ENSEMBLE BASH
DAMBA MOON
SC006
Kpanlogo music, from the south of Ghana, is based on Cuban music, which was itself influenced by the influx of African slaves to that country. Up in the north at the time of the Damba Moon, the dondo player uses the music of Damba to relate the ancestry of the Chiefs. Also from the north Yaa Yaa Kole is written in the modern Bawa style. It is a woman's song instructing men to 'beg' if they want to get 'lucky'.
The Ewe people live in the Upper Volta region and their music inspired Rattles, Siwe Bell Music and Agbekor. Agbekor is war drumming. The Atsimevu declares war - supported by aggressive messages from the accompanying drums. Mopti Street is based on Kora themes from Guinea.
Most Ghanaian music carries a message. Nemal Bambon reflects on our differences - Even if you mix them, a green bean will always look different from a red bean'. Let Us Run Out Of The Rain by South African Michael Blake uses Zambian Thumb Piano melodies.
Bikpied Be Ter Yelle/Lang Bier Na Ko tell stories about the trials that orphans have. Bikpied Be Ter Yelle sings of the vulnerability of the lone child while the second song relates the problems of a Sisaala orphan.
Sisaala rhythms were used by Thomas Segkura in composing the theme music for Panafest '92, which is a regular celebration in Ghana of African music and culture. Ganda-Yina means 'the strong man has died' and is played after victory in battle. Miam is from the Ashanti region of Ghana and danced by women exclusively for the King while Fontomfrom music is used as a backdrop for the King's special warriors to impress him with their athleticism. Finally, Out There Nothing...
01 Kpanlogo 0.45 (Traditional)
02
Damba 6.09 (Traditional – arranged by Ibrahim Abukari and
Ensemble Bash)
03 Yaa Yaa Kole 4.27 (Thomas Segkura)
04 Panafest ‘92 1.04 (Thomas Segkura)
05 Kumpo 6.52 (Traditional – arranged by Paulinhus Bosie and
Ensemble Bash)
06 Rattles 1.35 (Stephen Hiscock)
07 Mopti Street 7.07 (Simon Limbrick)
08 Bikpied Be Ter Yelle/Lang Bier Na Ko 6.20 (Paulinhus Bosie)
09 Nemal Bambon 0.52 (Traditional)
10 Bell Music 5.07 (Traditional – arranged by Afadina Tsikpa
and Ensemble Bash)
11 Agbekor 6.13 (Traditional – arranged by Richard Benjafield)
12 Let Us Run Out Of The Rain 6.35 (Michael Blake)
13 Miam/Fontomfrom 5.31 (Traditional – arranged by Afadina
Tsikpa and Ensemble Bash)
14 Ganda-Yina 1.04 (Traditional)
15 Out There Nothing 3.33 (Chris Brannick)
Our thanks for the music are due in a huge measure to our teachers: Afadina
Tsikpa, Thomas Segkura, Ibrahim Abukari, Immanuel Osei Awuku, Paulinhus
Bosie, Meiregha Gonje and Bernard Woma.
Also we would like to thank Nana Danso Abiam and Francis Nii-yartey (Directors
of The Pan African Orchestra and the National Dance Company of Ghana)
and are grateful for the support of The British Council in London and
Accra.
We are indebted to Geoff 'The Grande Fromage of Vibe' Hilton for this
recording (and his time and patience).
Produced by Geoff Hilton and Ensemble Bash.
Recorded at The Doghouse, Henley-on-Thames, 2000.
Mixed at the Depot Studios, Brewery Road London.
Ensemble Bash are Richard Benjafield, Chris Brannick,
Stephen Hiscock and Andrew Martin.
QuickTime sample291k
Excerpt from Yaa Yaa Kole
