Newar musicians, Nepal 1955-56

The World and Traditional Music section of the British Library holds a unique collection of South Asian material recorded by Dutch ethnomusicologist Dr Arnold Adriaan Bake (1899-1963). This collection spans not only many decades but also many formats of audio and visual material including wax cylinders, tefi-bands, open reel tapes and 16mm black and white and colour silent films, providing a complex and detailed document of music and ritual in South Asia from the 1930s to the late 1950s.

These edited highlights introduce musicians from one of the main culture groups in Nepal, the Newar. Among the religious music performed by the Newar is Dapha, a form of hymn singing.

Catalogue links:
C52 Arnold Adriaan Bake Archive -- http://cadensa.bl.uk/uhtbin/cgisirsi/...
Film: C52/FO/59 C1 http://cadensa.bl.uk/uhtbin/cgisirsi/...
Audio: C52/NEP/39 C1
http://cadensa.bl.uk/uhtbin/cgisirsi/...

The recordings in this collection were edited together from non-synchronous film and audio recordings. In some cases there is no parallel audio resulting in silent film. All efforts to preserve the feel of these unique records have been made.

The British Library has made these recordings available purely for the purposes of non-commercial research, study and private enjoyment. These recordings should not be altered or used in ways that might be derogatory to the indigenous and local communities who are traditional custodians of the traditional music, lyrics, knowledge, stories, performances and other creative materials embodied in the recordings.