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1.
PERFORMANCES:
A unique
a cappella and traditional West African percussion presentation that features
vocals in four and five part harmony. Songs from Nigeria, Ghana, Cuba,
Brazil and the Americas along with Gospel and Children's Songs are
performed. Traditional West African Percussion instruments used include
sekere,
agogo (double
headed bell)
sakara drums and
sangba
drums/djundjun. A short explanation of each song and instrument is given.
Here, versatility is at its height as a widely diverse audience can be reached
through the material presented in this program.
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2. LECTURE-DEMO:
In this 60
minute presentation, the audience will be given 20 minutes of a
performance. The remaining 40 minutes will be used to inform the audience
about the history, technique and style of playing each instrument used in
the performance. In addition, the audience will be asked to participate
in playing the instruments. These workshops are designed for children
and adult audiences.
Universities
and Colleges are welcomed to extend this program into a workshop intensive
that ends with a traditional drumming circle.
"A
heart altering experience of rich harmonies and blood boiling rhythm, 'Voices
of Africa" inspired a five minute standing ovation in a performance that
ranks among the most brilliant I have seen in my ten years of concert
production."
"A heart
altering experience of rich harmonies and blood boiling rhythm, 'Voices of
Africa" inspired a five minute standing ovation in a performance that ranks
among the most brilliant I have seen in my ten years of concert
production."
Kelly
Conway, Lavender Underground Booking & Productions, Day Stage Producer,
National Women's Music Festival
"The "Voices Of Africa" performance was dynamic and moving.
I am so glad I caught the group in person. You have to see the
performance to experience it !!! Keep up the good work."
Shamili
Imani |
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3. CHILDREN'S AUDIENCES: In
this one hour program, children are directly addressed through the
content of the songs, dances, storytelling and music. The
children will be asked to participate in learning traditional songs and
games from the continent of Africa. This program is a must for
children everywhere. Included in this presentation is
a teaching element. The children will be informed of the origin
and meaning of the instruments, dances and songs used in
this program.
"Thank you.
You were very good. I want to be
like you and you all look decent. Your Music
is nice too. Africa must be a nice place.
You are the bomb! I don't know you that good but you are
the bomb! I know your music. I love you"
Anastasia Cole, Barry School, Rm 109, Philadelphia, PA"
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"The Ancestors Are Speaking" 4. AN A CAPPELLA MUSICAL. Playwright:
Adua Tacheampong, Musical Director. Born from the 3rd Annual
Benefit Concert, 2001, this moving production is a dramatization of the
African experience from the African Continent to the Americas. Many the
songs and percussion compositions were written by t he Ensemble.
Through the vehicle of a story being told to a young woman by
a Great Ancestor, it encourages the continued effort and need
for a disenfranchised people to be stalwart in their effort to
restore themselves to their traditional greatness. Here, the ENSEMBLE
displays creativity, artistry and professionalism in the
Theatrical Arts through dramatic presentation of storytelling,
songs and traditional West African percussions that span the
African Diaspora. |
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5. WORKSHOPS AND/OR RESIDENCIES: The ENSEMBLE
is available for on going workshop assignments. These workshops
would cover a wide range of specific West African Tradition sand
Cultures Topics and can be customized for use by any audience. They can
be held for several days and/or weeks in which case the ENSEMBLE would
teach songs, percussion rhythms and/or give instructions for the
playing of the traditional West African percussion instruments such as
the agogo bells,
sakara and
sangba drums and the making and playing of the traditional West African instrument called the
sekere (shay ka ray). |
To contact us:
"Voices
Of Africa"
Choral & Percussion Ensemble
104 Weymouth Road
Darby, PA 19023
Phone: 215-550-3337
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Check
out Testimonials!
"Voices Of
Africa"
Instruments
African
Percussion Sites |
www.voicesofafrica.net
info@voicesofafrica.net
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