Rough Guide to World Music, Volume One: Africa, Europe & The Middle East

These eye-popping volumes of this second edition, which omit the glossaries but otherwise update and expand to twice the size the marvelous single-volume 1994 first edition. give general audiences over 160 articles on pop, folk, and non-Western classical musical traditions from nearly every country in the world and many borderless ethnic groups or national musical subdivisions. (Jazz and much of U.S. commercially popular music are not included.)

The articles, written in British English by more than 100 contributors and delivered with opinionated snap and multicultural spice, provide historical background, cultural context, interviews with musicians, quotations from lyrics, discographies (including CDs, some highlighted for "first purchase"; cassette tapes; and a few vinyl discs), and black-and-white photos of selected musicians.

Each volume includes information on contributors (a mix of scholars, journalists, producers, and fans), a directory of record labels and shops, ads for recordings and magazines, and many references to web sites.

Divided by region and subregion, this volume examines the indigenous music of different countries, its current status, major performers, and special instruments

Includes discographies at the end of each chapter and index

Highly recommended for public libraries and for any music library as a guide to recorded sound collection building.

Volume 1. Africa, Europe and the Middle East –

Volume 2. Latin & North America, Caribbean, India, Asia and Pacific