Music of Haiti / Various Artists Music of Haiti: Vol. 1 - Folk Music of Haiti

• 1. Pilet Pied'm: Ibo Dance Song – Morgina Lavache
• 2. M'Pas Bwè M'Pas Mangé: Work Song – Libera Borderau and Ti Yogan
• 3. Ogoun Balindjo: Invocation – LaFrance Belvue
• 4. Èzilie Wèdo: Invocation – LaFrance Belvue
• 5. La Famille Li Fai Ca: Ibo Dance Song – Lena Hibbert
• 6. Moundongue Oh Yè Yè Yè: Moundongue Dance Song – LaFrance Belvue
• 7. Zamis Loin Moin: Secular Song – Dimervil Servers
• 8. Alexis Nord: Political Song – Dimervil Servers
• 9. Ou Pas We'm Innocent: Secular Song – Aleanne Francois
• 10. Mainin'm Allé: Congo Dance Song – Ti Yogan and Morgina Lavache
• 11. Coté Yo, Coté Yo: Mais Dance Song – Libera Borderau
• 12. Crapeau Tingélé: Play Song – Libera Borderau and Ti Yogan
• 13. Balancé Yaya: Play Song – Edgar Derosier
• 14. Trois Fé: Social Criticism – Christophe Oxilas
• 15. Spirit Conversation – Cult priest with bell, spectators
• 16. Général Brisé: Quitta Dance Song – LaFrance Belvue
• 17. Mayousse: Carnival Song – Male singers with marimba
• 18. Paulette: Romantic Song – Sigbrien Bellis and Veneise Macelise

Folklorist, ethnographer and ethnomusicologist Harold Courlander, known for his important early work documenting the “vast unwritten literature, dances, music” of the Haitian peasants, released these field recordings from the mountain villages of Haiti before nearly any other recordings were available. Among this collection are songs to accompany work or dance and invocations of the lwa-yo (or spirits). In typical fashion, many are based around moralizations or colorful proverbs. The intricate ritual drumming and chanting of Haiti is often said to be the best preservation of the African Congo, Dahomey and Ibo musical traditions from the pre-slave era in the world (even in comparison to the musical practices of these African regions now).