Recorded outside of a mosque in Old Delhi, India on the morning of Ashura.

The Pritchard Recordings

The Cry Of A Thousand .001

After a 9 hour drive from the coast of Flores, an island near Komodo in Indonesia, I reached the base of a rainforest mountain whose peak was hidden by a dark menacing storm. There I hired a local village boy named Argo (awesome name) to guide me up the treacherously steep mountain through the storm. It was another 3 hours in near full downpour and almost full darkness until I reached the first sight of the Wae Rebo village.

Not far below where Argo and I stood, the large pointed huts lay quietly. The tranquility of the village seamed to soothe the storm like music to a beast. A glow from the huts small windows foretold of much needed dry fires and rest. I was about to start down the path to the village from our perch when Argo gave me the universal sound/hand signal for “stop you idiot!” - as he did not speak much English. He grabbed a thick branch of bamboo cut vertically half way down the middle, made especially for such an occasion. With one side in his hand he shook it causing the bamboo to clap together loudly signaling to the people below of our approach. 

When we reached the main hut, I gave the elders the gifts I had brought. Sugar, in bags equivalent in size and weight to sandbags and a carton of the local cigarettes, as my driver had suggested. We drank coffee and Tuak (palm wine), smoked and spoke through my broken Bahasa and a Wae Rebo boy’s broken English. Once dark had completely consumed the whole forrest, 5 of the men sat together playing drums and other percussion instruments while singing in beautiful harmonies.

Part 3

Part 2

Part 1

Immersive audio experiences gathered from some of the most unique cultural experiences across the world. Photos and recordings made by Tyler Jackson Pritchard. For best results use stereo headphones.

THE PRITCHARD TAPES

Popular tracks