My NTS
Live now

British Library Sound Archive - Work Songs

London, 29.05.21

One hour of labour songs from around the world, carefully selected from the sound archive. Expect to hear the songs of pearl divers from Bahrain, Somalian women singing to the rhythm of corn pounding, Scottish waulking songs and miner’s songs from Venezuela and the U.K., amongst many more.

Thanks to all the recordists for agreeing to have their recordings shared on NTS. The programme is dedicated to all of the performers who appear in the recordings.

Selection and mix by Catherine Smith and Andrea Zarza. Script and voice by Andrea Zarza

Tracklist

  • CARLOS SMALL. RECORDED BY OSWALDO LARES
    BLOW THE MANDÓN (CANTO DE MINERO)
  • GEORGE STONE, JOE WHITE, JACK TEWKESBURY, HARRY HOUNSELL. RECORDED BY PETER KENNEDY
    KNOCK, BASH, REAM
  • UNNAMED PERFORMERS. RECORDED BY DAVID RYCROFT
    WE MAJOLA! (HEY MAJOLA!)
  • UNNAMED PERFORMERS. RECORDED BY JOHN THORNLEY
    WOMEN’S SAGO SONG
  • CALI MAATAN MAALIN, XASAN DINI MAXAMED, CABDI TOGANE. RECORDED BY JOHN LOW
    WHISTLING TUNE USED WITH CALVES
  • AABOW FAQIYA KUULOW And XALIIMO FAQIYA KUULOW. RECORDED BY JOHN LOW
    POUNDING SONG
  • UNNAMED PERFORMERS. RECORDED BY HABIB HASSAN TOUMA
    ADSANI (PEARL DIVING SONG)
  • FAUSTINO GUTIÉRREZ, JUSTINIANO BAUTISTA AND UNNAMED PERFORMERS. RECORDED BY NEIL STEVENSON
    JARIJA CHANT DURING PLOUGHING. MINGA OF MAXIMO SOTO 1971
  • MARIA HUAROTO AND UNNAMED PERFORMERS. RECORDED BY NEIL STEVENSON
    WOMEN’S YARAWI SONG DURING PLOUGHING. MINGA OF DONATO PARVINA 1972
  • HUSBAND OF MANA. RECORDED BY JOHN MOORE
    PADONG ENSEMBLE: PLANTING TREES
  • TSUI AND MAA. RECORDED BY JOHN MOORE
    PALAUNG SONG 1: PICKING TEA
  • JOSEFA BALSE AZEVEDO AND FRIENDS. RECORDED BY ALAN LOMAX
    SEVILLANOS DE ACEITUNAS
  • ANDREINA FORTUNATI, CLARE BENEDUSI, EBE DALMASCHIO
    LA VIEN GIÙ DALLE MONTAGNE (SHE COMES DOWN FROM THE MOUNTAINS)
  • DAMAI WOMEN OF RANATHOK, GORKHA. RECORDED BY CAROL TINGEY
    ASARE GIT / MAYAMA NA BHULA / O NIRA / LOK GIT / MARSYANGDI SALALA (PANKO PAT)
  • UNNAMED PERFORMERS. RECORDED BY A.L. LLOYD
    ROWING SONG
  • UNNAMED PERFORMERS. RECORDED BY A.L. LLOYD
    MAÇAR O LINHO
  • MISS MARY MORRISON AND CHORUS. RECORDED BY THORKILD KNUDSEN
    LATHA SIUBHAL BEINNE DHOMH (ONE DAY AS I ROAMED THE HILLS)
  • KAIRU, MUHINANGWA, WATUKURUA. RECORDED BY EMMANUELLE OLIVIER
    OMUTANDU
  • UNNAMED PERFORMERS. RECORDED BY DIANA RUSTON
    FUFU BOYS (POUNDING SONG)
  • UNNAMED PERFORMERS. RECORDED BY BRIAN STUBBINGS
    KUTWA SONG (POUNDING SONG)
  • KAFUE COMPOSERS CLUB AND KAFUE SECONDARY SCHOOL. RECORDED BY BRIAN STUBBINGS
    CHRISTIAN SONG BASED ON A POUNDING TUNE
  • UNNAMED PERFORMERS. RECORDED BY KLAUS WACHSMANN
    GIWACONI WAPUR DABOLO NYONG MERE BERABER, GIWACONI WAPUR MURANGWA NYONG MERE BERABER (SONG FOR PLANTING BEANS AND PLANTAIN)
  • UNNAMED PERFORMERS. RECORDED BY DIDIER DEMOLIN
    EFE GROUP SONG WITH LIKEMBE (HONEY GATHERING SONG)
  • PAUL TEJEUTSANG AND JEAN-CLAUDE NGNINTEDEM. RECORDED BY CAROLYN LANDAU
    OSSÓÓYA