Buganda Music Ensemble

• World Music

Court music comes to the Elbphilharmonie. The Buganda Music Ensemble comes from the Kingdom of Buganda, which was founded in the 14th century. The territory of the pre-colonial state lies in eastern Africa, in what is now the modern state of Uganda. The ensemble is led by Albert Bisaso Ssempeke, a renowned virtuoso on the ennanga arched harp and the endongo bowl lyre.
Another of the formation’s key instruments is the amadinda, a bulky xylophone-like instrument that is played by three musicians at the same time and that boasts an incredible power. European art music composers such as John Cage and György Ligeti have also been inspired by the polyrhythm and microtonality of Bugandan music. How exactly the ancient composers of Buganda developed their compositions is still a mystery, but it is known that they composed on the ennanga arched harp.

Various drums also belong to the Buganda Music Ensemble, whose complex melodic and rhythmic patterns produce fascinating effects and tonal illusions that gradually intensify into a mesmerising ritualistic sound. As is often the case in traditional African music, this is also a magical dialogue with the spirits of the ancestors.

PERFORMERS

Buganda Music Ensemble ensemble

Albert Bisaso Ssempeke ennanga, endigidi, endongo, direction

Daudi Kigozi embuutu, kiganda tube fiddle, endongo

Hamu Paul Kalyango engalabi

Robert Lubanga amadinda

Patrick Odoi amadinda, embuutu

PROGRAM

»Bugunda Hofmusik«