The Yoruba God of Drumming

The Yoruba God of Drumming

Author: Amanda Villepastour

Publisher: Univ. Press of Mississippi

Published: 2016-01-19

Total Pages: 339

ISBN-13: 1496803523

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As one of the salient forces in the ritual life of those who worship the pre-Christian and Muslim deities called orishas, the Yorùbá god of drumming, known as Àyàn in Africa and Añá in Cuba, is variously described as the orisha of drumming, the spirit of the wood, or the more obscure Yorùbá praise name AsòròIgi (Wood That Talks). With the growing global importance of orisha religion and music, the consequence of this deity's power for devotees continually reveals itself in new constellations of meaning as a sacred drum of Nigeria and Cuba finds new diasporas. Despite the growing volume of literature about the orishas, surprisingly little has been published about the ubiquitous Yorùbá music spirit. Yet wherever one hears drumming for the orishas, Àyàn or Añá is nearby. This groundbreaking collection addresses the gap in the research with contributions from a cross-section of prestigious musicians, scholars, and priests from Nigeria, the Americas, and Europe who have dedicated themselves to studying Yorùbá sacred drums and the god sealed within. As well as offering multidisciplinary scholarly insights from transatlantic researchers, the volume includes compelling first-hand accounts from drummer-priests who were themselves history-makers in Nigerian and Cuban diasporas in the United States, Venezuela, and Brazil. This collaboration between diverse scholars and practitioners constitutes an innovative approach, where differing registers of knowledge converge to portray the many faces and voices of a single god.


Book Synopsis The Yoruba God of Drumming by : Amanda Villepastour

Download or read book The Yoruba God of Drumming written by Amanda Villepastour and published by Univ. Press of Mississippi. This book was released on 2016-01-19 with total page 339 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: As one of the salient forces in the ritual life of those who worship the pre-Christian and Muslim deities called orishas, the Yorùbá god of drumming, known as Àyàn in Africa and Añá in Cuba, is variously described as the orisha of drumming, the spirit of the wood, or the more obscure Yorùbá praise name AsòròIgi (Wood That Talks). With the growing global importance of orisha religion and music, the consequence of this deity's power for devotees continually reveals itself in new constellations of meaning as a sacred drum of Nigeria and Cuba finds new diasporas. Despite the growing volume of literature about the orishas, surprisingly little has been published about the ubiquitous Yorùbá music spirit. Yet wherever one hears drumming for the orishas, Àyàn or Añá is nearby. This groundbreaking collection addresses the gap in the research with contributions from a cross-section of prestigious musicians, scholars, and priests from Nigeria, the Americas, and Europe who have dedicated themselves to studying Yorùbá sacred drums and the god sealed within. As well as offering multidisciplinary scholarly insights from transatlantic researchers, the volume includes compelling first-hand accounts from drummer-priests who were themselves history-makers in Nigerian and Cuban diasporas in the United States, Venezuela, and Brazil. This collaboration between diverse scholars and practitioners constitutes an innovative approach, where differing registers of knowledge converge to portray the many faces and voices of a single god.

Ancient Text Messages of the Yoruba Bata Drum

Ancient Text Messages of the Yoruba Bata Drum

Author: Amanda Villepastour

Publisher: Routledge

Published: 2016-12-05

Total Pages: 192

ISBN-13: 1351958437

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The bata is one of the most important and representative percussion traditions of the people in southwest Nigeria, and is now learnt and performed around the world. In Cuba, their own bata tradition derives from the Yoruba bata from Africa yet has had far more research attention than its African predecessor. Although the bata is one of the oldest known Yoruba drumming traditions, the drum and its unique language are now unfamiliar to many contemporary Yoruba people. Amanda Villepastour provides the first academic study of the bata's communication technology and the elaborate coded spoken language of bata drummers, which they refer to as 'ena bata'. Villepastour explains how the bata drummers' speech encoding method links into universal linguistic properties, unknown to the musicians themselves. The analysis draws the direct links between what is spoken in Yoruba, how Yoruba is transformed in to the coded language (ena), how ena prescribes the drum strokes and, finally, how listeners (and which listeners) extract linguistic meaning from what is drummed. The description and analysis of this unique musical system adds substantially to what is known about bata drumming specifically, Yoruba drumming generally, speech surrogacy in music and coded systems of speaking. This book will appeal not only to ethnomusicologists and anthropologists, but also to linguists, drummers and those interested in African Studies.


Book Synopsis Ancient Text Messages of the Yoruba Bata Drum by : Amanda Villepastour

Download or read book Ancient Text Messages of the Yoruba Bata Drum written by Amanda Villepastour and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2016-12-05 with total page 192 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The bata is one of the most important and representative percussion traditions of the people in southwest Nigeria, and is now learnt and performed around the world. In Cuba, their own bata tradition derives from the Yoruba bata from Africa yet has had far more research attention than its African predecessor. Although the bata is one of the oldest known Yoruba drumming traditions, the drum and its unique language are now unfamiliar to many contemporary Yoruba people. Amanda Villepastour provides the first academic study of the bata's communication technology and the elaborate coded spoken language of bata drummers, which they refer to as 'ena bata'. Villepastour explains how the bata drummers' speech encoding method links into universal linguistic properties, unknown to the musicians themselves. The analysis draws the direct links between what is spoken in Yoruba, how Yoruba is transformed in to the coded language (ena), how ena prescribes the drum strokes and, finally, how listeners (and which listeners) extract linguistic meaning from what is drummed. The description and analysis of this unique musical system adds substantially to what is known about bata drumming specifically, Yoruba drumming generally, speech surrogacy in music and coded systems of speaking. This book will appeal not only to ethnomusicologists and anthropologists, but also to linguists, drummers and those interested in African Studies.

The Artistry of Afro-Cuban Batá Drumming

The Artistry of Afro-Cuban Batá Drumming

Author: Kenneth Schweitzer

Publisher: Univ. Press of Mississippi

Published: 2013-02-01

Total Pages: 257

ISBN-13: 1617036706

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An iconic symbol and sound of the Lucumí/Santería religion, Afro-Cuban batá are talking drums that express the epic mythological narratives of the West African Yoruba deities known as orisha. By imitating aspects of speech and song, and by metaphorically referencing salient attributes of the deities, batá drummers facilitate the communal praising of orisha in a music ritual known as a toque de santo. In The Artistry of Afro-Cuban Batá Drumming, Kenneth Schweitzer blends musical transcription, musical analysis, interviews, ethnographic descriptions, and observations from his own experience as a ritual drummer to highlight the complex variables at work during a live Lucumí performance. Integral in enabling trance possessions by the orisha, by far the most dramatic expressions of Lucumí faith, batá drummers are also entrusted with controlling the overall ebb and flow of the four- to six-hour toque de santo. During these events, batá drummers combine their knowledge of ritual with an extensive repertoire of rhythms and songs. Musicians focus on the many thematic acts that unfold both concurrently and in quick succession. In addition to creating an emotionally charged environment, playing salute rhythms for the orisha, and supporting the playful song competitions that erupt between singers, batá drummers are equally dedicated to nurturing their own drumming community by creating a variety of opportunities for the musicians to grow artistically and creatively.


Book Synopsis The Artistry of Afro-Cuban Batá Drumming by : Kenneth Schweitzer

Download or read book The Artistry of Afro-Cuban Batá Drumming written by Kenneth Schweitzer and published by Univ. Press of Mississippi. This book was released on 2013-02-01 with total page 257 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: An iconic symbol and sound of the Lucumí/Santería religion, Afro-Cuban batá are talking drums that express the epic mythological narratives of the West African Yoruba deities known as orisha. By imitating aspects of speech and song, and by metaphorically referencing salient attributes of the deities, batá drummers facilitate the communal praising of orisha in a music ritual known as a toque de santo. In The Artistry of Afro-Cuban Batá Drumming, Kenneth Schweitzer blends musical transcription, musical analysis, interviews, ethnographic descriptions, and observations from his own experience as a ritual drummer to highlight the complex variables at work during a live Lucumí performance. Integral in enabling trance possessions by the orisha, by far the most dramatic expressions of Lucumí faith, batá drummers are also entrusted with controlling the overall ebb and flow of the four- to six-hour toque de santo. During these events, batá drummers combine their knowledge of ritual with an extensive repertoire of rhythms and songs. Musicians focus on the many thematic acts that unfold both concurrently and in quick succession. In addition to creating an emotionally charged environment, playing salute rhythms for the orisha, and supporting the playful song competitions that erupt between singers, batá drummers are equally dedicated to nurturing their own drumming community by creating a variety of opportunities for the musicians to grow artistically and creatively.

Drumming for the Gods

Drumming for the Gods

Author: María Teresa Vélez

Publisher: Temple University Press

Published: 2000

Total Pages: 244

ISBN-13: 9781439906156

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Book Synopsis Drumming for the Gods by : María Teresa Vélez

Download or read book Drumming for the Gods written by María Teresa Vélez and published by Temple University Press. This book was released on 2000 with total page 244 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

The Music of Santería

The Music of Santería

Author: John Amira

Publisher:

Published: 1992

Total Pages: 152

ISBN-13:

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Revised edition of the only book to describe in detail the music and cultural context of Santeria bata drumming.


Book Synopsis The Music of Santería by : John Amira

Download or read book The Music of Santería written by John Amira and published by . This book was released on 1992 with total page 152 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Revised edition of the only book to describe in detail the music and cultural context of Santeria bata drumming.

Ancient Text Messages of the Yoruba Bata Drum

Ancient Text Messages of the Yoruba Bata Drum

Author: Amanda Villepastour

Publisher: Routledge

Published: 2016-12-05

Total Pages: 168

ISBN-13: 1351958429

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The bata is one of the most important and representative percussion traditions of the people in southwest Nigeria, and is now learnt and performed around the world. In Cuba, their own bata tradition derives from the Yoruba bata from Africa yet has had far more research attention than its African predecessor. Although the bata is one of the oldest known Yoruba drumming traditions, the drum and its unique language are now unfamiliar to many contemporary Yoruba people. Amanda Villepastour provides the first academic study of the bata's communication technology and the elaborate coded spoken language of bata drummers, which they refer to as 'ena bata'. Villepastour explains how the bata drummers' speech encoding method links into universal linguistic properties, unknown to the musicians themselves. The analysis draws the direct links between what is spoken in Yoruba, how Yoruba is transformed in to the coded language (ena), how ena prescribes the drum strokes and, finally, how listeners (and which listeners) extract linguistic meaning from what is drummed. The description and analysis of this unique musical system adds substantially to what is known about bata drumming specifically, Yoruba drumming generally, speech surrogacy in music and coded systems of speaking. This book will appeal not only to ethnomusicologists and anthropologists, but also to linguists, drummers and those interested in African Studies.


Book Synopsis Ancient Text Messages of the Yoruba Bata Drum by : Amanda Villepastour

Download or read book Ancient Text Messages of the Yoruba Bata Drum written by Amanda Villepastour and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2016-12-05 with total page 168 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The bata is one of the most important and representative percussion traditions of the people in southwest Nigeria, and is now learnt and performed around the world. In Cuba, their own bata tradition derives from the Yoruba bata from Africa yet has had far more research attention than its African predecessor. Although the bata is one of the oldest known Yoruba drumming traditions, the drum and its unique language are now unfamiliar to many contemporary Yoruba people. Amanda Villepastour provides the first academic study of the bata's communication technology and the elaborate coded spoken language of bata drummers, which they refer to as 'ena bata'. Villepastour explains how the bata drummers' speech encoding method links into universal linguistic properties, unknown to the musicians themselves. The analysis draws the direct links between what is spoken in Yoruba, how Yoruba is transformed in to the coded language (ena), how ena prescribes the drum strokes and, finally, how listeners (and which listeners) extract linguistic meaning from what is drummed. The description and analysis of this unique musical system adds substantially to what is known about bata drumming specifically, Yoruba drumming generally, speech surrogacy in music and coded systems of speaking. This book will appeal not only to ethnomusicologists and anthropologists, but also to linguists, drummers and those interested in African Studies.

A Musician’s Paradox: The Ups, Downs, and Ebb and Flow of Being a Pensive Musician

A Musician’s Paradox: The Ups, Downs, and Ebb and Flow of Being a Pensive Musician

Author: Ty Kiernan

Publisher: Lulu.com

Published: 2016-06-17

Total Pages: 374

ISBN-13: 1483451372

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In A Musician's Paradox author and lifelong working musician Ty Kiernan explores the intersection of music and philosophy with a series of philosophical discussions on life, human behavior, music, faith, relationships, and the connection between musician and instrument. Being torn between two worlds-with the frustration, the insecurity, and the dearth of understanding about why musicians play music, all the while loving and not being able to give up an obsession with music itself-he focuses on the particular psyche of the musician but appeals to all who contemplate this almost inherent duality of their own existence. Music is life and life is music, and music can ultimately transmute into wisdom-that is, it can raise our consciousness to help wisdom flow within us. For the musician-and perhaps for everyone-thinking about these connections and the relationship between cause and effect in general may offer us a clue into the possibility of something more in our lives.


Book Synopsis A Musician’s Paradox: The Ups, Downs, and Ebb and Flow of Being a Pensive Musician by : Ty Kiernan

Download or read book A Musician’s Paradox: The Ups, Downs, and Ebb and Flow of Being a Pensive Musician written by Ty Kiernan and published by Lulu.com. This book was released on 2016-06-17 with total page 374 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In A Musician's Paradox author and lifelong working musician Ty Kiernan explores the intersection of music and philosophy with a series of philosophical discussions on life, human behavior, music, faith, relationships, and the connection between musician and instrument. Being torn between two worlds-with the frustration, the insecurity, and the dearth of understanding about why musicians play music, all the while loving and not being able to give up an obsession with music itself-he focuses on the particular psyche of the musician but appeals to all who contemplate this almost inherent duality of their own existence. Music is life and life is music, and music can ultimately transmute into wisdom-that is, it can raise our consciousness to help wisdom flow within us. For the musician-and perhaps for everyone-thinking about these connections and the relationship between cause and effect in general may offer us a clue into the possibility of something more in our lives.

The bata dancer

The bata dancer

Author: Rotimi Ogunjobi

Publisher: Tektime

Published: 2021-01-04

Total Pages: 191

ISBN-13: 8835416302

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A theatre scriptwriter loses his job, his marriage and his only child. He travels to a rural town in search of a quiet place to reorganize his confused life. Here he again meets with a legendary Bata dancer and the reunion rekindles his ambition to write a new play. But his success will depend on how much he is able to understand the mysterious language of the Bata drums and dance His bitter past has left him with the fear of another relationship and when the charming and compassionate daughter of his aged mentor comes into his life, he finds himself in a desperate battle against his resolve. But his new companion is a healing angel who mends his heartbreak and disabilities and teaches him the way of a master Bata dancer. Yomi Bello is a scriptwriter for the Heritage Theater. He has temporarily lost his job and his estranged wife has gone away with his only child. Yomi travels to a small rural town to take up a temporary teaching appointment in a private school, and to find a quiet place to rearrange his life. Yomi again meets with Baba Lamidi, a legendary Bata dancer. The reunion rekindles Yomi’s intention to write a new play, but his success will depend on how much he is able to learn of the mysterious language of the Bata drums and dance There are great challenges along his way forward nevertheless. The native craftsmen and artists are hostile and contemptuous. Baba Lamidi is also old, frail, and very often ill, which makes him an unreliable teacher. Nevertheless, Yomi Bello is determined that his new play, The Bata Dancer will be the greatest dance drama to be played at the Heritage Theater when it eventually reopens. Bitter experiences have left Yomi with the fear of another relationship, and when Ajoke, the delightful and very helpful daughter of Baba Lamidi comes into his life, he finds himself in a desperate battle against his resolve. Ajoke becomes to him a healing angel for his innermost miseries and for a severe limp. She also teaches Yomi enough about the Bata culture to make him perform like a master. Translator: Rotimi Ogunjobi PUBLISHER: TEKTIME


Book Synopsis The bata dancer by : Rotimi Ogunjobi

Download or read book The bata dancer written by Rotimi Ogunjobi and published by Tektime. This book was released on 2021-01-04 with total page 191 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A theatre scriptwriter loses his job, his marriage and his only child. He travels to a rural town in search of a quiet place to reorganize his confused life. Here he again meets with a legendary Bata dancer and the reunion rekindles his ambition to write a new play. But his success will depend on how much he is able to understand the mysterious language of the Bata drums and dance His bitter past has left him with the fear of another relationship and when the charming and compassionate daughter of his aged mentor comes into his life, he finds himself in a desperate battle against his resolve. But his new companion is a healing angel who mends his heartbreak and disabilities and teaches him the way of a master Bata dancer. Yomi Bello is a scriptwriter for the Heritage Theater. He has temporarily lost his job and his estranged wife has gone away with his only child. Yomi travels to a small rural town to take up a temporary teaching appointment in a private school, and to find a quiet place to rearrange his life. Yomi again meets with Baba Lamidi, a legendary Bata dancer. The reunion rekindles Yomi’s intention to write a new play, but his success will depend on how much he is able to learn of the mysterious language of the Bata drums and dance There are great challenges along his way forward nevertheless. The native craftsmen and artists are hostile and contemptuous. Baba Lamidi is also old, frail, and very often ill, which makes him an unreliable teacher. Nevertheless, Yomi Bello is determined that his new play, The Bata Dancer will be the greatest dance drama to be played at the Heritage Theater when it eventually reopens. Bitter experiences have left Yomi with the fear of another relationship, and when Ajoke, the delightful and very helpful daughter of Baba Lamidi comes into his life, he finds himself in a desperate battle against his resolve. Ajoke becomes to him a healing angel for his innermost miseries and for a severe limp. She also teaches Yomi enough about the Bata culture to make him perform like a master. Translator: Rotimi Ogunjobi PUBLISHER: TEKTIME

Principles of Bata Drumming

Principles of Bata Drumming

Author: Eugenio Noa

Publisher:

Published: 2015-12-31

Total Pages: 56

ISBN-13: 9781519761095

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This is an instructional book designed to teach the fundamentals of bata drumming through transcriptions of patterns (toques) used in afro-Cuban folkloric music. The author is Cuban master percussionist Eugenio Arango, who has over 30 years of experience teaching orchestral and fokloric percussion in Cuba and performing around the world. This book is intended for musicians that want to learn the patterns associated with each of the three bata drums, and how such patterns align in the toques presented. This book is unique because: (1) it introduces a novel, uncomplicated notation designed by the author, which shatters the perceived difficulties associated with bata drumming, and (2) it is straightforward, to the point, and remarkably implementable.


Book Synopsis Principles of Bata Drumming by : Eugenio Noa

Download or read book Principles of Bata Drumming written by Eugenio Noa and published by . This book was released on 2015-12-31 with total page 56 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This is an instructional book designed to teach the fundamentals of bata drumming through transcriptions of patterns (toques) used in afro-Cuban folkloric music. The author is Cuban master percussionist Eugenio Arango, who has over 30 years of experience teaching orchestral and fokloric percussion in Cuba and performing around the world. This book is intended for musicians that want to learn the patterns associated with each of the three bata drums, and how such patterns align in the toques presented. This book is unique because: (1) it introduces a novel, uncomplicated notation designed by the author, which shatters the perceived difficulties associated with bata drumming, and (2) it is straightforward, to the point, and remarkably implementable.

Carlos Aldama's Life in Batá

Carlos Aldama's Life in Batá

Author: Umi Vaughan

Publisher: Indiana University Press

Published: 2012

Total Pages: 207

ISBN-13: 0253357195

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Batá identifies both the two-headed, hourglass-shaped drum of the Yoruba people and the culture and style of drumming, singing, and dancing associated with it. This book recounts the life story of Carlos Aldama, one of the masters of the batá drum, and through that story traces the history of batá culture as it traveled from Africa to Cuba and then to the United States. For the enslaved Yoruba, batá rhythms helped sustain the religious and cultural practices of a people that had been torn from its roots. Aldama, as guardian of Afro-Cuban music and as a Santería priest, maintains the link with this tradition forged through his mentor Jesus Pérez (Oba Ilu), who was himself the connection to the preserved oral heritage of the older generation. By sharing his stories, Aldama and his student Umi Vaughan bring to light the techniques and principles of batá in all its aspects and document the tensions of maintaining a tradition between generations and worlds, old and new. The book includes rare photographs and access to downloadable audio tracks.


Book Synopsis Carlos Aldama's Life in Batá by : Umi Vaughan

Download or read book Carlos Aldama's Life in Batá written by Umi Vaughan and published by Indiana University Press. This book was released on 2012 with total page 207 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Batá identifies both the two-headed, hourglass-shaped drum of the Yoruba people and the culture and style of drumming, singing, and dancing associated with it. This book recounts the life story of Carlos Aldama, one of the masters of the batá drum, and through that story traces the history of batá culture as it traveled from Africa to Cuba and then to the United States. For the enslaved Yoruba, batá rhythms helped sustain the religious and cultural practices of a people that had been torn from its roots. Aldama, as guardian of Afro-Cuban music and as a Santería priest, maintains the link with this tradition forged through his mentor Jesus Pérez (Oba Ilu), who was himself the connection to the preserved oral heritage of the older generation. By sharing his stories, Aldama and his student Umi Vaughan bring to light the techniques and principles of batá in all its aspects and document the tensions of maintaining a tradition between generations and worlds, old and new. The book includes rare photographs and access to downloadable audio tracks.