Documentation team

Rough sketches of building concept

GDES 1B26

Documentation Team:

Kendra, Sophie, Ofra, Jakub

Drum Dome Scenario

I am looking for some inspiration for a music piece I am struggling with, and I am walking through Kensington market which is always filled with eccentric and interesting people. Just as I am humming the music to the song in my head, I hear a faint drumming just around the corner. I keep walking towards the sound, intrigued by its persistent and steady tempo. By the time I turned the corner, the sound of drumming was louder and I could locate the source. I turned into Kensington Park, and see a dome-like structure that looks like a shell and reminds me of a tribal hut of some kind made from cardboard, fabric and found materials. Inside, there are a handful of different people from many walks of life, playing on the drums that lay before them, on the ground and on their laps. The atmosphere seemed very welcoming as there was dim lighting inside the dome except for a few streams of lights coming in through makeshift windows. There was a nice smell of incense that intrigued my senses even more and the floor was covered in fabric so I thought it was a fairly decent set-up for an urban park with lots of motion and people. What got me to sit down was the fact that they sounded very focused on what they were playing, but looked genuinely relaxed and happy. They almost didn't notice that I came in but when I saw an empty spot and sat down, someone gestured towards a drum nearby. I saw what everyone was doing, hitting the drum with their hands and a couple found sticks, so I joined in. The drumming was not frantic or complicated, it was steady enough to accommodate the professional and the amateur musician in all of us. I was surprised, but the most inspiring thing was seeing the children hitting the drums with little attention to the rhythm - but the contrast of their inconsistencies against the steadiness inspired new rhythms and possibilities that could not be achieved by following a pattern. The drumming progressed, but the people changed, switching as more people gathered around to listen and even clap along. It was a wonderful experience that I did not expect to have composed itself in Kensington Park with nobody to supervise. I will visit again and maybe convince others to visit this great experience that left me with just the inspiration I needed.