Hugh Tracey

Profile:
British ethnomusicologist ( Born: Willand, Devon, UK, 29 January 1903 – Died: Krugersdorp, South Africa, 23 October 1977).
He began making field recordings of music in the early 20's, through the 70's, founded The International Library of African Music (ILAM) in 1954, and developed an adaptation of the African thumb piano Mbira, known as the Kalimba. Director of the Music of Africa Series.
The SWP Records series Historical Recordings By Hugh Tracey gathers most of his African recordings on 22 CDs.
His sons Andrew Tracey and Paul Tracey became musicians and musicologists too.
Sites:
Variations:

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Albums

LF 1255 African Dances Of The Witwatersrand Gold Mines, Part 2 — Hugh Tracey Hugh Tracey African Dances Of The Witwatersrand Gold Mines, Part 2 (Album) Decca LF 1255 South Africa 1952 Sell This Version
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LF 1084 Songs & Instrumental Music Of Tanganyika — Hugh Tracey Hugh Tracey, Various Hugh Tracey, Various - Songs & Instrumental Music Of Tanganyika(10", Album, Mono) Decca LF 1084 South Africa 1952 Sell This Version
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LF 1254, LF.1254  African Dances Of The Witwatersrand Gold Mines Part 1 ‎  — Hugh Tracey Chopi Tribe*, Tswa Tribe*, Pedi Tribe*, Shangaan Tribe* Recorded By Hugh Tracey Chopi Tribe*, Tswa Tribe*, Pedi Tribe*, Shangaan Tribe* Recorded By Hugh Tracey - African Dances Of The Witwatersrand Gold Mines Part 1 ‎ (Album) Decca, Decca LF 1254, LF.1254 South Africa 1953 Sell This Version
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LF 1225 Music Of Africa Series N°.11 — Hugh Tracey Hugh Tracey Music Of Africa Series N°.11 Decca LF 1225 South Africa 1953 Sell This Version
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LF 1172 Congo - Songs And  Dances — Hugh Tracey Hugh Tracey Congo - Songs And Dances Decca LF 1172 UK 1954 Sell This Version
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LF 1169 Congo Drums — Hugh Tracey Hugh Tracey Congo Drums London Records LF 1169 UK 1954 Sell This Version
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LF 1173 Music Of The Uganda Protectorate — Hugh Tracey Hugh Tracey Music Of The Uganda Protectorate (Album) London Records LF 1173 UK 1954 Sell This Version
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GALP 1481, GALP.1481 Down By The River — Hugh Tracey Hugh Tracey Down By The River Gallotone, Gallotone GALP 1481, GALP.1481 South Africa 1966 Sell This Version
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GALP 1328 The Lion On The Path And Other African Stories — Hugh Tracey Hugh Tracey The Lion On The Path And Other African Stories(LP, Album, Mono) Gallo GALP 1328 South Africa 1966 Sell This Version
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LK 4916 The Bird Of The Valley And Other African Stories — Hugh Tracey Hugh Tracey The Bird Of The Valley And Other African Stories Decca LK 4916 UK 1968 Sell This Version
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LK 4914 The Lion On The Path And Other African Stories — Hugh Tracey Hugh Tracey The Lion On The Path And Other African Stories(LP, Album, Mono) Decca LK 4914 UK 1968 Sell This Version
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LK 4915 More African Stories — Hugh Tracey Hugh Tracey More African Stories(LP, Mono) Decca LK 4915 UK 1968 Sell This Version
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DLPL 319/20 African Dances Of The Witwatersrand Gold Mines, Part 12/13 — Hugh Tracey Hugh Tracey African Dances Of The Witwatersrand Gold Mines, Part 12/13(2xLP) Gallo Record Company DLPL 319/20 South Africa 1975 Sell This Version
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DLPL 397/8 Instruments Of Africa — Hugh Tracey Hugh Tracey Instruments Of Africa Gallo DLPL 397/8 South Africa 1977 Sell This Version
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MMTL 1285, GALP 1234 Musical Instruments 3 Drums — Hugh Tracey Hugh Tracey Musical Instruments 3 Drums Gallo, Gallo MMTL 1285, GALP 1234 South Africa 1985 Sell This Version
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MMTL 1283 The Music of Africa Series No. 27 Musical Instruments 1. Strings — Hugh Tracey Hugh Tracey The Music of Africa Series No. 27 Musical Instruments 1. Strings(LP) Gallo MMTL 1283 South Africa 1985 Sell This Version
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DGL 892/3 African Dances Of The Witwatersrand Gold Mines — Hugh Tracey Hugh Tracey African Dances Of The Witwatersrand Gold Mines(2xLP) Gallo Record Company DGL 892/3 South Africa 1985 Sell This Version
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LF. 1174 Music Of Africa Series No. 9 African Stories Told By Hugh Tracey  — Hugh Tracey Hugh Tracey Music Of Africa Series No. 9 African Stories Told By Hugh Tracey Decca LF. 1174 UK Unknown Sell This Version
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LF 1224, LF.1224 The Best Recordings Of 1953 Part 1 (African Music Society's Choice) — Hugh Tracey Hugh Tracy* The Best Recordings Of 1953 Part 1 (African Music Society's Choice) Decca, Decca LF 1224, LF.1224 South Africa Unknown Sell This Version
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GALP 1111, GALP.1111 More African Stories Told By Hugh Tracey — Hugh Tracey Hugh Tracey More African Stories Told By Hugh Tracey Gallo, Gallo GALP 1111, GALP.1111 South Africa Unknown Sell This Version
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GALP 1503, No. 36 The Music Of Africa Series No. 36 Instruments 7  Guitars 2 — Hugh Tracey Various, Recorded by Hugh Tracey* Various, Recorded by Hugh Tracey* - The Music Of Africa Series No. 36 Instruments 7 Guitars 2 Gallo, Music Of Africa Series GALP 1503, No. 36 South Africa Unknown Sell This Version
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SCP 139 Tribal Tales For Children 1 — Hugh Tracey Hugh Tracey Tribal Tales For Children 1(7", MiniAlbum) Not On Label SCP 139 South Africa Unknown Sell This Version
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LT. 15 117, LT. 15 118 Talks For Magazine Programmes - No. 20 — Hugh Tracey Hugh Tracey Talks For Magazine Programmes - No. 20(LP, Transcription) South African Broadcasting Corporation, South African Broadcasting Corporation LT. 15 117, LT. 15 118 Unknown Sell This Version
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GALP 1324 Musical Instruments 3 Drums — Hugh Tracey Hugh Tracey Musical Instruments 3 Drums(LP) Gallotone GALP 1324 Rhodesia Unknown Sell This Version
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GALP 1251 Music Of The Northern Zaire (Sudanic) — Hugh Tracey Hugh Tracey Music Of The Northern Zaire (Sudanic)(LP) Gallo GALP 1251 South Africa Unknown Sell This Version

Reviews

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vehscle

vehscle

February 8, 2013
Probably one of the most prolific ethnomusicologists and field-recording collectors of the African continent: when you see Hugh Tracey credited on a release, you can be assured of good recording quality and detailed footnotes. Tracey was one of the first in his field who wanted to bring music from (mainly) south and middle Africa to western audiences, as opposed to simply documenting its existence. He even went so far as to adapt the classic Shona instrument, the mbira, to western musical modes resulting in the modern kalimba. This genuine passion contrasts quite distinctly with much ethnomusicology of the period, which took a clinical, even psychoanalytical approach (the diagnosis often being a so-called ‘primitivism’).

Tracey also consistently credited individual artists wherever possible, a fairly basic sign of respect, but a convention that took most French and German ethnographic labels several more decades to adopt. On top of all of that, to reiterate, he made good bloody recordings.

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