The Secret Museum of Mankind – Atlas of Instruments, Fiddles, Vol. 1

The Secret Museum of Mankind – Atlas of Instruments, Fiddles, Vol. 1 is set to be released on September 15 by Jalopy Records in LP and digital formats. This compilation continues the Secret Museum of Mankind series, curated by Pat Conte since 1996, which explores world music from the early 20th century. The new release features music from various regions, including Crete, Madagascar, Mexico, England, Sicily, Norway, India, the USA, Cape Verde, and China. It marks the tenth volume in the series.

The album includes diverse tracks, such as “Brown Skin Girl” by Mississippi champion fiddler Jabe Dillon and his son on guitar from circa 1949, along with Norway’s Gunnulf Borgen playing “Igletveiten” on the B-side. The compilation opens with “Pentozali,” a recording from 1926 in Crete, known for its ancient five-step dances.

The collection showcases historical recordings from various parts of the world, including early Canadian musicians like Joseph Allard, Syrian-Lebanese and Irish musicians recorded in New York City, and England’s William Nathan aka “Jinkey” Wells, a source for noted ethnomusicologist Cecil Sharp.

The album also features “El Jilguerillo” by Mariachi Coculense Rodriguez, considered to be one of the earliest recorded mariachi tracks, demonstrating harmony twin-fiddling with guitarrón before the use of brass instruments.

French multi-instrumentalist Paul LeVault, known for playing historic instruments from the 1700s, including rare wheel-fiddles and cabrettes, is also part of the collection.

Pat Conte’s extensive collection, which includes over 30,000 78rpm records, over 5,000 LPs, 45s, cassettes, and reel-to-reel tapes, has been featured in the New York Times. The collection is housed in the basement of his mother’s Long Island ranch house and comprises various artifacts and music from a lost time when adventurers and entrepreneurs recorded indigenous music using 78-r.p.m. and wax cylinder equipment.

The vinyl release of this volume features a gatefold package with liner notes by curator Pat Conte, original drawings of rare fiddles in Conte’s collection by artist Jeff Tocci, and historic images of fiddlers curated by Conte. Audio restoration, mastering, and engineering were handled by Don Fierro.

Secret Museum of Mankind – Atlas of Instruments: Fiddles vol. 1 track listing

A1 Pentozali • Trio Th. Picoula • CRETE (c. 1926)
A2 Le Reel Du Pendu • Joseph Allard QUEBEC (1927)
A3 Pianto Ignoto • Joseph Ziccone & F. Guandi SICILIAN (NYC 1928)
A4 Volana Fenomanana • (Fandihizana Malagasy) Orchestre de M. Michel Ratsimba MADAGASCAR (1930)
A5 The Maid of The Mill • Jinkey Wells Oxfordshire, ENGLAND (c.1943-1952)
A6 Raks Jamili • Anon Group • Syrian-Lebanese Brooklyn, NY (c.1946)
A8 Sam Liang Gow • San Chi La & Shim Yi Chu PEKING (c. 1929)
A9 Le Chibrely • Paul LaVault, Vielle Commagny, FRANCE (c. 1929)
B1 Okukomawe • Abadongo Abaganda Kampala, UGANDA (ca. 1948)
B2 Bunjecacko Kolo • Stevan Bačić-Trnda • Sombor, SERBIA (1930)
B3 Thanam II • Tiramakudalu Chowdiah • Mysore, INDIA (c. 1937)
B4 Brown Skin Girl • Fiddlin’ Jabe Dillon • Mississippi, USA (c. 1949)
B5 Igletveiten • Gunnulf Borgen, hardingfele • Oslo, NORWAY (1939)
B6 Danza De Matachines • Yaqui Group • New Mexico, USA (1933)
B7 Fattenin’ Frogs • Mobile Strugglers • Alabama, USA (1949)
B8 Sligo Maid’s Lament; Trip To The Cottage • Paddy Killoran • NYC, USA (1936)
B9 Valsa Continental • Abrew’s Portuguese String Trio • CABO VERDE (1931)

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