ensemble
The royal hartigan ensemble plays original and historic compositions in the
African American tradition. We adapt elements of world cultures into our
playing, including Indian solkattu rhythms and tala (time
cycles); Javanese gamelan structures; Philppine kulintang
ensemble instruments and timbres, Turkish usul and hand drum techniques;
Gaelic bodhran rhythms, Native American songs; West African
instruments, melodies, and rhythms; African American clapping plays, camp
meeting shouts, and New Orleans rhythms.
Our music is a vehicle to express the spirit of the African American
heritage and the musics of the world, who we are, and what we have been given
from our ancestors.
We do lecture-demonstrations and workshops as well
as concerts. You can contact us at the address, telephone, or fax listed in my
vita biography section.
Our double-compact disc Blood Drum Spirit
is released on Transparent Records, and produced by John Hilton of Virtual
Studios of Albany, N.Y. Its liner notes below define our style.
We have also created a video, Eve, with the people of Kopeyia
and Tsiame villages in Ghana's Volta Region, and the people of the Arts Center
in Ghana's capital city, Accra. This work shows the transcendance of African
peoples despite the suffering and cruelty from external forces. It is produced
by John Hilton and John Rafalak of Virtual Studios.
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for scheduling workshops, residencies, lectures, and
performances, contact us at the royal
hartigan