Gamelan music has been hugely influential since the remarkable ensembles were heard in Paris at the 1889 World Fair.

Musicians who sought inspiration in gamelan music include Debussy (Pagodes), Satie (Gnossienne) and Takemitsu (For Away).

Kishori Amonkar was one of the leading vocalists of Indian classical music in the 20th century.

Aside from being a renowned musician, Amonkar was a popular speaker and travelled throughout India giving lectures, most notably on the theory of rasa (feelings, emotions) in music.

Bhujhangy Group are the world's longest-running bhangra band.

Their early 1970 single Bhabiye Akh Larr Gayee was the first recording to combine traditional Asian sounds with modern western musical instruments and influences, a momentous step in the development of bhangra.

The steel band originated on the Caribbean island of Trinidad about 1940, an invention of poor people in Port of Spain who played music during Carnival to represent their neighbourhoods and to compete with rival bands.

With its primary-chord harmony, syncopated rhythmic lilt and the timbre of the steel pans, calypso bridges the popular/world music categorisation.

Babatunde Olatunji was a major figure in early recorded African drumming.

As well as introducing the sound of African drumming to many Americans, he directly influenced the musical landscape, as can be heard in tracks like Carlos Santana’s Jingo, a cover version of this track.

In 2014, Ladysmith Black Mambazo – led by founder and leader Joseph Shabalala – celebrated over fifty years of joyous and uplifting music.

Within this music are the intricate rhythms and harmonies of their native South African musical traditions.

Sprinting Gazelle is the debut album of performer, composer and researcher Reem Kelani.

Kelani collected and arranged songs from Palestine and the Palestinian diaspora including from her maternal family in Nazareth and women in the refugee camps in Lebanon.

Sea Shanties were work songs usually sung in the merchant navy, and they were rhythmic so they could accompany specific activities on a ship.

Sea shanties have long been an important part of British musical and maritime culture, and even if that seafaring heyday is now over, groups around the country still preserve the tradition, albeit safe on dry land.

Chopin is undoubtedly considered one of the world's greatest composers.

No other pianist before or since has contributed as many significant works to the piano's repertoire.

Astor Piazzolla (1921–1992) was an Argentine tango composer and bandoneón player.

Fusing together the words ‘liberty’ and ‘tango’, Piazzolla breaks away from the classical tango style and moves into tango Nuevo in this piece.

One of the most internationally successful Brazilian artists of all time, Sérgio Mendes has recorded more than 35 albums, many of which went gold or platinum.

Recognized as one of the most creative and innovative artists in Brazilian culture, Carlinhos Brown is continually looking for new sound experiments.