West African Drum Set Suite by Adam Snow

The West African Drum Set Suite is a product of the desire to incorporate traditional Mande djembe ensemble rhythms into a “single player” model on the modern drum set. Though the instruments of the drum set are different from those in the traditional djembe ensemble, similar timbres can be found between the two. Furthermore, some of the essential polyrhythmic relationships of the ensemble can be represented through a composite approach on the drum set by one player. The intent is not to replace the ensemble. It is, rather, to enhance the capabilities of the drum set player to find new musical and rhythmic possibilities that are unique to djembe music.