Dr. Rainer Polak
For more information check the Bloq Post "The Author..."
Dr. Rainer Polak studied social anthropology, African linguistics (including the Bambara language, the lingua franca of Mali), and history of Africa from 1989 until 1996 at Bayreuth University. Since 1991 he has learnt, practiced and researched the jenbe music of southern Mali. Polak worked as a professional jenbe player at celebrations in Bamako for one year in 1997/98, performing at over a hundred weddings, spirit possession dances and other celebrations. He played mostly for Jaraba Jakite, but also Yamadu Dunbia, Jeli Madi Kuyate and Drissa Kone. The ethnological dissertation he wrote based on that experience won the academic prize of the German African Studies Association in 2003/04. In 2006/07 he led a musicological research project on the timing of jenbe rhythms at the Bayreuth University. Polak ranks as one of the outstanding jenbe solo players in Germany. As a teacher he concentrates on the further musical education of jenbe teachers.
Sounds Like
The transcription follows the order of the CD tracks:
These books contain the complete transcriptions of the CDs: »The Art of Jenbe Drumming: The Mali Tradition Vol. 1 and Vol. 2«
The CDs have been recorded in Bamako by Rainer Polak, released with bibiafrica records (www.bibiafrica-records.com)
The transcriptions
As has become usual since the 1960s in studies of West African percussion music, the notes are set in relation to a graphic raster that represents a linear metric system of elementary pulses (smallest time units except of rolls/flams) and beats (comprising either 3 or 4 pulses to larger units). Thus all rhythms transcribed refer to either a quaternary metric system of 16 pulse cycles (4 beats x 4 pulses) or to ternary 12 pulse cycles (4 beats x 3 pulses).
The following sound symbols are used in the transcriptions:
S jenbe slap
S closed or muffled jenbe slap
T jenbe tone
B jenbe bass
X closed or muted dunun stroke
O open dunun stroke
Without doubt, the transcription published here do not make an exception from the rule that a musical transcription can always be only an imprecise and incomplete approach to represent a sonic reality. Working with the book makes sense only if the reading of the music comes along with hearing the CD. Hearing the CD, plus of course hearing other jenbe music, continuous practicing basic skills like sounds etc, and studying with a good teacher, are much more important than working with the book, and are preconditions to being able to successfully work with the book.
Every time that we listen or write music... play an instrument... dance... act in a play... or work in some audio/image/video engineering process... Something is healing inside...
When we share it with friends... Something is healing all over...
greetings from Argile - like to see Pablo Abdoulaye M'Bengue, Adama Dembele & Alexis Madokpon on Jenbe + Salimata Kienou dancing? voilà at Afrika Kulturtage....
die nächsten Termine mit Rainer Polak in München sind der 4.und5. Oktober, und, als highlight im Herbst: Drissa Kone mit Oumou Mariko zusammen mit Rainer für Workshops an der Djembeschule und Bamakofoli Konzert am 28./29.und 30. November 08. liebe Grüße von Uschi
Greetings - Thank you for you work in making the book and CD, I have them both, I ordered them from the distributor Germany because only the CD was available in the US. The book and CD are excellent and I personally recommend them to serious djembe players and anyone interested in djembe drumming and the Mali tradition in particular.
