Ancestral Voices & other recordings by David Gilden
The recordings presented here have been played in North America
on a number of syndicated radio programs, including Hearts of Space,
Musical Starstreams, Echoes, Totally Wired, and New Sounds.
David Gilden has composed music for film soundtracks and also collaborated with
movement artist and vocalist Gabrielle Roth on her impressionistic recordings
Ritual andWaves.
The making of Ancestral Voices a brief history...
1990 Photo of David and enginer Michale Krowiak, RPM Studio NYC
World folk music traditions have been a major influence on
David Gilden's musical development.
Over the past fifteen years, his performances and compositions
have evolved to include aspects of African, Celtic and Indian musical traditions.
Complementing these ancient elements, Gilden introduces a strong
modern flavor in the sound, reflecting his years of work with keyboards and electronic
music.
The music on Ancestral Voices started in Boston-area studios back in 1985. Beginning with
computer-based midi compositions, Gilden interwove acoustic sounds--kora tracks, and on one song, mbira,
a thumb piano from Zimbabwe. The following year, Gilden took the tapes to Rawlston studio in Brooklyn,
New York, and added more keyboard parts and bass lines. Bassist Jimmy Earl filled out the sound with his
eloquent frettless work on a number of tracks. That summer, Gilden released Ancestral Voices on cassette.
In 1990 Gilden went to Manhattan's Sorcerer Sound and RPM studios to rework Ancestral
Voices for a CD release. He recorded a new solo kora track, reflecting the evolution of his playing
following an extended visit to the Gambia. He also added new colors to the existing tracks.
New York studio percussionist Joey Cradello played bells, shakers, congas and talking
drum. Internationally know bansuri bamboo flutist, Steve Gorn added a Indian Jazz
flourish. John Burrell--know nationally to folk fans as Mr. Bones--used a pair of cow
bones to add percolating rhythms to Gilden's kora rendition of an Irish jig.
Finally, Ray Spiegel, a veteran to Mickey Hart's Diga Rhythm Band, played table and
shaker on a track. Gilden mixed his new project using RPM's vintage Neve console and
wide selection of outboard gear. Finally Ancestral Voices was
digitally edited & mastered with Sonic Solutions at Foothill Digital (NYC).
Sound Bytes from Ancestral Voices
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 Island Journey [Mp3 @ 476k] David Gilden: kora and PPG Wave 2.2 synthesizer, Jimmy Earl: fretless bass.
Dragonfly Dream [Mp3 @ 552K] Dave Gilden: keyboards, Steve Gorn: bansuri bamboo flute,
Ray Spiegel: tabla drums, and Jimmy Earl: fretless bass.
Ancestral Voices [Mp3 @ 523k]
David Gilden: mbira dza vadizmu (Zimbabwen thumb piano), PPG Wave, Oberheim, and Kurzweil synthesizers.
Option Magazine "Sensuous and Delightful"
Available on CD, total playing time 67 minutes
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Solo Kora Recordings, On Casssette
![[Photo of cassette cover]](../images/DistantCover.gif)
Music of many lands played on the majestic West African karp-lute, the kora.
Selections range from traditonal African repertoire to Celtic music, Bach
and beyond. David Gilden: kora & synthesizer;
with guest musicians: John "Mr. Bones" Burrell: bones, Ron Lister: concertina.
Recorded in Boston, Masschusetts 1984 & 1987.
![[Photo of cassette cover]](../images/JatoCover.gif)
A peaceful and meditative collection of traditional West African folk melodies
played on the 21 string kora. Tittle track features a kora and piano duet, with both parts played by David Gilden. Recorded in Boston, Masschusetts 1984 & 1988.
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