African 'Classical' Guitar Music??

[jimmyblues]

hello all

I was just wondering whether anyone knew of any decent African 'classical' or art guitar music, in a parallel nature to the SOuth American scene? Parts of West Africa were colonised by the Spanish (e.g. W Sahara), and the height of EUropean imperialism coincided with the guitar's popularity (e.g. early to mid eighteenth C) so that surely the portuguese, dutch and british must have introduced some elements of CG into the colonies??

So does anyone know of any African heritage of CG which may have derived from the early romantic era and be prevalent in some unique, distincitive african solo guitar music that exists today?

One would presume that if there are no videos on You Tube et al, then it wouldnt exist, but is that necessarily the case...?

Thanks

jdc

[mae]

Derek Gripper may be able to help you with this: www.derekgripper.com .

[sbondy]

I would extend the query to even arrangements of African traditional music - I will admit that I've spent little time looking on my own, but I was recently asked to play some at an art gallery exhibit opening, and I haven't had the time to look yet. Anyone thoughts?

[jimmyblues]

Derek Gripper may be able to help you with this: http://www.derekgripper.com .

Hi mae - thanks for the link. Derek's music and influences seem extremely eclectic. very interesting!

[jimmyblues]

I would extend the query to even arrangements of African traditional music - I will admit that I've spent little time looking on my own, but I was recently asked to play some at an art gallery exhibit opening, and I haven't had the time to look yet. Anyone thoughts?

Hi sbondy

try 'Kiko' - not entirely sure of the provenance of this song (although it is a composition by Earl Klugh) but it sounds very upbeat and African. Martin Taylor, the famous jazz solo guitarist performed a version with a book of matches slid under the strings at the bridge so the notes resembled African drums. very nice sounds! but i cant find links to it anywhere...

There are a couple of versions of it on you tube (here's one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aks3BUWk ... 1&index=32) but they arent exceptional, though you can get a feel for the music.

cheers

jdc

[Andre B.]

I visited derek recently, and he is transcribing some african music for the CG. SOunds Good... I am considering using one of his pieces for an LTCL

[Cary W]

Definitely check out Afro-Cuban Lullabye. Christopher Parkening recorded this piece, and the arrangement is available on his Virtuoso Music for Guitar publication.

[LVR]

Some time ago John Williams put out a CD called The Magic Box, which was a sort of classical/ African cross-over, not very successful in my opinion, but worth a listen.

[jimmyblues]

Thanks for the advice chaps

[sxedio]

Look for the africa volume of the Guitar atlas series. The odds are it will be plectrum guitar focused but if there is a guitar tradition closer to classical it might be mentioned.

[Viccy]

I thought of this music when I first read your post, but it took me a little while to find it again. This is a fine example of "African guitar". It might lack a bit in the "classical" side though, but it's very authentic.

Botswana Music Guitar

Botswana Music Guitar- pidipidi
Botswana Music Guitar "Ditsala tsame di Tsamaile"

[Non Tabius]

There's also one called Five African Sketches by Zaildel - Rudolf j its a Performers Licentiate choice for The University
Of South Africa in the 1996 syllabus .I havent heard the piece but its placed in stables of Barrios Un Sueno la Floresta
and Piazzolla A Cinco Piazas and Castelnuovo- Tedesco Rondo op 129.Royals Schools recognises UNISA qualifications
so that must mean something regarding the status of the piece refered to.

[sxedio]

There's also four african sketches by Maltese (nearly north african composer Charles Camilleri. Search "African Dance, by Charles Camilleri" on the Tube

[benessa]

I like this topic, but I couldn't think of much. The main thing that comes to mind is the Moroccan influence in flamenco music and the classical music of the Arabic oud (lute). Of course, Roland Dyens is from Tunisia, but I don't think his music has much African influence. The oud made me think of composer and guitarist Loris Chobanian, but now I've changed continents!

[mae]

By the way, Derek Gripper is now a member of this forum: viewtopic.php?f=28&t=56978