Peter Erskine – “History of the Drum”

Description

A Note from Peter

“History of the DRUM” was originally composed as a ballet for the Kokuma Dance Theatre Company which was based in Birmingham, UK. (Kokuma is a Yoruba word meaning ‘this one will never die’.) Famed actor Roscoe Lee Browne performs the narration of the fable the begins the piece, featuring Peter Erskine on drums, percussion and keyboards, plus the great Will Lee on electric bass. As Peter writes, “I hope that the listener will allow the sounds of my sticks, hands and fingers on drums and keyboards to carry them into a world where rhythm — life’s original music – tells the tale of optimism, function, joy, dignity, love and power. That, to me, is the real history of the drum.”

… celebrating the sheer joy of rhythm…History Of The Drum…(where) Erskine travels to Bahia, the Congo, West Africa, Trinidad and Spain in this intriguing musical travelogue…

– JazzTimes (10/95, p. 88)

Composed and Produced by Peter Erskine
Roscoe Lee Browne, narrator; Will Lee, bass;
Peter Erskine, drums, percussion, keyboards;
Fable written by John C. Fletcher

Track Listing

1. Drum Fanfare/Fable (Peter Erskine 5:11)
2. Introduction (Peter Erskine 1:50)
3. Skins (That Beating, Spoke Like Hearts) (Peter Erskine 4:17)
4. Afro Bomba-Bahia (Peter Erskine 4:45)
5. Come Here and Go (Peter Erskine 3:40)
6. Drum History (Peter Erskine 4:27)
7. Congo (Peter Erskine 1:43)
8. West Africa (Peter Erskine 1:37)
9. Sticks (Peter Erskine 2:30)
10. Calypso (Peter Erskine 6:32)
11. Bolero (Peter Erskine 8:13)
12. The New World (Peter Erskine 3:11)
13. Hymn (Peter Erskine 5:12)