Difference between revisions of "University of Alberta West African Music Ensemble"

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(→‎Gahu)
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====[[Gahu]]====
 
====[[Gahu]]====
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*We reviewed the three variations we learned yesterday, and the bell, rattle, sogo (& kagan) parts, and the master drum calls for these three variations.
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* We reviewed the three variations we learned yesterday, and the bell, rattle, sogo (& kagan) parts, and the master drum calls for these three variations.
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*Wisdom showed us how to do the Ewe upper body movement.
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* Wisdom showed us how to do the Ewe upper body movement.
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*We learned 2 new variations:
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* We learned variation four and variation five.
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**Variation four: "Who stole the drumbeat?" ("I did.")
 
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***The master drum signals and to start you put your left hand (LH) on your left hip and your right hand (RH) in the air, as if to say, "I did." All the while, continue to step the basic movement (Right, Right, Left, Left).
 
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***Then you bring your RH down and in front of you, while the master drum signals, "Who stole the drumbeat?"
 
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***Repeat these motions and gradually move towards the inside of the circle until you are close enough to put your LH on the left hip/waist of the person in front of you. When you are close enough, do so, continuing the motion of the right hand.
 
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***Once the master drummer sees that everyone has their LH on the person in front of them, he/she will signal.
 
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***When the signal is finished, put your RH on the person in front of you's waist and step backwards: Right, Right, Left, Left.
 
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***The master drum gives the signal to end. Jump out and put your hands in the air. Return to the basic movement.
 
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**Variation five: Dance, dance, look. Jump, jump, sit.
 
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***The master drummer will give the roll signal. Put your hands in the air and hoot & holler and make some noise.
 
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***On signal, do the basic step, bending down at the waist.
 
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***
 

Revision as of 17:49, 12 July 2006

Here you will find daily records of what was covered in class, as well as links to specific things we learn, such as dances or drums.

July 10, 2006

The circle represents life and community

  • Life is a cycle.
  • Most Ewe dances are in a circle.
  • There is a connection between the physical and metaphysical--the living and the dead are related.

Gota

  • The dance's basic movement
  • The beginning drum signal
  • The drum signal to change from the basic movement to improvised dance with your partner.

Gahu

  • The bell pattern: low high high high high
  • The rattle pattern: pum pa ti pa ti pa ti pa
  • The basic steps: right right left left

Call & Response

  • Call: Kini wee! Response: Zii wee! (with arm motion)


July 11, 2006

Gota

  • review of the basic movement, the drum signal to change
  • the drum signal to freeze
  • Tomorrow Wisdom wants to see good improvised dancing with partners.

Gahu

  • This dance was called the airplane dance by the old colonial masters. It can happen at any occasion, but especially for recreation. This is the dance where boys go to show off to get the most beautiful girl & vice versa (Wisdom).
  • We reviewed the basic step (right right left left).
  • We learned the first three variations.

July 12, 2006

Introduction

  • Circle call & response
    • The leader calls: Circle, circle.
    • The group responds: Big circle.
    • While responding, the group gets into a circle and holds hands until the circle is the right size.

Gahu

  • We reviewed the three variations we learned yesterday, and the bell, rattle, sogo (& kagan) parts, and the master drum calls for these three variations.
  • Wisdom showed us how to do the Ewe upper body movement.
  • We learned variation four and variation five.
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