Jeri Jacquin
On DVD from director Quino Piñero and IndiePix Films is a
journey of music that is life affirming and beautiful found in the ROARING
ABYSS.
Across the mountains, deserts and forests of Ethiopia , this documentary
is a music journey as 80 different languages and 100 million people live in
this country. A binding feature of these people is the universal language of
music.
The genre is a mixture of western sounds with Armenian brass
instruments called Ethio-Jazz. Adding in the people’s traditional folk and
religious culture, it makes this genre an even deeper musical experience. As
happens with much of the older music, a new generation is looking towards other
music in popular culture.
This is where Quino Piñero comes in! For two years Piñero
and others working on his audio ethnographer team take a moment to stop and
document the music and the stories of the people making that music. In the two
years that followed comes the most amazing collection of music that might have
gone unheard by the world.
The group records the wind orchestras from the time of
Emperor Haile Selassie to the Azmari to the Ethiopian of European bands playing
on the five or six stringed lyre called a Krar, a Washint which is a type of
flute, a Masenqo or a Kebero drum.
This is a collection of remarkable and hauntingly beautiful
music and we should all be grateful that Piñero and his crew gave of their time
to bring it to us all. There are moments of music that made me close my eyes and
lean back to just take it all in. It is almost as if one can understand the
story they tell in their own language because it resonates with each note and
word.
It would be remiss if I didn’t mention the tribes here so
please, allow me, Anyuak Tribe, Nuer Tribe,Ato Mengesha Abera, Ato Zelalem
Fisseha, Awassa Sidamo Ibahal Aderash Band, Awrus Traditional Band, Basketo
Tribe, Bena Tribe, Damot Azmari Bet Band, Dorze Music Group, Gashe Assefa,
Gashe Chane, Girma Asefaw, Gurage Band, Hadiya Bahil Band, Hadiya Tribe,
Hagerignya Band, Haileyesus Aragaw, Hammer Tribe, Harar Adagar Band, Harar
Police March Band, Hidase Habru Traditional Band, Jazzmaris, Kaffa Band, Konso
Band, Maekel Bahil Tigray, Marako Tribe Band, Mebtu Adugna, Sambe Gore Band,
Selam Band, Shenen Gibe Band, Surma Tribe, Tezera, The Three Amzari Kids,
Tigray Arts College Band, Tigray Police March Band, Welayita Tribe, Weldie
Almaw, Wello Bahil Amba Band, Yayneabeba Nigus, Yem Tribe and Yohannis Tadesse.
Each of these tribes and groups deserve to be commended and
applauded for sharing their culture and music with the world. Just when I think
I’ve heard all the music out there, along comes a country that proves I am far
from hearing it all.
Piñeo is not only making his DVD debut but ROARING ABYSS has
been a Festival-Favorite Documentary. This film is also available on IndiePix’s
streaming service, IndiePix Unlimited and Amazon Channels.
ROARING ABYSS has been shown at the African World
Documentary Film Festival, Antropofest, iREP International Documentary Film
Festival, Rotterdam International Film Festival, Athens Ethnofest, Aurora,
Marburg International Film Festival, Washington DC International Film Festival
and WOMEX Film Festivals.
IndiePix Films delivers a highly-curated collection of the best
independent films from around the world. Their library consists of nearly 2,000
films from across all genres and chosen from the international film festival
circuit. For more of what they have to offer please visit www.indiepixfilms.com.
It is with great pleasure that I push for everyone to see
ROARING ABYSS. The music is life affirming and the stories bring out such
emotion and I mean every emotion you can imagine. I know that those who seek
musical adventure, this documentary will give you that and more.
In the end – it is a magical road trip through Ethiopia !
No comments:
Post a Comment