PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The Rhythmunity Ensemble is a group of percussionists hailing from all over the world who present a musical world tour of traditional percussion music. Committed to education in the belief that knowledge of other cultures can break down barriers between cultures, the ensemble has performed for thousands of public school students, college students, teachers, and business people. The program interweaves music, folklore, history, and geography in a very entertaining, educational and accessible presentation. Some of the cultures represented in the program include Cuban, West African, Arab, Indian, and Native Australian. The ensemble members are all highly accomplished musicians who have lived, studied, and performed all over the globe.

Terms:

Percussion
Aborigine
Guinea
Malinke
India
Conga
Dijeridoo
Middle East
Samba
Djembe

Musical excerpts to be selected from the following:

1) Traditional rhythms of the Malinke people of Guinea, West Africa, including Zawouli, Kuku, Tiriba and Menjani.

2) Tradition Shona Mbira music from Zimbabwe in Southern Africa.

3) Traditional rhythms from North Africa and the Middle East.

4) Traditional tabla music from Northern India.

5) Australian Aboriginal dijeridoo music.

6) Cuban rumba and bata music.

7) The music of Capoeira from northern Brazil.

8) Traditional samba batucata from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

GUIDELINE QUESTIONS FOR FOLLOW-UP DISCUSSION:

Q: What instruments were used in today’s program?
A: Bells, shekere, djembe, djun-djun, mbira, tar, Egyptian tabla, riq, tabla,
dhol, dholak, dijeridoo, congas, clave, berimbau, pandiero, repinique, caxia, surdo, agogo bells

Q: What makes a traditional samba band?
A: About 400 drummers.

Q: Where is Guinea and what is the main ethnic group?
A: West Africa and the Malinke people.

Q: How does a tabla player from India learn to play?
A: By speaking the rhythms.

Q: What does mbira mean in the Shona language?
A: Tongues

Q: Where is Shona spoken?
A: Zimbabwe.

Q: What Spanish word does the word clave come from?
A: Llave, which means key. Clave is the key to the music.

Q: What is the traditional function of the dijeridoo?
A: Communication, storytelling.

Q: What is Capoeira?
A: A martial art developed by slaves in Brazil training to fight for their freedom.

Q: How was the Berimbau used in Capoeira?
A: It was used by the lookouts to signal the participants if someone was coming.

Q: Can you sing a rhythm from the Middle East?
A: dum tek taka tek dum taka tek (say each word evenly – taka is twice as fast as dum or tek). The name of the rhythm is maqsoum.

GUIDELINES FOR STUDENT FEEDBACK
Ask your students to write to the International Music Foundation using some of the following questions or topics.

What was your favorite part of the program?

How important are traditions in a culture?

Do you think it is important to know about other cultures? Why?

Does being a musician look like fun or a lot of hard work?

How are rhythms from around the world different or similar?

Did the program spark your curiosity to learn more about the world? How will you accomplish that?

What do you think are the most important aspects to being a musician?

Of the countries ‘visited’ in the program, which would you most like to visit? Why?

What do you think is the most important thing you learned in the program? Why?