World percussionist Job Verweijen and
EsperantoMusic
“...and the roots of rhythm remain” (Paul Simon – Under African
Skies)
EsperantoMusic is the name I've given to my vision on creating and
playing music.
Esperanto is the univeral language developed by Polish doctor Ludwig
Zamenhof at the end of the 19th century. It was his vision that a
simple, logical and neutral language could highly improve communication
among the peoples of the world and therefor help break down cultural
boundaries. Worldwide peace was his true goal when he developed this
language by taking elements from different language groups and fusing
them together. Although there are millions of people worldwide who speak
Esperanto, the language unfortunately never had the impact that
Zamenhoff hoped for, largely because of the dominance of the
English-American culture.
It is my belief that the last true Esperanto that is left in the world
is Music. Sincere music has the power to touch people regardless of
their culture, race, gender, religion or social status and to bring
about true communication. This is what is needed in these increasingly
harsh times.
My approach towards making music and playing percussion has always been
fueled by this vision. I’ve tried to fuse elements from around the world
in creating my own vocabulary. This has led to the development of the
Esperanto Kit, a percussion setup in which the main element is a set of
four Esperanto Drums. These hand drums were custom built and I have
incorporated elements of the Cuban conga, Senegalese Bougarabou and
cajon in them. Besides rhythm, my style of playing incorporates lots of
sound colors and melodies through small percussions and tuned
instruments like the Swiss invented Hang, Marimbula and Sansula (two
thumb pianos) and the tonga drum (a slit drum originated in Africa).
Throughout all my travels in music I’ve always held the hope that
somehow my playing will have a postive impact on the world. To use the
words of one of my inspirators:
“Good rhythm is what this world needs a lot of now, because good rhythm
is the antidote for hate.”
(Mickey Hart: drummer/percussionist for the Grateful Dead, Planet Drum
and others, researcher, author)
Instruments & Teachers
Because of my personal approach to playing and my ideas, I use
custom-built instruments from luthiers and small companies almost
exclusively. Besides that, some of the instruments I play are built or
designed by myself, like the Snaron, a snare-mechanism that I use on the
Esperanto Drums and that is being produced now by Stiggelbout Percussion
in the Netherlands.
Thanks to the following instrument builders -
it is through their works that I can express myself: Pete Engelhart
(Metal Percussion), Joe Galeota (Jag Talking Drums), Frank Giorgini (Udu
Drum), John Stannard (Om Percussion), Cabello Organic Percussion in
Brazil, Peter Hokema (Sansula), Sabine and Felix Rohrer (Panart Hang),
Schlagwerk Percussion in Germany and Stiggelbout Percussion in the
Netherlands.
Thanks to my teachers - Toon Oomen, thanks
for putting me on the path of music and for opening my eyes; Bart
Fermie, thanks my friend for your faith in me and your invaluable
lessons all these years; Jan-Luc van Eendenburg, thanks for giving me my
first lessons in latin percussion; Arto Tuncboyaciyan, thanks for
kicking my ass in Cologne and for pushing me in the right direction;
Layne Redmond, the Priestess of the Tambourine, for a great weekend and
David Kuckermann for your amazing riq lesson.