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

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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.
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[[Summer 2006]]
  
==July 10, 2006==
+
[[Fall/Winter-2006/2007]]
 
 
====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 [[Gota#The Basic Gota Movement|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 & Response#Kini Wee|Kini wee]]
 
 
 
 
 
==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 [[Gahu#The Basic Step|basic step]].
 
* We learned [[Gahu#Variation One|variation one]], [[Gahu#Variation Two|variation two]] and [[Gahu#Variation Three|variation three]].
 
 
 
====[[Call & Response]]====
 
*[[Call & Response#Akpa|Akpa]]
 
 
 
 
 
==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 [[Gahu#Variation Four|variation four]] and [[Gahu#Variation Five|variation five]].
 
* [http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/Gahu-Dance-Variations.mov Video of the 5 Gahu Dance Variations]
 
 
 
====[[Call & Response]]====
 
* [[Call & Response#sagbe de kini|sagbe de kini]]
 
 
 
 
 
==July 13, 2006==
 
 
 
====[[Call & Response]]====
 
* [[Call & Response#Tso Boi|Tso Boi]]
 
 
 
====[[Gahu]]====
 
*slow Gahu & transition to fast Gahu
 
*[[Gahu#Osee loo|Osee loo]]
 
*Pe pa see
 
 
 
====Introduction to drums====
 
*Boba-lead drum in Gota & Gahu
 
*Atsimevu-lead drum in Gahu & Atsiagbekor
 
*Kaganu-Bobobor, Gota, Gahu, Atsiagbekor
 
*Kagan-Bobobor, Gota, Gahu, Atsiagbekor
 
*Sogo-Gahu
 
*Kidi-Gahu, Atsiagbekor
 
*Kloboto (also known as Kroboto)-Atsiagbekor
 
*Totogi-Atsiagbekor
 
*Kpanlogo drums-Kpanlogo
 
*Talking drum
 
 
 
*The lead drum communicates to the dancers what they are supposed to do
 
 
 
 
 
==July 17, 2006==
 
 
 
====[[Gahu]]====
 
=====[[Gahu#Gahu Songs|Songs]]=====
 
*[[Gahu#Osee loo|Osee loo]]
 
*[[Gahu#Se Adzo|Se Adzo]]
 
*[[Gahu#Gahu Ee|Gahu ee]]
 
 
 
=====[[Gahu#Gahu Dance|Dance]]=====
 
*[[Gahu#The Basic Step|basic movement]]
 
*[[Gahu#Transition One|slow to fast transition]]
 
*[[Gahu#Transition Two|Pay pa se]]
 
 
 
=====[[Gahu#Gahu Drums|Drums]]=====
 
*sogo, kidi & kagan parts
 
 
 
 
 
==July 18, 2006==
 
 
 
====Warm-up====
 
* Story circle: One person starts a story, and each person around the circle contributes a few sentences until the circle is complete.
 
* Wisdom and Nicole demonstrated the Atsiagbekor (aka Agbekor) war dance.
 
 
 
====[[Gahu]]====
 
* We reviewed the Gahu dance today from beginning to end.
 
 
 
====[[Atsiagbekor]]====
 
* We learned the basic movement. Step-Cross-Step-Cross/hop
 
* We learned the "To te ga de ge" movement, which ends each variation.
 
* We learned variation one: "To to crang crang"
 
 
 
====Drum test====
 
* Today after the break, Robert gave a drum test. Each student was tested on one Gahu drum part, chosen randomly by Robert. All students demonstrated knowledge of how each part goes.
 
*Robert and Wisdom mentioned that some students need to learn how the rhythm of the drum fits into the bell part.
 
 
 
====Video====
 
The video from today's class is split into 10 minute segments. The links for these are below.
 
*[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/18_July_2006_A1.mov 18-01]
 
*[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/18_July_2006_A2.mov 18-02]
 
*[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/18_July_2006_A3.mov 18-03]
 
*[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/18_July_2006_A4.mov 18-04]
 
*[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/18_July_2006_A5.mov 18-05]
 
*[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/18_July_2006_A6.mov 18-06]
 
*[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/18_July_2006_B1.mov 18-07]
 
*[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/18_July_2006_B2.mov 18-08]
 
*[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/18_July_2006_B3.mov 18-09]
 
*[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/18_July_2006_B4.mov 18-10]
 
*[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/18_July_2006_B5.mov 18-11]
 
*[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/18_July_2006_B6.mov 18-12]
 
 
 
==July 19, 2006==
 
 
 
====Warm-up====
 
* Today Wisdom led a warm-up using a lot of Atsiagbekor movements.
 
 
 
====[[Atsiagbekor]]====
 
 
 
=====Dance=====
 
* We reviewed the basic movement, to te ga de ge & the first variation (to to crang crang) without drums.
 
* We learned two new variations:
 
** a de-ge-den to (ewe upper body movement in 4 directions)
 
** kito ge-den-ga (slash-slash-slash-jump forward-hop back-hop back-hop back-hop back)
 
* Wisdom demonstrated these variations with the drum language.
 
 
 
=====Drums=====
 
* We learned the bell pattern (gangkogui): Low Hi Hi-Hi Hi Hi Hi-
 
* We learned the rattle (axatse): Pum pa ti pa-pa ti pa ti pa ti pa-
 
* We learned the kagan: _ ka-gan _ ka-gan _ ka-gan _ ka-gan
 
 
 
====Video====
 
 
 
[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/Gahu-Dance-Variations.mov Click here to see the five Gahu dance variations.] (7 minute video)
 
 
 
The Video from today's class is split into 10 minute segments. Links to each video are below.
 
* [http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/19_July_2006_A1.mov 19-01]
 
* [http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/19_July_2006_A2.mov 19-02]
 
* [http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/19_July_2006_A3.mov 19-03]
 
* [http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/19_July_2006_A4.mov 19-04]
 
* [http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/19_July_2006_A5.mov 19-05]
 
* [http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/19_July_2006_A6.mov 19-06]
 
* [http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/19_July_2006_B1.mov 19-07]
 
* [http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/19_July_2006_B2.mov 19-08]
 
* [http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/19_July_2006_B3.mov 19-09]
 
* [http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/19_July_2006_B4.mov 19-10]
 
* [http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/19_July_2006_B5.mov 19-11]
 
* [http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/19_July_2006_B6.mov 19-12]
 
 
 
==July 20, 2006==
 
 
 
====Video====
 
 
 
Here are some video clips for things we learned today:
 
 
 
*[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/Atsiagbekor-Dance-Var1-2.mov Atsiagbekor Dance Variations]
 
*[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/Atsiagbekor-Kidi_R-cl.mov Atsiagbekor Kidi Drum]
 
*[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/Atsiagbekor-Kloboto.mov Atsiagbekor Kloboto Drum]
 
*[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/Atsiagbekor-Totogi-Axatse-Gangkogui.mov  Atsiagbekor Totogi with bell & rattle]
 
*[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/Atsiagbekor-Totogi_Sara.mov Atsiagbekor Totogi]
 
*[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/Gahu-Dance-Complete.mov Gahu Complete Dance]
 
** '''IMPORTANT''' Variation '''FOUR''' (who stole the drumbeat?) in this video is incorrect. The hand movement should be the OPPOSITE of what you see here. Please see [http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/Gahu-Dance-Variations.mov '''Gahu Dance Variations'''] for the correct drum signals and movements for each variation.
 
 
 
====Warm-up====
 
*stretching
 
*Seniwa
 
*circle circle
 
*ha ha ha ha
 
 
 
====[[Atsiagbekor]]====
 
* We reviewed the bell, rattle and kagan patterns
 
* We learned 3 new drum parts: [http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/Atsiagbekor-Totogi-Axatse-Gangkogui.mov  Totogi], [http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/Atsiagbekor-Kloboto.mov Kloboto (aka Kroboto)] and [http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/Atsiagbekor-Kidi_R-cl.mov Kidi].
 
 
 
====[[Gahu]]====
 
* We did the whole dance, from beginning to end.
 
* See [http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/Gahu-Dance-Variations.mov '''Gahu Dance Variations'''] for the '''CORRECT'' drum calls and variation movements.
 
* See [http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/Gahu-Dance-Complete.mov Gahu Complete Dance] for the correct '''opening''' and '''closing''' of the dance.
 
 
 
 
 
==July 21, 2006==
 
 
 
Today we reviewed the Gahu dance and had a performance test for Gota & Gahu. Then we watched a video of Atsiagbekor (soon to be posted). The video is of the Sankofa Dance Theatre Group. You'll notice that in some spots the video seems to have been accidentally recorded over. This seems to be only for a few minutes at a time.
 
 
 
====Video====
 
Here is the video from today's class, split into 10 minute segments.
 
*[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/21July2006A.mov 21-01]
 
*[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/21July2006B.mov 21-02]
 
*[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/21July2006C.mov 21-03]
 
*[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/21July2006D.mov 21-04]
 
*[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/21July2006E.mov 21-05]
 
*[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/21July2006F.mov 21-06]
 
*[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/21July2006G.mov 21-07]
 
*[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/21July2006H.mov 21-08]
 
*[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/21July2006I.mov 21-09]
 
*[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/21July2006J.mov 21-10]
 
 
 
Here is the Sankofa Dance Theatre Group Video we watched, also split into 10 minute segments. From the beginning of video 7 to the beginning of video 9 is the section on Atsiagbekor. The fourth video also has a good close up on the Atsiagbekor drums from about 7:20 to the end (10:00).
 
*[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/Sankofa1A Sankofa-01]
 
*[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/Sankofa1B Sankofa-02]
 
*[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/Sankofa1C Sankofa-03]
 
*[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/Sankofa1D Sankofa-04]
 
*[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/Sankofa1E Sankofa-05]
 
*[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/Sankofa1F Sankofa-06]
 
*[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/Sankofa1G Sankofa-07]
 
*[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/Sankofa1H Sankofa-08]
 
*[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/Sankofa1I Sankofa-09]
 
*[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/Sankofa1J Sankofa-10]
 
*[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/Sankofa1K Sankofa-11]
 
*[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/Sankofa1L Sankofa-12]
 
*[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/Sankofa2A Sankofa-13]
 
*[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/Sankofa2B Sankofa-14]
 
*[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/Sankofa2C Sankofa-15]
 
*[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/Sankofa2D Sankofa-16]
 
*[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/Sankofa2E Sankofa-17]
 
*[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/Sankofa2F Sankofa-18]
 
 
 
==July 24, 2006==
 
 
 
To start class we did a warm-up of stretching & so on. A few announcements were made:
 
*Thursday's class will be the graded performance exam.
 
*Friday's class will be a fun performance and potluck. Please invite friends and family & bring food! Robert will look into booking a room for the potluck. Time TBA--possibly 6-8 p.m. or so.
 
 
 
====[[Atsiagbekor]]====
 
* We learned 2 new variations: [http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/Atsiagbekor-Adedzo.mov Adedzo] and [http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/Atsiagbekor-Jajin.mov Jajin].
 
* We also learned 2 endings to the dance: [http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/Atsiagbekor-Ending1.mov Ending 1] and [http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/Atsiagbekor-Ending2.mov Ending 2].
 
 
 
* We heard the story behind the movement in Ending 1 and some of the history of the Ewe people and their migration through West Africa.
 
 
 
====Video====
 
Here is today's video, split into 10 minute segments.
 
*[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/24July2006A 24-01]
 
*[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/24July2006B 24-02]
 
*[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/24July2006C 24-03]
 
*[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/24July2006D 24-04]
 
*[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/24July2006E 24-05]
 
*[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/24July2006F 24-06]
 
*[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/24July2006G 24-07]
 
*[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/24July2006H 24-08]
 
*[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/24July2006I 24-09]
 
*[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/24July2006J 24-10]
 
*[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/24July2006K 24-11]
 
*[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/24July2006L 24-12]
 
 
 
==July 25, 2006==
 
 
 
====Video====
 
 
 
*[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/AtsiagbekorDanceRandom.mov Video] of the Atsiagbekor variations played randomly from today's class.
 
*Here are today's video in 10 minute segments:
 
**[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/25July2006A.mov 25-01]
 
**[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/25July2006B.mov 25-02]
 
**[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/25July2006C.mov 25-03]
 
**[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/25July2006D.mov 25-04]
 
**[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/25July2006E.mov 25-05]
 
**[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/25July2006F.mov 25-06]
 
**[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/25July2006G.mov 25-07]
 
**[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/25July2006H.mov 25-08]
 
**[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/25July2006I.mov 25-09]
 
**[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/25July2006J.mov 25-10]
 
**[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/25July2006K.mov 25-11]
 
**[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/25July2006L.mov 25-12]
 
 
 
====History & Culture====
 
Today Wisdom talked about some of the History behind the movements in the Atsiagbekor dance and about some general history of the Ewe people in West Africa. Here are some brief notes from his story and from the questions and discussion that followed.
 
*The elders deserve the utmost respect.
 
*The symbol on the WAME t-shirt means Gye Nyame--except God. Wisdom gave several examples of the meaning. Here is one:
 
**If you have enemies, they cannot do anything against you, except if God lets them.
 
*The colour of clothing is significant:
 
**Black and red clothing signifies danger or pain.
 
**White signifies joy or happiness.
 
**If an elder dies, the close family will wear white, because he or she has had a long, full life. This clothing would be worn just at the funeral. But if a young person dies, the clothing will be black or red and it would be worn for a couple of months.
 
**A year after someone's death there is a service of remembrance, at which the colour of clothing is white.
 
*Giving something to someone with your left hand is very disrespectful
 
*The prefix "Afo" is used when addressing elders as a sign of respect (ex. Afo Robert)
 
*Every elder in the community can be a disciplinarian
 
*Drum Etiquette & Info:
 
**no sitting on drums, no feet on drums, etc.
 
**Treat the drums with respect
 
**The drums connect the living to the dead.
 
**The flesh of the animal skin and the wood from the soil are connected to human beings
 
**There are special shrine drums for which there are special rituals and sacrifices. Drums used for entertainment purposes have no special rituals.
 
**There are official Royal drums.
 
***They are considered sacred.
 
***There is a special initiation & training for these drums.
 
***They are talking drums.
 
***They can communicate with the chief of the next village.
 
*The Escape of the Ewe people from Notsie
 
**There was a wicked king Agokoli of a walled city called Notsie who was mistreating the Ewe people, who lived in the city. The king would force the Ewes to do harmful and difficult things.
 
 
 
==July 26, 2006==
 
 
 
====General/Announcements====
 
*Today we reviewed the 3 dances we have learned: Gahu, Gota and Atsiagbekor. We also did evaluations at the end of class.
 
 
 
*Tomorrow is the performance test! The partners you danced with today for Gahu & Gota will be the same tomorrow and the 3 groups for Atsiagbekor will be the same. Video is available to review the parts:
 
**[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/AtsiagbekorDanceRandom.mov Atsiagbekor] with the variations played randomly.
 
**[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/Gahu-Dance-Variations.mov Gahu Variations] --Dance Variations only. Please use this video to review the variations.
 
**[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/Gahu-Dance-Complete.mov Complete Gahu] with an incorrect variation. Please use this video to review the opening and closing of Gahu (Osee & Pay pa se).
 
 
 
====Video====
 
Here are today's videos in 10 minute segments:
 
*[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/26July2006A.mov 26-01]
 
*[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/26July2006B.mov 26-02]
 
*[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/26July2006C.mov 26-03]
 
*[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/26July2006D.mov 26-04]
 
*[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/26July2006E.mov 26-05]
 
*[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/26July2006F.mov 26-06]
 
*[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/26July2006G.mov 26-07]
 
*[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/26July2006H.mov 26-08]
 
*[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/26July2006I.mov 26-09]
 
*[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/26July2006J.mov 26-10]
 
*[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/26July2006K.mov 26-11]
 
*[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/26July2006L.mov 26-12]
 
 
 
==July 27, 2006==
 
 
 
Today the class had a performance exam. We danced Gahu, Gota and Atsiagbekor. Then we organized the performance for July 28, 2006.
 
 
 
====Video====
 
Here are videos of today's performance exam in 10 minute segments: (in progress)
 
*[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/27July2006A.mov 27-01]
 
*[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/27July2006B.mov 27-02]
 
*[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/27July2006C.mov 27-03]
 
*[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/27July2006D.mov 27-04]
 
*[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/27July2006E.mov 27-05]
 
*[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/27July2006F.mov 27-06]
 
*[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/27July2006G.mov 27-07]
 
*[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/27July2006H.mov 27-08]
 
*[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/27July2006I.mov 27-09]
 
*[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/27July2006J.mov 27-10]
 
*[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/27July2006K.mov 27-11]
 

Revision as of 11:06, 14 September 2006