or
Sign in to turn on 1-Click ordering.
 
 
More Buying Choices
30 used & new from £5.03
Have one to sell? Sell yours here
 
   
Available to Download Now
 
Buy the MP3 album for £4.99
  
 
 
 
New Ancient Strings
 
See larger image and other views 
Share your own customer images

New Ancient Strings

~ Ballake Sissoko, Toumani Diabate
4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
Price: £9.68 & this item Delivered FREE in the UK with Super Saver Delivery. See details and conditions
o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
In stock.
Dispatched from and sold by Amazon.co.uk. Gift-wrap available.

Want guaranteed delivery by Wednesday, November 25? Choose Express delivery at checkout. See Details
26 new from £5.03 4 used from £6.50
MP3
Buy CDs and get up to £3 credit to spend on MP3s
Spend more than £5 on CDs before December 31st, and get a credit to spend on MP3s: spend £5, get £1 credit; spend £10, get £2 credit; spend £15, get £3 credit. UK customers only. Terms apply.
Buy the MP3 album for £4.99 at the Amazon MP3 Downloads store.

Special Offers and Product Promotions

Frequently Bought Together

Customers buy this with The Mande Variations ~ Toumani Diabate

New Ancient Strings + The Mande Variations
Price For Both: £15.76

One of these items is dispatched sooner than the other. Show details

  • This item: New Ancient Strings ~ Ballake Sissoko

    In stock.
    Dispatched from and sold by Amazon.co.uk.
    This item Delivered FREE in the UK with Super Saver Delivery. See details and conditions

  • The Mande Variations ~ Toumani Diabate

    Usually dispatched within 6 to 9 days.
    Dispatched from and sold by Amazon.co.uk.
    This item Delivered FREE in the UK with Super Saver Delivery. See details and conditions

Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought

Kaira

Kaira

~ Toumani Diabate
5.0 out of 5 stars (1)  £7.48
Djelika

Djelika

~ Toumani Diabate
5.0 out of 5 stars (1)  £8.79
The Mande Variations

The Mande Variations

~ Toumani Diabate
4.8 out of 5 stars (11)  £6.08
Boulevard De L'independance: +DVD

Boulevard De L'independance: +DVD

~ Symmetric Orchestra
4.9 out of 5 stars (7)  £6.78
King of the Kora: An Introduction

King of the Kora: An Introduction

~ Toumani Diabate
£5.98
› Explore similar items

Product details

  • Audio CD (19 Oct 1998)
  • Number of Discs: 1
  • Label: Hannibal
  • ASIN: B00000JFRU
  • Other Editions: MP3 Download
  • Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 8,621 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

    Popular in this category:

    #35 in  Music > World & Folk > African

    •  Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?

Listen to Samples and Buy MP3s

Songs from this album are available to purchase as MP3s. Click on "Buy MP3" or view the MP3 Album.

Samples
Song Title Time Price
Listen  1. Bi Lambam (Album Version) 5:00£0.69
Listen  2. Salaman (Album Version) 6:14£0.69
Listen  3. Kita Kaira (Album Version) 9:03£0.69
Listen  4. Bafoulabe (Album Version) 6:26£0.69
Listen  5. Cheiknah Demba (Album Version) 4:30£0.69
Listen  6. Kora Bali (Album Version) 9:07£0.69
Listen  7. Kadiatou (Album Version) 7:49£0.69
Listen  8. Yamfa (Album Version) 5:11£0.69

Product Description

Amazon.co.uk Review

Back in the early 1970s, a recording by kora masters Sidiki Diabate and Djelimadi Sissoko called Cordes Anciennes first brought this rich acoustic music of Mali to the world. More than 20 years later, their sons, the now world-famous Toumani Diabate and the junior Ballake Sissoko, have come together to pay tribute to their fathers with 1999's New Ancient Strings. While many of the songs come from the original repertoire, the music is all modern Mali. Toumani Diabate has toured the world as a soloist, as a member of fusion groups like Songhai (with flamenco fusionist Ketama), and he has incorporated subtle changes into his music that makes it a living affirmation of the strength of the ancient harp of Africa. Together Diabate and Sissoko explore their fathers' roots while travelling their own new routes. This is the first all-acoustic kora recording Diabate has done since his stunning Kaira, released more than 10 years prior to New Ancient Strings, and it shows a mature and forward-looking artist that would make the elder Diabate proud. --Louis Gibson

Tags Customers Associate with This Product

 (What's this?)
Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
 
(1)
See all 2 tags...

Your tags: Add your first tag
 
See most popular tags
 

Customer Reviews

7 Reviews
5 star:
 (6)
4 star:
 (1)
3 star:    (0)
2 star:    (0)
1 star:    (0)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.9 out of 5 stars (7 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
26 of 26 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Mali Magic, 23 Sep 2005
By Friederike Knabe (Ottawa, Ontario Canada) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   
Listening to Toumani Diabaté's NEW ANCIENT STRINGS is the next best thing to sitting in the audience of one of his concerts in Bamako (the capital of Mali and Toumani's hometown). Toumani has become one of the world's leading interpreters of the 'kora', a 21-string, traditional African harp-lute, which originates in Mali. The string arrangements around the body of the instrument and along the long neck make it a complex instrument to play. At the same time, it allows the musician to create complex harmonies ideally suited for a solo instrument. It was the favourite instrument at the courts of the kingdoms of Mali, going back to at least the 13th century.

The melodies in this collection, passed down from the rich Malian music traditions are newly interpreted by Toumani. Both he and Ballade Sissoko, who accompanies him, are sons of two outstanding Malian musicians, revered till today across all of West Africa. The techniques and interpretations have evolved since then and are still changing and adapting to popular styles. NEW ANCIENT STRINGS is a completely instrumental collection of these traditional Malian tunes and rhythms, most going back to the eighteenth century. They will not be well known to the listener outside West Africa but the interpretations by Toumani make them easily accessible to the unaccustomed ear. The virtuosity of the players enables the music to flow in beautiful rhythms and brings out emotional depth as well as playful harmonies.

NEW ANCIENT STRINGS is not only a great introduction to West African music it is also a great addition for everybody who enjoys traditional solo instrumental music of lute, guitar or harp. [Friederike Knabe]

Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)



 
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Quite sublime with magical musicianship., 21 Jan 2001
By A Customer
My favourite album of 2000 and one which confirms the continuing maturity of Toumani Diabate and his lyrical style of kora playing. Check out his first solo album which is also most impressive, as well as his willingness to blend with Western music, such as on the brilliant Kulanjan and the Songhai albums.

If you get the opportunity to see him, go.

Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)



 
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars An instrumental album of virtuoso kora playing, 15 Feb 2000
The artists recorded this album in the shadows of their respective fathers who combined on the original 'Ancient Strings' at the heights of their own powers. Their album has become a standard document of traditional Malian songs played on the Kora, a multi stringed instrument vaguely looking like a banjo (but sounding more like a harpsichord). This modern version is purely instrumental and unaccompanied but takes the complex melodies and weaves delightful lyrical pictures, the two artists contributing layers of detail and rhythym. The music is in many ways timeless, and at times placeless; some of the songs resemble no less than traditional indian ragas in their structure and almost mesmeric quality. It is an album that deserves careful and repeated listening to enjoy its depth of quality and musicianship, rather than being an 'instant' hit. The interested may like to try 'Kulanjan' where Toumani combines with the blues artist Taj Mahal on an interesting exploration of the origin of the blues. A more oblique route might include Pandit Shiv Kumar 'Sampradaya' on RealWorld for an asian example of similar quality and atmosphere.
Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)


Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
 
 
 
Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful
The most exciting African discovery I have made since my adventures into the continent's music began a decade or so ago. Read more
Published 10 months ago by J. E. Holden

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful....
Quite simply, this is the most beautiful music on earth. You must own this album. Enough said.
Published on 16 Sep 2005 by Mr Genius Eyes

5.0 out of 5 stars Music of wonderful purity and sparkle.....just listen.,
If you want to listen to instrumental music of the finest order,I commend this to you.

A rich and warm experience

Published on 13 Oct 2000

5.0 out of 5 stars Magical
I have just received this and played and played it - quite magical! The music is intelligent and the performers excellent. Buy and enjoy.
Published on 23 Mar 2000

Only search this product's reviews


Customer Discussions

This product's forum
Discussion Replies Latest Post
No discussions yet

Ask questions, Share opinions, Gain insight
Start a new discussion
Topic:
First post:
Prompts for sign-in
 


Active discussions in related forums
   
Related forums

What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

New Ancient Strings
68% buy the item featured on this page:
New Ancient Strings 4.9 out of 5 stars (7)
£9.68
The Mande Variations
15% buy
The Mande Variations 4.8 out of 5 stars (11)
£6.08
Kaira
7% buy
Kaira 5.0 out of 5 stars (1)
£7.48
In the Heart of the Moon
5% buy
In the Heart of the Moon 4.3 out of 5 stars (22)
£8.98
Explore similar items

Listmania!

Create a Listmania! list

Look for similar items by category

Look for similar items by subject





i.e., each product must be in subject 1 AND subject 2 AND ...

Feedback

Ad

Your Recent History

 (What's this?)

After viewing product detail pages or search results, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in.