Jama'a, Sallama
Well it is me back again with more musical snippets! Before I tell you what it is, go to this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=esl2NNOtHQE (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=esl2NNOtHQE). It should take you to the Dueling Banjos scene from the film, Deliverance (1972) starring Burt Reynolds. The scene plays out a "duel" between a banjo and an acoustic guitar (the banjo player, by the way, is exactly my age -- and I am not telling!).
Now in a series I call Improvizations in Hausa Art Music, the British Council Kano, in collaborative creative partnership with Center for Hausa Cultural Studies (where I am the Chair) and with generous financial support of Standard Chartered Bank are hosting the first Hausa Art Music World Premiere which we call The Dueling Banjos on Saturday 13th October 2007 as our Barkanmu da Sallah!
What would "Hausa Art Music" sound like? Simply an acoustic and issues-based musical performance. Standard traditional Hausa music is basically about the voice and the praise-singing. With the Hausa Art music genre, we are hoping to make the audience LISTEN to the beauty of the musical instrument and the creative genius of the player. I believe this is a good opportunity for our traditional musicians to display how good they are with the various instruments they play. There will be vocals -- but they lyrics will focus on specific issues, rather than praising wane-da-wane.
In this particular concert we have four segments. The gurmi concerto where a gurmi player will be accompanied by sarewa and duman girke. Then the kuntigi concerto -- a kuntigi player accompanied by shantu (female equity instrument to balance out the genders!) and kalangu. In the third segment the kuntigi and the gurmi will lock horns -- the Dueling Banjos -- starting as two solo instruments, then joined gradually by the other instruments for midsection performance. The instruments then drop off one by one until only the gurmi and the kuntigi are left on stage.
For the finale, we came up with something unique -- THE GURMI RAP! And this one is dedicated to Dan Kauye! In the Gurmi Rap are pairing the gurmi musician with Kano Riders, a very excellent hip hop group based in Kano (their hits include Rayuwa Cikin Kunci). Their recent demo releases are really good, and we hope to overlay their rap lyrics on the gurmi soundscape. I still don't know how it is going to turn out, but we have our fingers crossed! We start rehearsals on Monday 8th October for about three days and break for Sallah before continuing on the Saturday of the concert. If you are in the Kano central region within the period, drop by to see how yours truly act as Musical Director :D
The concert itself will be on Saturday 13th October at 19:00 hours at British Council Kano. For those who may wish to attend, I will leave some few blank invitations at the Security Office of the British Council from 8th October. Just ID yourself as KanoOnliner!
Abdalla
(//)
Thanks Abdalla,
I think this is going to be cool just like the one before it... I also think a whole lot of kanoOnline members will grace the occasion followed by minute-by-minute commentary online on kanoonline by the members. We will also be ready to have some downloads for our members that might not around...
Thanks again Abdalla,
Yeah. Count me in. I'd try see the rehearsals too if I'm chanced, I would be in Kano Tues or Wed next week as I'm away now.
It sure is going to be a wonderful event.
We'll be there Inshaallah.
yah,i will also be there insha ALLAH,I know it will surely be educative,entertaining and interesting.
I forgot to add that I hope the organizers this time will be on thier feet, especially with regards to entry into the venue. The last time was a nightmare, with all those almajirai, small kids pushing and shoving you aside. I remember the IVs do not even work that day.
Sigh. Noted and will definitely act on it. The problem is that our events are the only things happening on the cultural front in the Kano city, and they tended to attract massive crowd (which btw, the BC wants!). The key to avoiding all the hassle is to come early! The door opens at 7.00 p.m. and coming near that time will make sure you avoid the horde. If you leave it late (e.g. after 7.30 or when the concert starts) then that's when the wahala starts. But as I said, noted and I will liaise with the Security to ensure as much hassle-free entry for everyone as possible.
Abdalla
Right. What time do you have the reheasals?
Rehearsals start at 14.00hrs on Monday 8th October, insha Allah, at the BC, Kano. They will go on for three days -- Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday; and then back again either Friday but definitely Saturday of the concert.
Abdalla
Thanks Prof. for such a hard work of, what I can describe as "re-shaping and reencating" of Hausa musics. It sounds very nice for we Hausas have a very nice music and talented musicians which only lack of support is always killing their creative mind.
And, insha Allah, I along with other friends are going to be there. But don Allah Prof. one thing; how are you going to arrange things? You know in the last concerts, people faced difficulties when entering due to massive no. of ppl. there. The gate was over-crowded with ppl of all walks-- almajirai, niggers, ladies, malams, etc. Pls! do something to call this off or rather the event won't be as entertaining as it should be.
Thanks Prof.
Quote from: sdanyaro on October 01, 2007, 10:19:52 PM
Thanks Abdalla,
I think this is going to be cool just like the one before it... I also think a whole lot of kanoOnline members will grace the occasion followed by minute-by-minute commentary online on kanoonline by the members. We will also be ready to have some downloads for our members that might not around...
Thanks again Abdalla,
Thanks prof. for such an effort to restore our what I dead cultures and we will insha Allah be there. Allah ya biya.
Quote from: Abdalla on October 01, 2007, 08:19:51 PM
Jama'a, Sallama
What would "Hausa Art Music" sound like? Simply an acoustic and issues-based musical performance. Standard traditional Hausa music is basically about the voice and the praise-singing. With the Hausa Art music genre, we are hoping to make the audience LISTEN to the beauty of the musical instrument and the creative genius of the player. I believe this is a good opportunity for our traditional musicians to display how good they are with the various instruments they play. There will be vocals -- but they lyrics will focus on specific issues, rather than praising wane-da-wane.
In this particular concert we have four segments. The gurmi concerto where a gurmi player will be accompanied by sarewa and duman girke. Then the kuntigi concerto -- a kuntigi player accompanied by shantu (female equity instrument to balance out the genders!) and kalangu. In the third segment the kuntigi and the gurmi will lock horns -- the Dueling Banjos -- starting as two solo instruments, then joined gradually by the other instruments for midsection performance. The instruments then drop off one by one until only the gurmi and the kuntigi are left on stage.
For the finale, we came up with something unique -- THE GURMI RAP! And this one is dedicated to Dan Kauye! In the Gurmi Rap are pairing the gurmi musician with Kano Riders, a very excellent hip hop group based in Kano (their hits include Rayuwa Cikin Kunci). Their recent demo releases are really good, and we hope to overlay their rap lyrics on the gurmi soundscape. I still don't know how it is going to turn out, but we have our fingers crossed! We start rehearsals on Monday 8th October for about three days and break for Sallah before continuing on the Saturday of the concert. If you are in the Kano central region within the period, drop by to see how yours truly act as Musical Director :D
The concert itself will be on Saturday 13th October at 19:00 hours at British Council Kano. For those who may wish to attend, I will leave some few blank invitations at the Security Office of the British Council from 8th October. Just ID yourself as KanoOnliner!
Abdalla
(//)
Tanks professor. we will insha-Allah do our best to see that we witnessed ths historic event. and iam advising all Kano onliners to please be there for us to meet each others. best wishes.
I was there on saturday nite and the show certainly lived up to its billing!
It was just like the Prof. described it and then some. It started on time , Security was foolproof, attendance 100% and the atmosphere was electric.
I dare say a good time was had by all, there was even a steady supplyof cold drinks and a tasty assortment of finger food, all included in the price which was Free!
I couldnt identify the other onliners there so if anyone else was present ill give you the honour of taking us through the night's proceedings commentary style.
As for me I had a wonderfull evening.
Hello kitkat,
I was there also Abdalla told me that Muhsin was at the venue as well even though I did not see him...
I was there with my family. I would have loved to meet any K-liner there but don't know how, as I don't know any member facially. I might have even sat close to one without knowing ;D.
As for the occasion, I must confess my expectation was met. The organization was superb, entry into the venue hitch-free, nice refreshments served and all performances timed to the second. However, I have two observations; Firstly, the gurmi-kuntigi concerto, billed as the grand finale, and which gave the occasion its name (duelling banjos), was somewhat too brief. I mean the whole gurmi-kuntigi duel lasted no more than 5/10mins max. I was expecting a more lasting "fight" btw the two ;D Serious. And I thought the other instruments (kukuma, duman girke, kalangu, shantu) are all expected to join the duel harmoniously, in concert.
Secondly, during the Q 'n A session, someone advised the artists to refrain from re-producing old songs performed by their predessesors. I remember I made the same observation in respect of the Kukuma Rap Concert last year. It turned out he's right, as Nasiru G. Supa of the Arewa came on stage and all the songs he performed are his father's famous songs of those days. The same songs he dished out last year. Nothing new, nothing original. It's too tedious. For how long would he keep on living on the shadow of his father's name? I would also have loved it if those oyinbos with their families present are specifically singled out/mentioned during the Vote of Thanks. You know for taking time out to attend and sit through the whole event. I just felt it is the right to do, per courtesey.
Overall, a very nice event, and an entertaining evening out. I say kudos to the Prof, and we look forward to the next event next Sallah.
Thank you all for your observations! They mean quite a lot to us and will definitely guide future events. BG you are right about the Dueling Banjos segment being too short. It was not deliberate, but forced on us by the musicians who were very unfamiliar with the method I wanted them to adopt. We spent hours trying to rehearse that segment and the performance you heard was the best they could do. They simply could not grasp the concept. During the rehearsal, I noted that when they converge -- ALL the instruments -- they remain in the SAME tune till the end -- and that was really boring! I repeatedly told them to raise the pitch, vary their tonality, create new harmonies all within the performance -- but they could not do it. I am pretty sure if we had say more than one week of intensive workshop, we would have created a Duelin' Banjos segment that would last for 40 minutes (my initial concept). But this is the first time this concept is being tried in traditional Hausa music and we will definitely work on it for the future. I am hoping to get them into the studio and do a proper recording of the Duelin' Banjos -- a 30 to 40 minute single track of dueling, and then three other compositions of individual instruments. Time is what is not on my side. I am the only one doing these things, and being an almajiri means I have to keep going up and down neman na naman miya :).
Yes, you are right about Nasiru Garba Sufa recyling his papa's songs. The reason is that the boy is simply too afraid to come up with his own tunes! He is under the impression that he will always be judged by his father's catalog, and in order to be safe, and also keep his father's memory alive, he sticks to the same old groove. Older member of the audience would know that he was playing his father's back catalog; younger members of the audience are meeting the songs for the first time.
In the initial conception of the concert, he had very little role to play. This is because during the rehearsals, I discovered that his kukuma's catawailing did not fit in with the more melodious tunes of the gurmi (my favorite, actually) and the kuntigi. But because we don't want him to feel shut out, we included a 20 minute segment for him (to enable him to earn the money we paid him, too!).
I will definitely talk to him to compose new tunes, and get them to practice them. We even made it possible for the group to get a hefty grant to support rehearsals, purchase of new musical instruments, collaborations, etc. But of course they don't do any of these things. Sigh.
I doubt, though if in the future we will be relying too much on them as a group -- we will be breaking them up; for instance the combination of the gurmi, sarewa and duman girke worked so well that we are thinking of staging THAT segment of the concert at FCE Kano one day. The gurmi musician has also recorded a song with the Kano Riders rap group as a result of this collaboration. As soon as I get hold of the song, I will make it available to anyone who wants it; but I need to know who may want it. I have heard it (they played it AFTER the concertos) and it is just SUPERB. It will even blow away Dan Kauye clean off his sneakers!. The entire concert was recorded and is being cleaned up in the studio. We may make it available to those who want it -- dunno how to sort out the logistics, or maybe just upload the load into our server and ppl can then download from there. There was the idea of making the Duelin' Banjos segment a ringtone!
I am still not sure what to do for the next event (I have two more budgeted). But my thinking is to make it a "woman affair" and re-invite Barmani Choge and her Calabash Orchestra. For the Finale, I might think of an Amada Rap -- getting some female vocalists, such as Fati Nijar to jam with Barmani to the tune of the kidan kwarya! I also want to experiment with kid rappers (pre-adolscent rappers making serious rap recordings, even though I know I might be in the firing line from the culturalist establishment -- we have them (some featured on stage during the Gurmi finale section) Watch this space for more craziness!!!!
BTW, there were FOUR or FIVE K-Onliners at the event; FOUR met -- myself, Kitkat, Salisu and young Muhsin. BG, you shoulda have ID'd yourself to me -- I was quite prominent, what with pot-belly and Kenyan shirt and all ;D; then I could have taken you to the rest who were sitting close to each other at the front row.
The oyinbos did enjoy it and promised to come back for more! I am overall happy that a good time was had by all and that the concert jelled and the experiment worked. To be frank I was nervous throughout the concert and relieved when it was over!!!!
BTW, BTW, What on earth happened to Husnaa? Shiru ka ke ji kamar Malam ya hadiyi shirwa!! Or maybe she has taken that cheap cut-price ticket to visit her Pestalozzi friend in NZ? Helloooooooooooooo?
Abdalla
Thanks Prof, for all you've being doing. There's nothing as great as seeing someone enjoy what they do, and giving it their all. I only wish the people and our govt do appreciate what u've being doing so far. I sometimes wonder how and where you get your financial support from. Allah dai ya taimaka, kuma ya biya ka, amin.
You are right about the younger generation hearing those songs for the first time, cos my cousin was like "kai amma wandannan wakokin suna da dadi", especially wannan wakar habaici na "ba'a zaman banza Zaria". Talking about the next concept, I remember watching NTA Katsina sometime ago and a female cultural troupe (shantu, kwarya) with the caption "Kano State Cultural Troupe" was aired. Quite nice. You might want to check them out. While not trying to be chauvinistic, I'm not sure an exclusively female Concert is such a hot idea. ;D I could be wrong of course. One thing though is there's no shortage of talent there; Fati Nijar, Maryam Baba, Murja, etc. They'd all make a nice Kidan Kwarya-Rap combo! And I would advice you thread softly with the kid rappers stuff ;D Ka san yadda mutanen mu suke.
When you are done editing/cleaning the recorded concert CD, I would like a copy.
I was there too and I also had a great time. The perfomance was really spectacularly presented. Wish Prof. Abdallah, in coorperation with BC will present another brand nice performance as such. Thanks a lot.
Quote from: sdanyaro on October 16, 2007, 11:53:27 AM
I was there also Abdalla told me that Muhsin was at the venue as well even though I did not see him...
Biri yai kama da mutum. Do you know why I said that? I was together with a friend whom I invited. As we entered and sat, I got up and went to Prof. for saying hello. After I returned to my seat. He asked me to tell him a bit on how I came to knowing a big model like Prof. I gladly explained everything about that and you know Kanoonline must be included in the words I should use.
Before the kick-off of the perfomance, I left him to go and ease myself. As I returned, he told me that he overheard my name mentioned by Prof. to two gentle men sitting beside us. Hence, throughout the time I spent there my heart is skeptically working, trying to talk to these men. But, that I barely found difficult to do unless the departing time.
Well, lots had happened but when I get back, by Allah's grace I will say how it ended. I will give a description of you I think.
It's so unfortunate i could not make it :( .
Glad to see you guys enjoyed it.