February 2025

 

February 3-7


We will be starting 3-4 weeks in Primary of playing songs on the mini colour-coded glockenspiels.  The older students are switching to ukuleles and we'll be working on the song 'Chasing Cars' by Snow Patrol.  

This Week's Music Around the World-Traditional and Contemporary Music-Zambia

Traditional Dancing and Kalindula Music (7:29) (found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ViXV9TmxeN4&list=RDQMOzfhV9D5ch0&index=12) I found this dance video-and it features a song called Mao by a band called Amayenge in a popular style of music called kalindula that features fast finger picking on guitar.

Traditional African Call and Response (1:26) (found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gyHhgR4S6Gw) I think this is a choir on a Greek island-but it is a traditional Zambian call and response song called Bonse Aba.  

Silimba xylophone (3:28) (found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4xusWO1HFHs) Crispin Mutanuka was a master silimba player of the Leya people who live near Victoria Falls in Zambia's Southern Province.  

Yo Maps-Ex Wamunandi (3:28) (found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KjOBNrBEebI) Yo Maps is one of the most popular contemporary artists from Zambia.  


February 10-14


This Week's Music Around the World-Traditional and Contemporary Music-Seychelles

Kanmtole Music (3:53) (found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DS8mXMu2d8k) a complex rhythm-based music is unique to the Seychelles.  Also those dancers' shirts!!!

Moutya Tsunami (5:05) (found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NDHEU7xMG3g) Moutya is a creole based music and dance of the Seychelles-usually done around a bonfire or on the beach.  

Traditional Dances of Seychelles by Children (5:04) (found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ofszm4MoIA8

Mouggae Music -Phillip Toussaint-Cecilia (5:21) (found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JF_dpbmT3eE&list=PLbSG3MYp2v5WyWTp2toZVE7qhSH3GjF2H&index=1). Mouggae music from the Seychelles is a mix of Moutya and Reggae styles.  

 

February 17-21

This Week's Music Around the World-Traditional and Contemporary Music-Singapore

Singaporean music is a mix of the cultures present-Chines, Malays, Indians, even Eurasians.

Ramli Sarip-Keliru (3:38) (found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QqO3wflJHdY) Ramli is a popular rock star from Singapore who fronted a band called Sweet Charity in the 80's.  I think this would be representative of the Malay culture in Singapore.  Here's a live tune.  

Xinyao Music (7:13) (found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6yA61yCuJhM) Xinyao is a soft pop Mandarin vocal style of music popular in Singapore.  

Singapore Medley-Gima Band (4:32) (found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hPwuxi9zay8) I was reading that they often choose a song each year as the 'national song' to celebrate Singapore, and often have special tunes created for special events.  I thought this was an interesting example.  This song celebrates racial harmony, interestingly combining tabla drums, a Mongolian morin khur (horse-head fiddle), guitar and accordion.  

Becka-20 Seconds (2:34) (found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WvSGayDgvTA) Becka is a current R&B hip hop artist in Singapore.  I thought this video was cute.




February 24-28

This Week's Music Around the World-Traditional and Contemporary Music-Rwanda

Ikinimba Dance (1:30) (found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rnyZFtwyE6Y) This is an important tradition in Rwanda-a dance that tells the story of Rwandan heroes and kings.  

Folk Music-Traditional Melody (3:43) (found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gM00MnRuAQ8

Jean Paul Samputu-Mundeke Nyiririmbire (3:55) (found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UMj-x5dgWyY) This Rwandan artist has won 2 Kora Awards (the African Grammy) and toured around the world.  Afrobeat is popular in Rwanda.  

Ballet National Urukererezo (6:59) (found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VWdeDBpjsYg) One of the most famous of the traditional dance groups in Rwanda.  They tour internationally.  This was the clearest film footage I found.