Sira

Sira is the diminutive form of 'Nasira', which was the name of Mamady's mother, for whom he composed this rhythm in her honour. She sadly died when he was aged ten, him being the last of seven children.

>120bpm 4/4      || 1 & 2 &  | 3 & 4 &  ||
Djembe 1         || B.OO.BS. | B.OO.BS. ||
                    r..lr.rl   r..lr.rl
Djembe 2         || S..SS.OO | S..SS.OO ||

Bell 1      xx.x || x.xx.xx. | x.x.xx.x ||
+Sangban    G... || G.....g. | ..g.G... ||
+Sangban Var     || G.....g. | g...GG.G ||

Bell 2      xx.x || x.x.x.x. | x.x.xx.x ||
+Kenkeni    .K.K || ....k... | k....K.K ||

Bell 3           || x.xx.xxx | .xx.x.x. ||
+Dununba         || ......DD | .DD..... ||
+Dununba Var1    || .D...D.. | D....... ||
+Dununba Var2    || D...D... | D...D... | D.....DD | .DD..... ||
+Escheuffement DD|| .D.D.D.D | D.D.D.DD ||


Dununba's 1st and 2nd Variations return to normal pattern after just one
variation. During the final Escheuffement, the Dununba rumbles repeatedly
underneath the lead Djembe's OOSSSSSSSSSSSSSS rolls.

Djembe 2 is a widely-used traditional accompaniment that Mamady described
as 'rhythm populaire', and dates from the 13th Century.

Key to notation

(c) New African drum rhythm composed (in neo-traditional Guinean style) in 2007 by Mamady Keita as part of his "Evolution Of The Djembe", taught at his beginners' djembe workshop in High Wycombe, England on Sunday 2008-05-25.
(notated by Malcolm Smith)