2023 Online Program
Welcome to our concert!
🔘
Welcome to our concert! 🔘
Tonight’s Program
Djembe Diyamu
Group Members: Bettie Seitzer, Linda Swanson, Liz Lang, Solveig Englund, Katie Holt, and Sam Roehler
Led by Dan Engebretson
Playing a Medley of Three Rhythms: Dallah, Fakoli Djembe, and Inika Mamady
“Dallah” - a Malinke rhythm from Guinea. Traditionally this song was performed before fishing in a sacred pond where the community is only allowed to fish once a year after a ceremony conducted by the village shaman
“Fakoli Djembe” - a song dedicated to a great medicine man named Fakoli Kourouma who lived in the mid 1200s.
“Inika Mamady” - an original composition by Dan Engebretson. The title translates to “Thank you Mamady”, to express gratitude for all that Dan learned from Mamady. He created this piece to give thanks and honor to the legendary djembbefola – Mamady Kieta. Dan was privileged to study with Mamady multiple times and to learn traditional and modern rhythms directly from a world-renowned djembe master.
Djembe Diyamu is an advanced co-ed group performing traditional and modern West African songs on traditional instruments. Membership is open to experienced drummers by invitation of the group leader – Dan Engebretson; they meet on Sundays from noon – 2:00 pm.
Dan Engebretson has been an active member of the Twin Cities hand drumming scene for the past 20 years. His passion is studying and playing traditional West African djembe and djundjun rhythms, and for over 15 years he has taken lessons and workshops with such notables as Guinean drummers Mamady Keita, Famoudou Konate‘, Fode’, Bangoura, Sekou Conde, Abdoul Doumbia from Mali, and many other drummers from Guinea, Mali, Ivory Coast, and Senegal. He is a member of Mamady Keita’s Tam Tam Mandingue Djembe Academy, a detailed and comprehensive curriculum designed to train teachers on the knowledge of Malinke rhythms. He also studies traditional “village-style” drumming from the teachings of Malian drum master Sega Sidibe’. Additionally, Dan has studied with various U.S. drummers including Michael Markus, Paulo Mattioli, and locals Kenne Thomas and Brian Van Tassel. Dan teaches Sunday’s co-ed classes and the occasional Friday co-ed drum circle. Check the website for more information.
Earthtones Women’s Chorus
Our featured guest artist group for 2023 is the Earthtones Women’s Chorus. They perform songs from around the world, sung in the original language performing in two to five-part harmonies. This year’s theme has been songs about the Joie de Vivre.
Led by Peggy Larson
Four Songs: Lizela, Spes, Horo, and Sh-boom
“Lizela” – South Africa’s Xhosa people sing: We come in, the spirit is moved
“Spes” – by Mia Makaroff. Sung in Latin, Sami, and Finnish. Sing of Hope and the Joy of Life
“Horo” – A Scottish Mouth Music Song – “Dance with your shadow, and it’s good to be a living life”
“Sh-boom” – a doo-wop tune with fun harmonies because “Life could be a dream!”
Earthtones has been led by Peggy Larson since 2000; she holds a bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Concordia College in Moorhead and a Master’s degree in Ethnomusicology from Bethel University. She has taught in Aberdeen Scotland, Corsica, London, Paris, and Amsterdam. She has performed as a jazz singer, choral director, and band leader. She served as a professor at the McNally Smith College of Music in St. Paul. Peggy has studied the Norwegian tradition of Kulokk, or herding calls. She gives lectures and workshops around the US and in Europe on this wonderful musical tradition. She has published a book on the subject titled Sing Till the Cows Come Home.
The group performs several concerts in November and December each year. Their performance schedule will be posted on their website: earthtoneschorus.com
Taikollaborative
Taikollaborative performs regularly throughout the twin cities as a solo group, and in collaborations with Women’s Drum Center performances. They’ve selected two songs for their performance; both performed by Taiko groups in Europe. Wendy Gertjejanssen, a Taikollaborative member has attended a number of European Taiko conferences and brought both of these pieces to the group after her international study.
Led by Wendy Jedlika
Two Songs: Mozam Jam and Narushima
“Mozam Jam” - composed by Tsuchigumo Daiko’s artistic director, Martin Doyle. WDC fans may recognize the rhythm combinations in this song – evocative of the Latin Mozambique rhythms by Pello el Afrokan.
“Narushima” - composed by Katsuji Kondo – the former frontman for the international taiko group Kodo.
Taikollaborative’s name comes from combining Taiko and Collaborative; the name defines the way the group approaches the development of their repertoire and performance structures, and all members participate in planning and decision-making. They perform high-energy taiko (Japanese Drumming) arrangements and collaborative world beat works as well as nurturing the talents of modern composers – they come together as a community through the love of rhythm and fun!
If this performance inspires you, please watch our website for opportunities to play these drums in drum circles and workshops led by members of this group. Sandi Likely of Taikollaborative periodically leads co-ed circles and workshops on Taiko drumming.
Women Who Groove
Group Members: Marcia Cleary, Dianna Diers, Lori Grant, Debbie Harvey, Juli Kinzer, Diane McGuire, Caron McIntosh, Mary Omas, Jill VanKoolwijk, Linda White, Girija Parthsarathy, Shannon Sesol
Led by Bettie Seitzer
Two Songs: Waka and Bobobo
“Waka” - A song that Bettie first learned on a trip to Ghana. This is their own unique version of the song and has become the signature piece of the group. Waka is a modern piece that was composed as Ghanaians started traveling to Europe and came back with haughty airs. They were often viewed as arrogant so the motions in the song mock the affected ways of preening that the travelers adopted after their exposure to European style. This song is performed on Djembes. According to the Bambara people of Mali, the name of the drum comes from the saying Anke dje anke be and translates as “Everyone gathers together in peace”. That certainly describes the weekly gatherings of the Women Who Groove.
“Bobobo” - a piece from the Northern Ewe people of Ghana and Togo. It is a very popular community dance often performed all over Ghana. Brooke Darrah-Hage and Alyssa Moffatt will be joining Women Who Groove for this song, both have studied this music with Sowah Mensa. The song will be performed on kpanlogo drums from the Ga people of Ghana.
Women Who Groove is a community group open to women with some hand drumming experience. Their repertoire focuses on traditional and modern west African music – especially songs about women, families, children and community. They are known for their lively performances and spirit of fun.
Bettie Seitzer leads this group which meets weekly on Tuesdays. She has learned from West African Master drummers – attending annual week-long workshops in the Poconos. Babara Bangoura from Guinea is one of her primary influences, she learned several of the Women Who Groove songs directly from him and has been strongly influenced by his performance style. Bettie teaches hand drumming for beginners in addition to leading Women Who Groove. Her classes meet on Tuesday evenings.
The WDC offers 3 beginner-level classes to support the development of basic skills and to share the fun of drumming in a supportive environment. Beginner classes are taught by Bettie, Dan Engebretson, and Jo Klein. Any of those classes would prepare a person for WWG.
drumHeart
Group Members: Jo Klein (Assistant Music Director), Linda Aarons, Anna Anderhagen, Allie Birdseye-Hannula, Caron McIntosh, Alyssa Moffatt, Niki Murray, Jeanie Rowe, Sherry Strand, Mary Zubrzycki
Led by Alexandra Ray
Medley of Four Rhythms: Boba Beats, Matrimony, Suingue, and Macrou
Tonight drumHeart will be performing 4 songs from their repertoire, which include long-standing pieces that have been played by the group over many years mixed with two newer pieces that have been written by current director Alexandra Ray. They will open with Boba Beats, composed by Alex to remind us of the joy that drumming can bring. Matrimony continues the arrangement. This song was first played at Alex’s wedding while Alex and her husband Steve entered on stilts. The song begins with rhythms representing separate forces symbolizing the masculine and feminine energies of the Yin and the Yang. The rhythms synthesize, representing the wholeness and strength of marriage and partnership. Third in the lineup is Suingue, originally taught to drumHeart by its first director, Colleen Haas. The title represents a particular combination of rhythms derived from the large genre of samba reggae (pronounced heg-ay) The set closes with Macrou - a traditional rhythm from the Susu ethnic group of West Africa. The song is usually played for social events at the time of a full moon. The song is traditionally played on hand drums, drumHeart developed this arrangement to be played on the stick drums. It creates an exhilarating finish to the set!
drumHeart is the premier performance ensemble of the Women’s Drum Center, the organization’s very first performing ensemble! Membership is by audition requiring skills on stick drums, surdos, toms, and snares and on hand drums – djembes, duns and congas. The talent and versatility of the members shine in their performances.
drumHeart is led by Alexandra Ray, she has been drumming for over 18 years and is passionate about music. She explores the intersection of rhythm and nature, her current exploration includes healing rhythms, mindfulness and world music. She has studied and performed in Georgia, Texas and Minnesota. She frequently offers workshops using the tongue drums which were heard in the pre-show entertainment and are often used in healing and meditation practices. To learn more about Alex’s rhythm practices please visit her website rootrhythm.com Alex periodically leads co-ed circles and workshops on tongue drums, frame drums and frame drum making.
Finale - GAHU
Performed by members of drumHeart, Djembe Diyamu, Women Who Groove, Taikollaborative and Earthtone Women’s Chorus.
Led by Karin Rau
Gahu is a popular dance appropriate for relaxed social occasions; performed by all members of the community each choosing which part they would like to play and changing whenever they felt.
Our finale features members from all of the groups at the WDC – in the tradition of a village coming together to celebrate with drumming, song, and dance. Instruments include a “timeline” played on bells and rattles, Kagan, Kidde, Sogo, Agboba and kpanlogos.
Thank you for viewing our 2023 concert, we are grateful for your support and delighted to be sharing our music with so many people. The concert is the culmination of many hours of rehearsal, staging, volunteer efforts, and community support!
The Women’s Drum Center – WDC has been providing percussion learning and performances by and for women for over 30 years. We support the development of women as musicians, composers, and leaders. Our outreach programs provide entertainment for social causes, health fundraisers, community programs, and personal and professional development. The Women’s Drum Center offers a wide variety of workshops, classes, and guest artists throughout the year.
The silent auction held in conjunction with the concert is a significant fundraiser for our organization, we are deeply grateful for the donations to the auction and to the people who purchase the items on offer. If you weren’t one of the lucky winners of an item, you may show your support through a donation directly to the WDC.
