CART STATUS

SABADZIDA!

Kevin M. Walczyk

symphonic band   |   grade 5   |   6' 15" duration   |   view score

SabAdzida! is an energetic, exciting work that draws on two African folk dances - the Adzida, indigenous to the Ewe tribe of Ghana, and the Saba-saba, a popular social dance of the Bemba tribe in Northern Rhodesia. The work relies on continual layering of two principal rhythmic ostinatos and their variations with the primary melody - a process similar to the creation of African folk music.

Fittingly programmed as an opener or a closer, SabAdzida! utilizes two primary rhythms associated with two different instruments:

The "Gankogui" is the name of a double bell or gong (similar to the agogo bells). It is constructed from iron. In the African music of the Ewe in general the gankogui keeps the time. Gankogui is vital to any performance as it serves as a common reference point for everyone in the group - drummers as well as dancers and singers.

The "Axatse" is a rattle or idiophone. It is constructed by hollowing out a gourd or calabash. Then beads are attached to it with some string which is woven around it in a fishnet style design. The function of axatse is to reinforce the gankogui rhythm. It also adds some color to the music. In traditional African drumming the axatse usually plays the same thing that the gankogui plays but with some extra added notes in between the beats. It can be described as the eighth note version of what the gankogui plays. Overall it gives energy to the music and drives the music.

Recording...

Keveli Music gratefully acknowledges Dr. Ike Nail and the West Salem (OR) High School Wind Ensemble for recording SabAdzida! from their performance at the 2007 Bands of America Festival in Indianapolis, IN.

Instrumentation...

Symphonic Band

• piccolo
• flutes 1-2
• oboes 1-2
• clarinets: sopranino clarinet, clarinets 1-3, bass clarinet & contrabass clarinet
• saxophones: altos 1-2, tenor & baritone
• bassoons 1-2
• F horns 1-4
• Bb trumpets 1-3
• trombones 1-3 - 3rd is bass
• euphonium - B.C. & T.C.
• tuba
• timpani
• percussion 1 - marimba
• percussion 2 - xylophone
• percussion 3 - snare drum, crash cymbals & vabraphone
• percussion 4 - triangle, suspended cymbal, bass drum &crash cymbals
• percussion 5 - 2 almglocken & glockenspiel
• piano
• harp - optional
• string bass