Smithsonian Folkways Recordings is the nonprofit record label of the Smithsonian Institution the national museum of the United States. They are dedicated to supporting cultural diversity and increased understanding among peoples through the documentation preservation and dissemination of sound. Folkways Records believe that musical and cultural diversity contributes to the vitality and quality of life throughout the world. Through the dissemination of audio recordings and educational materials Folkways Records seek to strengthen people s engagement with their own cultural heritage and to enhance their awareness and appreciation of the cultural heritage of others. Our mission is the legacy of Moses Asch who founded Folkways Records in 1948 to document “people s music ” spoken word instruction and sounds from around the world. The Smithsonian acquired Folkways from the Asch estate in 1987 and Smithsonian Folkways Recordings has continued the Folkways commitment to cultural diversity education increased understanding and lively engagement with the world of sound.

This album features the French American singer Sonia Malkine. Too often associated with only Auvergne folk music French folk music actually varies quite a bit from region to region as these twelve songs from different provinces illustrate.

French (France)

La franco americaine Sonia Malkine essaie avec ce CD de diffuser la diversite des chansons populaires françaises trop souvent associees à la seule musique d Auvergne. La musique française a evolue au cours de l histoire et de l espace et la plupart des chansons populaires françaises existent en differentes versions selon la region d origine. Ainsi Sonia Malkine a choisi douze chansons afin de souligner les specificites musicales de chaque province.