Reel no. 73; IS-7 September 19, 1965, n.d.

Format:

Sound recording

Contributor:

Thieme, Darius L. (Darius Louis), 1928- contributor.

Adam Matthew Digital (Firm), digitiser.

Series:

16. Isundunrin (1965-1966)

Darius Thieme Collection

Language:

English

Genre:

Sound recordings.

Physical Description:

1 online resource.

Place of Publication:

n.d.

Marlborough, Wiltshire : Adam Matthew Digital, 2019.

System Details:

digital

optical

Summary:

Description: Scope/Content: Isundunrin: Dundun & Gangan music for Osogiyan [Obatala]; Awokunle (Iya'lu); Lawani (Omele); Ayanleke (Omele); Kekere (Gudu gudu)Description: Osagiyan is the name of an orisa (deity). It is a local variant of the orisa Obatala, who is known and followed throughout Yorubaland. Dundun are a family of stick-beaten, double-membrane, hourglass-shaped pressure drums. Tensioning thongs run along the length of the drum connecting the two heads. On the lead drum, iya'lu dundun, thongs are manipulated by hand to vary the pitch level. This flexibility allows the drummer to imitate the tones, timbres, and inflections of the Yoruba language (a three-tone language). For each of the supporting drums, known as omele isaaju (omele ako), omele ikehin (omele abo), and kerikeri (or aguda), the thongs are tied to produce a fixed pitch. The ensemble contains a primary support drum, the gudugudu or opon, that is constructed differently than the others. A bowl-shaped, single-membrane, fixed-pitched drum, it is considered by many to be the oldest and most sacred of the ensemble - sacrifice to Ayan, the deity of drumming, is made only over this member of the dundun family. Dundun is widely distributed across Yorubaland and may be used in virtually any social, religious, or ceremonial context. In situations of orisa (deity) worship, a dundun ensemble is often used as a substitute when sacred orisa drums are not readily available. Gangan are a family of hourglass-shaped, double-membrane, pressure drums that are viewed either as a sub-family of dundun pressure drums or a close relative thereof. Although widely distributed in Yorubaland, performers of gangan are far less common than those of dundun. Gangan may be employed in a wide range of social, ceremonial, and religious occasions. Today, however, gangan is favored by the elderly and is typically limited to certain religious ceremonies and for oriki recitation/praise singing. Although commonly mixed with members of the dundun family (see, e.g., OMR 046, side 1-02), the standard organization of the gangan family includes, in order of size, the gangan, adama (apala), and kanango. While the gangan typically plays a lead role (like the iyalu dundun) in the ensemble, other members of the family may do so as well. Furthermore, each of the drums has its own independent use as a solo and lead instrument. The gangan, for example, may be used to lead ensembles of various instruments (e.g., OMR017, side 1-01: gangan with sakara rattles; OMR062, side 1-01: gangan with ekutu and tioko) or for solo oriki recitation. The apala/adama is used in popular music such as apala (e.g., OMR008, side 1-02; OMR 011), juju (e.g., OMR032-OMR033), and highlife. It may also be used for solo recitation of oriki (*e.g., OMR 66, Side 1-01 for solo oriki on apala/adama). The kanango has in the past had a variety of uses, but is nowadays used primarily as a practice instrument by children or other novices (Thieme 1969: 57-93).

Participant:

Contributors: Darius Louis Thieme.

Notes:

Item number: 2005.09_067.

Includes updated metadata from Jesse Ruskin.Conserv. note: Digitized 2012-09-20 at 24bit/96khz. Staff note: Hand written liner notes included.

Description based on online resource (viewed on 17 January, 2022).

Access Restriction:

Restricted for use by site license.