Musique Nègre

Paris: Société d'Éditions Géographiques, Maritimes et Coloniales, 1929. First edition. Softcover. g. Folio. [6], 242pp. Uncut and unopened copy. Original photo-illustrated wrappers. Publisher's logo on title page. Remarkable monograph on Sub-Saharan tribal music in which the author explores the history as well as the various instruments of this genre. Tribal music is deeply ingrained in African tradition and several factors have influenced it. The music has been influenced by language, the environment, a variety of cultures, politics, and population movement, all of which are intermingled. Each African tribe evolved in a different area of the continent, which means that they ate different foods, faced different weather conditions, and came in contact with different tribes than other societies did. Each tribe moved at different rates and to different places than others, and thus each was influenced by different people and circumstances. Furthermore, each society did not necessarily operate under the same government, which also significantly influenced their music styles. This work is exquisitely illustrated with 77 b/w photographic reproductions, in-text drawings and 109 music scores. Age-wear on wrappers with spine partly chipped and torn and edges creased and partly taped. Lower margin of very first pages partly creased (not affecting text). Text in French. Wrappers in overall poor, interior in good to very good condition. (Inventory #: 34810)