The second in a series on traditional polyphonic singing, this episode visits the hunter-gatherer pygmies of the African rainforest, the peasants of pre-Christian Russia, and the possible residents of outer space, via one very special song from Georgia. It also features an interview with Georgian ethnomusicologist Joseph Jordania, organizer of the International Symposium on Traditional Polyphony in Tbilisi, Georgia, and author of several books on polyphony and early human evolution, including the award winning Who Asked the First Question: Origins of Vocal Polyphony, Human Intelligence, Language and Speech.

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Music

Intro: "Forest March" by Sylvia Woods

“Central African Pygmy Polyphony” from Simha Arom and Rounder

“Bobangi” by Aka Pygmies (from Aka Pygmy Music - UNESCO Collection from Smithsonian Folkways)

“Nzombi [I]” by Aka Pygmies (from Aka Pygmy Music - UNESCO Collection from Smithsonian Folkways)

“Mongombi” by Aka Pygmies (from Aka Pygmy Music - UNESCO Collection from Smithsonian Folkways)

“Mo-nzombe” by Pygmees Mbenzele

“U vorot, vorot solovey poet” (“There is a nightingale singing at the door”)by the Ensemble of village Krasnyi Zilim

“Strela (The Arrow)” by Belyj Svet and Vyselki

“Love Is Gone (feat. The Gypsy Orchestra of the Cabarets Russes de Paris & Gyula Kokas)” by Micha Thomas & Serge Nicolaieff

“Typu (Stepan)” by The Women's Vocal Folklore Ensemble of Chindyanovo

“Oak Forest” by Dmitri Pokrovsky Ensemble

“Chakrulo” by Rustavi Folk Choir

“Song for "Thinking: Piere” - Gbaya men (Central African Republic - UNESCO Collection from Smithsonian Folkways)

“Zinskaro” by Vokal Ansambl Gordela

“Hawsa” by Marewrew

“Group of Nurstani singers, accompanied by harp (watj) and drum (jamba)” recorded on Sept. 10, 1968, Vienna Phonogram Archive

“Dikoboda Sombe” by Aka Pygmy Singers

You can find Joseph Jordania’s books and projects at http://josephjordania.com

The International Research Center for Traditional Polyphony: http://polyphony.ge/en/home-2/

Learn more about Ekaterina Rets and her band Belyj Svet here: https://www.art-laguna.com/

Survival International advocates for Central African Pygmies: https://www.survivalinternational.org/tribes/pygmies