Heart Beat: The Drum and Voice
Is the reason the drum resonates so much with my being is that not only does it echo my heart beat, or what my heart beat could be, but because it is probably one of the oldest, most raw musical instruments—one of the oldest forms of expression, along with the human voice? The deep bum-bum, bum-bum, bum-bum ~ tap-tap-tap, ting-ting, ting-ting, ting-ting. And the voice aaaaouhhh, aaaaouhhh, eeeyyy, eyyyhhhh. The human voice that can take on many different levels and resonances of our beings and put us in touch with our other voices—our raw creaturely voice, the elemental voice.
I’m listening to Babatunde Olatundji’s Healing Session: Traditional African Meditation Music, as I type this. Mornings always begin with some type of meditative music to ease my spirit into the day.
But then I found this video of one of Baba's celebratory songs. And my imagination jumps right in with the people, I take a drum, drum myself out, dance, dance, dance! I’m swirling in joy!
Baba Olatunji & his Drums of Passion - Akiwowo
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About Rebbecca
I love to write, to express, to explore. Mostly I journal; and if something moves me, I try to capture it in a poem. I live in the East Bay; enjoy reading, writing, cooking; being in nature; walking; and riding my bike.
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Rebbecca’s Favorite Books
Demian, Siddhartha, The death of Ivan Ilyich, Barrabbas, Being Peace, Writing Down the Bones
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You are very true Rebb,drum
You are very true Rebb,drum sound is the oldest sound of music and very much resembles with the sound produced by human vocal cord.
Hi Dr. Jitu, thank your for
Hi Dr. Jitu, thank your for your comments. It would be most interesting to go back to the first moment in time that someone picked up a piece of bark or something and began making music and began making all sorts of sounds. All languages that are foreign to my ears are a type of music.
Love what you say
and the video clip is so full of life and energy!
Here's one of the Japanese Kodo drummers for you.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=thQ1VAyJWHw
Very raw. Really gets the heart pounding and the blood flowing. :)
Hi Ryoma, Wow! Thanks so
Hi Ryoma, Wow! Thanks so much for sharing the Japanese Kodo drummers. They are amazing! I've always been fascinated with Japanese architecture and I know nothing of it except what I see with my eyes. When I see these drummers, the sparseness, the precision and the symmetry, blacks and whites, and the natural colors of the drums, the lines, all set against the blackness, it all adds to my overall experience in such a wonderful way.
Hope you don't mind
but here is another link, gives a broader view of what they do.
I saw a documentary about them, too many years ago to mention. It was fascinating, it showed them living and training as a community. In many ways, it reminded me of my Karate school days, where it was a boarding school, training 4 hours a day, six days a week, living and breathing the art. The Kodo drummers appeared to live and train in almost an identical way. very interesting stuff. :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NOUi5fDm0KE
Thanks for sending me on a
Thanks for sending me on a journey with the Kodo drummers. It appears that they use every part of their body when they drum. An art form and a great discipline. Thanks again! :)