| Musical Instruments |
Teachers Program Guide -
African Heritage Dancers & Drummers |
| The primary musical instruments indigenous to the Senegambia region
and used to provide the music for this West African dance program is known
as the “D’Jimbe” orchestra. Named for the “Lead” drum that speaks
rhythm patterns to the dancers and other musicians. There are other
melody instruments in the orchestra, such as the rattles, (Sha Sha) and
the talking drum (Tamma) and the “Griots” instrument (the Balophone), as
well as, the tempo drum known as a “D’Jun D’Jun.” |
D’JUN D’JUN
A Tempo
instrument of the D’Jimbe Orchestra |
| The D’Jun D’Jun, a large double-headed drum, is used to keep
the traditional orchestra’s tempo. The tempo is the speed of the
orchestra; how fast or slow it plays. It is played with a stick,
also with stick and hand. |
|
D’JIMBE
A lead,
solo and melody drum for which the orchestra is named. |
| The D’Jimbe is a champagne-glass shaped drum, carved with a single
piece of wood and played with the hands. Some D’Jimbe are used to
provide melody, while others are used as lead instruments, speaking to
the dancers and other musicians. |
|
TAMMA
“Talking
Drum” |
| The “Tamma,” an HourGlass shaped drum with skin on both ends, connected
by strings, is able to tighten or loosen the heads on the drum to create
different sounds. The “Tamma” is an African language drum.
African languages are tone languages; meanings are given to words with
different sounds. The drummer speaks by squeezing the strings as
he plays, changing the tones that create words and phrases. This
drum was an early public address system. |
|
SHA SHA
A rattle
instrument made from a Gourd, with beads and string on the outside, that
rattle when shaken. A melody instrument, sometimes providing tempo.
A cousin to the ancient rattle instrument known as a “Maraca.” |
|
BALOPHONE
A Xylophone-like
instrument, made of wood, having several keys of different pitch.
Used by some “Griots” (Story Tellers) instead of the stringed “Cora” (a
stringed Gourd Harp), to make music while singing praise songs and historical
poems. |
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| Key Words |