The following guide introduces key musical selections that illustrate interesting technical and cultural concepts while also sharing great grooves. Many of these tracks and videos are associated with assigned readings and other NWR exercises. Most can be downloaded online services of Youtube, Itunes, Emusic, Magnatunes, Rhapsody.
| Vocal Percussion |
Track |
|
|
| Africa/Europe |
Plecate |
Album: Adventures in Afropea 1, Artist: Zap Mama |
Rhapsody |
| South India |
Konnakkol |
Album: River Yamuna, Artist: Karnataka College of Percussion, traditional drum language recitation |
eMusic |
| North India |
Red Sun |
Album: Rise, Anoushka Shankar (Ravi's other daughter), Tanmoy Bose, Bikrum Ghosh, wow!!! |
Rhapsody |
| India |
Speaking In Tongues I |
Album: Weaving My Ancestors' Voices, Artist: Sheila Chandra. |
Rhapsody |
| U.S.A. |
Heat Rocks |
Album: Human Element: The World's First Human Beatbox Compilation |
eMusic |
| U.S.A., South India |
Millenium Bug |
Album: Finger Works, Artist: Ganesh Adnandan. Ganesh is an outstanding innovative percussionist exploring, as this track demonstrates, the frontiers of global rhythmusic. |
Rhapsody |
| Global |
Dom, Dom, Dom, Bambi |
Album: Masters of Percussion: Hossam Ramsey |
|
| Cuba |
Congo Yambumba |
Album: Cuba Classics 3: Diablo Al Infierno, Artist: Grupo Vocal Sampling. Latin vocal percussion brilliance. |
Rhapsody |
| Bali |
Kecak Music Drama Interlude Bali - Kecak Ganda Sari Singers |
Album: Global Voice- Traditional: Kecak Ganda Sari Singers. This incredible vocal percussion technique complements dramatizations of the Ramayana. |
eMusic |
| Middle-Eastern |
|
|
|
| Rhythm Examples |
Track |
|
|
| Ayub/Ioub |
Ayubi |
Album: Hatshepsut and other dances, Egypt, contemporary |
eMusic |
| Ayub/Ioub |
The Groom |
Album: The Music of Upper and Lower Egypt, Egypt, vintage |
eMusic |
| Ayub/Ioub |
Douar El Ouahran |
Album: Mouvement Rai, Artist: Cheikha Remitti, Algeria. Remitti is at the Algerian root of the tree of the increasingly popular and global Rai music. This track reflects Rai when it was still primarily acoustic. |
Rhapsody |
| Beladi |
Bouyout El Farah |
Album: Belly Dance: Le Meilleur De La Danse Du Ventre |
eMusic |
| Beladi |
Beladi |
Album: Rhythm of the Dance, Artist: Solace, USA, contemporary. |
Magnatunes |
| Bolero |
Eyes Behind the Veil |
Album: Eyes Behind the Veil, Artist: Seeds of Time, USA, contemporary. The first portion of this extended 20min. journey moves in and out of Bolero. The track is also a gratifying example of two doumbek players, Daveed Korup and Billy Woods, exploring rhythmic conversation. |
Entire free album is online here |
| Chiftitelli |
Chifti-Telli |
Album: Rhythm of the Dance, Artist: Solace, USA, contemporary |
Magnatunes |
| Chiftitelli |
Chifti-Telli Unplugged |
Album: Itneen- Tribal Dance/Tribal Drums, Artist: Helm, USA/Middle-East trained musicians, contemporary |
eMusic, Rhapsody |
| Karachi |
Karachi Crusin' |
Album: Itneen- Tribal Dance/Tribal Drums, Artist: Helm, USA/Middle-East trained musicians, contemporary |
eMusic, Rhapsody |
| Karachi |
Gouli |
Album: Mouvement Rai, Artist: Aassa. Rai club music, karachi rhythm. |
|
| Karshlimah |
Rompi, Rompi |
Album: Gypsy Fire, Artist: Omar Faruk and Tekbilek, Turkey |
eMusic |
| Karshlimah |
Rompi, Rompi |
Album: Alla-Turca: The Turkish Way With Ozel, Artist: Ozel Turkbas, Turkey, vintage |
Rhapsody |
| Karshlimah |
Mastika |
Album: FUCC the I.N.S., Bosnian-Bulgarian-American-Japanese, contemporary world post-punk rock |
eMusic |
| Masmoodi |
Through the Ankh |
Album: Eternal Egypt, Artist: Hossam Ramsey & Phil Thornton, Egypt/England, contemporary |
eMusic |
| Maksum |
Rakset Dalla'a |
Album: Bellydance Superstars Volume II, Artist: Artist: Ahmad El Asmar, Egypt, contemporary nightclub |
Rhapsody |
| Maksum |
Shimmy |
Album: The Doom-Tek Project, Artist: Hamdi El-Khayyat, Egypt, contemporary, brilliant doumbek artistry |
eMusic |
| Malfuf, Maksum & other comps |
Enter the Rakkasa /Eftetah Nahawand |
Album: Beyond the Desert: Classical Egyption Bellydance |
eMusic |
| Malfuf |
Cycle of Life |
Album: Shake Me Ya Gamal: Hot Tabla Solos, Artist: Gomal Goma, compilation, contemporary acoustic. |
eMusic |
| Malfuf, Saidi |
Boys Stick Dance |
Album: Drum Circle, Artist: Drum Circle, contemporary |
eMusic |
| Moroccan 6 |
Suite Lothar, Chant et Percussions |
Album: Berber Music, Le Musiciens De L'Atlas |
eMusic |
| Moroccan 6 |
Moroccan Moon |
Album: Trance Union, Artist, Layne Redmond & Tommy Brunjes, contemporary |
web sample |
| Moroccan 6 (half) |
Moroccan Spice |
Album: Awakening, Artist, Gypsy Caravan |
Rhapsody |
| Saidi |
Saidi Festival |
Album: A Musical Voyage, Artist: Upper Egypt Ensemble, egypt, acoustic |
eMusic |
| Saidi, 3 Beat Masmoodi |
Sahra Saidi |
Album: Shake Me Ya Gamal: Hot Tabla Solos, Artist: Gomal Goma, compilation, contemporary acoustic. |
eMusic |
| |
|
|
|
| Mande/Malinke Rhythm |
Track |
|
|
| Dansa,Diansa, Jansa, Danca, Danza, Ref |
Dansa |
Album: Kayleen Ci Jamma Gi (Come To Peace), Artist: Sidiki Diallo |
|
| Dununba, Ref |
Dunumgbe |
Album: Malinke Rhythms and Songs, Artist: Famoudou Konate. Generally thought of as the oldest of the doundoumba rhythms. Famoudou Konate was the lead djembe player in the Ballet Africans of the 1950s, and was one of Mamady Keita's teachers. |
|
| Fanga |
Fanga |
Album: Damaru, Artist: Damaru, USA, contemporary. Played at greatly reduced velocity, Fanga is possibly the single most well known African drum rhythm in the U.S. Separate online notation from "Conga Friday." |
|
| Jole', Ref |
Yole |
Album: Wonbere - Music And Dance In Black & White, Artist: Fore Fote |
|
| Yole/Jole',Ref |
Yole |
Album: Guinee Fare, Artist: Jason Hann, USA, Contemporary |
|
| Jole',Ref |
Sikko Djole |
Album: The Percussionists Of Guinea, Artist: Ensemble National Des Percussions De Guinee |
|
| Triba, Ref |
Triba |
Album: Wonbere - Music And Dance In Black & White, Artist: Fore Fote |
|
| Triba, Ref |
Triba |
Album: Guinee Fare, Artist: Jason Hann, USA, Contemporary |
|
| Kakilambe, Ref |
Kakilambe 6/8 |
|
|
| Kuku, Ref |
Koukou Beyla |
Album: The Percussionists Of Guinea, Artist: Ensemble National Des Percussions De Guinee |
|
| Kuku, Ref |
Kuku |
Album: Guinee Fare, Artist: Jason Hann |
|
| Makuru, Macuru, Macru, Macrou, Ref |
|
|
|
| Mandiani, Mindiani, Manjani, Mandjani, Mandyani, Mandiany, Ref |
Manjani |
Album: The Lenoir-Rhyne Percussion Program. Learn more about this program here. |
|
| Sorsonet, Ref |
Sorsorone |
Album: Skin and Bone, Artist: Inanna, Sisters in Rhythm, U.S. Contemporary |
|
| Soko, Ref |
Soko |
Album: Wonbere - Music And Dance In Black & White, Artist: Fore Fote |
|
| Soko, Ref |
Soko |
Album: Listen, Artist: Inanna, Sisters in Rhythm, U.S. Contemporary |
|
| Soli, Ref |
|
|
|
| Yankadi, Ref |
Yankade/Makru |
Album: Guinee Fare, Artist: Jason Hann, U.S., Contemporary |
|
| Yankadi, Ref |
Yankadi |
Album: Wonbere - Music And Dance In Black & White, Artist: Fore Fote |
|
| |
|
|
|
| World Percussion Examples |
Track |
|
|
| Accordian & Framedrum (Daff or Doyre?) |
Mugham Zabol-Segah |
Album: Garamond of Ayden Aliev, Artist: Ayden Aliev and ? virtuostic wizardry on the chromatic accordian. Azerbaijani, Aydin Aliev, weaves dramatic lyrical explorations and spiraling rhythmic phrases with an engaged and responsive frame drum accompaniest. |
eMusic |
| Adufe (Portuguese square frame drum) |
Divina Santa Cruz
see also: Marcelada
|
Album: Songs And Drums From Beira-Baixa, Artist: Musicians Of Penha Garcia. "Oh, Devine Saint Cruz, and I am going there, my soul is already there, my heart is arriving..."
Learn more about the adufe here. |
|
| Adufe |
Senhora do Almurtão, Monsanto, Mª Amélia Fonseca |
Senhora do Almurtão, Monsanto, Mª Amélia Fonseca: Extraordinary video. |
|
| Balaphone |
Korogba |
Album: Guinea- An Anthology Of The Mandingo Balaphone - Vol. 1, Artist: El Hadj Djeli Sory Kouyate. |
|
| Bata |
Oru de Igbodu para Yemaya: Chango |
Album: Sacred Rhythms of Cuban Santeria, Artist: onjunto de Tambores Bata de Amado Diaz Alfonso. A small (oru seco) example of the complex layers of rhythm and culture that contribute to bata. This is a drum liturgy for the Santo Chango. Learn more here. |
|
| Bendir |
Bendir Solo |
Album: Hal-an-tow: Songs of the Six Celtic Nations, Artist: Randy Crafton. The buzz of the Bendir Frame Drum is created by strings that are strung against the inside of the head. In addition to being an outstainding percussionist, Randy Crafton is a gifted teacher. |
eMusic |
| Bodhran (Irish Framedrum) |
Bodhran |
Album: Red, Artist: Young Doubliners. The distinctive sound of the Bodhran Framedrum results from the technique of playing the drum with a stick known as a tipper in one hand, while the other hand modulates the tone from behind. When the same drum is played with hand techniques it sounds very different. |
Rhapsody |
| Bow |
Musical Bow |
Album: Mbuti Pygmies of the Ituri Rainforest, Artist: Unknown Ndaka man. |
eMusic |
| Birimbau |
L'ombre L'a Dit |
Album: The Art of the Birimbau, Artist: Francois Kokelaere. The Birimbau is an instrument derived from a hunting bow. A resonant sound chamber is made from a gourd, and the string is a single metal chord that is played with a stick. |
eMusic |
| Bougarabou |
Mansaba |
Album: Solo Drumming of Casamance. Artist: Saikouba Badjie. Bougarabou, from Gambia, involves a solo playing on multiple drums. Ritual and performance activities typically last all night. Learn more. |
|
| Bow |
Musical Bow |
Album: Mbuti Pygmies of the Ituri Rainforest, Artist: Unknown Ndaka man.
|
eMusic |
| Cajon |
Martin Roettger Unaccompanied Solo |
Martin Roettger: DVD, taken from his book: Cajon Styles for drummers. Relatively good sound quality for Utube.
|
|
| Cajon and Flamenco Shoes |
Hakim Ludin & Bettina Castano duet. |
Hakim Ludin & Bettina Castano performance. Lively duet exemplifying rhythmic conversation between a drummer and a dancer.
|
Utube |
| Conga |
Solo |
Giovanni Hidalgo, a living legend among percussionists around the world, plays solo at home in Florida.
|
Utube |
| Conga, shaker, and uknown Iron, and conga |
Conga Conversation |
Album: Chengo's Dance, Artist: Bobby Matos. Conga's "converse" with each other over a 3/4 polyrhythm. Note the bell pattern, commonly known as "short bell," in the 4 pulse, and the shaker playing every 3 pulses. |
Rhapsody |
Doire (Uzbek framedrum)
|
Abbos Kosimov |
Virtuoso Abbos Kosimov. Short bio video . |
Utube |
| Doumbek (Tabla) Solo |
Raquy's Unaccompanied Doumbek Solo |
Artist: Raquy Danzinger. Raquy Danzinger of Raquy and the Cavemen offers a gorgeous translation of Persion technique to Egyption Tabla. Raquy plays beautifully, and with her band, is doing extraordinary cultural crossover work. |
free online video |
| Doumbek (Tabla) Solo |
Souhail Kaspar Unaccompanied Doumbek Solo |
This is a performance by Souhail Kaspar, recorded in May 2005 (?), in Los Angeles. This is found on his "Foundations of Arabic Rhythm" DVD. |
Utube |
Doumbek (Tabla) Solo |
Seido Salifoski Unaccompanied Doumbek Solo |
Seido Salifoski. Performance in Washington DC, 2006. |
Utube |
| Doumbek, Tabla-Beladi, Frame Drum, Zills |
Tabla Competition |
Album: Drum Circle, Artist: Drum Circle, contemporary. This track provides an engaging example of a percussion ensemble based in Middle-Eastern percussion instruments and the ayub rhythm. The Tabla-Beladi is a doublheaded bass drum, played with a hand or stick on one side, and a switch on the other. You can hear this instrument come in as soon as the initial doumbek rolls are completed. |
eMusic |
Doumbek, Calabash, Udu, Djembe, Darbouka, Tombak, Pandiero, Cajon |
Masterclass: Hossam Ramzy |
Masterclass: Hossam Ramzy. This is a rare set of online videos from Rotterdam. It provides a range of insights on percussion as well as cross-cultural rhythmic colalboration. Mr. Ramzy speaks in English and much of the presentation is in English. Mr. Ramzy is accompanied by an extraordinary ensemble of expert players. |
|
| Gamelan |
gamelan gong kebyar |
Bali: gamelan gong kebyar
|
|
| Gamelan |
Gemelan, The |
The Gamelan (New Music Ancient Spirit): audio documentary from PRI: Sound and Spirit |
free on web |
| Ghatam |
Ghatam Quartet |
Album: River Yamuna, Artist: The Karnataka College of Percussion. The ghatam is a clay pot that has been elevated to the status of a respected South Asian classical instrument. You will see why when you hear this is an ensemble of four Ghatam. |
eMusic |
| Ghaval |
Zekr-e Dowom |
Album: Anthology of Iranian Rhythms Volume 2, Artist: Madjid Khaladj. Virtuoso Iranian percussionist plays the Ghaval, a framedrum with many metal rings that jingle from the inner frame. |
eMusic |
| Jaw Harp (bamboo) |
Bamboo Jew's Harp |
Album: Voices of the Rain Forest, Artist: Kaluli people (individual) of Bosavi, Papua New Guinea. Recorded in the forest (you can hear the jungle in the background) by Anthropologist Steven Feld. More about Feld's acoustic anthropological work. |
eMusic |
| Kanjira |
Solo |
Ganesh Kumar solo from his instructional DVD |
Utube |
| Kanjira |
Kanjira Trio |
Album: River Yamuna, Artist: The Karnataka College of Percussion. The Kanjira is a small frame drum with as single jingle that was traditionally covered with a lizard skin head. The musician moistens the skin with water and adjusts the pitch with one hand, while playing all of the drum strokes with the other. |
eMusic |
| Mbira |
Sound and Spirit |
Out of Africa: The Spirit of Mbira. PRI audio documentary. |
|
| Mrdangam |
Ragam-tanam-pallavi in raga kiravani |
Album: Lotus Signatures, Artist: Dr. N. Ramani / Trichy Sankaran (percussion). In addition to the the Mrdingum, you will also hear the Kanjira, the Ghatam, and the Morsing. |
|
| Morsing (Jaw Harp) |
Morsing Trio |
Album: River Yamuna, Artist: The Karnataka College of Percussion. The morsing is known in the west as a Jaw (Juice, "Jews") Harp. The application of South Asian percussion language transforms the twang of the morsing into an engaging tapestry of rhythm. |
eMusic |
| Pandeiro |
Paulo Lima da Silva. Solo performance |
Paulo Lima da Silva from Salvador-Bahia in Brazil |
|
| Pandeiro |
Pandeiro Solo |
Album: Online Lesson Demonstration Movie, Artist: Rafael Pereira. This is an 20mb video demonstration of solo pandiero. The pandeiro is a Brazilian jingled framedrum. |
|
| Pandeiro |
Juggling |
Incredible pandiero juggling at Samba School in Brazil |
Utube |
| Rebola or Tan-Tan, Birimbau, Claps |
Riva |
Album: Brazilian Explosion, Artist: Bosco De Oliveira and Liliana, Samba subgenre Pagode ("pagojay"). |
BBC |
| Rebolo or Tan-TAn |
Demonstration |
Percussao. Clear example |
Utube |
| Riq |
Compte A Rebours |
Album: Forty Rhythms From the Middle-East, Artist: Adel Shams El-Din, contemporary acoustic. This is a solo Riq (Middle-Eastern tamborine) playing the Samai rhythm (10 beats with bridge to 6 beats). |
eMusic |
| Riq |
Yousif Sheronick |
Solo Riq demonstration from his instructional DVD. |
Utube |
| Riq |
|
David Kuckhermann, outstanding online video demonstration. |
mpg, wmv |
| Santoor |
Morning Contemplations |
Album: Talking Tabla, Artist: Tarun Bhattacharya & Bikram Ghosh, North India |
eMusic |
| Slit-Gong (log drum) |
Slit-Gong Signalling |
Album: Mbuti Pygmies of the Ituri Rainforest, Artist: Unknown Mbuti. Rhythmic signaling to others in the forest. |
eMusic |
| Sticks |
Musical Sticks |
Album: Mbuti Pygmies of the Ituri Rainforest, Artist: Unknown. Rhythmic stick ensemble playing for Nkumbi inititation dance. |
eMusic |
| Tabla |
Drut Teentala |
Album: Talking Tabla, Artist: Bikram Ghosh, North India |
eMusic |
| Taiko Ensemble |
Yuudachi |
Album: Soh Daiko, Artist: Taiko Drum Ensemble, Japan. |
eMusic, Rhapsody |
| Tambourello |
Pizzica Tarantata |
Album: ITALY Alessandra Belloni: Tarantelle e Canti d'Amore, Artist: Alessandra Belloni. The tambourello is played as a part of women's healing dance rituals to cure tantarismo. |
eMusic |
| Tombak |
Shish-Hastom (Improvisation in 6/8) |
Album: Iran: Art of the Tombak, Artist: Majid Khaladji. Master of the Persian (Iran) Tombak, Majid Khalidji, weaves brilliant spiraling tapestry's of rhythm with extraordinary technique. The roll that that you hear is known by the automatopia "rizz." |
eMusic |
| Frame Drum |
In Transit |
Album: Hand Dance, Artist: Glen Velez. Glen Velez is unquestionably the most influential contemporary proponent of the frame drum in North America. Together with his illustrious list of students, Velez has also brought international appreciation to this family of instruments. Hand Dance was his first commercial release. It reflects a young virtuoso awakening to the extraordinary potential of this drum, and presages the reemergence of this ancient instrument in contemporary Western contexts. The track, "In Transit," is an extended multifaceted composition that expresses both the artist and this moment in musical history. |
eMusic |
Frame Drum Duet |
Glen Velez & Layne Redmond |
1989 Video footage of duet from Glen Velez' hand dance album. |
|
| Sacred Voice / Sound / and Chant |
Track |
|
|
| Israel and Jordan 1000 years before the earliest biblical manuscripts. |
Rannanu ((Sing With Joy) Chant From the Dead Sea Scrolls)) |
Album: Ancient Echoes - Music from the time of Jesus and Jerusalem's Second Temple, Artist: San Antonio Vocal Arts Ensamble. Couldn't resist the inclusion of this ancient chant. Note that it has been set to a chiftitelli rhythm. |
Rhapsody |
| Australia |
Garbina |
Album- Australia: The Dreaming, Artist: Jowandi. Dijeridoo |
eMusic |
| Congo |
Molimo song of devotion to the forest |
Album: Mbuti Pygmies of the Ituri Rainforest, Artist: Group of Mbuti men. |
eMusic |
| Cross-Cultural/ Global |
Many tracks in this collection |
Album: Chant- Spirit in Sound, Artist: Robert Gass. This album offers an extraordinary collection of chants from around the world in contemporary formats. This CD supports Gass book of the same name. |
Rhapsody |
| Egypt |
Call to Prayer |
Album: Spirit of the African Sanctus, Artist: ??, There are two tracks with the Muslim adhan (call to prayer). The call is made five times a day, weaving the sacred, like European church bells, into the sonic geography of a village, town, or city. More info here. |
eMusic |
| Egypt |
The Groom |
Album: The Music of Upper and Lower Egypt, Artist: ??, vintage |
eMusic |
| England, London |
Westminster Abbey |
Album: Church Bells of England, Artist: ??, Sacred geography of sound. "Wake up! Wake up!" |
eMusic |
| Fiji |
Sa Sowiri Fiji |
Album: Global Voices- Traditional, Artist: Vancouver Fiji Boys |
eMusic |
| India 1000-300B.C. approx |
Vedic Chants |
Album: Chants of India, Artist: Ravi Shankar / George Harrison producer.Slokas or verses from the some of the oldest Hindu texts. |
Rhapsody |
| India & U.S.A. |
Namah Shivaya |
Album: Live on Earth, Artist: Krisna Das. Krisna Das leads a kirtan practice (a technique for group chanting the names of divinity), awakening participants to the fullness of life. |
eMusic |
| Morocco |
Guedra: Standing Dance/Knee Dance |
Album: Songs and Rhythms of Morocco, Artist: ??, Morocco, vintage. This is a recording from a Guedra ritual. |
Rhapsody |
| Pakistan |
Sanson Ki Mala
|
Album: Greatest Hits Volume 2, Artist: Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, master of Kawalli, ecstatic Sufi devotional song. Kawalli grows slowly like a delicate mountain spring that flows into a towering waterfall of love. Interview1, Interview 2 |
eMusic, Rhapsody |
| Pakistan & U.S.A. |
My Heart, My Life |
Album: Night Song, Artist: Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, here is Khan applying his magic to the bridges of world music. He was introduced to Western Audiences by Peter Gabriel. |
Rhapsody |
| U.S.A. |
Let the Way Be Open |
Album: Enter the Center, Artist: Abigail Spinner Aft McBride. Spinner's contemporary chants are known and sung in sacred gatherings accross the country. Get a copy of the CD at: spinner@mcbridemagic.com |
Online |
Entrance • About Us • Schedule • Ideas • NWR • Contact