Member Since: 21/05/2007
Band Website: www.essatusound.com
Band Members:
Influences: Dallol Band( pioneers of Ethiopian reggae), Ruphael Woldemariam(my big brother & mentor), Dereje Mekonnen(the greatest Ethiopian producer ever), Melaku Retta, Gizzae Band, Wallias Band, Roha Band, the great Tekle Tesfazghi, Ibex band, Rezene Habte( the great guitar man), Abegaz K. Shiota, Muluken Melesse, Mahmoud Ahmed, Tesfamariam Kidane, Hagos Berhane, Getachew Kassa, Alemtsehay Wedajo, Ali Birra, Kuribachew Woldemariam, Mahmoud Ahmed, Teddy Aklilu, Tesfaye Hodew, Aster Aweke, Essatu Tessema, Mulgeta Abate, Adane Teka, Yirga Dubale, Abraham Wolde, Setegne Atenaw, Chalachew Ashenafi, Abraham Wolde, Martha Ashagari, Rahel Yohannes, Bitsat Seyoum, and Newaye Debebe.Yared was a semi-legendary Ethiopian musician of the 6th century who lived during the reign of Gabra Masqal of Axum (who succeeded Kaleb). He is credited with inventing Ethiopian Orthodox Church music and Ethiopia's system of musical notation. He is regarded as a saint of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church with a feast day of 11 Genbot (Bashans).
Sounds Like:Ethiopian music uses a Pentatonic scale, that's 5 notes scale. Ethiopian have named each of these notes, Tizita, Bati, Ambassel, Anchihoye, and Zelesegna. Three of these are found in Wello "Ethiopia" and have taken the names of Wello Districts. Illustrating the area where the scales originated. Wello is considered to be the heart of Ethiopian music and a home to some of the greatest Ethiopian singers, such as the legendary Maritu Leggesse "Bati Nigist" Bati Queen, the great Kuku Sebsbie, and Hana Shenkute. The most popular instrument used in traditinal Ethiopian music is the Massinko picture above; it's a diamond-shaped, one-stringed horsehair fiddle and the only Ethiopian instrument played with a bow. There are many great Massinko players in Ethiopia, the best Massinko player is Setegn Atenaw who's a true master of the instrument, Setengn resides in Washington DC and plays at several Ethiopian venues there. Other great players are, Adane Teka, Chalachew Ashenafi, Yirga Dubale, and many others. Another popular Ethiopian is the Kirar a harp-like traditional Ethiopian 5 string instrument, It's widely used in most traditional songs, most notably Tigray Music, the Northern regional part of Ethiopia and Eritreans used, too. Tigrigna, the language of the tribe, is a member of the semitic linguistic group and the one of the literature languages of Ethiopia. Used by missionaries as a language of preaching and prayer during the second half of the 19th centuary.
Record Label: Unsigned