Ancient Traditions Future Possibilities: Rhythmic Training Through the Traditions of Africa, Bali and India [Illustrated] [Plastic Comb]

Matthew C. Montfort (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 1987

Ancient Traditions--Future Possibilities is the "world beat bible" by the leader of the popular world fusion music ensemble, Ancient Future. The book takes the student on a musical voyage through these great ancient rhythmic traditions with a series of exercises that require no instruments to perform. Interesting, imaginative and fun, these rhythm exercises will be of immense help to all musicians, useful for both home study and in the classroom.

The author, Matthew Montfort, holds an M.A. in World Music from Antioch University. He has drawn on his years of study with the master musicians of Africa, Bali and India to create this world rhythm training manual.

* A must for all music students, teachers, and professional musicians

* Not just for percussionists

* Develops refined rhythmic skills

* Excellent reference work

* Enables home study of non-Western rhythms, eliminating costly trips around the globe

* Stimulates new ideas for composers

* Enough exercises for years of study

* Perfect textbook for multi-cultural musicianship courses

* Convenient spiral binding

Editorial Reviews

Review

You've heard Afro-Pop, sitar, gamelan and world music for years. But do you know what they are and how they work? Better yet, would you like to play those twisted cross-rhythms and melodies? In Ancient Traditions--Future Possibilities, Matthew Montfort, a founding member of the world music band Ancient Future, has put together the book for people who want to dig into world music with both hands. The first section of the book covers traditional music of West Africa, Bali and India with theories and exercises. Wherever possible, Montfort has provided beat counts alongside the standard musical notation so even if you can't read music, you can still learn the rhythms.The last section of the book mixes patterns from different cultures, demonstrating the powerful music these simple exercises can generate. --Richard Kadrey, San Francisco Chronicle

Very highly recommended for any instrumentalists hoping to expand their rhythmic horizons. If you've never investigated the beautiful clash of African polyrhythm, the incredible interlocking textures of Balinese music, or the complex metric structure of Indian classical music, check out Ancient Traditions--it will blow your mind and deepen your groove. --Guitar Player Magazine

If you're tired of programming your drum machine with the same old 4/4 back-beat, or you want to sharpen your rhythmic chops, this book is highly recommended. --Electronic Musician

About the Author

Matthew Montfort is the leader of the world fusion music ensemble Ancient Future. An award-winning guitarist (Louis Armstrong Jazz Award, Colorado Outstanding Young Guitarist Award), he is a pioneer of the scalloped fretboard guitar (an instrument combining qualities of the South Indian vina and the steel string guitar). Montfort spent three months in intensive study with vina master K.S. Subramanian in order to fully apply the South Indian gamaka (note-bending) techniques to the guitar. He is also known for his work on Glissentar 11 string fretless guitar, electric guitar, flamenco guitar, bass guitar, sitar, charango, mandolin, and gamelan, and as Ancient Future's main composer.

Matthew Montfort holds a B.A. in World Music and Composition and an M.A. in Arts and Media Technology from Antioch University. He has studied with the master musicians of many world music traditions, including sarangi master Ram Narayan, sarod master Ali Akbar Khan, mridangam master Guruvayoor Dorai, and gamelan director K.R.T. Wasitodipuro. He has recorded with legendary world music figures ranging from Bolivian panpipe master Gonzalo Vargas to tabla maestros Swapan Chaudhuri and Zakir Hussain. He has performed concerts world wide, including at the Festival Internacional de la Guitarra on the golden coast of Spain near Barcelona and the Mumbai Festival at the Gateway of India in Bombay.

Montfort wrote the book Ancient Traditions Future Possibilities: Rhythmic Training Through the Traditions of Africa, Bali, and India, which has been used by many musicians to improve their rhythm skills. Matthew Montfort is on the faculty of the Blue Bear School of Music and the Zambaleta World Music and Dance School in San Francisco, where he teaches music theory, all styles of guitar as well as rhythm classes based on his book on the rhythmic traditions of Africa, Bali, and India.

Product Details

• Plastic Comb: 144 pages
• Publisher: Panoramic Press; 1st edition (March 1, 1987)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0937879002
• ISBN-13: 978-0937879009
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.7 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #571,475 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars GOOD INTRO TO THE RHYTHMS OF AFRICA, BALI AND INDIA, June 7, 2000

By 

Örn Leifsson (Reykjavik Iceland.) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Ancient Traditions Future Possibilities: Rhythmic Training Through the Traditions of Africa, Bali and India (Plastic Comb)

This is a very good book for those who are interested in World music and/or fusion music and want to be able to play all those beautifull and often complex rhythms that one hears in that type of music.

The first chapter is about the Rhythms from West Africa, it has a clear chapter on polyrhythms and a formula to figure them out. Chapter two deals with the rhythms from Bali, the one you will hear in Gamelan music, and chapter Three deals with Indian Rhythms, Both from North and South India.

And then in the fourth and final chapter one mixes all that rhythm knowledge to create new patterns, hence the name Future Possibilities.

If you do all the exercices in the book you are well one your way to play and understand the rhythms that masters like Trilok Gurtu and Glen Velez play.

Also recomended are Rhythm book authors like Reinhard Flatischler, Alan Dworsky, Sule Greg Vilson, Peter Magadini and Tom Klower.

See also the videos by Airto Moreira, Alex Acuna, Kalani and Paulo Mattioli.