African Drum Music – so much more than just entertainment

Even in the 21st century, African drum music is one of the most energetic and moving types of percussion. We can observe its influence, not just in alternative and world music, but also in modern mainstream music genres such as hip hop, pop and dance.

And really, are you surprised it’s still popular? African drumming music is not just a joy to listen to, it seems to plug directly into your spinal cord via your gut and makes you want to move. You may not be surprised to know that African drumming was originally used as a way of communication, as well as playing an integral role in African culture. It could represent an entire spectrum of human emotion, which made it suitable to be part of each ceremony and celebration.

The music was so integral, in fact, that early slavers recognised the power of African drumming music, both as creating symbols and as a means of communication, and forbade the use or possession of drums in slave camps. Thanks to the strong spirits and wisdom of the African people, this form of expression continued—they simply resorted to tapping out a rhythm on their chest, arms, thighs, and whatever else was available to keep the music alive.

The diversity of cadence and sound that has grown from African drumming music is matched only by the variety of the African percussion instruments that have made their way around the globe.

Djembe Rhythms & Drumming

Incredibly versatile, the djembe drum is one of the most well-known African percussion instruments. A skilled djembefola (djembe master) can provide such a range of djembe beats on one drum as to keep an entire room of dancers busy.

Djembe techniques are quite an art form on their own and a djembe player typically spends several years learning from a djembe master before becoming a djembefola themself.

Kpanlogo Drums

Communly used as a ceremonial drum, the kpanlogo drum originates from the Greater Accra Region in West Africa. Kpanlogo rhythms were frequently used as a way to communicate between tribes and family groups because of the drum’s brilliant ability to create sounds that carry over long distances.

African Talking Drums

Crafted from wood and rawhide, African Talking Drums are shaped like an hourglass with the rawhide stretched across both ends, creating two surfaces for drumming. These particular drums are most often played with a stick on one side and with the hand and fingers on the other. As the name suggests, they were also commonly used in communication.

African Bongos

Now here’s a drum that we’ve all heard of! Bongos, which are widely used in Cuban drum music and dance music throughout the world, are thought to have become well-known in Cuba as a result of the slave trade. It is usually fairly squat and generates a beat with a fairly high pitch.

Dun Dun Drums

Dun Dun drums, which are also identified as dundun drums and dun dun duuun, are thought to originate from the Malinke area of Mali. The three sizes of Dun Duns, from smallest to largest, are Kenkeni, Sangban and Dununba. They can be played apart from each other but are also played strapped together in groups of two or three.

Ngoma Drums

These drums have a meaningful connection to certain groups of people in Uganda as ceremonial instruments. The word ‘ngoma’ is Swahili for ‘drums’, which makes describing this particular drum a little difficult. The name is most often used for an group of 6 or 7 drums of various sizes strapped together and played as a group.

Itotele

Another drum popular in Cuba is the mid-sized, goblet-shaped one called the Itotele. Sometimes a waxy substance is used to coat the drumhead to create a duller sound.

As can be seen from the variety of African percussion instruments that we’ve mentioned – and the dozens more that we haven’t talked about – African drum music is varied and is a fantastic style of artistic expression. It’s a pleasure to create, and a pleasure to listen to!

Ariel Kalma - a musical life - interview

Wow! A great interview of Ariel Kalma and his musical life! See and read at:
http://www.seaoftranquility.org/article.php?sid=1566

Trance Dance Music by Professor Trance (Frank Natale)

"My purpose is to empower the individual through Trance Dance Music. This is accomplished by improving the quality of the individual's life through their participation in 'Trance Dance: The Dance of Life', rather than the useless search for life's meaning. My focus on Trance Dance provides the dancer with direct experience, rather than just more data and dogma." - Frank Natale

'Trance Dance International' was founded by Frank Natale (author) aka 'Professor Trance' (artist). He brought trance dance to the West for the first time.

Frank's shamanic approach combines the Goddess cultures and Amazonian plant shamanism. The Goddess cultures were Earth grounded spiritual paths, which dominated the Mediterranean and Europe 35,000 years ago before 'his'-story, the time of male-dominated societies began. Amazonian Shamanism combines the use of teacher plants and trance dance within the context of spiritual ritual.

Committed to dance movement as a healing force, Natale, with his band Professor Trance, has produced quite a number of CDs, and we have incorporated some of his best tracks into the following compilations:


Drumming Planet - more info
Tribal Trance dance - more info
Drum Trance - more info
Tribal Groove - more info
Groove Temple - more info

 All 5 are exceptional trance dance music CDs.
Check them out, listen to tracks via Bandcamp or iTunes, or get an old-fashioned CD. Almost any format is available....

Workout Music - It's More Than Just A Good Beat To Dance To

It’s been one of those days—you know, the maddening long kind. Having just staggered to the door, unlocked it and kicked it open, you get in, heave it shut, let your bag crash to the floor, and, finally, release a sigh of relief. Congratulations, you’ve just survived another day in the jungle!

• However, since you’re so able-bodied, healthy and just bursting with late-in-the-day energy that you can barely contain your vivacity, you jump into your workout clothes, fish your runners out from under the couch and head out for a brisk 5 mile jog, despite the 35 degree heat, in all likelihood whistling as you go.
• If you read that last paragraph and snorted or broke out into hysterical laughter, then please, read on. If you read that last paragraph, nodded happily and thought “What a jolly good idea!” please stop reading RIGHT NOW. Go sit in a corner, and eat a litre of ice cream and a few bags of potato chips until you become at least remotely human again and feel as lazy, tired, bloated and completely unenthusiastic as a normal person.
• Despite the best of intentions—and often, regardless of our level of fitness—exercise tends to be the first thing to fall by the wayside when we get busy. The truth is that, by the time we’re done dealing with our everyday stresses, it’s hard to work up the enthusiasm to exercise even if we do know that we’ll feel better for it afterwards.

Endorphins make us feel happy, and exercise increases endorphin levels. But since we don’t tend to exercise when we’re stressed or low on endorphins, it’s a bit of a catch 22. If only we could heighten those endorphin levels a little before exercise time we might be more inclined to get active.

One of the simplest – and strongest – ways of enhancing our moods and energy levels is music. We’ve all had the wonderful experience of enjoying a song with a great rhythm that gets our feet tapping and has us hopping around the house humming along. Similarly, a good workout music mix can get us up and moving when we’re feeling a bit flat and unmotivated.

And in addition to the emotional benefits you get from listening to music, you also get some very real physical effects. Certain types of music, such as drumming mixes and rhythmic beats are believed to help increase respiration and heart rate during aerobic workouts. Music also serves as a distraction from discomfort and from that strong desire to jog just as far as the fridge and have a beer instead.

• The right playlist can get you up, keep your blood flowing, and then serve as a relaxant when it’s time for the cool-down. Everybody’s taste in music is different and so most people prefer a compilation of a cornucopia of artists and songs in a nice mix that builds up to a good pace and then, when it’s time to wrap up, helps you simmer down. By creating high energy workout music mix cd with enough variety to guarantee that you don’t get bored with your playlists, producers like Music Mosaic make at least that part of your workout easy.
• If dancing around the house with a mop is your favourite type of exercise and music appreciation then you’ll also find some great dance mixes that will have you prancing with the vacuum. Be warned, your neighbours may decide that there’s a dance party happening and want to join you.

Listening to the same songs that are milked by local radio stations every day can be almost as tiring as the actual workout. This is where the lesser-known, independent little record labels can be a saving grace.

For example, the producer I mentioned earlier, Music Mosaic (yes I am a fan, why hide it?), produces a trance dance workout music compilation that’s more than just a rhythm to roll to; each song in it is a musical work of art utilising multi-cultural ensembles, world-beat and world fusion to create a truly unique sound. The music is entertaining and enjoyable in its own right, it’s not just there just to be a blare in the background.
Whether you’re exercising, hanging out with friends or just enjoying music for the sheer joy of it, smaller labels that demonstrate a vision appropriate for our time can truly enhance and enliven your experience.

In this era of lifestyle diseases, such as diabetes and obesity, fattening food, and of course, desk jobs, exercise of all sorts is more important than ever. It doesn’t have to be a drag. Grab your mp3 player or portable CD player, fill it with songs that get your feet moving, and break loose!

Sufi Music- Melodies of Divine Oneness

Poets such as Rumi and Faiz were the inspirational basis of sufi music. Sufism has been described as the distillation of the core teachings of many Eastern religions into a way of living in harmony with the universe and the Divine.


Sufism Through The Ages

Sufism is somewhat difficult to trace historically as the most sacred teachings were never written down but were passed by word of mouth from master to student. Music and ecstatic dances are characteristic of Sufism and are an important part of worship.

Traditionally, the teachings of Sufism can only be passed on by a Master who has been authorised to teach by another Master, thus creating unbroken succession back to the time of Muhammad and the prophets.
Though its origins lie in Islamic nations Sufism has spread to the Western world. Sufism has now become a collection of beliefs that is often a religion or a ‘state of mind’. Sufis are not necessarily Muslims, and Muslims do not automatically like Sufism.

Sufi Music As A Path To Peace

Central to Sufism is the idea that all religions are potentially a pathway to enlightenment and unity with the Divine, and promotes peace and unity through acceptance and religious tolerance.

Sufi music and movement (dance) is an integral part of Sufism and recreates the flow of the universe: revolution, vibration, rhythm and harmony. It follows the rhythms of life, the heartbeat and breath, as a Divine Art. Whirling, dancing and poetry can lead to an ecstatic state, at the climax of which the participant ‘may see God’. It is a joyful celebration of the Divine and of universal oneness.

Regardless of race or religion Sufi music can be enjoyed by anyone. It is a truly uplifting experience, completely original and ecstatically alive!

Sufi music, relaxation and tribal music can be found at Music Mosaic, the Australian indie label promoting a timely and heart-warming vision:

'We encourage all cultures and nations to live together respectfully on our planet Earth. You will hear multicultural musical expressions from diverse countries, yet the sounds flow together in harmony... like a beautiful mosaic!'

The latest release 'Sufi Ecstasy' with music from Iran, Turkey, Australia and Pakistan, is another example of a harmonius string of international music tracks.

Hilight Tribe - 'Natural Trance' Dance music

Natural Trance is a patchwork linking modern culture with ethnic sound. The Hilight Tribe, five musicians and one sound doctor at the mixing desk, play a live performance for the dancefloors of the 3rd millenium. Digeridoo, Djembe, Guitar, Congas, Drumset or Bass , among others, come in synchronization with the Drum kick. Travelling the world is part of the deal, that's how the band finds its happinness, inspirations and way of life!

The only 100% live performance in trance made his way from the hights of Ibiza to Hungaria, Japan (Vision Quest), USA, Brazil, Germany (Natraj Temple), Morocco, Spain, Mexico (etc.) and of course in France where they're based and sold already more than 40 000 albums. (6 released, 4 video-clips on the MTV and the French channels)

Discover Hilight Tribe and many other international artists on 3 fantastic Trance Dance music CDs at http://www.music-mosaic.com/ecom/Hilight-Tribe.php

Drumming is healthy!

First your foot starts to tap, then your hands beat a staccato rhythm on your lap and, before you know it, you’re bopping along to the beat. We’ve all experienced the energy in a night club and felt our pulses quicken to the ‘doof doof doof’ of a bass drum. It’s undeniable: beating the drum is energising and exhilarating.

Drumming circles - corporate, school or community events where groups of people sit in a circle playing improvised beats on percussion instruments - are gaining popularity in social as well as business and therapeutic settings.

Drumming circles are by no means a modern invention. Many cultures have used drumming circles to strengthen communities. Because no musical experience is necessary drumming circles are accessible and are great team building exercises in any context.

Drums from Around the World

Drums come in all shapes and sizes. The instruments used in drumming circles are often of Middle Eastern or African origin.

The dumbek, for example, is of Middle Eastern origin. The player holds the drum under the left arm and taps out the beat with the fingers of both hands. Originally, dumbeks were carved of wood, but now you’ll find metal and ceramic drumbeks too.

Djembe drums are also a popular choice. Originating in Western Africa, the djembe was used in healing ceremonies.

The tambourine is probably the most well known small drum. Most of us have played a tambourine at some time - they’re small, fun, and virtually fool proof. The tambourine, in one form or another, shows up in the history of many different cultures and has as many names: Gaval, Tamburello, Riq and many more.

Drums such as the drumbek and djembe often feature in world and new age music. Frank Natale, aka Professor Trance and one of the most inspirational figures in the new age movement, promoted drumming and dance - and tribal music from many cultures - as a way to find your inner balance and place in the world. Frank Natale left us an inspiring legacy in his his work.

Drumming and Team Building
So why is drumming such a great team building exercise? There are several reasons, the most obvious being that drumming reduces stress. It puts people in a relaxed social circle and lets them pound out their frustrations on a drum. There is no one person is more important than anyone else.

Drumming is also great for creativity. It encourages use of the right side of the brain - the creative side - which, combined with the release of tension, frees up the mind and helps the ideas start to flow again. Because drumming also creates enthusiasm and, as the saying goes, “nothing great in life is achieved without enthusiasm.”

Another reason why drumming is so great for team building and team bonding is that it encourages cooperation and illustrates that every member in the team is equally important. When everybody plays their part the result is harmonious and cohesive.

So there you have it: drumming is healthy! It encourages team work; promotes creativity and gives inspiration; reduces stress and energises. If you aren’t so sure about the truth of that, grab an old plastic bucket and turn it on it’s head, then tap away for a while - it won’t take you long to find the beat!

And if you simply want to dance to great drum music check out Fire Drums by Music Mosaic.

One last admonishment: Kids, this is not an excuse for waking up the neighbours!