About Old World Music

Listen to your Ancestors

Introduction

I'm Richard Garrett, the person behind Old World Music. 

My goal is to propel old world music into the mainstream. What is "old world music?" It's traditional and popular music that spans the earth recorded many decades ago- most of the tracks on this site were recorded prior to 1950. The best of these old recordings is a match for anything you've ever heard, yet this music is nowhere near the radar of the typical music-lover, or is assumed to be inaccessible, difficult, dull. 

Bigger Musical Horizons

Just as ethnic cuisine and international travel give modern life an edge, just as art and literature from many cultures enliven our existence, music offers the same shot of fresh perspective. Old world music recordings embody that potential but languish in junk stores and on obscure CD reissues.

The first half of the 20th century was a unique period in history- many music styles were at their apex and the fledgling record industry captured them for the first time. Technology foreshadowed the demise of this musical range, which today is much diminished. In the crackle of innovation, the music was both preserved and destroyed forever. 

Not knowing about this music is like not knowing about Mozart, Al Green, Venice or Pad Thai.

Outstanding

The Old World Music approach is different- showcasing outstanding individual tracks that cross the chasm between past and present to work their magic on a new generation. Long severed from their original cultural context, this music speaks to us still, in old and new ways.

Our ancestors danced, loved, laughed and mourned to this music- let's get the best tracks out of the archive and into our lives where they belong.

The tracks are drawn from a unique collection of 78s and LPs.

Beautiful

The Old World Music site takes a closer look at individual tracks, sketching something of the history, the music and the performers. There is also some criticism and some shows from years past.

Make Some Noise

One or two of the recordings suffer significant surface noise. I clean up recordings as best I can, but avoid noise removal techniques that suck the life out of the performance. For many people, the hiss and crackle is part of the appeal, conjuring something glorious out of the past.