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Showing posts with label traditional ethiopian music. Show all posts
Showing posts with label traditional ethiopian music. Show all posts

Thursday, April 27, 2017

Fantahun Shewankochew - Shegneches Semeles [ethiopia]












       Fantahun Shewankochew is a Toronto-based musician (vocalist, song writer, instrumentalist, arranger and composer). His new release Adera (An Undertaking) is a rediscovery of Ethio-jazz, traditional and popular Ethiopian music with a modern twist. Fantahun Shewankochew has crafted an album that harkens back to the golden era of Ethiopian music. 

        Born in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Fantahun hails from a country with a diverse mix of rich culture, tradition and music. Affectionately called “Fantish” by his friends and fans, Fantahun discovered his talent for music at a very young age when he participated in school performances as a singer, often imitating famous Ethiopian vocalists like Muluken Melese and his idol the late Tilahun Gessesse, undoubtedly the most revered and iconic figure who dominated Ethiopia’s modern music for almost half-a-century. To develop his talent, Fantahun joined the Yared School of Music in Addis Ababa, where he studied for four years and graduated in the early 80’s with a diploma in trumpet and the Ethiopian traditional instrument called krar, a harp-like five-or six-string lyre played using the fingers or in combination with a pick. His stint in the school not only provided him with the necessary academic credential and a better understanding of what underlies his music, but also created the historic opportunity of producing the Amharic hit song “Kiraren Biqagnew”, his signature song that introduced him to the public. Fresh from school, he was hired by the renowned Ethiopian National Theatre as a trumpet player and worked as a vocalist on the side with the Mahiran Band that he co-founded. 






Fantahun Shewankochew - Yeberetuma




       He released his first album - Kiraren in 1986 with the Mahiran band. He released three more albums: “Min Yelelesh Ale”, “Shegnichesh Semeles”, and “BeYikirta”. Besides his artistic and administrative responsibilities at the Ethiopian National theatre where he worked for over 20 years in various capacities including Coordinator of the music department, Fantahun formed one more music band –the Medina Band, collaborated with famous musicians and also went on international music tours in Africa, North America, South America, Europe, China and the Middle East.





Fantahun Shewankochew - Kiraren Bikagnew




           While in tour in Paris, France, Fantahun collaborated with the famous and now US-based Ejigayehu Shibabaw, a.k.a. Gigi., and released the “Ethiopian Love Songs” album. His tour with a group of musicians that included four German instrumentalists (Jochen Engel, Patrick Langer, Jörg Pfeil and Michael Ehret) and four Ethiopian vocalists (Abonesh Adnew, Tigist Bekele, Wondwossen Kassa and Binyam Kindya), organized under a band called “Sounds of Saba” offered Fantahun the opportunity to fulfill his dream of introducing Ethiopian music to the rest of the world and also to participate in the group’s 1998 “Tizita” album in which he participated as a vocalist, kirar player and percussionist. Representing Ethiopia with the Cultural Orchestra of the ENT, Fantahun has participated at some of the biggest international musical events including the Ravera festival in Italy and the Houston International festival in Texas, USA. 











         Fantahun made Toronto his new home in 2011 and he has since collaborated with fellow Ethiopian and other Canadian musicians and performed at such venues as the Glenn Gould Studio, Lula Lounge, Harbourfront Centre, the Music Gallery, the Gladstone Hotel and the Luminato Festival. No less important is his contribution to the Ethiopian Community in Toronto. In the same year he arrived in Toronto, for example, he got himself busy serving as artistic director of a spiritual concert & drama organized by fellow artists in collaboration with the choir of the Toronto Membere Birhan Saint Mary Ethiopian Orthodox Cathedral to raise fund for the construction of the Church’s new cathedral. The show was a complete sell-out and a phenomenal success.

      Regarding his plans in music, Fantahun has a keen interest to introduce Ethiopian traditional music, which he says has gained more and more popularity in many European countries but not so much here in Canada. In addition to his many personal projects in the pipeline, he plans to introduce to Canadians Ethiopia’s distinct modal system that is pentatonic called qenet, of which there are four main modes: tezeta, bati, ambassel, and anchihoye and other additional modes which are basically variants of the four modes.





Fantahun Shewankochew - 01 - Shegneches Semeles (5:15)
Fantahun Shewankochew - 02 - Zelalemaw neshe (4:33)
Fantahun Shewankochew - 03 - Abete setawekebet (4:51)
Fantahun Shewankochew - 04 - Ezawe betebelesh (4:20)
Fantahun Shewankochew - 05 - Legenet abeba (5:27)
Fantahun Shewankochew - 06 - Menezewa kezeba (4:23)
Fantahun Shewankochew - 07 - Menoeren senoru (5:28)
Fantahun Shewankochew - 08 - Yedemek cewatachen (5:26)
Fantahun Shewankochew - 09 - Yedemekelesh cewatachen (5:34)
Fantahun Shewankochew - 10 - Yeete new (5:31)
Fantahun Shewankochew - 11 - Yefa enawetaw (4:50)




Wednesday, April 19, 2017

Anmut Kinde (Habtu Nigatu) - Traditional Instrumental [ethiopia]















Anmut Kinde (Habtu Nigatu) - Ye Wahint Engurguro






Anmut Kinde (Habutu Nigatu) - 01 - Yenem Hager Hager (6:50)
Anmut Kinde (Habutu Nigatu) - 02 - Gedam Endegeba (4:47)
Anmut Kinde (Habutu Nigatu) - 03 - Endegena (6:47)
Anmut Kinde (Habutu Nigatu) - 04 - Oromigna (5:16)
Anmut Kinde (Habutu Nigatu) - 05 - Shemonmanye (5:32)
Anmut Kinde (Habutu Nigatu) - 06 - Eyewat sitenafikegn (5:18)
Anmut Kinde (Habutu Nigatu) - 07 - Gum Gum (6:18)
Anmut Kinde (Habutu Nigatu) - 08 - Etalem Sirew Betishin (6:00)
Anmut Kinde (Habutu Nigatu) - 09 - Guragigna (4:12)
Anmut Kinde (Habutu Nigatu) - 10 - Mushiraye Yetibarek (6:47)





Tuesday, April 18, 2017

Mahmoud Ahmed - Yitbarek [2003] [ethiopia]





   R   E   U   P   L   O   A   D  


















01. Mahmoud Ahmed - Yitbarek (3:48)
02. Mahmoud Ahmed - Almaz (20:34)
03. Mahmoud Ahmed - Fitsum Dink Lij Nesh (5:52)
04. Mahmoud Ahmed - Tseguruna Werdo Werdo (4:44)
05. Mahmoud Ahmed - Kulum (11:03)
06. Mahmoud Ahmed - Lale Lale (5:25)
07. Mahmoud Ahmed - Asheweyna (5:51)
08. Mahmoud Ahmed - Mushiraye (6:54)
09. Mahmoud Ahmed - Hay Loya (3:24)



Tuesday, March 28, 2017

Demere Legesse - Best Traditional Songs [ethiopia]











       Demere Legesse was born on February 19, 1969 from his father Legesse Tesema Bilhate and his mother Debre Beshah Ayele. He was born in Agarfa, Bale in a small town called Galema Hebeno. He attended grade 1 up to 6 in Galema Hebeno Sefera Mender School, 7 and 8 in Agarfa Melestegna Primery School, 9 and 10 Batu Terara Secondary School, 11 and 12 in Addis Abeba Nifas Silk and Maremiya Betoch School.

     In February 8, 1987 he traveled to Addis Ababa and employed as a police officer in Maremiya Betoch. After 6 month military technical course in Aleltu he was introduced as a vocalist in Maremiya Police Orchestra. After working for 14 years from 1987 to 2001 in Maremiya Police Orchestra he formed his own music band named DL Band. He handled numerous music concerts and matrimonial festival for bride and bridegroom in Ethiopia and for those who come from America, Canada, Europe, Australia and different countries.






Demere Legesse - Awdamet



      Demere is one of the members of Yellow Page which is Ethiopian musicians community. He has a great roll in Ethiopian musical industry of wedding and culture. As a mater of fact he presented cultural and nuptial music such as Kana Zgelila (Special Church Song), Melkam Kelebet (Reggae Style Nuptial Music), Awddeamet 2001, Awddeamet 2003, Kotu Malo, Sendelewa, Burtukkee, and others.

    Back in Maremiya Betoch Orchestra, Demere found his soul mate Etenesh Girma Bogale and married in March 18, 1990. One year later they have their first baby Nathnael in May 1991, the second baby Abel in October 1996 and the third Rodas in August 2008. And now Demere has 3 children and 3 houses plus personal band.

Demere’s discography:

In 1996 his first wedding album – Mirt Yeserg Zefenoch (Best Wedding Music)
In 1997 second modern album - Taxi
In 2000 third Amharic cultural album – Mirt Yebahl Zefenoch (Best Cultural Music)
In 2001 forth album contains nationality and wedding records – Des Yilal
In 2004 fifth Amharic cultural album - Wegen Alegn
In 2008 sixth wedding album - Kana Zegelila
In 2009 seventh Oromifa Album - Oromummaa




Demere Legesse - 01 - Yitayal (Minjar) (5:12)
Demere Legesse - 02 - Netihima (Oromigna) (5:40)
Demere Legesse - 03 - Shebela (Gojam) (5:42)
Demere Legesse - 04 - Almuleli (Guragigna) (4:46)
Demere Legesse - 05 - Balezina (Gonder) (5:21)
Demere Legesse - 06 - Emebete (5:39)
Demere Legesse - 07 - Sendelewa (Wollo) (6:29)
Demere Legesse - 08 - Kotu Mallo (Oromigna) (6:56)
Demere Legesse - 09 - Yimechalu (Harer Dere) (6:38)
Demere Legesse - 10 - Awdamet (6:16)
Demere Legesse - 11 - Wogen Alegn (5:12)
Demere Legesse - 12 - Mareye (6:33)




Tuesday, March 7, 2017

Betsat Seyoum - Basresagn [2005] [ethiopia]





   R  E  U  P  L  O  A  D   











            Bitsat Seyoum was born in Addis Abeba, Ethiopia. She attended ‘Felege Yordanos Elementary School’ (staring at the age of 4) and ‘Shemeles Habte Secondary School’. She always loved singing and was encouraged by many friends to perform. One thing led to another and Bitsat found herself beginning her singing career in an ‘Azmari Bet’ (a traditional venue where musicians {azmaris} alongside dancers and instrumentalists, perform traditional Ethiopian music). Her music was discovered by many and soon, she was touring internationally.






Bitseat Seyoum - Basresagna





       Working with all the big names of that musical era, Bitsat began recording her songs. Mulatu Astatke (who is often referred to as the father of EthioJazz) arranged the music for her first cassette recording. With masters of the Amharic poetic form ‘Wax and Gold’ (traditional poetry characterised by double meaning) and musicians and composers like Tilahun Gessesse, Gultu Tefera, Teddy Afro, Moges Teka, Mulugeta Tesfaye, Yelema Gebreabe and plenty more, she performed and recorded her work. She opened up her own successful night club in Addis Abeba named BITSAT and became famous for her witty and skilful improvisations of the ‘Wax and Gold’ poetry.

       Bitsat now lives in Melbourne with her husband, Tesfaye Temamo (a writer, director and actor) and children.






01. Betsat Seyoum - Basresagn (6:16)
02. Betsat Seyoum - Yichalal (4:26)
03. Betsat Seyoum - Enesebaseb (7:24)
04. Betsat Seyoum - Senafekeh (5:45)
05. Betsat Seyoum - Sewuyew (6:33)
06. Betsat Seyoum - Feker Awkalehu (4:48)
07. Betsat Seyoum - Alsemen Geba Belew (6:07)
08. Betsat Seyoum - Tebebegnaw (5:02)
09. Betsat Seyoum - Getenetu (6:08)
10. Betsat Seyoum - Bawetagn (4:37)




Tuesday, February 28, 2017

Alemu Aga - Ethiopia [Three Chordophone Traditions] [1972]

          





   R   E   U   P   L   O   A   D   



Alemu Aga, begenna master..









       Born in 1950 in Entoto, near Addis Ababa, Alemu Aga has played the Ethiopian traditional lyre begenna since he was 12, having been trained by a famous master, Aleqa Tessama Wolde-Ammanuel, who was his neighbour and teacher at his school.











       Graduated from the Addis Ababa University (in geography), he taught the begenna at the Yared Music School until 1980. He now teaches on a voluntary basis and focuses on his researches about the begenna.

       He has published numerous audiotapes and several CD's and appeared in concert worldwide. Nowadays, Alemu Aga is the most highly respected Begenna player of Ethiopia.











01   Selamta   [The Creation]   2:52
02   Fäbälähala   [The Creation]     2:40
03   ABBA Gran Motä   (Death of the Left-Handed)   5:30
04   Mädägäna Zäläsana Bätbaze   (About the Futility of Life)   4:31
05   Instrumental Melody   1:47
06   Tälafino Gomdär   3:52
07   Tene Eko   (I Am Yours and You are mine)   5:59
08   Ambasel   6:20
09   Seläla   (War Song)   3:56
10   Gämay Eney   (Come Little Girl and Chat with Me)   4:25
11   Wayä Luleho   5:03
12   Samni   (Kiss Me)   5:17



Tuesday, January 17, 2017

Monday, January 16, 2017

v.a. - Krar & Masinko [ethiopia]











Krar Collective




       The krar or kraar is a five- or six-stringed bowl-shaped lyre from Eritrea and Ethiopia. The instrument is tuned to a pentatonic scale. A modern krar may be amplified, much in the same way as an electric guitar or violin.


        A chordophone, the krar is usually decorated with wood, cloth and beads. Its five or six strings determine the available pitches. The instrument's tone depends on the musician's playing technique: bowing, strumming or plucking. If plucked, the instrument will produce a soft tone. Strumming, on the other hand, will yield a harmonious pulsation. The instrument is often played by musician-singers called azmari. It usually accompanies love songs and secular songs.











Masinko tutorial




        The masinko (also spelled mesenqo, mesenko, mesenko, mesinko, or mesinqo) is a single-stringed bowed lute commonly found in the musical traditions of Ethiopia and Eritrea. As with the krar, this instrument is used by Ethiopian minstrels called azmaris ("singer" in Amharic) . Although it functions in a purely accompaniment capacity in songs, the masinko requires considerable virtuosity, as azmaris accompany themselves while singing.


     The square- or diamond-shaped resonator is made of four small wooden boards glued together, then covered with a stretched parchment or rawhide. The single string is typically made of horse hair, and passes over a bridge. The instrument is tuned by means of a large tuning peg to fit the range of the singer's voice. It may be bowed by either the right or left hand, and the non-bow hand sits lightly on top of the upper part of the string.






01 - Derbe Zenebe - Esti leguaz (5:18)
02 - Maritu Legesse - Akale Webe (4:50)
03 - Gash Abera Mola - Yameral Agere (5:17)
04 - Samuel Kassa - Techno Be'Masinko (3:27)
05 - Gigi & Yeshi Demelash - Bati [Reggaetopia - single] (5:59)
06 - Mahmoud Ahmed & Gossaye Tesfaye - Adera (5:52)
07 - Eskedar Amsalu - Bayeshelegn (7:15)
08 - Rasselas - Tizita (ft. Bezuayehu Demissie) (4:11)
09 - Gigi - Tew Maneh (4:54)
10 - Gigi - Kiraren Bikagnew (5:37)
11 - Asnaketch Worku - Arada (3:01)
12 - Mary Armeday - Enem Lefelefkugn Melageruw Sema (3:39)
13 - Mahmoud Ahmed - Anchiye Hodiye (4:36)
14 - Endris - Masinko (2:36)





Monday, December 5, 2016

Chalachew Ashenafi - Ye-zemed Neger [ethiopia]












Chalachew Ashenafi - Gonder Welkait Tegede





Chalachew Ashenafi - 01 - Aya Belew (7:13)
Chalachew Ashenafi - 02 - Atenchi Bayne Lay (4:37)
Chalachew Ashenafi - 03 - Fekiresh Welelaw (6:42)
Chalachew Ashenafi - 04 - Ye-Abay Derewa Loga (5:32)
Chalachew Ashenafi - 05 - Bewala Bewala (5:30)
Chalachew Ashenafi - 06 - Anchi woye (7:22)
Chalachew Ashenafi - 07 - Ene Gonebes Biye (9:34)
Chalachew Ashenafi - 08 - Ere Endemin Alesh (6:26)
Chalachew Ashenafi - 09 - Menjar (6:45)
Chalachew Ashenafi - 10 - Yetebarek (5:16)




Thursday, December 1, 2016

Melaku Belay [ethiopia]











          Melaku Belay is an Ethiopian traditional dancer born in Addis Abeba in 1980. He showed interest in learning the different kind of dances that punctuates the everyday life of Ethiopian people early in life.

         Melaku is above all a free spirit who has refused to restrain himself in an imposed and academic “traditional” style. As a self-taught dancer, he has taken his inspiration inside the Ethiopian society itself, and among the bearers of the tradition. Throughout his career, he has tried to create and develop his own style according to his own experiences and research through his country, with a touch of improvisation and fantasy.

           Melaku is not only a dancer, he is also "a cultural entrepreneur" trying to support and develop the cultural and musical wealth of his country. 

            Since 2008, he is managing one of the most famous Azmari place in Addis Abeba, the Fendika by introducing an innovative idea to his traditional setting. Indeed, during the special events which regularly occur in Fendika, he has invited many guests, from both Ethiopian and foreign spheres, creating a place which offers a symbiosis between tradition and modernity.






Melaku Belay - Sora Sora




        Fendika, a troupe of the most accomplished azmari musicians and dancers from Addis Ababa, draws deeply from the well of Ethiopia’s bardic tradition while adding creative movements and sounds that revitalize their ancient artistic forms. Passionately committed to the preservation and development of traditional culture, group leader and dancer Melaku Belay has established two traditional performing groups – the smaller elite group Fendika and the 12-member Ethiocolor. Fendika features seven performers – two dancers, two singers, and instruments including kebero drums, masenko (a one-stringed bowed fiddle), and krar (a five- or six-stringed lyre). Founded in 2009 by Melaku Belay, Ethiopia’s leading dancer and a respected cultural ambassador, the ensemble is based at Melaku’s renowned music club Fendika Azmari Bet in the Kazanchis neighborhood of Addis Ababa. In Ethiopian culture, an azmari bet is a traditional house of music where people come to be entertained, informed, and sometimes playfully insulted by the azmari who serve as current events commentators while they dance, sing, and play for tips.

     Melaku is a virtuoso interpreter of eskista, a traditional Ethiopian trance dance of athletic shoulder movements that presage hip hop movements of breaking and popping. Now a highly respected cultural ambassador, Melaku grew up as a street kid, learning many regional dances of Ethiopia through participation in religious festivals such as Timqat, folk ceremonies, and everyday activities in Addis Ababa and the countryside where music and dance are a vital part of cultural and spiritual expression. Melaku has traveled throughout Ethiopia to learn the dance traditions of the country’s 80 tribal groups. The musicians and dancers of Fendika present a cultural journey starting in the highlands of Tigray, Wollo, Gonder, and Gojam, also including dances from the Somali and Afar regions and southern Ethiopian dance forms from the Gurage, Wolaita, and Konso traditions.








In 2011 Melaku won the Alliance Ethio-Francaise (Addis Ababa) award for dance excellence. On May 5 2015 he was named as a Chevalier dans l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres , in recognition of his exceptional artistic career, by the French Ministry of Culture and Communications - an extremely prestigious honor.





       Melaku and Fendika also extend their base of tradition to new areas of musical exploration, developing strong performance partnerships with Ethiopian jazz bands Addis Acoustic Project and the US-based Debo Band, as well as international groups such as Le Baroque Nomade, Ukandanz, Akalé Wubé, Arat Kilo, and especially European punk band The Ex. The group has performed with legendary Ethiopian singer Mahmoud Ahmed and begena player Alemu Aga, while Melaku has collaborated with Éthiopiques founder Francis Falceto, Italian singer Saba Anglana, and Italian saxophonist Enzo Favata, among many others. Fendika has appeared in Scandinavia, France, Spain, Mali, Zanzibar, Holland, Belgium, Germany, Italy, and the Czech Republic; they rocked the Roskilde Festival in Denmark in July 2014, earning a rave review. Members of the group toured the US in 2011, 2012, and 2013 with stops at the Lowell and Richmond Folk Festivals, the International Festival of Arts and Ideas, and Kennedy Center as well as Lincoln Center where their performance received great acclaim from the New York Times . Ethiocolor performed as a showcase band at the prestigious Womex Festival in October 2014 and toured Europe twice during 2015 with The Ex, returning to Germany and Scandinavia in August 2015. Melaku traveled to Italy to perform at a fundraising concert for a school in Addis. Fendika/Ethiocolor performed in Israel for the Jerusalem Sacred Music festival in September 2015. The group was a highlight at globalFEST, the premier world music showcase in New York, on January 17, 2016.

                 Fendika has compiled two CDs of their music: Addis Tradition (2013) and Ethiocolor, the 2014 disc produced by Selam Sounds. The video Ethiocolor 360◦ was selected as one of the top 15 of 2015 by OkayAfrica.

            Fendika performances run from 45 minutes to 1 hour 15 minutes, depending on the venue requirements. Their show builds in sonic and dance intensity, often culminating in an exciting interaction as Fendika members join the audience to invite dance participation. Fendika workshops (usually one hour) engage students of all ages in learning and experiencing Ethiopian rhythms and movements.

                Fendika is deeply committed to engagement and interaction between audience and performer. They love to offer workshops for all ages before or after performances, to teach their dance steps, musical notes, rhythms, and the history and background of Ethiopian traditional music and dance. Fendika has experience from the folk festivals of the US and in educational programs in France in participating in “World Sounds” or “World Dance” workshops on stage, featuring musicians from several cultures who demonstrate their art and then exchange and collaborate resulting in a group performance on stage. They are also very skilled at participating in panel discussions on topics such as the role of tradition in contemporary culture, also inviting questions and observations from the audience.









Melaku Belay, dance 
Zinash Tsegaye, dance 
Mesalu Abebaye, kebero drums 
Fasika Hailu, krar 
Nardos Tesfaw, vocals 
Tesfaye Taye, vocals 
Gizachew Teklemariam, masenko






Melaku's Fendika - Ambassel (7:40)
EthioColor - Fendika Recordings (5:21)
Melaku's Fendika - Lewoy Lewoy (Wollo) (5:09)
EthioColor - Fendika Recordings (4:49)
Melaku Belay - Mali Malonayie (5:26)
Melaku Belay - Sekota (3:52)
EthioColor - Fendika Recordings (5:28)
Melaku's Fendika - Ywolalia Weyole (Gurage) (5:11)







"The rhythmic virtuosity of Melaku was often astounding. He can turn either the upper or lower body into an electrifying vehicle of rapid pulsation...Simply to see him sway his body to the music was a marvel: the angle of his out-held elbows, the pliancy of his spine, the rhythmic point of those shoulders all made their sensuous contributions. A happily superlative artist." 

Alastair Macaulay, New York Times, 8/12/2011