Tonight I am the guest host at the Bar and I have offered up the theme of ‘The River.’
My poem is titled ‘rivers of rhythm’ and ideally should be read whilst listening along with the following recording:
Press play and follow the words. They are linked to the music.
This is your first hand drum lesson, poetically speaking. 😉
pa ta go
pa ta go
slaps and tones
right right left
balance of
body-mind
pa ta pa go do go
pa ta pa go do go
right left right left right left
balance of body-mind
feeling is moving up
rhythm is flowing now
tok tok tok toktok tok tok
play the bell
hit it now and
cy cle this
round and round a nd
_ go do _ pa ta
_ go do _ pa ta
_ tone-tone _ slap-slap
_ right-left _ right-left
_ riv-er _ run-ning
_ through-the _ rhy-thm
pa/tok _pa/go pa pa/tok/go_
pa/ta_ta/tok/pa_TA_
pa/tok_pa/tok/gopapa/do_
ta/tok_ta/pa_TA/tok
here now is everything
can you hear each part sing
_ riv-er _ run-ning
_ through-the _ rhy-thm
play the bell
hit it now and
rivers of rhythm now
rivers of rhythm now
patapa_ta_pa_ta___go_do___go_____pa (now that we are finished)
this is
the
start.
image courtesy ~ https://fineartamerica.com/featured/to-the-beat-of-the-drum-larry-poncho-brown.html
I have to listen to really appreciate this when I get home Paul!
All the time in the world Grace.
I appreciate the sounds complementing your words Paul ~ Love the rivers of the rhythm ~
Thank You Grace.
The rhythm really flows here Paul and I love the sound of these drums. It transported me back to Brixton Academy and the Drummers of Burundi :o)
Good to hear it open up happy memories. The poem and the rhythms are one. 😉
What a wonderful rhythm. A river has its own song, and your sounds like a joyful one
Thank You Bjorn. The River is flowing…
Nice use of the drum in the audio. You still have to read the poem, but this provides the background sound.
They are designed to be done together. The rhythm is 6/8 and the meter of the rhyme is set to fit each drum sound. They are effectively the same thing. The poem takes you through 4 rhythms and then combines them into a poly-rhythm, finishing with a signal to close.
That is such fun, Paul! I’ve been waiting to hear you drumming. Your rivers of rhythm sound very much like the rhythm of the boats in the moorings at the bottom of our garden.
I am sure that the first drummers were inspired by the sounds of nature. Thanks Kim.
I love your creativity here & reference to the “first drummers”–drumming & chanting were the fathers of art for sure; but to draw all this into a river expression is ear genius; so cool–though I would have liked you to narrate your words as well.
Thanks. I will look see if I can do that Glenn. I don’t have a studio or software of my own so would need to figure out a way to ‘voice over’ the recording of the rhythm.
An interesting experiment in rhythm reading, Paul. For me it was sort of like patting your head and rubbing your tummy at the same time. I think it will take practice! Thank you for this!
I realised just now that the recording starts instantly ( I should have added a count -in)and so you have to be ready to go with the poem. It’s tricky. Always learning.
Glenn suggested a reading with the rhythm but I have to figure out how to do that.
Thanks for visiting and having a go.
Can imagine gently gliding down the Amazon River reading/listening to this – not that I’ve ever done that! Great lateral thinking on the take and unique piece of work. Well done!
Thanks. Amazon drifting would make nice title for the rhythm 😉
So creative, the eighth note rapid was fun!
Glad you liked it.Thanks for dropping by.
I am enchanted by this! I have always loved the drums; something so tribal and raw about them.
I absolutely love this:
“(now that we are finished)
this is
the
start.”
Isn’t this just so true, in life?
Loved the prompt. Love this piece. Thank you, Paul.
Thank You for this effervescent comment.Made my evening.
Last Friday night, we took our 14-year-old girlie to her first concert, Andy Grammar, Gavin DeGraw and One Republic. At the very end, the lead dude from One Republic just WENT OFF on these drums. Similar looking to yours, above. Rocked my world.
Sounds fab. I don’t need a second invite to go ‘off on one’ 😉
Just for you.
Love it! Something so freeing about it.
I wish I could take your class. I think I was a gypsy Indian girl in another life. 😉
Lol. I can picture it. I’m sure there will be some classes where you live.
I’m not a fan of drums, but you certainly captured the constant rhythm of the rolling river.
Thanks Jane. Drums eh? . Love em or hate em 😉
I hear far too much of them round here to appreciate their finer qualities.
Street musicians?
Bars and unofficial open air concerts. Obtrusive noise.
I get the jist 😉
This is absolutely stunning!❤️ It felt like gentle throbbing of a river 😀
Thanks Sanaa. I wanted to connect my love of rhythm with the theme and seem to have pulled it off. Woo Hoo.
it was fun to listen and read at the same time, lovely beats Paul, adds depth to sound.
Thanks. Glad you enjoyed it.
A river of delight!
Clever. And I NEARLY got it, but couldn’t quite keep up. (This is also why I am a rotten dancer!) It was good to then read the words without the drumming, but remembering the drumming.
Bravo. Keep at it.No one is a rotten dancer imho. Everyone can dance to their own rhythm.
sadly i was lost in the middle, but i can hear the sound while reading each line. it is a good meditation. i think this would keep your mind serene and focus. 🙂
There is no right or wrong and if you know you are lost then you can be helped, rhythmically speaking. Drumming has been used to settle and focus minds for years. It is very powerful.
yes, i need to try it again.
It is tricky so be patient 😉
There is no doubt that rhythm marries sound in poem. More bones here, surer wings.
Bones and wings…I like that.
I enjoyed this very much!!! This is absolutely stunning!
This is wonderful….loved the rhythm…the feel of river!
Thanks.
Fascinating! You are right, though, the poem must be read while listening to get the full effect. Love this.
Thank You.
LOVE this, Paul! The rhythms of the river indeed. I played dumbek when I was a belly dancer, and the rhythms course though your veins. Love that illustration on top. I guess you are familiar with the ayyoub rhythm? This all is poetry in motion!
I am indeed familiar with it. Lovely pattern.
Wow, that’s something different. Works so well.
I absolutely love it as written. I can’t wait to get home so I can hear it (my job is pretty strict about headphones and whatnot and what-have-you).
But I will listen to this!
River no time
BaLanCinG rush
BeaTinG alWays
Slow drums
Shores more
tides
come
spRead
less..
time no River
rush BaLanCinG
alWays BeaTinG
drums Slow
more Shores
tides
come
SpRead
less
River no time..:)
Delightfully playful. Thanks.
Welcome.. my FriEnd..
And of course.. i
Enjoyed your
Poem.. wth
SMiLes..:)
Such language in drumming……..they’ve been used by so many to tell stories. WONDERFUL!
Thank You. Tis a beautiful language for me to converse with.
River consciousness in a rhythm flow of drum talk …. takes me back … :))
Happy to hear that Janice.
oh woooow!!!! this is a great thing to listen after a loooong day at work! this is awesome!
Glad you enjoyed.
An innovative posting Paul! One gets mesmerized by the regular drum beats to be caught in an unwittingly dreamy stupor!
Hank
Thanks for dropping in Hank. Much appreciated.