Instrumentation: Percussion Ensemble - 10 percussionist:

Dumbek, DJembe 1, Djembe 2, Djembe 3

Percussion 1: Rainstick, Shaker

Percussion 2: Breakdrum, Claves

Percussion 3: Marimba 1, Breakdrum, Crotales

Percussion 4: Marimba 2, Guiro

Percussion 5: Marimba 3 (High)

Percussion 6: Marimba 3 (low), Vibraphone

Duration: 8’44

Program Notes: The Epic of Sunjata is a percussion ensemble composition that reimagines an ancient West African oral tradition from the country of Mali. The citizens of Mali, Mande people, use oral tradition to retell stories, poems, jokes, and myths in the form of song. The people who recount these stories are called griots. Of all the stories retold by griots, the most popular is The Epic of Sunjata.

The epic’s narrative recounts the history of the first king of Mali, King Sunjata Keita, establishing the Mali empire and freeing Mande people from the oppressive power of former ruler, Sumanguru Kante in 1235. The narrative begins with Sunjata and his mother being summoned to assist in saving the people of Mali from their former corrupt leader, Sumanguru Kante. Sunjata’s personal griot, Bala Fasake Kouyate, must gain the trust of Sumanguru in order to discover how to defeat him. From the beautiful music played by Bala Kouyate’s balafon, Sumanguru places trust in him and unveils that he can be defeated by the claw of a white rooster. Bala Kouyate relates this information to Sunjata. The story concludes with Sunjata defeating Sumanguru Kante, the Mali empire becoming emancipated, and Sunjata becoming the first King of the new empire.

Note: A smaller ensemble version will be posted momentarily.