Episode 4

Available for over a year

In the first of two programmes Lucy Duran travels to Madagascar to record that island's unique traditional music. Starting high on the central plateau in the musical capital, Fianarantsoa, she then travels to the seaside town of Tulear in the far south. En route, she shops in a magic market, goes Lemur spotting, and passes through the wild boom-town of Ilakaka, famed for its precious stones. All along the way there's specially recorded music from some of the island's best musicians. Producer James Parkin. In January 2010 World Routes broadcast three programmes made on the high central plateau of Madagascar. In January 2012, Lucy Duran and the team continue the journey, moving from the plateau down to the coast in the far south. As with all World Routes on-location programmes, all the music was specially recorded in or near the homes of the musicians. This mysterious island is full of extraordinary animal and plant life - home to more unique species than just about anywhere on the planet. But for us, what makes this island of strange dreams, ancestral worship and sorcery so special is its music. And, like the natural life, its unique evolution - neither African nor Asian - makes it a wonderful melting pot of instruments and styles.