the drum talks
May 14, 2010 7:58 PM Subscribe
More cowbell!
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 8:06 PM on May 14, 2010
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 8:06 PM on May 14, 2010
Beautiful, thanks.
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 8:07 PM on May 14, 2010
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 8:07 PM on May 14, 2010
Apparently, the man in the video sells these at the number listed in the video, and can give you lessons.
posted by Malice at 8:10 PM on May 14, 2010
posted by Malice at 8:10 PM on May 14, 2010
That is totally awesome.
My SO observes with some consternation that he appears to be playing the drum with a penis bone, but I think that makes it more awesome.
posted by bewilderbeast at 8:19 PM on May 14, 2010 [1 favorite]
My SO observes with some consternation that he appears to be playing the drum with a penis bone, but I think that makes it more awesome.
posted by bewilderbeast at 8:19 PM on May 14, 2010 [1 favorite]
For those who don't know, the reason why it's called a "talking drum" is that Yoruba and some of the other languages of West Africa where this originates are tonal languages (like Chinese) and the drummer is able to imitate speaking tones.
Thanks flapjax, I have never gotten to see a talking drum played well. A professor in college had been in the Peace Corps in Nigeria and had one but he wasn't very musical and didn't really know what he was doing with it.
posted by XMLicious at 8:29 PM on May 14, 2010
Thanks flapjax, I have never gotten to see a talking drum played well. A professor in college had been in the Peace Corps in Nigeria and had one but he wasn't very musical and didn't really know what he was doing with it.
posted by XMLicious at 8:29 PM on May 14, 2010
I was mightily impressed seeing King Sunny Ade's band where 3 or 4 talking drummers play some very complex parts in perfect unison.
posted by Jode at 8:40 PM on May 14, 2010
posted by Jode at 8:40 PM on May 14, 2010
FlapjaxFilter strikes again. Impeccable as usual. Thanks!
posted by fourcheesemac at 9:17 PM on May 14, 2010
posted by fourcheesemac at 9:17 PM on May 14, 2010
Thanks for this. A friend of mine was the only non-Nigerian filling in in a Nigerian Afro-pop band touring the U.S. a few years ago. He played the drum kit.
He was still getting up to speed, and the percussionist playing the talking drum would sometimes play proverbs making fun of my friend when he would mess up. The other band members would tell him later what the proverbs meant, so that he would understand why the Yoruba-speaking people in the crowd would occasionally crack up.
posted by umbú at 2:22 PM on May 15, 2010 [5 favorites]
He was still getting up to speed, and the percussionist playing the talking drum would sometimes play proverbs making fun of my friend when he would mess up. The other band members would tell him later what the proverbs meant, so that he would understand why the Yoruba-speaking people in the crowd would occasionally crack up.
posted by umbú at 2:22 PM on May 15, 2010 [5 favorites]
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posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 8:03 PM on May 14, 2010