This is an updated version of the brief article published in the December 2016 issue of Common Stock, the journal of the Lowland and Border Pipers’ Society. Here the article has been expanded by the inclusion of more music notations…
Blogs
Notes on Evaristo Muyinda.
Evaristo Muyinda was one of Buganda’s best known traditional musicians throughout the second half of the 20th century – versatile and with a a deep knowledge of the royal repertory. These are notes cobbled together from my…
Modes or Tastes and William Dixon – again. What’s in a word?
With them rose A forest huge of spears; and thronging helms Appear’d and serried shields in thick array Of depth immeasurable: anon they move In perfect phalanx to the Dorian mood Of flutes and soft recorders; such as rais’d To…
Albert Ssempeke
Albert Ssempeke was not only a gifted musician with a deep knowledge of the music of the royal court of the king of Buganda but also a patient teacher from whom I, my son Andy and many students were privileged…
The fiddler and his art. How did they do it?
The Fiddler and His Art (CDTRAX 9009 MONO) has been one of the best selling records released by the University of Edinburgh’s School of Scottish Studies from its huge audio archive and issued as part of its acclaimed Scottish Tradition…
India 1986
In January 1986 I undertook fieldwork in several regions of India. It was partly funded by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations and arranged by the Inter University Circuit for Indian Classical Music. The funded part was spent visiting teaching institutions and meeting with some…
George Moss : pibroch notations.
I’ve been pleased to read on the Altpibroch website three recent blogs discussing the piping knowledge and ability of George Moss (b. 1903). Robin Andrews’ three essays discuss George’s ideas and his examples of ‘traditional’ timing. Robin continues with a discussion…
Banadda Godfrey – Ugandan artist extraordinary
I first met Banadda when visiting Busoga (eastern Uganda) in 1987 after an absence of some 19 years during which time Uganda (and Busoga especially) suffered horrendously from the lawless and chaotic rule of Idi Amin and after him…
George Moss again – and more.
In my earlier writings about George Moss I mentioned that when I first met him in 1970 he was no longer playing his bagpipes. However by the end of that decade he was prepared to try blowing them up for…
Budongos, Okemes and Lukemes
The above title gives just three of the names used in Uganda for that class of musical instrument known as Lamellaphones. Search for lamellaphones on Facebook if you wish to see a variety of instruments from elsewhere in Africa.…