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

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= [[Summer 2006]] =
 
= [[Summer 2006]] =
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 +
==July 10, 2006==
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 +
====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]].
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*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
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*The basic steps: right right left left
 +
 +
====[[Call & Response]]====
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*[[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
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*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]]
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 +
 +
==July 12, 2006==
 +
 +
====Introduction====
 +
*Circle call & response
 +
**The leader calls: Circle, circle.
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**The group responds: Big circle.
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**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]].
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* [http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/Gahu-Dance-Variations.mov Video of the 5 Gahu Dance Variations]
 +
 +
====[[Call & Response]]====
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* [[Call & Response#sagbe de kini|sagbe de kini]]
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 +
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==July 13, 2006==
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====[[Call & Response]]====
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* [[Call & Response#Tso Boi|Tso Boi]]
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====[[Gahu]]====
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*slow Gahu & transition to fast Gahu
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*[[Gahu#Osee loo|Osee loo]]
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*Pe pa see
 +
 +
====Introduction to drums====
 +
*Boba-lead drum in Gota & Gahu
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*Atsimevu-lead drum in Gahu & Atsiagbekor
 +
*Kaganu-Bobobor, Gota, Gahu, Atsiagbekor
 +
*Kagan-Bobobor, Gota, Gahu, Atsiagbekor
 +
*Sogo-Gahu
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*Kidi-Gahu, Atsiagbekor
 +
*Kloboto (also known as Kroboto)-Atsiagbekor
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*Totogi-Atsiagbekor
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*Kpanlogo drums-Kpanlogo
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*Talking drum
 +
 +
*The lead drum communicates to the dancers what they are supposed to do
 +
 +
 +
==July 17, 2006==
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 +
====[[Gahu]]====
 +
=====[[Gahu#Gahu Songs|Songs]]=====
 +
*[[Gahu#Osee loo|Osee loo]]
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*[[Gahu#Se Adzo|Se Adzo]]
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*[[Gahu#Gahu Ee|Gahu ee]]
 +
 +
=====[[Gahu#Gahu Dance|Dance]]=====
 +
*[[Gahu#The Basic Step|basic movement]]
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*[[Gahu#Transition One|slow to fast transition]]
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*[[Gahu#Transition Two|Pay pa se]]
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 +
=====[[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]
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*[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/18_July_2006_A3.mov 18-03]
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*[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/18_July_2006_A4.mov 18-04]
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*[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/18_July_2006_A5.mov 18-05]
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*[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/18_July_2006_A6.mov 18-06]
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*[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/18_July_2006_B1.mov 18-07]
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*[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/18_July_2006_B2.mov 18-08]
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*[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/18_July_2006_B3.mov 18-09]
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*[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/18_July_2006_B4.mov 18-10]
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*[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/18_July_2006_B5.mov 18-11]
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*[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]
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* [http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/19_July_2006_A5.mov 19-05]
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* [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]
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* [http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/19_July_2006_B2.mov 19-08]
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* [http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/19_July_2006_B3.mov 19-09]
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* [http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/19_July_2006_B4.mov 19-10]
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* [http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/19_July_2006_B5.mov 19-11]
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* [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]
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*[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/21July2006B.mov 21-02]
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*[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/21July2006C.mov 21-03]
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*[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/21July2006D.mov 21-04]
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*[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/21July2006E.mov 21-05]
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*[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/21July2006F.mov 21-06]
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*[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]
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*[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]
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*[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/Sankofa1C Sankofa-03]
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*[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/Sankofa1D Sankofa-04]
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*[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/Sankofa1E Sankofa-05]
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*[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/Sankofa1F Sankofa-06]
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*[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/Sankofa1G Sankofa-07]
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*[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/Sankofa1H Sankofa-08]
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*[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/Sankofa1I Sankofa-09]
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*[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/Sankofa1J Sankofa-10]
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*[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/Sankofa1K Sankofa-11]
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*[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/Sankofa1L Sankofa-12]
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*[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/Sankofa2A Sankofa-13]
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*[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/Sankofa2B Sankofa-14]
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*[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/Sankofa2C Sankofa-15]
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*[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/Sankofa2D Sankofa-16]
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*[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/Sankofa2E Sankofa-17]
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*[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]
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*[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/24July2006B 24-02]
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*[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/24July2006C 24-03]
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*[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/24July2006D 24-04]
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*[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/24July2006E 24-05]
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*[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/24July2006F 24-06]
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*[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/24July2006G 24-07]
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*[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/24July2006H 24-08]
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*[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/24July2006I 24-09]
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*[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/24July2006J 24-10]
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*[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/24July2006K 24-11]
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*[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/24July2006L 24-12]
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 +
==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]
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**[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/25July2006C.mov 25-03]
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**[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/25July2006D.mov 25-04]
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**[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/25July2006E.mov 25-05]
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**[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/25July2006F.mov 25-06]
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**[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/25July2006G.mov 25-07]
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**[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/25July2006H.mov 25-08]
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**[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/25July2006I.mov 25-09]
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**[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/25July2006J.mov 25-10]
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**[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]
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*[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/26July2006E.mov 26-05]
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*[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/26July2006F.mov 26-06]
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*[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/26July2006G.mov 26-07]
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*[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.
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====Video====
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Here are videos of today's performance exam in 10 minute segments: (in progress)
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*[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/27July2006A.mov 27-01]
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*[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/27July2006B.mov 27-02]
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*[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/27July2006C.mov 27-03]
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*[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/27July2006D.mov 27-04]
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*[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/27July2006E.mov 27-05]
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*[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/27July2006F.mov 27-06]
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*[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/27July2006G.mov 27-07]
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*[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/27July2006H.mov 27-08]
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*[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/27July2006I.mov 27-09]
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*[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/27July2006J.mov 27-10]
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*[http://streaming.tapor.ualberta.ca/wame_media/27July2006K.mov 27-11]
  
 
= [[Fall/Winter-2006/2007]] =
 
= [[Fall/Winter-2006/2007]] =

Revision as of 15:23, 25 November 2006

Welcome to the West African Music Ensemble's 2006-2007 Wiki page! Here you will find video of the class, brief summaries of what was covered in class and links to song lyrics, audio clips and other useful tools. To report a broken link, please e-mail Nicole. If you wish to add to or edit the content, or to participate in a discussion, create a username and password for the wiki.

Contents

Ewe Music/Dance Styles

Here you will find information about the music/dance styles that have been taught in the West African Music Ensemble over the years.

Gota

Atsiagbekor

Also called Agbekor.

Gahu

Bobobor

coming soon

Atsobor

coming soon

coming soon

Ziggy

Performances

November 4, 2006

  • fundraiser to support Grandmothers raising AIDS orphans
  • Leduc
  • Meet at 4:30 p.m. at Studio 2-7 to pack up drums & catch the bus

November 24, 2006

  • World Music Sampler - starts at 7:30 p.m., Convocation Hall, Old Arts Building. FREE!
  • meeting time tbc


Summer 2006

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


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.
  • We learned variation one, variation two and variation three.

Call & Response


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

Call & Response


July 13, 2006

Call & Response

Gahu

  • slow Gahu & transition to fast Gahu
  • 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

Songs
Dance
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.

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

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.

July 20, 2006

Video

Here are some video clips for things we learned today:

Warm-up

  • stretching
  • Seniwa
  • circle circle
  • ha ha ha ha

Atsiagbekor

Gahu


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.

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).

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 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.

July 25, 2006

Video

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:
    • Atsiagbekor with the variations played randomly.
    • Gahu Variations --Dance Variations only. Please use this video to review the variations.
    • 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:

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)

Fall/Winter-2006/2007

The instructors for this course are Robert Kpogo and Wisdom Agorde.

Master Drummer: David Descheneau

This year's teaching assistant is Stella York.

Important Information

  • If you did not come to the first class and audition, you may not register for or attend this class. Registration and participation are based on the audition and meeting for consent. Please de-register if you have registered, but were absent for the audition.
  • All students are required to pay a fee of $80 for instrument use and repair. This fee also includes a WAME T-Shirt, which is to be worn at all ensemble performances.
  • To access the classroom, you will need to encode your One-Card. Encoding took place on Thursday, September 21, 2006 in Fine Arts Building 2-11 from 10:00-12:00 and 1:00-3:00. Your next chance to encode your One-Card will be in January 2007.
  • Keys to the instrument cupboard are available from Robert.
  • To watch video from the class, you will need the latest version of Quicktime, available for download here. Video from each class will appear here in 10 minute segments. Each file is relatively large, so it will take several minutes to download. If you have problems watching these online, right click the link & click "Save Link As.." & download the video onto your computer.

Course Syllabus

Important information from the syllabus will appear here.


September 13, 2006

Today's class started with a song & clapping game. For the words to this song click Kani Wa

Quote of the day:
"In all the dances that we do, the dancers communicate with the drums...that's why it is important to learn the drum language." -- Wisdom

Gota

  • Wisdom and previous students demonstrated Gota to the class.
  • Wisdom taught the basic movement, the transition and the freeze position.

Video

Video 1
 Video 2
 Video 3
 Video 4
 Video 5
 Video 6
 Video 7
 Video 8
 Video 9
Video 10
 Video 11
 Video 12
 Video 13
 Video 14
 Video 15
 Video 16
 Video 17

September 20, 2006

Warm-up

Today we started with a clapping game song, Seni Wa, which goes with the same clapping rhythm as the song we learned last week, Kani Wa (Boom Ba Boom Ba Ba).

We numbered off into groups. These groups will be our groups for the rest of the year. Each week one group will be responsible for setting up and putting away the drums. Stella will make a schedule for next week.

Gota

Today we split into pairs. We will keep the same partner for the rest of the year. We learned 3 signals from the lead drum: starting signal, transition signal and freeze/end signal. We practiced a bit, then each pair danced.

Bobobor

Today we learned the bell and rattle parts, and the basic steps of the dance.

Drums

(links to recordings will be posted here.)

1. Bell

2. Rattle

Dance

Description to be posted.

Video

Video 1
 Video 2
 Video 3
 Video 4
 Video 5
 Video 6
 Video 7
 Video 8
Video 9
 Video 10
 Video 11
 Video 12
 Video 13
 Video 14
 Video 15

September 27, 2006

Video

Video 1 Video 2 Video 3 Video 4 Video 5 Video 6
Video 7 Video 8 Video 9 Video 10 Video 11 Video 12

October 4, 2006

Video

Video 1 Video 2 Video 3 Video 4 Video 5 Video 6 Video 7
Video 8 Video 9 Video 10 Video 11 Video 12 Video 13 Video 14 Video 15

October 11, 2006

Video

Video 1 Video 2 Video 3 Video 4 Video 5 Video 6 Video 7
Video 8 Video 9 Video 10 Video 11 Video 12 Video 13 Video 14


October 18, 2006

Video

1 2 3 4 5 6
7 8 9 10 11


October 25, 2006

Potluck & movie night.

November 1, 2006

Video

1 2 3 4 5 6 7
8 9 10 11 12 13


November 8, 2006

Video

This video is being edited to realign audio & video.

1 2 3 4 5 6
7 8 9 10 11 12

November 15, 2006

Summary

Today we reviewed Gahu. We learned the basic movement for Atsiagbekor & the first variation (To to crang crang-Ahey Ahey), as well as the variation ending (To te ga de ge). We also had a Gahu dance test.

Video

1 2 3 4 5 6
7 8 9 10 11 12 13


November 22, 2006

Summary

Today we learned some new Atsiagbekor variations & we practiced for the World Music Sampler.
The mid-term examination/performance will be on December 6, 2006. Friends and family are welcome to watch. There was some discussion of having a potluck afterwards.

Video

1 2 3 4 5 6
7 8 9 10 11 12
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