In 1966 the palaces of the Ganda, Nyoro and Ankole peoples were seized and burned, the musicians dispersed or killed and the royal instruments destroyed. Royal Court Music Of Uganda, recorded in 1950 & 1952 is a now unheard music from rituals used to praise and support the kings of the Ganda, Nyora and Ankole people of Uganda, all now history in the wake of the political changes that swept all of Africa since the late 1950s. The 30 tracks include Ganda harpist and flautists, solo and as accompanists for singers; xylophone pieces (with and without drummers) and a stand-out recording of a trio of lyre, fiddle and drum backing a singer. Perhaps the standout tracks of the whole set are the Nyoro amakondere (horn) ensembles, each horn supplying a single note to the melody, passing the tune around in a swirl of notes. (If only Tracey had had stereo in his tool kit for this one!) There is also a speech by a Nyoro chief that gives a good example of the ambiance and rhythm of the actual language.
