DYSAETHESIA AETHIOPICA

This is archival footage of a fife and drum group of Ed and Lonnie Young of Mississippi. I believe it was recorded by Alan Lomax, sometime between 1959 and the early 60s. They use a fife made of cane, and drums adapted from military bands.

It is interesting how similar it is, not just in form but also in actual content, to the fife and drum playing of “John Canoe” processional music of Jamaica. I have put just a quick sample of that from a 1954 recording, at the end.

fife and drum music is a fading but still ongoing tradition.

(seriously living in mississippi is like living on a music multivitamin or something)

#nornthernmississippistandup