Festival makes rhyme from rhythm
RHYTHM was the common language as the Dingle Global Rhythm Festival brought a broad range of percussion, rhythm and dance to town last over the weekend.
The festival provided a wide range of events for listeners and learners and, in the latter category, Martin Schaerer’s skill as a teacher was clearly evident at a family drum workshop at the Conair Bar where participants from four years of age to pensioners joined together in a drum class.
With each person provided with a drum, Martin lead the music, raising his hands for more volume, stomping his feet for a drum slap. He invited younger members of the audience to lead the group and the little conductors obviously enjoyed commanding the group of drummers, just by raising and lowering their hands.
Tbe annual Global Rhythm Festival brings the sounds of, Africa and South America to Dingle and brings together different groups of people to enjoy and share the music. Even a total beginner can make a contribution – and over the weekend many joined in an found their own rhythm.
But the festival is more than that and DJ Ben O Faolain provided a complex web of international rhythms and maestro Louis Cesar Ewande had one or two things to teach even the most experienced drummers here.
Organisers Martin Schaerer, Bernard O Bradaigh and Damien O’Neill were delighted with the weekend and were very grateful to all the visiting percussionists and musicians as well as the support they have received from local businesses.