Ancient Traditions - Future Possibilities: Rhythmic Training Through the Traditions of Africa, Bali, and India

The Book

Ancient Traditions – Future Possibilities: Rhythmic Training Through the Traditions of Africa, Bali and India. By Matthew Montfort. Kentfield: Ancient Future Music, 1985. ISBN 0-937879-00-2. Comb Bound Book- $49.95

Ancient Traditions – Future Possibilities is the "world beat bible" by the leader of the popular world fusion music ensemble, Ancient Future. The book takes the student on a musical voyage through these great ancient rhythmic traditions with a series of exercises that require no instruments to perform. Interesting, imaginative and fun, these rhythm exercises will be of immense help to all musicians, useful for both home study and in the classroom.

The Author

The author, Matthew Montfort, holds an M.A. in World Music from Antioch University. He has drawn on his years of study with the master musicians of Africa, Bali and India to create this world rhythm training manual.

• Optional set of audio tracks with MIDI files
  
• A must for all music students, teachers, and professional musicians
• Not just for percussionists
• Develops refined rhythmic skills
• Excellent reference work
• Enables home study of non-Western rhythms, eliminating costly trips around the globe
• Stimulates new ideas for composers
• Enough exercises for years of study
• Perfect textbook for multi-cultural musicianship courses
• Convenient plastic comb binding
• Table of Contents

Ancient Traditions – Future Possibilities: Audio Guide and MIDI Groove Tracks

Complete Companion Download Set
A.T.F.P. Audio Guide Tracks: Volume I: Ch. 1-2, West Africa/Bali
A.T.F.P. Audio Guide Tracks: Volume II: Ch. 3-4, India/Future Possibilities
Ancient Rhythms – Future Grooves: MIDI Percussion Groove Tracks

Ancient Traditions – Future Possibilities: Audio Guide and MIDI Groove Tracks from the Traditions of Africa, Bali, and India. V. 4.0. By Matthew Montfort. Ancient Future Music (AF-0001, 2005. V 4.0, 2017). Companion MP3 Guide/MIDI Groove Tracks Download Set- $34.95

This complete set of audio guide and MIDI groove tracks of the exercises in Ancient Traditions – Future Possibilities is the result of many years of work in production. West African drum music, Balinese gamelan, and Indian tala are oral traditions. These sound files make it possible to add the traditional element of learning by ear to the practice of the exercises from the book. The downloads are set up for playback on Mac and PC computers, tablets, and smartphones.

The MIDI groove tracks will playback in MIDI compatible web browsers. For greater control, load them into a MIDI sequencer to change the tempo (try half speed for initial practice), listen to individual parts, or remap the sounds to different MIDI instruments. The MIDI groove tracks also make creative starting points for producing unique rhythm tracks incorporating African, Balinese, and Indian rhythms.

The set includes 115 audio guide tracks and 128 MIDI groove tracks in mp3 audio and MIDI file format for playback on computers, tablets, and smartphones.

• 128 MIDI groove tracks of world rhythms for computer playback (hear FREE examples)
• Polyrhythmic grooves such as four against seven
• West African 12/8 and 8/8 grooves
• Balinese rice pounding grooves
• Repertoire from three different Balinese gamelan ensembles
• South Indian mridangam grooves (solkattu compositions)
• North Indian tabla grooves (theka and tihai compositions)
• Great aid for musicians who play by ear
• Play along to check progress
• General MIDI files playback in a web browser
• Compatible with any sequencer that supports Standard MIDI Files:
  • Playback in a sequencer enables looping tracks, tempo changes, and soloing of individual parts
  • Use as rhythm tracks for audio productions
  • Includes MIDI maps of West African drums, Balinese gamelan, mridangam, and tabla for synths, samplers, and VSTi plug-ins
  • Load included tabla samples into a sample playback device to make a tabla machine
• Video documentary on the history of world fusion music
  
• Delivers the mp3 audio guide and MIDI groove tracks in .zip folders for computers, tablets, and smartphones