"Lured to the central African forest by Pygmy music he heard on the radio, New Jersey native Louis Sarno now lives with the BaBenzélé Pygmies, or Bayaka as they call themselves. Living there not as anthropologist or missionary, but as a welcome member of a cooperative community, Sarno is free to record songs and rituals previously un-heard by Western ears--music he calls 'one of the hidden glories of humanity'. His other recordings of the cicadas, birds, frogs and countless other species that share their lush, complex forest, reveal an exquisite environmental orchestra untouched by industrial sounds. For Bayaka , renowned nature recordist Bernie Krause combines Sarno's recordings of BaBenzélé music and sounds of the forest, illuminating the timeless harmony that has existed between the Bayaka and their home. That relationship shines through as you hear the forest providing a dense rhythmic background for their songs and ceremonies, including a gleeful wedding song and the echoing gathering rounds of the BaBenzélé women. Full-color photography and extensive notes on life in the forest and BaBenzélé music, bring these 11 beautiful and rare recordings to life." [jacket blurb, US hbk/CD, 1995]

"These recordings of Bayaka music were made in central Africa over a period of eight years. During this time, I have grown familiar not only with the Bayaka, but also with the forest in which they live. Their music seems nothing less than a creation of the forest itself, its ultimate form of self expression. Remove the voices of the Bayaka from this paradise of natural sounds, and you remove its soul". -- Louis Sarno.

Highly recommended.

elliarts@aol.com

African Sources
("A selected list of books, recordings, and videos of interest to students of African music, culture, and religion"... site maintained by Richard Hughes... mentions Song From the Forest )

Sound Photosynthesis Catalog
(an alternative place to order a copy of Louis Sarno's Song From the Forest ... have also released some recordings by Louis Sarno)

Wild Sanctuary
(contains book cover and more information about Bayaka: The Extraordinary Music of the BaBenzélé Pygmies ... you can order this book/CD from them)

For other recordings by Louis Sarno (prices and ordering) see:

The music section in the Anachron General Store

For info on African music:

International Library of African Music
(check under research institutes... e-mail: Ms LMG Kekana illk@hippo.ru.ac.za)

Foundation Course in African Dance-Drumming
("it is becoming a world-famous site for authentic and comprehensive information on African music." --Richard Hodges.)