Recorded 1952–1953 by Alan Lomax, assisted by Jeanette Bell, with the collaboration of Eduardo Torner

Notes, Basque translations, and transcriptions by Juan-Mari Beltran and Aintzane Camara; Spanish translations by Judith R. Cohen

These two volumes of rare recordings offer improvised sung poetry in the ancient Basque language; deep-voiced fishermen’s harmonies; clear women’s voices from green valleys and mountains; double alboka horn, pipe and drum ensembles; Navarrese jotas; and the irrintzi, the reverberating cry which ended Alan Lomax’s sojourn in Spain. Contains previously unreleased recordings.

“Important and irreplaceable field recordings.” —Worldmusiccentral.com