| Topics covered: |
Ethiojazz and the Either/Orchestra (Courtesy of Mulatu Astatke and Russ Gershon. Used with permission.) |
| Instructor: | Mulatu Astatke, Russ Gershon (guest speakers) |
| Video unavailable | |
| lecture index | [next lecture >](/courses/21m-342-composing-for-jazz-orchestra-fall-2008/pages/video-and-audio-classes/lecture-16) | |
Recordings and Supplemental Materials
This section gives details about the recordings played during class and other referenced resources.
Recordings
Many of these recordings come from the Buda Musique Ethiopiques catalog. The following Ethiopiques CDs were used in the lecture.
- Ethiopiques 4: Ethio Jazz and Musique Instrumentale 1969-1974.
- Ethiopiques 13: The Golden Seventies.
- Ethiopiques 16: The Lady With The Krar.
- Éthiopiques 18: Asguèbba!
Tracks in sequence as played during class:
| Tracks | Compositions/Performers | Recording Sources |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Solo washint piece (duration 1:26) | Unknown |
| 2 | Solo krar piece (duration 1:45) | Unknown |
| 3 | “Mèdinana Zèlèssègna” by Asnaqè Guèbrèyès. (Masïnqo with vocalist, duration 1:55) | Éthiopiques 18: Asguèbba! |
| 4 | “Eném Lèfèlèfkugn Mèlagèruw Sèma” by Zèwditou Yohannes. (Masïnqo with vocalist and drummer, duration 1:55) | Éthiopiques 18: Asguèbba! |
| 5 | “Gubèlyé” by Asnaqètch Wèrqu. (Krar with female vocalist, duration 2:00) | Ethiopiques 16: The Lady With The Krar. |
| 6 | “Gubelye” by Mulatu Astatke (duration 4:00) | _Ethiopiques 4: Ethio Jazz and Musique Instrumentale 1969-197_4. |
| 7 | “Amlak abet abet” by Asselefetch Ashine & Getenesh Kebret & Army Band. (duration 1:40) | Ethiopiques Vol. 13: The Golden Seventies. |
| 8 | “Amlak abet abet” by Either / Orchestra (duration 5:00) | More Beautiful Than Death. Accurate Records, 2000. |
| 9 | “Tsome Diguwa” by Mulatu Astatke. | Astatke, Mulatu. Ethio Jazz Vol. 1. Azmari, 2006. |
| 10 | “Bene Mote” by Muluquen Mellesse. (duration 2:30) | Excerpt from currently out of print recording, had been available on LP/cassette. |
| 11 | “Bene Mote” by Either/Orchestra (duration 4:30) | Private concert recording, from Zeitgiest Gallery, Cambridge MA, June 4 2005. |
| 12 | “Bati” by Eténèsh Wassié. (duration 0:25) | Éthiopiques 18: Asguèbba! |
| 13 | Russ Gershon composition “Azmari,” mvmt III from string quartet The Oldest Place | Personal concert recording from Seattle, WA, 2005. Performed by: Maria Sampen, violin I; Ella Marie Gray, violin II; Tim Christie, viola; Walter Gray, cello |
| 14 | Russ Gershon composition “Azmari,” arranged for and performed by Either/Orchestra | Personal concert recording from Institute of Contemporary Art, Boston MA, Dec. 2006. Performed by: Tom Halter, Dan Rosenthal (trumpets), Joel Yennior (trombone), Godwin Louis (alto saxophone), Kurtis Rivers (baritone saxophone), Rafael Alcala (piano), Rick McLaughlin (bass), Pablo Bencid (drums) and Vicente Lebron (congas) |
Ethiopian Modes and Voicings
Ethiopian modes (PDF) (Courtesy of Rick McLaughlin. Used with permission.)
Voicings (PDF) (Courtesy of Russ Gershon. Used with permission.)
Recommended Reading
Falceto, Francis. Abyssinie Swing: A Pictorial History of Modern Ethiopian Music. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: Shama Books, 2001. ISBN: 9781931253093.
