Haymanot Tesfa performing by Goat Ledge on Tuesday 30 July – Songwriter #4

Ethiopian krar player and singer Haymanot Tesfa visits St Leonards-on-Sea for a one-off performance on the beach next to Goat Ledge on Tuesday 30 July. She talks to Jude Montague ahead of her visit.

The music I play is based on Ethiopian traditional music. As an artist playing the instrument and singing is like painting, as they won’t be exactly the same every day, even if it is the same song I’m playing, they come out differently. I play in my own way because I love improvising.

Some of the songs that I play are well known traditional songs that were played by many. One of the music for example Ambassel is about the beautiful places in Ethiopia and also it is also one of the four modes in Ethiopian music. It is an iconic song that never gets old. Maybe I can include the whole translation of the lyrics in English if that helps of giving an idea.

All the songs are in Amharic. And Amharic is an ancient language and it is one of the most widely spoken languages in the nation.

Krar is a six-string instrument from Ethiopia. And it can be played by plucking or strumming. The way I play is plucking. You can learn how to play krar if you only believe in the day-to-day practice of course. There are four modes in tuning such as Tizita, Ambassel, Batti and Anchihoye. And the Tezeta and Batti have major and minor versions. I play krar most of the time to accompany the voice.

The song Ambassel is about the beautiful town of Gishen, known for its honey and holiest monastery called Gishen Debre Kerbe where it is believed the right wing of the true cross was buried there. It was given to the Ethiopian Orthodox Church as a gift by first Christian empress of Rome St Helena after its discovery in fourth century in Israel.

‘mar’ – honey
‘ mar’ also means to forgive

Ambassel

…the bees are buzzing around Ambassel
if one seeks for honey (mar), a cure can be done.

‘mar’ honey- as it is used as medicine
‘mar’ also means forgiveness

The memory of Ambassel, the horse the carriage
The memory of Ambassel, so hypnotic like
One wouldn’t know if it’s coming or going

They say it’s Ambassel loves for one and dies for one
They say Gishen Debre Kerbe is Ambassel
The symbol of that love, half the true cross

The monk of Ambassel – day and night with bees
Sermons to his lord – day and night with the bees
“Please forgive” he prays, “Please forgive, please forgive” (mar- mar- mar)

Watch Ambassel for me, watch it quickly
I’m so unsettled, my heart searching for love
Leaving its memory, on my memory

When you get near Gishen it’s named Ambassel
‘Teleyayen’ (separated by) is the river, holy water of Gold!

Gishen monastery is separated from Ambassel by a river that is also named ‘separated’ or ‘teleyayen’, it is also a holy water as it is near the church with half the cross.

Translated by Mekdes

Haymanot Tesfa will be playing and singing on Tuesday 30 July on the beach near Goat Ledge at 5-7pm.

In case you don’t know, Goat Ledge is a cafe (TN37 6FA) situated between Warrior Square and the sea. However it actually relates to a nearby rock formation in the sea itself that emerges at low tide.

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