Showing posts with label Kwela; Pennywhistle. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kwela; Pennywhistle. Show all posts

Tuesday, 6 July 2010

Kwela going global: “Spokes of Africa” keeps inspiring


This Spokes Mashiyane rarity goes out to Donpiper and the pennywhistle music-makers and keepers at the schiff and fipple forum, as well as Chris in the UK who runs a fantastic “kwela” blogsite project because:
 “The pennywhistle is a fantastic instrument; expressive, cheap, portable, quick to get started. However its versatility is perceived to be limited due to its almost-exclusive association with celtic music. Kwela challenges this preconception and introduces those who haven’t heard it to a new way of hearing and playing the pennywhistle.”

This small group of good people from all around the world have got themselves together and are doing things like developing and sharing transcriptions and information on kwela and pennywhistle music so they too can keep performing and playing it. Now that is really keeping the music alive!

On this album Spokes introduces and then plays a velvety smooth rendition of Kwela Kong, and follows up with another called “Little Kwela Kong” which would also have fitted just as perfectly in that fine musical. He also teams up in a duet with Lemmy Mabaso to deliver Manyatela.

Thanks again to Siemon for sharing this rare album – there is one copy available on the net right now … the starting price is $300 U.S.. Enjoy.
APOLOGIES for the delays - rapidshare keeps dropping half way through
RS here
MF