Ask an Expert: Archive

Q: As the result of another teacher leaving, my principal has asked me to take over the African Drumming Ensemble at my school. My background is Band. Could you direct me to a resource where I might learn some basic conventions of the style? I need some sort of "jumping-off point." Thanks!

Answer:
The resource referenced will depend on the drums you have at you school. The most common are the Djembe and Dun-dun.

The most complete resource for Djembe is: Mamady Keita - A Life for the Djembe. Traditional Rhythms of the Malinke. ISBN 3-927940-61-5. This book has conventional notation for 21 rhythms a CD comes with the book with each rhythm and drum part played separately and in ensemble. There is also a set of 3 VHS tapes so that you can hear and see the parts as they should be played slowly and up to performance tempo. Mamady also has a website and you can order materials directly from him.

If you have an Ewe Ensemble using drums from Ghana, David Locke has "Drum Gahu" published by White Cliff Media. There is a recording which goes with the book. He has a good explanation of the drums and how each functions in the ensemble.

Drum Gahu: Good-time Dance Music from the Ewe People of Ghana and Togo. Godwin Agbeli, arranger. David Locke, producer.

Lock also has audio examples recorded from Northern Ghana with "Drum Damba." These are the squeeze drums we normally associate with Nigeria. This is also published with White Cliffs Media. An older recording titled "Master Drummers of Dogbon" produced by John Miller Chernoff has excellent examples of these Talking Drum rhythms. He was teaching a class at The University of Pittsburgh a few years ago. He may still be doing that and you could contact him directly.

Drum Damba. Featuring Abubakari Lunna. David Locke, producer. WCM 9508, UPC 7 6855-79508-2 6. Magnificent talking drum music from northern Ghana.

If you have Bata Drums, you probably have instrument from Cuba. The rhythms are very close to the way they are played in Nigeria but they have a slight Latin tinge. The Music of Santería: Traditional Rhythms of the Batá Drums. John Amira and Steven Cornelius. ISBN 0-941677-70-2. The only English-language study of Santeria's sacred rhythms.

If you have other drums you might do well to search "Dissertation Abstracts" in your local library. There you will be able to find more academic works on drums and drumming but the above offerings will probably get you started with confidence.

Mark Sunkett
Professor of Percussion and Ethnomusicology, Arizona State University