Magic Music and Music Magic – Some Open Secrets Shared Openly – to be used with respect and awareness, please!
Sacred rhythm “Kon • Ke Lo • Kon • Kon • Ke Lo •”
KonKeLo is a sacred trance rhythm from Benin ( Dahomey ) , still being used in Haiti and associated with Voodoo . Its a rhythmic pattern over 12 beats , with beats 1-3-4-6-8-10-11 forming a syncopated pattern (Thus alternating between on and off beat) . It’s usually being played on a bel or a double bell , sometimes in the fashion of “rounds” with several bells coming in at various entry points in relation to the lead KonKeLo pattern (reference pattern on a drum is the “Afro-Waltz” , BtT bTt BtT bTt ).
There are a good few variations of the KonKeLo , where the first and second part are played several times or being exchanged. Often these variations come about naturally by playing in a state of trance. It takes practice and feeling to keep the KonKeLo pattern going as well as the ability to give up mind control ( even though that seems to be a contradiction! ) as you enter inevitably different states of trance ( which you have to get used to even more so if you have not been brought up in a culture that does not use trance states as a spiritual renewal within their rituals – but as always some people get into all that quite naturally ).
The intended leaving behind of the every day consciousness after all is mostly and enjoyable experience as the deeper meaning which lies beyond the lies and thoughts can be directly experienced.
The Universal 4 x 4 Rhythm
This rhythmic pattern over 16 beats probably originated in West Africa fits to most rhythms on a count of 4.
The pattern goes like this : De • De • De • De ge • ge De • De • De •
It is a steady continuous pattern with few simple variations, often played on bass drums, or bells or both. Its effect is generally grounding.
Singing and Chanting of Vowels and Overtones
A diagram by Thomas Wiegandt, 1985
(click for large version)
The vowels are according Latin or German pronunciation : E-I-A-O-U (English ee-ehh-ahh-o-oo ). They can be used individually or as a “sliding scale” in both directions , it sounds a bot like overtones . They vowels correspond with parts of the human body and can be depicted as an energy circuit.
The “I” is sounded with the lips stretched as two long parallel lines.
The “U” is sounded with the lips round in a small circle.
The other vowels are transitions between these polarities.
- The “I” : Unity, head , vertical flow, cosmic connection.
- The “E” : Vibration , throat / neck , expression , sending out ( calling)
- The “A” : Resonance, heart / chest , openness , receiving.
- The “O” : Centre, feeling , belly, connecting and being connected.
- The “U” : Duality , The 2 legs , roots , earth connection.