Thursday, 29 September 2016

Second most cherished piece in Africa

Second is           O DANNY BOY

Have you ever imagined been outside of home or may be having a walk by a lonely street with gardens and birds singing all around, and then rain is falling? And you had no umbrella or a good shield around? Just imagine the sound of the rain dropping with the melody of the birds’ songs, then try to reason that you are part of the nature; then remind yourself of a beautiful nature tune that echoes love, endowments and morals. You must feel something, and in case you did please don’t tell me.
One beautiful thing about the rain whenever it chooses to fall it gathers strength to make sure that it reaches the earth no matter how little it dropped. I have learnt to add melody to sound of the rain because the sound seems wasted each time. For instance, when it began with thunder, lightning and force, certain melody are made in line with fortissimo, Virgo, tutti, and allegro. In Burundi, one person is officially mandated in their tradition to ascertain the mood and tempo of rainfalls in case if the gods be communicating to them through the signs of the rain.
A legend was told of a culture in Africa in which rainfall was seen as echoes of gods’ movement and conversation which must be observed according to its signs and strength for the purposes of knowing exactly what the gods’ are saying. In that legend the people always found insight to pieces which has endured even now.
This piece always tries to bring down momentous slow, soft, and mild rain. Whenever this piece is played in Africa African indigent tries to imagine shadow on a lonely street of lofty gardens and that always makes us remember that we came from somewhere.
Played on a 4 manual Allen organ in Nigeria I composed some fine stop; mixing Flute sounds coupled with tremulants and chimes colors; you can’t believe what happened: the combination got the job done.
A lot of confessions have been made by nature loving individual in Africa, their words on the value of this piece to them says “I so much like this piece because of its tuneful ability” to bring back minds and to bring down rain.


I started with the Refrains

I meditated on a 8yrs old little boy on the bushy street in Kenya early Saturday morning cut by a thunderous rain as it begins on that lonely street without a shield. The little boy thought of running but the journey seems far. He decided to walk under it and prayed that some magic could be done for him seeing that he was helpless, but he believed the stories of gods helping children in their land.


In the first Stanza

I moved further to speak of another little boy happily standing under same heavy rain watching his father planting cassava with hoe. He seems unperturbed abut the thunderous rain. He remembered that one day he will take the hoe and do the same. For this little boy he wishes the rain to give him the courage and strength in age to learn the techniques of cultivating. The piece is in high motion now but slowly remembering the first boy in the refrain who is expecting a magic because of his fear of the rain I went back to the refrain.


In second Stanza

The fearful boy soundly became strong under the rain. Pulls off his clothing and sang a melodious tune into the heavy droppings with boldness that I still struggle to explain. “but come ye back” o danny boy I love you so, I love you so”
I spoke of the little boy’s father moving the hoe in rhythmic action and his son carefully observing the beats. Whilst I meditate I myself wished I could experience the rain in such manner again now that I’m an adult. In those days, I loved it playing under the rain. Songs are made and strength is gained.
Both the rain and the boys certainly enjoyed their union as the showers began to reduce slowly and gradually softened till it goes away.

Am I dreaming? The little boys asked! I was lost in thought but am alive.
Enjoy this piece anytime you heard it played. Cheers.


IGIRI INNOCENT


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