Sorsonet

>120bpm 12/8 ||:1&a2&a3&a4&a | 1&a2&a3&a4&a:||   ("One and-a Two and-a Three and-a Four and-a...")
             || r  l  r  lrl | r  l  rl lrl ||
Djembe 1     || SSSSOOSSSSOO | SSSSOOSSSSOO ||
Djembe 2     || S.OS..S.OS.. | S.OS..S.OS.. ||   ("Round the back, Round the back, ...")
Bell 1       || x.xx.xx.xx.x | x.xx.xx.xx.x ||
+Kenkeni     || ..K..K..K..K | ..K..K..K..K ||
Bell 2       || x.xxx.x.xxx. | x.xxx.x.xxx. ||   ("Not difficult, Not difficult, ...")
+Sangban     || g...G.g...G. | g...G.g...G. ||
Bell 3       || xxx.x.x.xxx. | xxx.x.x.x.x. ||
+Dununba     || DDD.....DDD. | DDD......... ||
(Count)      ||:1&a2&a3&a4&a | 1&a2&a3&a4&a:||

Watch that Kenkeni part! Think of the classical piece by Paul Dukas'
called "The Sorceror's Apprentice", used in Walt Disney's Fantasia.
A simplified version leaves out the offbeat bells on every third note:

(Count)      ||:1&a2&a3&a4&a | 1&a2&a3&a4&a:||
Bell 1       || x..x..x..x.. | x..x..x..x.. ||
+Kenkeni     || ..K..K..K..K | ..K..K..K..K ||


The piece starts (and ends) with a song, initially sung over just the
Dununba+Bell part (and then again at the end when everyone quietens
down - only keep drumming if you can sing at the same time!) :

Bala fele ko he
Bala fele ko na
Bala fele ko nayoma
Bala fele ko he

Then the leader calls in the Short Break to begin the drumming:

Short Break:    Call:    >     Break:
Signal:      || OOOOOOOOOS.. | SSS.SSS.SSS. ||
Djembes:     ||              | SSS.SSS.SSS. ||
Bells:       ||              | xxx.xxx.xxx. ||
Dun duns:    ||              | DDD.DDD.DDD. ||
(Count)      ||:1&a2&a3&a4&a | 1&a2&a3&a4&a:||

On hearing the above Signal, everyone answers with three lots of three
slaps/bells/dun duns in unison, before playing the Main Rhythm.

There is also a long break, called with the same signal, after an
agreed number of times (we usually do three Short Breaks, then three
Long ones (including the start and ending)).

Long Break:     Call:    >     Break:
Signal:      || OOOOOOOOOS.. | SSS.SSS.SSS. | SSS.SSS.SSS. | SSS.O.O.O.O. ||
Djembes:     ||              | SSS.SSS.SSS. | SSS.SSS.SSS. | SSS.O.O.O.O. ||
Bells:       ||              | xxx.xxx.xxx. | xxx.xxx.xxx. | xxx.x.x.x.x. ||
Dun duns:    ||              | DDD.DDD.DDD. | DDD.DDD.DDD. | DDD......... ||

The piece ends after a big Roll+Signal cueing a final Long Break, then:
                >>>
Djembes:     || SSS          ||
Bells:       || XXX          ||
Dun duns:    || DDD          ||



Structure:

Dununba + singing
Call + Short Break ---> Main Rhythm
Call + Short Break ---> Main Rhythm
Call + Short Break ---> Main Rhythm
Call + Long Break  ---> Main Rhythm
Call + Long Break  ---> Main Rhythm
Quieten down and sing again over drumming
Roll + Call + Long Break  ---> Finish on 3 slaps

Key to notation

(c) Traditional Guinean rhythm from Seckou Keita taught by Justine at Vitae Drum Circle.
(notated by Malcolm Smith on 2008-02-03)