Music Archives - Page 22 of 51 - Alliance for California Traditional Arts

Tabla, North Indian percussion

The descendants of the Yoruba people of Nigeria continue to preserve their connection to their ancestral traditions and art forms through ritual song, dance, and drumming. The nuances of these traditional elements are available only to those initiated, allowing for a robust spiritual knowledge and deeper understanding of the religious…

Carnatic music is an ancient tradition of South Indian classical music that dates back for centuries. It is a complex system of music that requires both artistic and technical improvisation. The use of the violin for Carnatic music, both as an accompanying and solo instrument, was introduced in the 1700’s. …

The mrudangam is a double-headed drum. It is said to be the “king of percussion” and dates back to 4 or 5 century BCE, with references found in the great Indian epics Ramayana, Mahabharata, and Srimad Bhagavatham. Today it is featured in all South Indian classical music (Carnatic) concerts as…

The qeej (a multiple pipe bamboo mouth organ, pronounced kheng) is the quintessential Hmong instrument. Used in ritual practices, the qeej replicates the tones and vowel sounds of the Hmong language and the qeej player uses his instrument to communicate with the spirit world. Ritual movements accompany the music; your…

Hayashi is a traditional Japanese percussion ensemble. Originating in Noh theater in the 14th century, hayashi also plays an important part in Kabuki theater. The core hayashi instruments are the kotsuzumi (a shoulder drum that produces low sounds), the okawa (a hand drum that makes very high sounds), and the…

Gospel music was birthed in America as a natural derivative of African American history. African Americans sign what they live. As slaves, they sang a slave song. As freedom fighters, they sang a song of deliverance. As freedom marchers, they sang a song of victory. Today, African Americans sing Gospel…

Proyecto Purépecha was created with the mission to create an extensive and vibrant Purépecha (a native people of Michoacán, Mexico) community in the San Joaquin Valley and California at large. Proyecto Purépecha works to restore and flourish Purépecha food, language, music, and dance in the Mexicano/Michoacano community residing in the San Joaquin…

SUKAY, which means to open the earth and prepare it for planting, is an internationally touring musical group that for four decades has performed the music of the Andean regions of Peru, Ecuador and Bolivia. Founded in 1975 by executive director Quentin Howard (pan-pipes, flutes, and…

About the Organization Raices Cultura’s mission is to create a space for artistic and cultural expression, to promote healthy communities, and to strengthen the voice of the Eastern Coachella Valley. Since 2005, in an effort to build community through the traditional arts, Raices has held an annual…