2017 Issues: January • February • March • June • September • November

November 2017 Issue

Future of Ancient Future

Help Build Our Future: Join a Campaign to Save Music
•Check Out This Video Shedding Light on the Artist's Plight in the Digital Age

Free Library Concert Series Continues After the Fires
•World Guitar Pioneer Matthew Montfort with Arabic Percussion Virtuoso Antoine Lammam or Tabla Virtuoso Vishal Nagar

Guitar Summit at Wu Wei Temple in Fairfax
•Featuring Matthew Montfort (Scalloped Fretboard Guitar) and Teja Gerken (Fingerstyle Guitar)

Beats Book Brings Bang for the Buck
•Sale Celebrates New Audio Guides and Grooves for Gizmos

Help Build Our Future: Join a Campaign to Save Music

Check Out This Video Shedding Light on the Artist's Plight in the Digital Age

By Matthew Montfort

I'm on the board of directors of the Content Creators Coalition, a nonprofit uniting artists organizing in favor of fair rates for music. We just released two funny new videos referencing Apple's "Hi, I'm a Mac" campaign that take aim at YouTube's tiny compensation for ad-supported streams and its takedown process for unauthorized usage that is basically impossible for artists to use.

But YouTube promptly responded with its own takedown of our inital video post! As Richard Morgan wrote in the New York Post, "While videos of ISIS beheadings somehow slipped past YouTube censors, the video streaming site didn’t have any problems finding a playful ad campaign by some indie musicians — and promptly pulling the plug on it." The video was later restored when it became clear that pulling the video had caused a backlash that was generating negative publicity for YouTube.

What This Means for Ancient Future's World Fusion Music Mission

The videos demonstrate one of the major difficulties Ancient Future has in continuing its mission in the digital age. For emerging artists and those in less mainstream genres, the tech industry's "creative disruption" has "elevated" artists from workers or small businesses to beggars. No doubt you see lots of requests from artists seeking support through tech solicitation hubs such as Kickstarter. Unfortunately, it has come to my attention that I am sadly lacking in my solicitation skills.

Ancient Future has been experiencing a shortfall between the income we need to support our mission and the income that comes in from concerts and recordings. I tried to make up the difference by working non-stop on the computer, but this ended up causing tendon problems. It has come to the point where I can't personally continue to put in all the business hours necessary just to keep Ancient Future going, much less to expand our reach, which is what is necessary to further the mission of world fusion music.

I have come to the conclusion that Ancient Future needs a team of volunteers, benefactors, and superfans in order for world fusion music to reach its potential for social change. Here are some things you can do to help!

Ways to Support Ancient Future in the Digital Age

Volunteer Positions Available

Ancient Future needs a Director of Solicitations, Begging, and Busking to help raise money for activities, apply for grants, and explore starting a non-profit organization to support world fusion music. Other open positions include Concert Circuit Creator (duties include developing a circuit of world fusion friendly presenters and booking concerts), Anti-Social Media Manager (duties include encouraging cross-cultural pro-social responses on the anti-social media without simply enriching said companies at the expense of artists), and Traditional Media Archeologist (duties include searching through the charred remains of the traditional media to locate the whereabouts of current media contacts to maintain our database of world fusion friendly media).

Anyone interested in stepping forward is encouraged to email info@ancient-future.com. The positions could eventually become paid ones once financial support is generated by a genius Director of Solicitations, Begging, and Busking.

Direct Donation to Subsidize Concerts

Like the symphony, Ancient Future's world music rehearsals and performances cannot be supported by ticket sales alone. Yet arts funding has been cut drastically, especially in the USA and in California, and the advancement and indeed survival of the art of music is at stake.

You can help support Ancient Future's local San Francisco Bay Area concert season, or with a big enough donation, provide seed money to get Ancient Future to perform in your local area. Tax deductable contributions can be made online.

Donate to the Archive of Future Ancient Recordings

Photo of Bui Huu Nhut Recording A.F.A.R. Photo of Abbos Kosimov Recording A.F.A.R.
Bui Huu Nhut and Abbos Kosimov Recording A.F.A.R.. Photos by Michael Braden

The concept of the Archive of Future Ancient Recordings (A.F.A.R.) is to involve fans of world fusion music in supporting the production of an archive of live and studio recordings of cross cultural collaborations. The best of these recordings will be selected to be released commercially at a "future" date, at which point they will be on their way to becoming "ancient" recordings, hence the title.

There are four supporter thank-you packages available ranging from $15 to $75, and while donations to the A.F.A.R. project are not currently tax deductible, donations of any amount are greatly appreciated! Please do what you can to support the music. Detailed information on the various supporter packages and the benefits included can be found at www.ancient-future.com/afar.html.

Live Video of A.F.A.R. Track

Watch video on Ethnocloud

Free Library Concert Series Continues After the Fires

Antoine Lammam and Matthew Montfort Library Concert Photo

Arabic Percussion Virtuoso Antoine Lammam and
World Guitar Pioneer Matthew Montfort

Tour Press Release

Ancient Future's first concerts after October's devastating Northern California fires will be in areas that were very much under threat. The fires forced the evacuation of Ancient Future percussionist Antoine Lammam, who will be performing at three of the concerts. Fortunately his home was spared. Others, including supporters of Ancient Future, were not so lucky. Our hearts go out to everyone affected. The recovery will take a sustained commitment.

These free hour long educational concerts by Ancient Future at Sonoma County libraries will introduce the audience to Indian and Arabic rhythms and feature world guitar pioneer Matthew Montfort accompanied by either Arabic percussion virtuoso Antoine Lammam or Indian tabla virtuoso Vishal Nagar.

November Concerts

Wednesday November 8, 2017, 5 to 6 PM, Ancient Future Duet with Matthew Montfort (scalloped fretboard guitar) and Antoine Lammam (Arabic percussion), Healdsburg Regional Library, 139 Piper Street, Healdsburg, CA 95448. Free.
Wednesday November 8, 2017, 7 to 8 PM, Ancient Future Duet with Matthew Montfort (scalloped fretboard guitar) and Antoine Lammam (Arabic percussion), Windsor Regional Library, 9291 Old Redwood Highway Building 100, Windsor, CA 95492. Free.

Winter Concerts

Saturday, January 6, 2018, 2 to 3 PM, Ancient Future Duet with Matthew Montfort (scalloped fretboard guitar) and Antoine Lammam (Arabic percussion), Guerneville Regional Library, 14107 Armstrong Woods Rd., Guerneville, CA 95446. Free.

'El Zaffa' by Ancient Future

El Zaffa on Ethnocloud
Video of Arabic fusion music by Ancient Future

'Yearning for the Wind' by Ancient Future

Video of Indian fusion music by Ancient Future

Guitar Summit at Wu Wei Temple in Fairfax

Photo of Matthew Montfort Photo of Teja Gerken

Featuring Matthew Montfort (Scalloped Fretboard Guitar) and
Teja Gerken (Fingerstyle Guitar)

Friday, December 8, 8 PM, Wu Wei Tea Temple, 1820 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, Fairfax, CA 94930. No cover. Suggested donation: $10 - $20.

Ancient Future leader Matthew Montfort is a pioneer of the scalloped fretboard guitar, an instrument with a modified fretboard in which the wood between frets has been carved out in order to facilitate intricate note-bending ornaments. He has released two solo CDs: Seven Serenades for Scalloped Fretboard Guitar and Sympathetic Serenade, for which he is recognized as one of the world's 100 Greatest Acoustic Guitarists by DigitalDreamDoor.com.

Teja Gerken is a contemporary steel-string fingerstyle guitarist whose playing merges the styles of European guitar pioneers such as John Renbourn and Pierre Bensusan with the distinct sounds of American players such as Leo Kottke and Micheal Hedges. Known for his original compositions, many of which employ alternate tunings, two-handed tapping, percussive effects, and other extended guitar techniques, Teja will also bring Celtic, jazz, and classical styles to the summit.

Beats Book Brings Bang for the Buck

Sale Celebrates New Audio Guides and Grooves for Gizmos

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- $46.95 (SALE $33.95): Add 1 to Cart. Buy 1 Now. Book and Enhanced Audio CD Set with MIDI files- $74.95 (SALE $53.95): Add 1 to Cart. Buy 1 Now. New Best Buy! Book & Audio Guide/MIDI Download- $69.95 (SALE $49.95): Add 1 to Cart. Buy 1 Now.

This classic "world beat bible" by Matthew Montfort takes the student on a musical voyage through the ancient rhythmic traditions of Africa, Bali, and India 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 music lovers, not just percussionists.

New Guides and Grooves

Ancient Traditions – Future Possibilities: Audio Guide and MIDI Groove Tracks from the Traditions of Africa, Bali, and India. By Matthew Montfort. Ancient Future Music (AF-0001, 2005. V 4.0, 2017). New Release! Companion MP3/MIDI Guide Tracks Download Set- $34.95 (SALE 24.95): Add 1 to Cart. Buy 1 Now. Companion Audio/MIDI Guide Tracks 2 Volume CD/CD-ROM Set- $39.95 (SALE $29.95): Add 1 to Cart. Buy 1 Now.

This new downloadable companion set of MP3 audio guide and MIDI groove tracks of the exercises in the book Ancient Traditions – Future Possibilities is set up for playback on Mac and PC computers, tablets, and smartphones. The tracks are also available on a CD/CD-ROM set. The material is presented in two complimentary formats: audio guide tracks and MIDI groove tracks.

Audio Guide Tracks

Ancient Traditions – Future Possibilities: MP3 Audio Guide Tracks. By Matthew Montfort. Ancient Future Music (2005). New Release! Companion MP3 Audio Guide Tracks Download- $24.95 (SALE 17.95): Add 1 to Cart. Buy 1 Now.

Ancient Traditions – Future Possibilities: Audio Guide Tracks is a set of 115 audio guide tracks of the exercises in Ancient Traditions – Future Possibilities that enable learning by ear.

MIDI Groove Tracks

Ancient Rhythms – Future Grooves: MIDI Percussion Groove Tracks from the Traditions of Africa, Bali, and India. Version 4.0. By Matthew Montfort. Ancient Future Music (1997. V. 4.0 2017). New Release! MIDI File Download- $24.95 (SALE 17.95): Add 1 to Cart. Buy 1 Now.

Ancient Rhythms – Future Grooves: MIDI Percussion Groove Tracks from the Traditions of Africa, Bali, and India is a complete set of 128 MIDI tracks that playback in Standard MIDI File compatible web browsers. For greater control or for use as rhythm tracks in audio productions, load them into a MIDI sequencer app (Mac, PC, iOS, Android, etc.) to loop tracks, change the tempo, or listen to individual parts. The files come arranged for General MIDI percussion and can be remapped to other instruments using the included MIDI maps.

Workshops and Skype Lessons

60 Minute Skype Lesson. $75 (Sale $60): Add to Cart. Buy 1 Now. Custom private one hour online lesson via Skype or other video conferencing service.

Matthew Montfort offers instruction based on Ancient Traditions – Future Possibilities through online lessons via Skype and rhythm workshops at conservatories, public schools, and resorts. He also offers instruction for all styles of guitar, ukulele, bass, mandolin, sitar, and other plucked instruments.

Quote

"You can view this deceptively slim masterwork from a few different angles: as a friendly yet serious appetizer on three of the most sophisticated rhythm systems on earth; a chance to work on your rhythmic sight reading; a three-culture dip with matching mp3s for your ears; a gateway to exotic spices, complete with MIDI files, for your songwriting or drumming; or a fun way to organically digest complex time signatures. No matter how you slice it, this scholarly labor of love is packed with rich flavors for those patient enough to harvest them." – E.E. Bradman, Bass Player Magazine

September 2017 Issue

Ancient Future Times: Beat's by the Books

Where's the Beat?
•West Africa, Bali, and India, birthplaces of polyrhythm, gamelan, and tala.

Ancient Future Performs Free Library Concert Series
•World Guitar Pioneer Matthew Montfort with Arabic Percussion Virtuoso Antoine Lammam or Tabla Virtuoso Vishal Nagar

Where's the Beat?

A. West Africa, Bali, and India, birthplaces of polyrhythm, gamelan, and tala.
B. Within every performer, where musical dreams are made.
C. In a rhythm training manual by Matthew Montfort called Ancient Traditions – Future Possibilities.
D. In the new companion set from Ancient Traditions – Future Possibilities: Audio Guide and MIDI Groove Tracks from the Traditions of Africa, Bali, and India.
E. Through world rhythm workshops and Skype study with Matthew Montfort.
F. All of the above.

The Answer

If you answered "all of the above," you are well on your way to finding the beat! Read on to find out how a training manual on the rhythms of Africa, Bali and India can help performers of all types reach their musical dreams, enable listeners to get more out of music, and is now bringing these ancient rhythms into the grooves of the future with the release of an audio companion edition for digital audio workstations, sequencers, computers, tablets, smartphones, CD players and other gizmos!

The Beginning, the Beat, the Book

The New Guides and Grooves

Ancient Traditions – Future Possibilities: Audio Guide and MIDI Groove Tracks from the Traditions of Africa, Bali, and India. By Matthew Montfort. Ancient Future Music (AF-0001, 2005. V 4.0, 2017). New Preview Release! Companion MP3/MIDI Guide Tracks Download Set- $34.95 (SALE 24.95): Add 1 to Cart. Buy 1 Now. Companion Audio/MIDI Guide Tracks 2 Volume CD/CD-ROM Set- $39.95 (SALE $29.95): Add 1 to Cart. Buy 1 Now.

The Audio Guide Tracks

Ancient Traditions – Future Possibilities: MP3 Audio Guide Tracks. By Matthew Montfort. Ancient Future Music (2005). New Preview Release! Companion MP3 Audio Guide Tracks Download- $24.95 (SALE 17.95): Add 1 to Cart. Buy 1 Now.

Ancient Traditions – Future Possibilities: Audio Guide Tracks is a set of 115 audio guide tracks of the exercises in Ancient Traditions – Future Possibilities that enable learning by ear.

The MIDI Groove Tracks

Ancient Rhythms – Future Grooves: MIDI Percussion Groove Tracks from the Traditions of Africa, Bali, and India. Version 4.0. By Matthew Montfort. Ancient Future Music (1997. V. 4.0 2017). New Preview Release! MIDI File Download- $24.95 (SALE 17.95): Add 1 to Cart. Buy 1 Now.

The Ewe Orchestra of West Africa

The Ewe people of the island town of Anyako off the coast of Southeastern Ghana have developed a music rich in polyrhythmic interplay, such as in the drum music of takada, a dance and drumming club developed by the Ewe women. The instruments of their percussion orchestra are detailed in the West African section of Ancient Rhythms – Future Grooves.

The Interlocking Rhythms of Balinese Gamelan

A gamelan is an ensemble normally composed primarily of percussion. In Bali, orchestras of tuned gongs, bronze kettles, bronze metallophones, bamboo xylophones, drums, cymbals, and flutes fill the night air with animated music. Melodic parts interlock, divided in such a way that musicians play alternate notes to form the melody line. These interlocking parts, known as kotèkan, require cooperation and a keen sense of rhythm to perform. The Balinese section of Ancient Rhythms – Future Grooves details the music and instruments of the Gamelan Semar Pegulingan and other ensembles.

The Rhythmic Cycles of India

The perception of the cyclic nature of life is reflected in Indian classical music through the device of tala, a recurring time-measure or rhythmic cycle. There are two different traditions in Indian classical music, the Carnatic music of South India and the Hindustani music of North India.

The tabla is a North Indian drum set comprised of two drums with goat-skin heads. For every sound on the drum there is a corresponding syllable. These syllables are known as bols. Each North Indian tala has a theka, a standard set of bols that identify the rhythmic cycle. The MIDI files of these thekas make excellent groove tracks for creating compositions or practicing. The North Indian section of Ancient Rhythms – Future Grooves features a full explanation of the tabla bols complete with audio links to tabla samples of each bol, and files for VSTi instruments and GarageBand that remap the MIDI files to the included tabla samples.

The mridangam is a South Indian two-headed barrel drum made of jackwood with goatskin heads. South Indian drumming has a language all of its own known as solkattu. For the sounds produced by the mridangam, there are corresponding syllables known as konokol. The South Indian section of Ancient Rhythms – Future Grooves features an explanation of the konokol syllables used in the solkattu compositions that are presented.

The Workshops and Skype Lessons

Matthew Montfort offers instruction based on Ancient Traditions – Future Possibilities through online lessons via Skype and rhythm workshops at conservatories, public schools, and resorts.

The Quotes

"You've heard Afro-Pop, sitar, gamelan and world music for years. But do you know what they are and how they work? Better yet, would you like to play those twisted cross-rhythms and melodies? In Ancient Traditions – Future Possibilities, Matthew Montfort, a founding member of the world music band Ancient Future, has put together the book for people who want to dig into world music with both hands. Wherever possible, Montfort has provided beat counts alongside the standard musical notation so even if you can't read music, you can still learn the rhythms." – Richard Kadrey, San Francisco Chronicle

"A hands-on exploration of Balinese, African, and Indian rhythms that should appeal to all musicians. One needn't play percussion instruments, or any instruments at all, for that matter, to use and benefit from the book." – Drums and Drumming

"Very highly recommended for any instrumentalists hoping to expand their rhythmic horizons. If you've never investigated the beautiful clash of African polyrhythm, the incredible interlocking textures of Balinese music, or the complex metric structure of Indian classical music, check out Ancient Traditions – it will blow your mind and deepen your groove." – Guitar Player

"If you're tired of programming your drum machine with the same old 4/4 back-beat, or you want to sharpen your rhythmic chops, this book is highly recommended." – Electronic Musician

The Performers

Ancient Traditions – Future Possibilities has been used and admired by many teachers and musicians around the world.

Lou Harrison (1917-2003), prominent composer and founder of the American gamelan movement, called the work "a very useful contribution to musical scholarship."

Reinhard Flatischler, founder of the TaKeTiNa rhythm training process, was an early enthusiast of the method book.

John Bergamo (1940-2013), composer and coordinator of the percussion department at the California Institute of the Arts, found a copy of Ancient Traditions – Future Possibilities when he cleaned out his desk at retirement. As he finally had the time available, he worked his way through it, after which he called the author to thank him for writing it, and encouraged him to write more world music training manuals. One is in the works.

Steve Smith, stellar jazz and rock drummer of Journey fame, went through the book in preparation for a percussion summit with tabla master Zakir Hussain.

Start your own journey to musical excellence with Ancient Traditions – Future Possibilities!

Ancient Future Performs Free Library Concert Series

Photo of Matthew Montfort and Vishal Nagar

World Guitar Pioneer Matthew Montfort with
Arabic Percussion Virtuoso Antoine Lammam or Tabla Virtuoso Vishal Nagar

Tour Press Release

One of the program variations of the trailblazing world fusion music ensemble, Ancient Future, this improvisatory duet features world guitar pioneer Matthew Montfort accompanied by either Arabic percussion virtuoso Antoine Lammam or Indian tabla virtuoso Vishal Nagar. Strains of flamenco, Arabic music, and Indian raga emanate from this duet performing renditions of music from Ancient Future's ground breaking world music recordings as well as many new unreleased works!

These hour long educational concerts by Ancient Future at Sonoma County libraries will introduce the audience to musical concepts from world music such as Indian and Arabic rhythms.