Voices from the Nations

The Heartbeat of Music

January 21, 2012

“Seemed to me that drumming was the best way to get close to God” ….. Lionel Hampton (American vibraphonist and bandleader).

Preparing for an evening of drums, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania.jpg

The drum is one of the oldest known musical instruments, being played in various forms by nearly every people group in the world, producing a huge variety of sounds fashioned in many shapes and sizes, the drum provides the foundation to most traditional and modern day music.

For over 4,000 years drums have been used in many diverse situations, e.g. in religious celebrations, for sending signals or messages, on the battlefield during the Civil War, to help African slaves overcome the boredom of hard monotonous work, storytelling in China, carnivals in Brazil, healing, dancing, and entertainment.

Drum circle in Venice beach, LA.JPG

The words that describe the sounds emanating from this instrument are as varied as the application: powerful, primitive, rhythmic, and resembling the heartbeat.

Drummers as fit as footballers ….. listen to BBC report here. ♥

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For more info re. Martin’s touring and recording projects,  and all things drummy www.myspace.com/lovelyboyneil

NEW PAGE …. A collection of videos from around the world Martin’s rhythm blogs

You can find info and pictures of drums, percussion and sound makers, just click on link below pictures.



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Inuit drum podcast

January 20, 2012

The Inuit drum is an amazing sound – I have stood next to one as it is played and the movement of air it creates is unique to this technique. This video podcast doesn’t do it justice but gives you a little insight into this very special drum.

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Mhongwa drum

June 14, 2011

A chance discussion about old sounds resulted in a very special discovery. This instrument is the last one in the village and had not been played for around 20 years. With a dual purpose it gathered maize during the day and was turned upside down and used as a drum for certain occasions. It was mainly used during female circumcision and as that custom has died out completely, the instrument has also now been forgotten.

African mhongwa drum from Tanzania from Martin Neil on Vimeo.

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Gogo drummers

June 12, 2011

It’s a very special time of year in central Tanzania as Gogo children head out of the village for male circumcision …. the drummers are in full voice, often celebrating all through the night. Their light weight drums are made from a wood called muheme.

African Gogo drummers from Tanzania from Martin Neil on Vimeo.

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The untouchable drum

June 8, 2011

Very interesting …. a short video from a documentary out soon about the psychological and economic processes of transformation for a group of outcast/untouchable drummers in rural India.

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Rhythm is life

February 9, 2011

Thanks to Robin Green for finding this amazing video of how rhythm is an intrinsic part of daily life for the Malinke people.

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Drums and storytelling

November 9, 2010

Drumming in the stadium, Kigali, Rwanda.JPG
The drum plays a very important role within African culture and there are musicians known as “griots” who wander from village to village telling stories, preserving and reciting the great historical traditions, blessing the people and bringing current news from afar. Like a bee, collecting and pollinating. How would today’s “griot” evoke a message?

“A chief will not go anywhere unless he is accompanied by a drummer to signify his status. In Africa, it is a drum and not a sceptre which is the symbol of the king”. (African Rhythm and African sensibility, by John Miller Chernoff.)

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