http://calabashmusic.com/New Music From Kirsten Br崥n Berg on Calabash Music2008-08-28T11:13:02ZThe Calabash Music Teamsupport@calabashmusic.comFrom Senegal To Setesdalhttp://kirstenbratenberg.calabashmusic.com/#album_923122006-12-12T07:40:55ZMusic from From Senegal To SetesdalKirsten Bråten Berg (Norway): vocals, mouth harp. Solo Cissokho (Senegal): kora, vocals. Kouame Sereba (Ivory Coast): do-do (mouth-bow), vocals, djembe. Bjørgulv Straume (Norway): mouth harp, vocals. DO-DO, or mouth-bow, is an ancient African instrument. It has traditionally been used by the elders of the community in the Ivory Coast, in order to call upon the spirits. The instrument is used in meetings of small groups of people, and its monotonous drone is said to gather the spirits around the group. The do-do may have been played in other parts of the world in very ancient times. In Skåne, Sweden, a similar instrument has been found, and has been dated to approximately 6,000 B.C. When Kouame was a small boy, he was not allowed to play the do-do. However, by sitting so still that the adults didn't notice he was there, he learned the melodies that his mother is now amazed that he knows. DJEMBE is an African drum made of a hollow tree trunk with a goatskin stretched across its top. Its sound varies from a clear treble to a deep bass. Djembe is one of the most powerful instruments used in western Africa, and is played at all festive occasions. MOUTH HARP most likely originated in Asia. The oldest European sources indicate that this instrument arrived in Scandinavia before 500 B.C. In Norway, the mouth harp has enjoyed varying popularity in different areas through the years. In our day it has become extremely popular. Several mouth harp smiths, among them Bjørgulv, are producing as many instruments as they can without being able to meet the enormous demand. KORA is a harp. The resonance box is half of the fruit from a kalebass tree. An antelope skin is stretched across this box. Resting on the skin is a long, triangular pole with notches supporting the instrument's 21 strings. The bass strings are played with the thumb, and are on the top of the pole. Each string is attached to the back of the instrument, and is at the other end attached to a pole that traverses the length of the whole box. Recorded at Oslo Lydstudio, autumn 1996 Design: Rex Ray Photo: Johs. Bjørkeli Liner notes: Kirsten Bråten Berg and Kouame Sereba Editing: Tone Winje Nynorsk translation: Olaf Almenningen English translation: Shari Gerber Nilsen TIRAMAKAN/EG VIPPA MEG Tiramakan was a wise man who lived during the twelfth century among the Manding people in the kingdom of Soundjata Keita. (This group of people currently live in the countries of Mali, Guinea, the Ivory Coast and Burkina Faso.) During a conflict with the Djolof tribe in the neighboring kingdom (today Senegal), Tiramakan was asked to negotiate a peace treaty. Being the wise man that he was, he managed to calm the warring parties and thereby save the honor of the Manding people. This African song has been combined with the text of a Norwegian lullaby. Lullaby from Setesdal Sources: Torbjørg Aamli Paus and Ingebjørg Vegestog Homme HÅVÅR HEDDI/GOE Excerpt from a folk song from Setesdal Source: Gro Heddi Brokke Håvår Heddi, Setesdal/Goe, Ivory Coast Traditional, arranged by K. B. Berg/S. Cissokho/K. Sereba Håvår Heddis minne, mouth harp tune by B. Straume BITILO In African culture, a distinction is made between people who have something to accomplish and people who don't. Those who understand what this implies must set themselves goals in life. "If the raft is to be able to balance in the river, one must paddle evenly on each side." LILL LISA Medieval ballad Source: Svein Knutsson Hovden ATOLAGO A song of praise to the great God. HORPA/KONO Both are tragic songs, the Norwegian a tale of two sisters, and the African about two brothers. Ballad from Åseral, Setesdal Source of the melody: Ingebjørg Liestøl and Svein K. Hovden Source of the lyrics: Knut Liestøl, Molkte Moe and M.B. Landstad (Norwegian Folk Songs) JEGERLEIK Kouame's song is about a hunter who waits in solitude in the forest. He plays and sings for the animals. SORDØLEN/KODY NADIOULO This song is about Lamine Doumbia, one of the kings of the Manding people and a descendant of King Fode Kaba Doumbia. Lamine Doumbia was an advocate of peace, tolerance, justice and freedom. Vocal version of a fiddle tune from Setesdal Source: Ingebjørg Vegestog Homme UPPSTADEN Gangar (dance tune) from Setesdal KOUAMI BA Kouame improvises a drum solo as a gift to his son Little Kouame. He repeats his son's name in various ways throughout the song in order to lift him to great heights. BÅNSULLAR/DING DING IDE Source: Gro Faremo HALLING JOROND Vocal version of a fiddle tune from Telemark Source: Agnes Buen Garnås TVEITÅEN/DJATTO Djatto: This song is about a boy who was raised by a family of lions in the forest, who later became the King of Macina in western Africa. The boy's mother, Mamadou, was one of the wives of the King of Macina. When she was pregnant, she was chased into the forest, where she lived alone in a small hut until her baby was born. One day she went to fetch water from the river, leaving the baby alone in the hut. He cried and cried. A lioness heard his wails and took the baby. He was then raised as the brother of two lion cubs until he was grown up and returned to the village, where he was proclaimed King of Macina. Tveitåen: Vocal version of a fiddle tune from Setesdal Source: Torleiv H. Bjørgum ]]>