Talking Drums
Maxwell Amoh, gankogui, royal hartigan, drumset, Freeman Kwadzo Donkor, sogo
I began my life hearing my uncle Ray Hart and my mother Hazel Hartigan tap dancing. Ray danced with Bill Robinson, Peg Leg Bates, the Step Brothers, the Nicholas Brothers, and the Hines Brothers. I started tapping at 3 years of age and felt the whole world through the sound of my taps on wood floors and bakelite mats. At 8 years I started playing piano and drums, listening to Errol Garner, Duke Ellington, Dave Brubeck, Thelonious Monk, and Oscar Peterson. I joined a drum corps at age 11, and shortly after added drumset to my studies. Since those early years drumming, dance, and piano have been a way to understand and express life and things beyond music.
I have studied drumset with Clifford Adams, Lenny McBrowne, Clifford Jarvis, Max Roach, and Edward Blackwell. I learned piano from Hazel Slater, John Galletly, and John Talarico. My tap dancing comes from my uncle Ray Hart and my mother Hazel Clark Gay Hartigan.
Since the early 1970s I have felt rhythms and time in many patterns from observing nature and through dreams: three or four layers at once, as in an African dance drumming ensemble; playing on different sides of the beat, as in Javanese gamelan; and time cycles of 5, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 17, 23, and so on, beats, similar to the tala (time cycles) found in India. Also, playing groups of uneven beats, with some longer than others, and beats with subdivisions of 5, 7, or other groupings. For me it is important to play these approaches in a way which is natural from feeling and not mathematical, so that the sound swings in whatever idiom I am playing: bebop, funk, blues, gospel, reggae, hip-hop, West African, Afro-Latin, free, experimental, or cross cultural styles. My musical home is the African American tradition with a focus on jazz, so my drumset work centers on extending rhythm and time concepts without a repeating literal beat, flowing over any time cycle in the same way Elvin Jones or Jack DeJohnette make time flow.
My work at UMass Amherst from 1972-74 and 1978-81 with Roland Wiggins, Archie Shepp, Fred Tillis, Reggie Workman, Horace Clarence Boyer, and Max Roach showed me the importance of knowing the entire span of African American musical heritage, from African drumming, 17th -19th century plantation music, hollers, shouts, clapping plays, Blues, Ragtime, and Church music, through the early styles of Fletcher Henderson, Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, and Count Basie, to the later innovations of Charlie Parker, John Coltrane, Ornette Coleman, and Sun Ra. My teachers stressed the necessity of understanding the history and social conditions out of which the music has been created.
At Wesleyan University I worked with master musicians from Indonesia, India, Africa, China, and African America, with Edward Blackwell showing me the heritage of the drumset, and William Barron and William Lowe continuing my work in African American culture and history. For 12 years I lived in the sounds of Javanese gamelan, South Indian solkattu, and West African drumming and dance. I found a connection with the music of each culture and brought it home to the drumset.
The meaning of my work is to experience the essence of each culture through its drumming tradition, to play each with integrity, and to connect those realities with the African American jazz drumset. Through these sounds I reach beyond the veil of time, space, and thought to express life in another dimension,The meaning of my work is to experience the essence of each culture through its drumming tradition, to play each with integrity, and to connect those realities with the African American jazz drumset. Through these sounds I reach beyond the veil of time, space, and thought to express life in another dimension, one that connects us all to ourselves, each other, the natural environment, ancestors, a spirit world, and the creator.
As Baby Dodds said, 'Drumming is spirit.' I work to give my blood through the drum to share that spirit.
some performances and other musical activities, drumset and world percussion unless otherwise noted
Fall 2008
1) Release of compact disc by saxophonist and composer Rudresh Mahanthappa entitled Dakshina. The ensemble included cross-cultural styles combining traditional South Indian Karnatak music and African American jazz, with Indian saxophonist Kadri Gopalnath, violinist A. Kanyakumari, and mridangam drummer Poovalur Srinivasan. I performed drumset with guitarist Rez Abassi, bassist Carlo De Rosa, and saxophonist Mr. Mahanthappa.
2) Our Kekeli African Music and Dance Ensemble performed at numerous events in New England. These included a U. S. Peace Corps benefit for a Mauritanian agricultural project and the Westport Winery, Westport, MA, on 13 September, a student memorial at Marion, MA, beach on 14 September, an Israeli Sukkah festivity for the UMD Hillel organization on the campus quadrangle on 16 October, a UMD Bioneer activity in support of a conference on sustainability outside the Zeiterion Theater in New Bedford, MA, on 23 October, the UMD Discovery Day at the CVPA building on 14 November, an international evening of music at the Brooklyn Coffee and teahouse in Providence, RI, on the evening of 14 November, and the fall Kekeli African music and dance concert with master artists Kwabena Boateng and Kobena Adzenyah for the campus and southeastern Massachusetts community in the UMD main auditorium on 9 December.
3) Rehearsed and performed new music in the African American, Asian American, and experimental traditions with the Fred Ho Afro Asian Music Ensemble at the Brooklyn Academy of Music Café, Brooklyn, NY; rehearsals 9 and 10 October, concert 10 October.
4) Rehearsed and performed in the African and African American traditions with master drummer Abraham Kobena Adzenyah and saxophonist Paul Austerlitz at the International Conference of the Society for Ethnomusicology. The African music was the Kete royal court music of the Asante people of Ghana with Adzenyah’s ensemble and the African American/West African performance was Paul Austerlitz’ composition One Peace with Professors Austerlitz and Adzenyah. Both performances took place at Crowell Concert Hall, Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT, 26 October 2008.
5) Gave a presentation, ‘The African Sound in Village Traditions, Highlife, and Jazz’ at the International Conference of the Society for Ethnomusicology, Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT, 28 October 2008.
6) Rehearsed and performed new music in the African American, Asian American, and experimental traditions with the Fred Ho Afro Asian Music Ensemble at Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN; rehearsals on 31 October, concert on 1 November.
7) Rehearsed and performed percussion with Chinese guzheng zither artist Weihua Zhang at an evening of international music at the Brooklyn Coffee and Teahouse in Providence, RI, on 14 November.
8) Rehearsed, performed, and did an ensemble workshop of music in the African American, Asian American, and experimental traditions with the Fred Ho Afro Asian Music Ensemble at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI; workshop 20 November, rehearsals 20 and 21 November, concert, 22 November.
9) Our UMass Dartmouth Javanese gamelan is led by Indonesian master artist I. M. Harjito, with guest artists Srihadeni Harjito (vocal) and Triwik Harjito (dance). We presented a concert of traditional Indonesian Javanese music on 10 December in CVPA room 104. We performed the traditional pieces Gangsaran Kagok Liwang, sléndro pathet manyura, Ladrang Mugirahayu, sléndro pathet manyura, Lancaran Jangkrik Genggong, sléndro pathet sanga, Ladrang Bribil, sléndro pathet sanga, Ladrang Asmarandana, sléndro pathet manyura, with dance, and Lancaran Sembunggilang, sléndro pathet manyura.
10) Rehearsed and recorded new music in the African American, Asian American, and experimental traditions with the Fred Ho Afro Asian Music Ensemble in New York; rehearsals at Carroll Studios, Manhattan, 14-16 December; recording at Systems Two Studios, Brooklyn, 17 December.
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Winter December 2008/Early 2009
1) On our field research trip to Mampong town, Asante region, Ghana, West Africa, I transcribed and analyzed traditional drum, bell and rattle patterns and dance movements for future use in my publications on African music and dance, as well as by UMD students and faculty. We also completed a video recording of our research for sharing with the UMD community. The work centered on four of the eight sections from the Asante royal court music known as Kete, named Abofoo,, Dabrebua, Adaban, and Takyiman, as well as the Adowa funeral dance drumming. Our teachers included Kwabena Boateng, Kwesi Daniel Annan Sackey, Kwaku Ernest Dumfe, and Kofi John Boame.
2) Adapted traditional African drum and dance pieces for drumset, including the Asante royal court music known as Kete, focusing on its sections named Abofoo,, Dabrebua, Adaban, and Takyiman as well as Adowa. Westport, MA, 24-25 January.
3) Did proof read and revisions of design, audio, video, images, and photographs, for my updated website, www.royalhart.com, Westport, MA, December 18-20, 27-30, and January 24.
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Spring 2009
1) Our Kekeli African Music and Dance Ensemble performed at numerous events in New England, including a Night of Percussion at Somerset High School on 27 February, the CVPA Open House on 3 April, a Church Youth Group workshop at UMass Dartmouth on 5 April, UMD music major student recitals on 7 and 26 April, outreach at a Dartmouth High School night of World Music on 16 April, a New Bedford Public schools Youth Summit on 17 April, the UMD outdoor sculpture opening outside the UMass Dartmouth CVPA building on 23 April, a day of African music and dance at Bridgewater State University on 27April, the UMD graduation ceremonies outside near the amphitheater and at the CVPA building on 23 and 24 May, as well as our spring concert with master artists Kwabena Boateng and Kobena Adzenyah in New Bedford as part of the outdoor AHA! New Bedford arts and culture celebration on 14 May.
2) Reconstructed my website www.royalhart.com with added text, video, audio, photos, images, and design with Andrew Bourne of Bourne Designs, via email and telephone from Westport, MA, 5-7, 12-14, 20-21, 24, 28, and 30 March, 4 April, 1-4 May.
3) Performed music in the African American tradition with UMass Dartmouth (UMD) faculty: vocalist Marcelle Gauvin, pianist John Harrison, Chinese erhu violinist Wang Jing, and guest artist contrabassist David Zinno, as part of the Music Department’s Recital series, CVPA recital hall, 12 March.
4) Performed music in the African American tradition with Pianist Frank Wilkins, saxophonist Stan Strickland, and contrabassist David Zinno at the Fish Monger performance space, Woods Hole, MA, 25 March.
5) Our UMD Javanese gamelan, led by master artist I. M. Harjito, and guest artists Srihadeni and Triwik Harjito, presented a concert of traditional Indonesian Javanese music on 7 May that included ladrang Pucung, ladrang Diradameta, ladrang Bayangkari, lancaran Rondha Malam, Srepegan Pinjalan, and ladrang Gunungsari (with dance) at the UMD CVPA room 104 space.
6) Performed music in the African American tradition with saxophonist and composer David Bindman’s ensemble in his premier of Tales of a Time Traveler suite, with rehearsals on 8 May, Brooklyn, NY, 15 May, New York, NY, 16 May, and the concert at the Spoke the Hub Performance Space, Brooklyn, NY, 17 May.
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Summer 2009
Asian Cultural Council Research Grant and Performance Activities - Summer 2009
Departure on 11 June Boston, MA, through New York, Seoul, Korea, to Manila, Philippines, arrival on Friday 12 June.
Week of 15-21 June: planning research activities with Grace Nono, UP Collegio ng Musika Dean Ramon Acoymo, Profs. Verne dela Pena, Esteban Villaruz, Kanapia Kalanduyan, Aga Mayo Butocan, and Tusa Montes; setting up logistics for workshop in African music and dance at the University of the Philippines; introductory session with Tusa Montes Wednesday 17 June.
Saturday 20 June, drumset, dance, and piano adaptations of indigenous Maguindanaon song melodies, gong and drum rhythms, 2-6:30 pm, percussion studio.
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Week of 22-28 June: arranging for lessons and general study with master artists Profs. Kanapia Kalanduyan and Aga Mayo Butocan (southern Maguindanao and Marano Palabunibunyan /Kulintang traditions), and Malou Matute (northern Kalinga traditions), as well as Tusa Montes (kulintang); review of traditional instrumental rhythmic patterns in the southern and northern ensembles.
Monday 22 June, African music and dance workshop 2-6 pm Abelardo Concert Hall (ACH) Stage.
Wednesday 24 June session with Tusa Montes, 4-7 pm, museum room.
Thursday-Saturday. 25-27 June, rhythmic adaptations, 10 am-1 pm, ACH percussion room.
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Week of 29 June-3 July:
29 June-1 July, each day, rhythmic adaptations, 10 am-12 noon, ACH percussion room
Monday 29 June, African music and dance workshop 2-6 pm Abelardo Concert Hall (ACH) Stage.
Tuesday 30 June, lessons/interviews with Malou Matute in Kalinga traditions (tongatong bamboo tubes) 2:30-3:30 pm, room 221; and Kanapia Kalanduyan in Maguindanao kulintang traditions (Duyug, Sinulog, Tidtu a Kamamatuan rhythmic modes) 5:30-7 pm, museum room.
Wednesday 1 July, session with Tusa Montes 4-7 pm, museum room.
Thursday 2 July, session with Prof. Tusa Montes and advanced student Jinggoy Balane in dabakan drum, babandir timeline gong, agung deep gong, and kulintang melodic gong set, 12 noon-1:30 pm, ACH.
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Week of 6-12 July:
6-10 July, each day, rhythmic adaptations, 10 am-12 noon, ACH percussion room
Monday 6 July, African music and dance workshop 2-6 pm Abelardo Concert Hall (ACH) Stage; meeting with Asian Cultural Council representative Ms. Teresa Rances, 7:30 pm.
Tuesday 7 July, lessons/interviews with Malou Matute in Kalinga traditions (tongatong bamboo tubes) 2:30-3:30 pm, room 221; Kanapia Kalanduyan in Maguindanao kulintang traditional, (Duyug and Binalig rhythmic modes) 5:30-7pm, museum room.
Wednesday 8 July, session with Tusa Montes 4-7 pm, museum room.
Friday 10 July, session with Prof. Tusa Montes and advanced student Jinggoy Balane in dabakan drum, babandir timeline gong, agung deep gong, and kulintang melodic gong set, 4-7 pm, museum room.
Saturday 11 July, adaptation of traditional Kalinga and Maguindanao rhythms to drumset and percussion, 10 am-1 pm, ACH percussion room.
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Week of 13-19 July:
13-19 July, each day, rhythmic adaptations, 10 am-12 noon, ACH percussion room
Monday 13 July, African music and dance workshop 2-6 pm Abelardo Concert Hall (ACH) Stage.
Tuesday 14 July, lessons/interviews with Malou Matute in Kalinga traditions (tongatong bamboo tubes) 2:30-3:30 pm, room 221; and Kanapia Kalanduyan in Maguindanao kulintang traditions (in the Binalig rhythmic mode, the Apad musical gong language style on the gandingan gong set, and the Tagonggo rhythmic mode) 5:30-7:15 pm, museum room.
Wednesday 15 July, session with Tusa Montes 4-7 pm, museum room.
Friday 17 July, session with Prof. Tusa Montes, advanced student Jinggoy Balane in dabakan drum, babandir timeline gong, agung deep gong, and kulintang melodic gong set, and advanced students, contrabassist Paolo Alcantara and saxophonist Roberto Gonzalo Sarreal 4-6 pm, museum room. As an outgrowth of our research, this group of faculty, students, and I began the Barikata kulintang jazz ensemble to further explore cross-cultural compositional and performance possibilities with indigenous kulintang and African American jazz traditions. We developed a multi-sectional composition with improvisation based on the Binalig rhythmic mode of the Maguindanaon people.
Saturday 18 July, adaptation of traditional Kalinga and Maguindanao rhythms to drumset and percussion, 10 am-12 noon, ACH percussion room; and rehearsal with vocalist Skarlet, in adapting indigenous melodies for vocal jazz, 1-3 pm, Ten-02 Performance Space, Timog Avenue.
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Week of 20-26 July:
20-26 July, each day, rhythmic adaptations, 10 am-12 noon, ACH percussion room
Monday 20 July, African music and dance workshop 2-6 pm Abelardo Concert Hall (ACH) Stage.
Tuesday 21 July, lessons/interviews with Malou Matute in Kalinga traditions (patteteg bamboo tubes) 2:30-3:30 pm, room 221; and Kanapia Kalanduyan in Maguindanao kulintang traditions (in the Sinulog a Kamamatuan and Sinulog a Kangugudan rhythmic modes) 6-7:15 pm, museum room.
Wednesday 22 July, session with Tusa Montes 4-7 pm, museum room.
Friday 24 July, session with Prof. Tusa Montes, advanced student Jinggoy Balane, in dabakan drum, babandir timeline gong, agung deep gong, and kulintang melodic gong set as well as their adaptations to contemporary musical styles, including the Barikata kulintang jazz ensemble that also included contrabassist Paolo Alcantara and saxophonist Roberto Gonzalo Sarreal. We developed a multi-sectional composition with improvisation based on the Sinulog a Kamamatuan rhythmic mode of the Maguindanaon people, 4-7 pm, museum room.
Saturday 25 July, adaptation of traditional Kalinga and Maguindanao rhythms to drumset and percussion, 10 am -1 pm, ACH percussion room. Rehearsal with vocalist Skarlet, in adapting indigenous melodies for vocal jazz, 6:30-8:30 pm, Ten-02 Performance Space, Timog Avenue.
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Week of 27 July-2 August:
27 July-1 August, each day, rhythmic adaptations, 10 am-12 noon, ACH percussion room
Monday 27 July, African music and dance workshop 2-6 pm Abelardo Concert Hall (ACH) Stage.
Tuesday 28 July, lessons/interviews with Malou Matute in Kalinga traditions (patteteg bamboo tubes) 2:30-3:30 pm, room 221; and Kanapia Kalanduyan in Maguindanao kulintang traditions (in the Tidtu a Kamatuan and Tidtu a Kangugudan rhythmic modes) 5:30-7:15 pm, museum room.
Wednesday 29 July, session with Tusa Montes 4-7 pm, museum room.
Thursday 30 August, workshop, demonstration, and concert in African American jazz traditions music and dance with the royal hartigan jazz ensemble, including contrabassist Simon Tan, pianist Joey Quirino, and saxophonists Joey de Guzman and Tots Tolentino, and percussionist royal hartigan, University of Santo Tomas, 5th floor, Education Building, España, Manila, 4-7 pm.
Friday 31 July, session with Prof. Tusa Montes, advanced student Jinggoy Balane, in dabakan drum, babandir timeline gong, agung deep gong, and kulintang melodic gong set as well as their adaptations to contemporary musical styles, 4-7 pm, museum room.
Saturday 1 August, adaptation of traditional Kalinga and Maguindanao rhythms to drumset and percussion, 10 am-1 pm, ACH stage. Rehearsal with vocalist Skarlet, in adapting indigenous melodies for vocal jazz, 4-7 pm, Ten-02 Performance Space, Timog Avenue.
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Week of 3-9 August:
3-7 August, each day, rhythmic adaptations, 10 am-12 noon, ACH percussion room
Monday 3 August, African music and dance workshop 2-6 pm Abelardo Concert Hall (ACH) Stage.
Tuesday 4 August, lessons/interviews with Malou Matute in Kalinga traditions (tongatong and patteteg bamboo tubes) 2:30-3:30 pm, room 221; and Kanapia Kalanduyan in Maguindanao kulintang traditions (in the Tagonggo and Binalig Apad rhythmic modes) 5:30-7:15 pm, museum room.
Wednesday 5 August, session with Tusa Montes 4-7 pm, museum room.
Friday 7 August, session with Prof. Tusa Montes, advanced student Jinggoy Balane, in dabakan drum, babandir timeline gong, agung deep gong, and kulintang melodic gong set as well as their adaptations to contemporary musical styles, including the Barikata kulintang jazz ensemble that also included contrabassist Paolo Alcantara and saxophonist Roberto Gonzalo Sarreal. We developed a multi-sectional composition with improvisation based on the Tagonggo rhythmic mode of the Maguindanaon people, 4-7 pm, museum room.
Saturday 8 August, video recording of traditional Maguindanao ensemble music with master artists Aga Mayo Butocan, Kanapia Kalanduyan, and their kulintang ensemble, 9 am-4 pm, and its rhythmic adaptation for drumset, 4-6 pm, with assistance by Prof. Tusa Montes and advanced student Jinggoy Balane, ACH.
Sunday 9 August, playing, transcription, and analysis of recorded indigenous music, ACH stage, 12 noon-3 pm; Balay Kalinaw, 8-11pm.
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Week of 10-16 August:
10-14 August, each day, rhythmic adaptations, 10 am-12 noon, ACH percussion room
Monday 10 August, African music and dance workshop 2-6 pm Abelardo Concert Hall (ACH) Stage.
Tuesday 11 August, rehearsal/analysis of Barikata kulintang jazz ensemble compositions and arrangements of Binalig, Sinulog a Kamamatuan, and Tagonggo Maguindanaon rhythmic modes with Prof. Kanapia Kalanduyan, 1-2 pm, museum room; lessons and interviews with Malou Matute in Kalinga traditions (tongatong and patteteg bamboo tubes) 2:30-3:30 pm, room 221.
Wednesday 12 August, session with Tusa Montes 4-7 pm, museum room.
Thursday 13 August, rehearsal/analysis of Barikata kulintang jazz ensemble compositions and arrangements of Binalig, Sinulog a Kamamatuan, and Tagonggo Maguindanaon rhythmic modes with Prof. Aga Mayo Butocan, 12:30-1:30 pm, museum room; workshop demonstration in African music and dance with the UP Kekeli African Music and Dance Ensemble, University of Santo Tomas, 5th floor, Education Building, España, Manila, 4-7 pm.
Friday 14 August, session with Prof. Tusa Montes, advanced student Jinggoy Balane, in dabakan drum, babandir timeline gong, agung deep gong, and kulintang melodic gong set as well as their adaptations to contemporary musical styles, including the Barikata kulintang jazz ensemble that also included contrabassist Paolo Alcantara and saxophonist Roberto Gonzalo Sarreal. We developed a multi-sectional composition with improvisation based on the Tidtu a Kamamatuan rhythmic mode of the Maguindanaon people, 4-7 pm, museum room.
Saturday 15 August, video recording of traditional Maguindanao ensemble music and its cross cultural adaptation, with the Barikata kulintang jazz ensemble, including master artists Aga Mayo Butocan and Kanapia Kalanduyan, percussionists Prof. Tusa Montes and advanced student Jinggoy Balane, contrabassist Paolo Alcantara, and saxophonist Roberto Gonzalo Sarreal, and percussionist royal hartigan, 9 am -6 pm, ACH. Asian Cultural Council representative Ms. Teresa Rances attended this recording activity and also did photography. Performance with Prof. Juan Cadiz’ jazz trio, Grande Villa, Quezon City, 10 pm-2 am.
Sunday 16 August, playing, transcription, and analysis of recorded indigenous music, ACH stage 1:30-7:30 pm; Bake Kalinaw, 10-11:30 pm.
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Week of 17-22 August:
17 and 19 August, each day, rhythmic adaptations, 10 are-12 noon, ACH percussion room.
Monday 17 August, African music and dance workshop 2-6 pm Abelardo Concert Hall (ACH) Stage; performance of the Barikata kulintang jazz ensemble (including master artists Aga Mayo Butocan and Kanapia Kalanduyan, percussionists Prof. Tusa Montes and advanced student Jinggoy Balane, contrabassist Paolo Alcantara, and saxophonist Roberto Gonzalo Sarreal, percussionist royal hartigan) at the Ten-02 Performance Space, Timog Avenue, 9:30 pm; percussion-vocal duo performance with vocalist Skarlet, 10:30 pm.
Tuesday 18 August, lecture/demonstration/recital of the Barikata kulintang jazz ensemble in traditional and contemporary cross cultural styles, 10 am-2 pm, ACH. Transcriptions of recorded indigenous and cross-cultural music, Balay Kalinaw, 8-10 pm.
Wednesday 19 August, concert of African music and dance with the UP Kekeli African music and dance ensemble, Ten-02 Performance Space, Timog Avenue, Quezon City, rehearsal 4-7 pm, concert 9 pm.
Thursday 20 August, concert in African American jazz traditions music with the royal hartigan jazz ensemble, including contrabassist Simon Tan, pianist Joey Quirino, and saxophonist Joey de Guzman, Abelardo Hall Auditorium, UP College of Music, Quezon City, 7 pm.
Friday 21 August, concert of African music and dance with the UP Kekeli African music and dance ensemble, Penguin Gallery and Performance Space, Remedios Street, Malate, Manila, 7 pm.
Saturday 22 August, Performance as drumset percussionist in traditional Maguindanaon and Kalinga rhythms with the Inner Dance ensemble, Agenda Performance Space, Cubao, 9 pm.
Sunday 23 August, playing, transcription, and analysis of recorded indigenous music, ACH stage 1:30-7:30 pm; Balay Kalinaw, 10-11:30 pm.
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Week of 24-31 August:
Monday 24 August, workshop in African music and dance for performing arts high school students and faculty, 2-3 pm; rehearsal, 3-6 pm, and concert with the UP Kekeli African music and dance ensemble, ACH, 7 pm.
Tuesday 25 August, concert of music in the African American jazz tradition with the royal hartigan jazz ensemble, including contrabassist Simon Tan, pianist Ria Osorio, saxophonist Joey de Guzman, percussionist royal hartigan, and guest artists poet Cookie Tuason and dancer Tapati, Penguin Gallery and Performance Space, Remedios Street, Malate, 10 pm.
Wednesday 26 August, concert of music in the African American jazz tradition with the royal hartigan jazz ensemble, including contrabassist Simon Tan, pianist Joey Quirino, saxophonists Joey de Guzman and Tots Tolentino, percussionist royal hartigan, and guest artist percussionist Toni Bernardo, Ten-02 Performance Space, Timog Avenue, 10 pm.
Friday 28 August, demonstration-performance: New Concepts in Drumset Performance, 11 am-1 pm, and Ensemble Performance. 1:30-3:30 pm Abelardo Hall Auditorium, UP College of Music, Quezon City; rehearsal for advanced student Jinggoy Balane recital, including indigenous Maguindanaon and Kalinga traditions, cross cultural adaptations, 4-6:30 pm; recital 7:30 pm, Abelardo Concert Hall Auditorium.
Saturday 29 August, departure from Manila through Seoul, Korea, to New York and Boston; transcription and analysis of indigenous kulintang styles – Duyug, Sinulog a Kamamatuan, Tidtu a Kamamatuan, Binalig, Apad gong language in Binalig, Sinulog a Kangugudan, Tidtu a Kangugudan, and Tagonggo, in flight.
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My goal is to find funding support to continue research in indigenous Philippine Maguindanaon kulintang and Kalinga traditions and their cross cultural adaptation toward publication of a book with text, notations, photographs, and DVD. This would include field trips to southern Mindanao and the northern Cordillera Mountains to video record the music and dance in its cultural context.
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Fall 2009
1) Rehearsed music in the African American, cross cultural, and new music traditions with composer/saxophonist Fred Ho, UMass Dartmouth, 25-27 September.
2) Worked on Philippine traditional music transcriptions from my Asian Cultural Council fellowship in summer 2009, including notational, textual, video, and audio editing, transfer, and arrangement for composition, performance, and research, 1-2 September.
3) Reviewed and redeveloped the text, photos, and videos at my websites at www.royalhart.com and www.blooddrumspirit.com for music research and performance, 8-11 September, 13-17 October, 29-30 November, 5, 6, 18, 22, 28-30 December.
4) Our Kekeli African Music and Dance Ensemble performed at numerous events in the southeastern Massachusetts community region during fall 2009. These included a Diversity Day in Plymouth, MA on 13 September; workshops in African music and dance with master artist Kwabena Boateng for the UMD Spotlight program for high school youth in the UMD Main auditorium on 17 September, 15, 22, and 29 October and 5 November in CVPA 104; a Hillel Sukkah celebration at the UMD quadrangle on 5 October; a Music Department/CVPA Thursday Recital Series concert on 15 October, a student memorial at Marion, MA, beach on 25 October; an Art Education national conference on 14 November in the CVPA, the fall 2009 Kekeli concert for the campus and southeastern Massachusetts community, and featuring master artists Kwabena Boateng and Kobena Adzenyah, in the UMD main auditorium on 8 December, and guest artists at the Brown University (RI) fall concert of African music and dance at Brown’s Orwig Hall on 9 December
5) Led a Northeast tour with my blood drum spirit ensemble, performing at the Pittsfield/Berkshire, MA, Jazz Festival on 7 October, the New Bedford AHA! Festival on 8 October, Michael Anthony’s Performance Space in Jersey City, NJ, on 9 October, Spillin’ the Beans performance space in Troy, NY, on 10 October, and the Friends Meeting House in Northampton, MA, on 11 October.
6) Presented an interactive music/visual art collaboration with Javanese Gamelan, African American Jazz, and African music and dance, ‘Arts Expression in a Connected Galaxy’ at the Massachusetts Art Educators Association Conference at UMass Dartmouth, College of Visual and Performing Arts room 104, 14 November.
7) Applied and received a UMD CTE Travel grant for to give a presentation on world music in the classroom at San Francisco State University, in March 2010; application awarded 13 November 2009.
8) Analyzed compositions and arrangements in order to develop a percussion part for a concert at the Brooklyn Academy of Music and subsequent recording with Fred Ho’s 20–piece Green Monster Big Band, 10-13 and 16-20 November, 28-31 December.
9) Rehearsed with alto saxophonist Bobby Zankel for upcoming concert performances, Philadelphia, PA, 27 November.
10) Performed a jazz piano concert for senior citizens at the Haverford Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Havertown, PA, 28 November.
11) Our UMD Javanese gamelan ensemble presented a concert of traditional Indonesian Javanese music on 2 December in CVPA room 104. We performed the traditional pieces Ladrang Eling-Eling, Ketawang Sri Kacaryan, Lancaran Bindri, Ladrang Asmarandana, and an original composition, Piece for Chinese Erhu and Gamelan, with UMD Music professor Wang Jing as guest erhu (two string violin) soloist.
12) Rehearsed music in the African American tradition centering on saxophonist/composer John Coltrane’s classic suite A Love Supreme with faculty colleagues, saxophonist Richard Britto and bassist Wes Brown, CVPA room 106, 17 December.
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Winter/Spring 2010
1) Continued design redevelopment of my websites at www.royalhart.com and www.blooddrumspirit.com for music research and performance, 5-7, 12-15, and 17 January.
2) Worked on the percussion parts I developed in the fall for a concert at the Brooklyn Academy of Music and subsequent recording with Fred Ho’s 20-piece Green Monster Big Band, 5-18 January.
3) Arranged a tour for my blood drum spirit ensemble to Vermont to take place in late February.
4) Rehearsed with bassist Aaron Charles Sherraden at Looming Studios, 19 January; with Fred Ho’s Green Monster Big Band at the Complete Music Studio, 20-22 January, performed in concert with the Green Monster Big Band at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, 23 January, and recorded with the ensemble at Systems two Studios 24 January, all in Brooklyn, NY.
5) Our Kekeli African Music and Dance Ensemble performed at numerous events in New England during spring 2010. These included a benefit honoring the people of Haiti at the UMD main auditorium on 28 January, a Chinese Lunar New Year celebration at the UMD main auditorium on 13 February, a performance as part of my Chancellor’s colloquium presentation at Woodland Commons on 2 March, a workshop at Our Sister’s School in new Bedford, MA, on 3 March, a benefit for Cameroon women at the United Methodist of Westport on 5 March, A UMD Haitian Student Organization One World Festival at the UMD Main Auditorium on 3 April, an African Students festival at the UMD Main Auditorium on 10 April, a senor student recital on 25 April in the CVPA Recital Hall, and our concert as part of the AHA! New Bedford festival at the Zeiterion Theater in New Bedford on 13 May, led by master artists Kwabena Boateng and Kwaakye Obeng. Kekeli also performed at the UMD graduation at the campus quadrangle on 22 and 23 May.
6) Updated the text content, photos, and videos for my websites at www.royalhart.com and www.blooddrumspirit.com for music research and performance, 30-31 January.
7) Rehearsed new compositions with pianist and guitarist Matthew Allen, North Dartmouth, MA, 30 January.
8) Completed editing, transfer, and analysis of my summer 2009 research in the Philippines, North Dartmouth, MA, 30 January, 15-17 February, and 6-7 March, for student, faculty and community use.
9) Rehearsed music in the African American tradition centering on saxophonist/composer John Coltrane’s classic suite A Love Supreme with faculty colleagues, pianist Andy Mcwain, saxophonist Richard Britto and bassist Wes Brown, CVPA rooms 211 and 217, 28 January, 4, 11, 18 February, and 4 March.
10) Rehearsed new compositions with Chinese erhu (two stringed violin) artist and faculty colleague Wang Jing, CVPA room 211 and 217, and North Dartmouth, MA, 29 January, 26 March.
11) Gave a lecture/demonstration/performance on the adaptations of world music elements into African American traditions for students and faculty at the Berklee College of Music, Boston, MA, 12 February.
12) Led a Northeast tour with my blood drum spirit ensemble, conducting workshops and presenting concerts at the Long Trail School in Dorset, VT, on 24 and 25 February, the Bennington Center for the Arts, 25 February, and Saint Michael’s College on 26 and 27 February.
13) Gave a UMD Chancellor’s colloquium presentation focusing on African music, dance, and culture, and its parallels in the African American traditions at Woodland Commons on 2 March.
14) Performed music in the African American tradition centering on saxophonist/composer John Coltrane’s classic suite A Love Supreme with faculty colleagues, pianist Andy Mcwain, saxophonist Richard Britto and bassist Wes Brown, CVPA recital hall room 153, 11 March.
15) Toured the San Francisco (CA) bay area, performing concerts at the Zoufounoun Performance Space in San Jose, CA, for Persian Television on 15 and 19 March; the Beach Chalet at Golden Gate Park on 16 March, San Francisco; San Jose State University, San Jose, on 17 March, giving a lecture and conducting a residency at San Francisco State University on 18 March; a concert at San Francisco State University and a workshop in African song, instrumental music, and dance at DeAnza College, Cupertino, CA, on 19 March, a concert of song, piano, and tap dance at the Rose Garden Senior Assisted Living Center, Vermont street, San Jose, CA, and a concert at the Roasting Company performance space, Willow Glen, CA on 20 March.
16) Performed with the Paul Nagel/Dave Zinno/royal hartigan jazz trio at the Fish Monger performance space, Woods Hole, MA, 23 March.
17) Led a residency for my blood drum spirit ensemble at UMass Dartmouth, 29 March – 2 April, working with students, faculty, staff, administrators, and community members. The activities included –
blood drum spirit ensemble residency schedule at UMass Dartmouth 29 March – 2 April 2010
Monday 29 March
10:30 – 11:30 am, open performance/interactive drawing with Prof. Stacey Latt-Savage and her Figure Drawing class, 3rd floor, Star Store.
2 pm – performance/interaction with Prof. Don Beal’s Figure Drawing class, CVPA 357
3 pm - performance/interaction with Prof. Ellen Watson’s Figure Drawing class, CVPA 360
3:30 pm - performance/interaction with Prof. Rick Creighton’s 3D Concepts class, CVPA 053
7:30 pm - performance at the Zeiterion Theater, Purchase Street, New Bedford: Adapting Traditional Elements of the Music of India into the African American Jazz Tradition, with Koyel Ghosal, sitar, blood drum spirit, performance and discussion, with members of the Center for Indic Studies
Tuesday 30 March 2010
Interactions/Concepts/Rehearsals in CVPA 104, open to all UMD and community members:
11 am – vocal styles with Prof. Marcelle Gauvin’s vocal class.
12:30 pm – UMD percussion studio with Prof. Jamie Eckert and senior Capstone class with Prof. Andrew McWain
2 pm – ensemble lunch with UMD students, faculty, staff and administration; African music, song, and dance with prof. royal hartigan and his African Dance and Song class.
3:30 pm – Jazz Theory and Improvisation with Prof. Andrew McWain’s class, and Prof. Jing Wang, Chinese erhu violin.
5 pm – African American and African traditions with prof. royal hartigan’s International Music and Song of Africa class
Wednesday 31 March 2010
11 am – interactive workshop with Prof. I.M. Harjito’s Javanese Gamelan class, CVPA 108
12 noon – interactive workshop with Prof. Jing Wang’s Electro-Acoustic Music class in Laptop and Electronic Music and Jazz, Electronic Music Studio, CVPA 221
4-6 pm – Open rehearsal and lecture/demonstration in new concepts in African American traditions for composition and improvisation, Gallery X, Williams Street, New Bedford
7:30 pm – concert as part of the Audible Think! Series at Gallery X
Thursday 1 April
11 am – Open rehearsal, Recital Hall, CVPA 153
12:30-1:45 – Concert for the CVPA/Music Department Recital Series, Recital Hall, featuring Jing Wang, erhu, Marcelle Gauvin, vocals, and Kwabena Boateng, dance
3:30 pm – Jazz Theory and Improvisation with Prof. Andrew McWain’s class, CVPA 104
5 pm - Adaptations of Traditional West African Music and Dance in New Contexts, with prof. royal hartigan’s and Prof. Kwabena Boateng’s International Music and Song of Africa class, CVPA 104
Friday 2 April
10:30 – 11:30 am - performance/interaction with Prof. Anthony Fisher’s Figure Drawing class, CVPA 360
Performance/interaction with poets, spoken word and hip-hop artists at Frederick Douglass Unity House:
1 pm - Prof. Mwalim Morgan Peters’ Literature of the Black Power Movement class: New World Griot
2 – 4 pm – Night Vision: Sounds, Space, and Time - Open Poetry Expressions of the Women’s Movement, 3rd Eye Unlimited, and Mwalim New World Griot
4 pm – Discussion/reception
6:30 – 8 pm, concert at the Symphony Music Shop, Route 6, Dartmouth, Massachusetts
Saturday 3 April
At CVPA Music Department, rooms 105 and 106:
12-2 pm – Open rehearsal of new arrangements for jazz improvisation
2-3:30 pm - Open rehearsal with students
3:30-4:30 pm – Open rehearsal with the UMD Kekeli African drum and dance ensemble
5 pm – Sound Check/run through with Kekeli ensemble and blood drum spirit ensemble, Nandom Bawa harvest music of the Dagara people of Ghana, West Africa, UMD Main Auditorium stage
5:30 pm – performance in Main Auditorium lobby, Bambaya dance drumming of the Dagbamba people of Ghana
6 pm – Bambaya procession to main stage; performance for the UMD Haitian Students’ One World Festival, UMD Main Auditorium
8 pm benefit concert for the New Bedford YWCA, Wamsutta Club, County Street, New Bedford, MA
Our blood drum spirit residency was made possible with the support of the UMD Provost’s Office, Cultural Affairs Committee of the Faculty Senate, Student Affairs Office, CVPA Dean’s Office, Music Department, Center for Indic Studies, Frederick Douglass Unity House, UMD Women’s Center, Maria Wong, UMD Print Shop, Audible Think! at Gallery X, Neil Weiss and Whaling City Sound, the Zeiterion Theater, and the Symphony Music Shop
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18) Had two of my double CDs, ancestors and blood drum spirit live in china, both Innova Recordings 2008, reviewed to critical acclaim by music critic Karl Ackerman at the www.allaboutjazz.com website.
19) Was awarded a Marion and Jasper Whiting Grant for research in indigenous music and travel in the Philippines during summer 2010, notification on 5 April.
20) Rehearsed at Looming Studios 21 April, and performed with the saxophonist Fred Ho’s Afro-Asian Music ensemble at Brooklyn College, Brooklyn, NY, 22 April.
21) Rehearsed with the David Bindman Sextet at Michiko Studios, Manhattan, NY, 23 April, and performed in concert at the Sunset Park Public Library, Brooklyn, NY, 24 April.
22) Performed with saxophonist Salim Washington, pianist Frank Wilkins, and bassist Wes Brown at the Cuban revolution performance space, providence, RI, 30 April.
23) Performed in concert with bassist David Zinno and pianist Matthew Richard at the Herbie King Memorial Scholarship Concert Series at the Symphony Music Shop, Dartmouth, MA, 2 May.
24) Our UMD Javanese gamelan ensemble presented a concert of traditional Javanese instrumental music, song, and dance with master artist I. M. Harjito and guest artists Srihadeni and Triwik Harjito at the UMD CVPA room 104 on 5 May.
25) Performed an Ancestors concert dedicated to our ancestors and departed loved ones to benefit the Hospice Care of the Berkshires and the Elizabeth Freeman Women’s Center, with my blood drum spirit ensemble, African dancer Kwabena Boateng, and the Price Memorial AME Zion Church Gospel Choir at the First Church Congregational, Pittsfield, MA, 9 May.
26) Rehearsed and performed in concert with the David Bindman Sextet at the Bay Ridge Public Library, Brooklyn, NY, 15 May.
27) Performed piano for senior citizens at the Haverford/Platinum Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Havertown, PA, 17 and 18 May.
28) Rehearsed with alto saxophonist Bobby Zankel at his studios on Cedar Street, Center City, Philadelphia, 17 May.
29) Awarded a UMD Healey Research grant for the Philippines during summer 2010, notification 20 May.
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Summer 2010
1) I conducted research in world music for publication, performance, composition, and teaching, focusing on two music cultures. From 26 May – 15 June my students from UMass Dartmouth and the Philippines joined me in a study trip to Mampong Town, Asante Region, Ghana, West Africa. This was led by master artist Kwabena Boateng., We continued our research, transcription, analysis, and performance from January 2009 in the Asante royal court dance drumming known as Kete. We worked on the Kete styles called Adaban, Abofoo, Dabrebua, Takyiman, Sumanquadu, Nantee, Kyipem, and Ohenetia. At the end of out time in Mampong Asante, we were invited and honored to perform Kete for the Mampong Chief at a Durbar (gathering for the chieftaincy and the court) at the Mampong Palace. I also analyzed these styles for adaptation to drumset and ensemble in the African American tradition, and this work continues. Materials developed from this research are used for UMass Dartmouth programs in learning and performance. Our Teachers were Kwabena Boateng and Okyere Daniel Yao.
2) I did research on the traditional music and dance of the Kalinga people of the northern Luzon mountains in the Philippines with the support of grants from the Marion and Jasper Whiting Foundation and the UMD Healey Endowment, from 18 June- 29 August. I worked with colleagues Bo Razon, Tusa Montes, Bai Gomez, Alex Tumapang, Oliver Gumowang, and other Kalinga artists to develop video, audio, textual, photographic, and music notational materials for publication, teaching/learning, composition, and performance. These materials are used in our UMD world music classes.
3) While in Asia, I performed in the Philippines with numerous ensembles, and Nagoya, Japan, with vibraphonist Hitomi Tonoka’s jazz ensemble.
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Fall 2010
1) Reviewed the Kete royal court music and dance from the Asante people of Ghana, West Africa; lead and support drumming and adaptations to the drumset in the African American tradition, 4, 10, 18, 25 September, and most Saturdays throughout the fall.
2) Performed traditional African music with the Kekeli ensemble for the UMass Dartmouth Carney Library opening, 7 September.
3) Helped arrange, assisted, and performed with master artist Kwabena Boateng of Ghana in a workshop in African music dance, and song for the UMD Spotlight Program for area high school youth, at the UMD main auditorium, 9 September, and CVPA room 104, 23, and 30 September, and 7 October.
4) Rehearsed music in the African American tradition with saxophonist and composer David Bindman and his sextet, in preparation for his recording on 2-3 October, at Michiko Studios, New York, NY, 11 and 12 September.
5) Performed traditional music with the Kekeli ensemble for the UMass Dartmouth Frederick Douglass Unity House open house, 15 September.
6) Arranged, did publicity, logistics, and preparations for a College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA) residency at UMD by Fred Ho, a New York-based revolutionary saxophonist, composer, arranger, bandleader, writer, poet, social activist and critic, cultural advocate, and author, 20-22 September. This included two performances, with Mr. Ho saxophone and poetry and royal hartigan, drumset and percussion. The residency schedule:
CVPA Lecture Series Fred Ho Residency
Monday 20 September
4 pm Frederick Douglass Unity House – Presentation: The Black Panther Suite; Poetry Performance with Fred Ho, poetry, and royal hartigan, percussion.
Tuesday 21 September
12:30 pm CVPA room 104 – Presentation: 21st Century Production Design and Big Band Epics
7 pm Star Store Lecture Hall, Purchase Street, New Bedford; Presentation: Revolutionary Production Design in Opera and Multimedia Video
Wednesday 22 September
12:30 pm UMD Main Library Browsing Area – Presentation: Future’s End: Revolution is the Only Solution, and it Must Be Luddite (Ecology, Capitalism, and Socialism)
7:30 pm Star Store Gallery, Purchase Street, New Bedford; Concert of music in the African American Tradition, with Fred Ho, saxophone, and royal hartigan, drumset and percussion
7) Included as drumset performer and percussionist in an Innova Recording Company CD release The NYFA Collection: 25 Years of New York New Music (2010), in saxophonist Fred Ho’s Afro Asian Music Ensemble, playing his compositions I Wor Kuen and No Home To Return To.
8) Performed traditional African music with the Kekeli ensemble at a National Park Service ceremony, downtown New Bedford, MA, 24 September.
9) Reviewed and updated my www.royalhart.com website with designer Andrew Bourne, 25-26 September.
10) Did a workshop in world music for students of Eastern Nazarene College at UMD, 27 September.
11) Performed African music with the Kekeli ensemble for a Haitian benefit concert at the UMD main auditorium, 28 September.
12) Rehearsed and recorded music in the African American tradition with saxophonist and composer David Bindman for his Tales of a Time Traveler CD, at the Systems Two Studios, Brooklyn, NY, 1-3 October.
13) Performed music in the African American tradition with pianist Andrew McCain and contrabassist Michael LaVoie at the Symphony Music Shop performance space, for the Herbie King Memorial Scholarship Fund, North Dartmouth, MA, 10 October.
14) Rehearsed music in the African American tradition with bassist David Zinno and pianist Paul Nagel, North Dartmouth, MA, 11 October.
15) Performed music in the African American tradition with saxophonist Jorrit Dijkstra and bassist Wes Brown for UMD Recital Series, 14 October.
16) Performed music in the African tradition with the Kekeli ensemble at Bascom Lodge, Mount Greylock, Adams, MA, 20 October.
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Selected Upcoming Events:
Kekeli African Music and Dance Ensemble concert, directed by Kwabena Boateng, at UMass Dartmouth, main auditorium, 7:30 pm, 11 December.
Recording and performances with saxophonist Fred Ho’s new composition Sweet Science Suite in honor of Muhammad Ali, with his Green Monster Big Band, New York, January 2011.
UMD Javanese Gamelan Ensemble spring concert, 4 May.
Kekeli African Music and Dance Ensemble spring concert at the AHA! New Bedford Festival, 12 May.
blood drum spirit ensemble concert as part of the Innova Recordings series at the Stone performance space, New York, NY, 19 May.
Performances with saxophonist Fred Ho’s Green Monster Big Band for his new composition Sweet Science Suite in honor of Muhammad Ali, at the Simon Guggenheim Museum, New York, NY, April 2011 and Brooklyn College, October 2011.
Recording with saxophonist Fred Ho’s composition Dragon vs. Eagle, Brooklyn, NY, May 2011.
