. Palax, chirimía and tambor.
San Jorge la Laguna: Marimba de tecomate.
Chichicastenango: M. Mendes Tol, marimba de tecomate.
Antigua: Conjunto Joya Antigueña.
Southern Mexico
Chiapas, Indian Festival Music
Zinancantan: Music of the Fiesta of Guadelupe
San Juan Chamula: Music of the Fiesta of Guadelupe.
Navenchauc: Songs with violin and guitar.
San Cristobal de las Casas: Conjunto Cecilia, marimba music.
Zinacantan: Songs with harp, violin and guitar.
Carranza: Music for trombones, flute and drums.
Carranza: Music for harp, violin, and two guitars.
Carranza: Marimba Conjunto Espija de Oro.
Oaxaca
Oaxaca City: Christmas Eve, music in the Zocalo.
Oaxaca City: Christmas Day, procession music in the Zocalo.
Oaxaca City: Sacatepeque Mixe brass band.
Oaxaca City: Two blind singer/guitarists.
San Bartolo Coyotepeque: Fiesta music.
Pinotepa Nacional: “Chanta” Vielma, singer and guitarist.
Pinotepa Nacional: G.A. Bautista and H.L. Sosa, violin and guitar.
Pinotepa Nacional: Conjunto Victoriano Ramirez.
San Mateo del Mar, Tehuantepec: Local music for flute, violin and drums.
Juchitan: Traditional music for flute, drum and tortoise shell.
Juchitan: Zapotec songs, male vocals with guitar.
Tehuantepec: Zapotec songs, male and female vocals with guitar.
PCM-F1 Recordings in VHS Format, 1987/88, 100 hours
Tibetan Buddhism: Rites of the Great Gelug Colleges, 1987/88
(Institutions celebrated for the power and beauty of their chanting; joint project with the Council for Religious and Cultural Affairs of H.H. the Dalai Lama.)
Gyumey Tantric College, Hunsur, Karnataka: Sangwa düpa gyushung (text recitation of the Guhyasamaja Tantra, using Gyumey’s special chanting style); Sangwa düpa dagjug (Guhyasamaja Self-Empowerment).
Sera Je College, Bylakuppe, Karnataka: Sangcho chenmo (Special prayer offering);
Tamdin tonpo (Offering to Hayagriva).
Sera Me College, Bylakuppe, Karnataka: Jammon chenmo (Prayers to Maitreya Buddha); Kurim (Prayers recited at metaphysical debates).
Ganden Shartse College, Mundgod, Karnataka: Dratsang gi thunmong ma-yin-pai chö chod (Special prayers); Jigje kyi dagjug chenmo (Grand self-empowerment of Yamantaka).
Ganden Jangtse College, Mundgod, Karnataka: Dratsang gi thunmong ma-yin-pai chö chod (Special prayers); Sangwa düpa dak-kye (Generating oneself as the 32 deities of the Guhyasamaja mandala).
Drepung Loseling College, Mundgod, Karnataka: Dratsang gi thunmong ma-yin-pai chö chod (Special prayers).
Drepung Gomang College, Mundgod, Karnataka: Dratsang gi thunmong ma-yin-pai chö chod (Special prayers).
Drepung and Ganden Monasteries: Monlam chenmo (New Year prayer festival).