After initial studies in medicine at Oxford and St. Mary's Hospital, London, Nick Allen re-trained in social anthropology, conducting fieldwork in Nepal in 1969-71. His thesis title was Studies in the myths and oral traditions of the Thulung Rai of East Nepal.

Between 1976 and 2001 he was Lecturer and then Reader in the Social Anthropology of South Asia at the Institute of Social and Cultural Anthropology, University of Oxford, and a Fellow of Wolfson College, Oxford.

The Nicholas J. Allen audio collection is curated by the Pitt Rivers Museum and consists of 9 reel to reel tapes recorded in the Himalayas in 1970-1971. The recordings include examples of rituals, epic chants and myths, and instrumentation. The Museum also curates over 1300 of Allen's fieldwork images and 12 objects.

The collection has been edited into separate tracks in the complete playlist made available here. In 2017 Dr Allen donated further extensive documentation relating to the Thulung recordings and their content to facilitate future scholarly use of the collection. This documentation in the Related Documents File for the Allen Collection at the Pitt Rivers Museum and consists of:

PART 1. Abbreviations 
PART 2a. Location on mp3s of myths told in Miyapma 
PART 2b. Other genres represented on these mp3s 
PART 3. Contents of each mp3 
PART 4. Transcription of Thulung texts used in Miyapma 
PART 5. Ritual vocabulary

It is hoped in due course to be able to make the documentation also available online, but further information can be obtained via ms-photo.colls@prm.ox.ac.uk

Himalayan field recordings collected by Nicholas J. Allen (1970-71)

A DJ set of field recordings from the sound archive at the Pitt Rivers Museum, mixed by the Museum's ethnomusicologist, Dr Noel Lobley.

THE FUTURE OF ETHNOGRAPHIC MUSEUMS

On the evening of Saturday 20th July 2013, the Pitt Rivers Museum was bathed in sound, darkness, light and performance to showcase the Museum and its sound collections and composer in residence, Nathaniel Mann, as part of the "Future of Ethnographic Museums" Conference hosted in collaboration with Keble College, University of Oxford. 

http://www.prm.ox.ac.uk/PRMconference.html

This mix contains a selection of field recordings from the sound archive at the Pitt Rivers Museum, chosen by Dr Noel Lobley, the Museum's ethnomusicologist, and designed to be broadcast into the galleries in the dark and resonate with hidden performances by Embedded composer in residence, Nathaniel Mann. The sounds range from conch trumpets in Vanuatu to spirits whistling in the rain forests of the Central African Republic; and from ringing folk songs in Madeira to beautiful sanza music in South Sudan. 

Full information about the sounds featured in the mix  can be found below:

1: Natar - Markany Lei on conch, Wani on musket (Vanuatu, October 1962) [1993 6 164 1]

http://snd.sc/18ALw0u

2: "Merer Pake" - an nDavu trumpet signal for a full circle tusked boar (Vanuatu, 1962) [1993 6 155 6]

http://snd.sc/19fUVdk

3: Durei-na-mbwe by the Broken Consort (Vanuatu, May 1961] [1993 6 86 6]

http://snd.sc/19fUXlE

4: Ibo vocal group with leader and percussion (Umucuku, Nigeria, 1911) [1914.80.150]

http://snd.sc/19fV1lc

5: Moru sanza music from South Sudan by Timon Beri [1/5] [2013 1 11 A 1]

http://snd.sc/19fV2FO

6: "Noriya" - a men's generation song from South Sudan [2013 1 2 A 1]

http://snd.sc/18ALEgw

7: "Bailinho da Madeira" (Camach Rancho folk dance from Madeira, danced by children) [2012 78 102 1]

http://snd.sc/19fVbsM

8: U'wa whistling from North East Colombia [2012 68 17 5]

http://snd.sc/19fVeF2

9: U'wa drones from North East Colombia [2012 68 14 2]

http://snd.sc/19fVfJd

10: Chocó woman calling a parrot [2008 113 2 5 10]

http://snd.sc/19fVi7O

11: Pigeon Whistles at Norwich & Norfolk Festival. Audible Forces (edit)

http://snd.sc/19fVmUV

12: A Bayaka spirit whistling a boyobi tune (Central African Republic, 1994) [1997 21 2 118 B 2]

http://snd.sc/19fVofM

13: Bayaka geedal music and singing (Republic of Congo, 1994) [1997 21 2 65 A 12]

http://snd.sc/18ALVjL

14: Mindumi playing mbyo with others singing (Central African Republic, 1989) [1997 21 2 341 (edited)]

http://snd.sc/18ALYMl

15: Water drumming by Bayaka women and youths, Republic of Congo, 1994 [1997 21 2 134 B 14]

http://snd.sc/18AM0DR

16: Bayaka women singing yeyi in the rainforests of the Central African Republic [1997 21 2 98 A 6]

http://snd.sc/19fVAeT

17: Ngbanda playing the ngbindi earth bow (Central African Republic) [1997 21 2 132 B 11]

http://snd.sc/19fVBzj

An un-mixed playlist featuring all of the full recordings can be heard here:

http://snd.sc/18AM8U3

Sound Collections at the Pitt Rivers Museum project website and blog:

http://web.prm.ox.ac.uk/reel2real/
http://pittrivers-sound.blogspot.co.uk

Image taken by Jaanika Vider, copyright Pitt Rivers Museum

DJ set of field recordings from the sound archive at the Pitt Rivers Museum mixed by Noel Lobley

Bayaka women and youths (including Bonolo) water drumming (koondi), recorded by Louis Sarno at Boungingi in the Republic of Congo, afternoon of 19th July 1994.

The image shows Bayaka youths in a river at Moboi, on the way to Boungingi, Republic of Congo. The image is a detail from [1997.21.3.915]. Photo taken by Louis Sarno in 1994 , copyright Pitt Rivers Museum, University of Oxford.

http://photographs.prm.ox.ac.uk/pages/1997_21_3_915.html

For more information about the Louis Sarno archive please visit

http://web.prm.ox.ac.uk/reel2real/index.php/collections-sarno

Sound Collections at the Pitt Rivers Museum project website and blog:

http://web.prm.ox.ac.uk/reel2real/
http://pittrivers-sound.blogspot.co.uk

Water drumming by Bayaka women and youths, Republic of Congo, 1994 [1997 21 2 134 B 20]

Water drumming by Bayaka women and youths, Republic of Congo, 1994 [1997 21 2 134 B 19]

Water drumming by Bayaka women and youths, Republic of Congo, 1994 [1997 21 2 134 B 18]

Water drumming by Bayaka women and youths, Republic of Congo, 1994 [1997 21 2 134 B 15]

Bayaka youths tree drumming (gooma) with fists, recorded by Louis Sarno at Boungingi in the Republic of Congo, morning of 18th July 1994.

The image shows Ndumbé drumming the base of a very large tree trunk. The image is a detail from [1997.21.3.503]. Photo taken by Louis Sarno in 1994 at Boungingi in the Republic of Congo, copyright Pitt Rivers Museum, University of Oxford.

http://photographs.prm.ox.ac.uk/pages/1997_21_3_503.html

For more information about the Louis Sarno archive please visit

http://web.prm.ox.ac.uk/reel2real/index.php/collections-sarno

Sound Collections at the Pitt Rivers Museum project website and blog:

http://web.prm.ox.ac.uk/reel2real/
http://pittrivers-sound.blogspot.co.uk

Tree drumming (gooma) by Bayaka youths, recorded in The Republic of Congo [1997 21 2 134 B 10]

Bayaka youths tree drumming (gooma) with fists and palms, recorded by Louis Sarno at Boungingi in the Republic of Congo, morning of 18th July 1994.

The image shows (l-r) Mimanga and Ndumbé drumming the base of a very large tree trunk. The image is a detail from [1997.21.3.503]. Photo taken by Louis Sarno in 1994 at Boungingi in the Republic of Congo, copyright Pitt Rivers Museum, University of Oxford.

http://photographs.prm.ox.ac.uk/pages/1997_21_3_503.html

For more information about the Louis Sarno archive please visit

http://web.prm.ox.ac.uk/reel2real/index.php/collections-sarno

Sound Collections at the Pitt Rivers Museum project website and blog:

http://web.prm.ox.ac.uk/reel2real/
http://pittrivers-sound.blogspot.co.uk

Tree drumming (gooma) by Bayaka youths recorded in The Republic of Congo [1997 21 2 134 B 9]

Pigeon Pete & Nathaniel Mann chat live about Pigeons and Whistles on Andy Whittaker's BBC Nottingham Breakfast Show. 

More Info about the Pigeon Whistles project by Nathaniel Mann:

Ten Birmingham Roller Pigeons trained by Pigeon Pete fly with bespoke Pigeon Whistles designed and constructed by Nathaniel Mann at the UEA Campus as part of OCM's Audible Forces at the Norwich and Norfolk Festival. Audio of the piece Recorded by Dan Fox.

Nathaniel Mann is the Embedded Composer in Residence at the Pitt Rivers Museum, Oxford and OCM.

More Info: www.pittriversmann.blogspot.com

www.nathanielmann.co.uk

Twitter: @animateddog

Pigeon Pete on BBC Nottingham 6th Aug 2013

i would like to wish tri angle label an incredibly sublime birthday and thank for having been invited to dj at their party . couldnt possibly been more honoured than to play in that company !!! the mix i played was my present to them : merging together some of my fav beats last year with some of my fav vocalists doing some of their best songs :

!!! this is my tune-tinder !!!

warmthnesss björk

the musicians in the mix are :
abida parveen/rabit
kate bush/lotic/vessel
mariza/rabit
chilean flutes/the haxan cloak/lotic
john tavener/haxan cloak
amália rodriquez/rabit
abida parveen/bloom
hans reichel/sudanim
baka people
mc brinquedo
c.z.
shut up and dance
hanz/virtua mima
cut hands
death grips
david hykes
kate bush/rabit
lung/lotic remix
kramphaft
jeremih
total freedom
brandy

björk : tri angle records birthday dj set

[APWW #590]  [Originally aired 2010] 
DISCOVER AND RECORD: THE FIELD RECORDINGS OF HUGH TRACEY
In this Hip Deep edition, Afropop producer Wills Glasspeigel heads to South Africa to reveal the story of the inimitable Hugh Tracey, a field recordist born at the turn of the 20th century in England.  A wayward youth, Tracey found himself in Africa in the 1920s where he became fascinated with music from Zimbabwe. Tracey became a pioneer field recordist, making over 250 LPs of traditional African music for the Gallo label in South Africa.  Like John and Alan Lomax in the US, Tracey was instrumental in preserving hundreds of songs that have since gone extinct.  Glasspiegel speaks with Dianne Thram, director of Tracey library in Grahamstown, South Africa; Tracey's son Andrew, a musician and field recordist in his own right; Michael Baird, an expert on the Tracey catalog; and esteemed South African anthropologist David Coplan. We'll also head to Malawi to make a field recording of our own with the help of Malawian singer, Esau Mwamwaya. Hip Deep produced by Wills Glasspiegel.

Hugh Tracey: Discover and Record

Man singing, recorded by Nicholas J. Allen in the Himalayas, 1970-71.

The Nicholas J. Allen audio collection is curated by the Pitt Rivers Museum and consists of 9 reel to reel tapes recorded in the Himalayas in 1970-1971. The recordings include examples of rituals, epic chants and myths, and instrumentation. The Museum also curates over 1300 of Allen's fieldwork images and 12 objects.

Man singing (Himalayas, 1970-71) [2012 69 2 2]

Ceremonial music from Nepal, including wind instruments and percussion. Recorded by Nicholas J. Allen in the Himalayas in 1970.

The Nicholas J. Allen audio collection is curated by the Pitt Rivers Museum and consists of 9 reel to reel tapes recorded in the Himalayas in 1970-1971. The recordings include examples of rituals, epic chants and myths, and instrumentation. The Museum also curates over 1300 of Allen's fieldwork images and 12 objects.

Ceremonial music from Nepal (1970) [2012 69 3 A 2]

Ceremonial music from Nepal (1970) 
Man singing or reciting, recorded by Nicholas J. Allen in the Himalayas in 1970.

The Nicholas J. Allen audio collection is curated by the Pitt Rivers Museum and consists of 9 reel to reel tapes recorded in the Himalayas in 1970-1971. The recordings include examples of rituals, epic chants and myths, and instrumentation. The Museum also curates over 1300 of Allen's fieldwork images and 12 objects.


Man singing or reciting (Himalayas, 1970) [2012 69 3 B 3]

Two men singing, recorded by Nicholas J. Allen in the Himalayas in 1970.

The Nicholas J. Allen audio collection is curated by the Pitt Rivers Museum and consists of 9 reel to reel tapes recorded in the Himalayas in 1970-1971. The recordings include examples of rituals, epic chants and myths, and instrumentation. The Museum also curates over 1300 of Allen's fieldwork images and 12 o

Two men singing (Himalayas, 1970) [2012 69 4 4]

Man singing, recorded by Nicholas J. Allen in the Himalayas in 1970.

The Nicholas J. Allen audio collection is curated by the Pitt Rivers Museum and consists of 9 reel to reel tapes recorded in the Himalayas in 1970-1971. The recordings include examples of rituals, epic chants and myths, and instrumentation. The Museum also curates over 1300 of Allen's fieldwork images and 12 objects.



Man singing (Himalayas, 1970) [2012 69 7 5]

PittRiversound is the audio stream for the Pitt Rivers Museum's sound collections, the core of which consists of a unique sound archive of ethnographic recordings. 

All tracks are copyright Pitt Rivers Museum, University of Oxford, and made available for online streaming only. Please contact us for further details about licensing. We uphold the World Intellectual Property Organisation's guidelines for protecting the traditional cultural expressions of the communities whose music we hold. Please see http://www.wipo.int/tk/en/folklore/ for further details.

We currently curate more than 1000 hours of Bayaka music from the rainforests of the Central African Republic recorded by Louis Sarno and a unique collection of recordings from Vanuatu by Raymond Clausen, among many other collections. Our archive also includes music from Colombia, India, Uganda and China, and we are in the process of digitising, cataloguing and making them available. Also included in this stream are recordings of ethnomusicological, anthropological and ethnographic talks, sound art, and other audio gems from the collections at the Pitt Rivers Museum.

Ceremonial music from Nepal (1970) [2012 69 3 A 2]

PittRiversound

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