This is Talisman’s discography page. Our CDs can be purchased at Wepay.com.
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New Crossroads In 2010, Peace Africa Children’s Ensemble and Talisman had the privilege of meeting in South Africa to collaborate and record multiple tracks for “New Crossroads”. This Album, ultimately printed in 2012, represents two years of hard work by both groups to set a new precedent for cross-cultural collaboration. “New Crossroads” endeavors to address the lack of parity that most often characterizes the artistic production of “world musics” by redefining expectations of ownership and investment. Instead of engaging in a project that would focus on capital as the main mechanism of production, this project is geared towards placing value on the artistic process itself by aligning the material benefits of the final product with the actual input of each of the groups both in the qualitative and quantitative sense. All the proceeds from any sale of this artwork will be split evenly between our two organizations. |
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Going Home It is said that you must know where you come from in order to know where you are going. This album is Talisman’s excavation of our collective and individual places of origin; it charts the territory we have traced together and the places we can only go alone. We sing songs of longing, home, and triumph, and we sing them together, each with one voice. This is how we remember who we are and where we come from. This is how we remember home and all that home means. I may not get there soon, but I’m headed there now. In my heart, in my body, and in my soul, that is the direction; I’m going home. Listen to “Kaval Sviri”: Alternative content |
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Twenty Twenty is a compilation of the best of Talisman over its twenty-year existence. From our first CD to our yet-to-be-released album, journey with Talisman through its growth and experience with musical traditions all over the world. Throughout all this time, the mission of Talisman remains clear: to bring grassroots music and stories from all over the world to old and new years. Listen to “Be Like Him”: Alternative content |
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The Quick Day Is Done In our seventh full-length album, Talisman meditates on the passing of day into night, life into death, seeking that rich calm which can only be found in twilight. The journey that these songs follow is a journey in and out of shadow. We mourn, we scream, we pray, but ultimately we find hope in the brevity of the day – in the knowledge that all struggles come to an end. With this album we pay tribute to the resilience of the human spirit and remember that each day brings with it a new hue of light and the possibility of change. Listen to “Way Beyond The Blue”: Alternative content |
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Watch Me Fly In accord with Talisman’s mission, the music on Watch Me Fly comes from a range of cultures and experiences: protest songs from South Africa, Native American chants, a Maori love song, Negro spirituals, and a jazz song about the horror of lynching. These songs communicate the common experiences of love, loss, joy, pain, and hope through the universal medium of music. The title of the album, inspired by the final track with the same name, tells us that despite our situations, there is always hope that our dreams will be realized and that we will overcome our individual and collective struggles on a move towards freedom. Listen to “Wahjeeleh-Yihm”: Alternative content |
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Passage Passage was recently given RARB’s (Recording of A cappella Review Board) highest 5.0 rating; overall, the album received the best scores that RARB has ever given to a collegiate album. Passage blends urban soul and contemporary African rhythms in an updated African, African-American sound. The album finds Talisman in a creative stage with two spiritual medleys “Beulah” and “Soon Ah Will Be Done”, three upbeat African songs “Rafiki,” “Pata Pata,” and “Kube”, the poignant and beautiful “Famine Song”, and the powerful “Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing.” Listen to “Soon Ah Will Be Done”: Alternative content |
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Shine Shine is the hallmark of Talisman’s recording history. Upon celebrating its 10-year anniversary, Talisman released an album of its best recordings in its first ten years—adding several new tracks months before release. Shine not only includes the highlights of Talisman’s recording history, it has a 32-page insert detailing the group’s growth in its first 10 years—with all of its many struggles and successes. As summed by a music reviewer at the Recorded A Cappella Review Board, “Shine is simply one of the most finely crafted collegiate recordings available.” Listen to “No Mirrors”: Alternative content |
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Held In Shining Held In Shining represents an expansion of Talisman’s interest in international music. The album includes a song in Gaelic, two Native American songs, a South Indian piece, as well as Talisman’s traditional African and African-American folksongs. The mood is diverse with the upbeat “Lean on Me,” “Dubula,” and “Akanamandla” to the haunting “Mahk Jchi,” and “Anina Jaime” to the soothing, peaceful “Sharanu Ninnage,” and “Baba Yetu.” The Talisman Alumni Choir returns with “Adiemus.” The album’s finale “Amazing Grace” was performed at Carnegie Hall and the White House, essentially standing as the anthem for this Talisman group. Listen to “Amazing Grace”: Alternative content |
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After Silence Talisman released After Silence just two months before its tour of the South and performance at the 1996 Olympic Games. The album was also a testimony to African and African-American influences. “When I Die Tomorrow” and “Wanting Memories” are among the most beautiful and requested songs in group history. The powerful apartheid song, “Sechaba,” and pensive journey song, “Tell My Feet” also stand out. The album is highlighted by Talisman’s single greatest recording achievement in “The Rainmaker.” Director Christopher Tin, who later studied at the Royal College of Music and began a career scoring feature films, arranged the ten-minute African choral piece sung by Talisman’s 60-person alumni choir. Taiko drums accompanied the piece. Listen to “Wanting Memories”: Alternative content |
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Tonic Rhythms Recorded in 1994, Tonic Rhythms focused on Talisman’s African and African-American influences. The album is almost entirely comprised of spirituals, gospel, and African folksongs. Many of the album’s songs became fixtures of Talisman’s repertoire including: “Babethandaza,” “Keep Your Eyes on the Prize,” “Hallelujah,” and “Senzenina,” “N’kosi Sikelel’ Africa,” and “Glory, Glory.” Listen to “Babethandaza”: Alternative content |
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No Murmur, No Zealots No Murmur, No Zealots is Talisman’s 1992 debut album. No Murmur shows the groups eclectic origins with African-America, South Africa, West Africa, the Philippines, and Spanish folksongs along with a variety of a gospel songs, jazz, and a cappella favorites. The album cover features a batik by acclaimed Ugandan artist Paul Nzalamba. Favorites include: “Hombe,” “The Lion Sleeps Tonight,” “Denko,” “Zombie Jamboree,” and “Something Within Me.” Listen to “The Lion Sleeps Tonight”: Alternative content |
