Aaron Bebe Sukura, Patrick Roulet

Ghanaian Xylophone

This collection is the result of a collaboration between Ghanaian xylophone master Aaron Bebe Sukura and American percussionist Patrick Roulet. It includes traditional songs performed on the gyil (pronounced "jeel"), a single-row xylophone of the Lobi and Dagara people of Ghana and Burkina Faso. Aaron Bebe Sukura, a Senior Instructor at the University of Ghana, was born in the Upper West Region of Ghana. He has taught gyil to students from around the world and has performed extensively in the United States, Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. Percussionist Patrick Roulet developed an interest in the music and culture of the traditional xylophone of Ghana and its application to the Western marimba. His article "Teaching the Marimba through West African Gyil Methodologies" (Percussive Notes, July 2010) was based on his studies with Aaron Bebe Sukura at the University of Ghana.


In this collection:

Song themes, variations, and supporting patterns are arranged for two- or four-mallet marimba for players of different ability levels.
Songs can be performed as a marimba solo or layered and performed in a group.
Patterns for optional percussion accompaniment are included.