The drummer's path: Moving the spirit with ritual and traditional drumming

Description

This authentic and provocative introduction to African and Diaspora drumming provides a unique teaching tool for percussionists as well as a guide to the principles and power of traditional African rhythms for all dancers and musicians. Profusely illustrated and reinforced with Wilson's personal anecdotes, and presented in a style that is irresistibly immediate and vibrant, this book explains twelve fundamental principles of executing and invoking African and Diaspora music. Wilson emphasizes the importance of the basics — breath, posture, and orchestration — and shows how the African-American spirit has been sustained by drumming and dancing. Drummer, dancer, folklorist, and researcher, Wilson has studied drumming under Baba Ngoma as well as the premier students of Baba Ishangi, Ladji Camara, and Chief Bey. He has worked with renowned folklorists from Guinea, Senegal, Mali, Zaire, Ghana, and Zimbabwe and has explored the commonality of music in the cultures of Africa, India, the Americas, and Indonesia. In addition to his work with elders in the African-American tradition, he has performed with many of the finest artists and groups in the field, including Babatunde Olatunji, the International Afrikan-American Ballet, Africa in Motion Dance Theater, and the Bennu Ausar Aurkestra. THE DRUMMER'S PATH CONTENTS FOREWORD PREFACE: THE CALL INTRODUCTION: WHY & HOW: AN AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH ONE: RHYTHMS AND SELF-IDENTITY TWO: HAND DRUMS AND THE U.S. SOUND: HISTORICAL POINTS THREE: THE PRINCIPLES FOUR: HEALTH AND THE DRUMMER FIVE: WOMEN AND TRADITIONAL DRUMMING AFTERWORD GLOSSARY SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY INDEX