Awake

Tonight's Green Show: Ghanian Drumming and Dancing

Strolled down to The Bricks to see the Green Show tonight. It was an enthusiastic and even educational performance. Since I wandered in a few minutes late, it took me some time to find a decent vantage point from which to take pictures. But eventually I found a spot.

Here's a little video I took with my phone.

He played different kinds of drums.

And told some stories of how Ghanian music survived Spanish enslavement of Africans in Peru. This drum, for example, is reminiscent of instruments formed in spontaneity out of tables, chairs—whatever was around the house. In this way, music (and with it, traditions and cultural education) could carry on, even though certain instruments were banned from use.

After that, he flew away.

Just kidding. After that, he danced...

...and danced some more.

We thanked him and he thanked us and then the emcee told us to come back tomorrow night for an ensemble performance of the same style of Ghanian music tomorrow. (That is, Friday, July 3, 2009.) I just remembered I will be gone, which is sad, because I so would have liked to hear and see a little more of this delightful Ghanian music and dance.

Epilogue:

On the way back, I stopped to listen to this violin duo playing in front of Earthly Goods (the entrance to which does have nice acoustics, I must agree).

I asked them what song they played and they told me and even showed me the music, but I've forgotten and even paged through 200 results at Sheet Music Plus to try and jog my poor little pea brain. Something with a B. And a E. (I think.) Anyway, they were very good. I quite enjoyed them.

Then, I continued walking down Main and passed by an alley, looking to avoid the large SUV approaching the sidewalk and what did I discover? The occupants of said vehicle knew my name! Indeed it was my friends from Beaverton, The Greenwoods, here in Ashland for the week. I was so lamenting not having time to connect with them this week and so what a treat it was to have a quick chat in the alley (until another car behind them came along, that is).

The end.

Happy Thursday.