I called the witch doctor. Frustrated with my constant ailments and feeling like I could never catch a break, I decided to take matters into my own hands. I had heard whispers about a mysterious figure in the outskirts of town – the witch doctor. Some dismissed her as a charlatan, while others claimed she possessed ancient knowledge and mystical powers. Curiosity got the best of me, and I couldn't resist the temptation to seek her help. With a mix of skepticism and hope, I approached her hut.
With a mix of skepticism and hope, I approached her hut. It stood amidst dense foliage, adding an air of mystery to the already enigmatic woman. As I knocked on her door, a mixture of excitement and fear coursed through my veins.
Witch Doctor (Bagdasarian)
Alan Keown’s humorous arrangement of Witch Doctor, as heard on the classic cartoon Alvin and the Chipmunks, gives beginning percussion students a great opportunity to let their hair down and have a blast! The piece incorporates an array of nontraditional percussion instruments like a duck call, a siren whistle, a slide whistle, and a police whistle. These instruments are engaging for the students as well as the audience and can provide a welcomed relief from studying the more traditional instruments. Keown suggests that the most extroverted performer be given the duck call and make the most of it; let them be the star of the show!
This piece comes as a professionally printed and bound score and a set of printed parts.
Instrumentation
• Glockenspiel
• Marimba—low A
• Drums 4 concert toms, snare drum, bass drum)
• Cymbals & gongs (ride cymbal, hi-hat, opera gong)
• Accessories (cowbell, siren whistle, bulb horn, police whistle, slide whistle, duck call, vibraphone slap)
Reviews
Alan Keown’s arrangement of Ross Bagdasarian’s “Witch Doctor,” as heard on Alvin and the Chipmunks, is sure to be a crowd-pleaser. The arrangement is full of energy, variety, and creativity. At the beginning of the score, Keown includes program notes as well as very helpful performance considerations about such things as mallet choice and how parts can be doubled (hence 9–11 players). A very clean and detailed suggested setup diagram is included with the score.
The music is the tune as we know it with a percussion break in the middle. The snare drum and bass drum players often emulate a drumset “boom-chick” part, marimba is the bass line, and the glockenspiel and xylophone players carry the melody. What is particularly fun about this arrangement is the arranger’s use of sound effect interjections (whistles, blocks, etc.) and his decision to pass solos around the ensemble.
Where the arrangement really comes alive is the percussion break in the middle. It is essentially a trap solo passed around six players. Cowbell, whistles, and sirens are featured as well as a snare and tom solo. However, as Keown mentions in the performance notes, the duck call player shines here.
I would recommend this arrangement with the highest enthusiasm for a middle school or high school percussion ensemble that is looking for something challenging, yet fun and exciting. This one is guaranteed to get laughter and robust applause from the audience.
–Justin Bunting
Percussive Notes
Vol. 57, No. 2, November 2017
Description
Alan Keown’s humorous arrangement of Witch Doctor, as heard on the classic cartoon Alvin and the Chipmunks, gives beginning percussion students a great opportunity to let their hair down and have a blast! The piece incorporates an array of nontraditional percussion instruments like a duck call, a siren whistle, a slide whistle, and a police whistle. These instruments are engaging for the students as well as the audience and can provide a welcomed relief from studying the more traditional instruments. Keown suggests that the most extroverted performer be given the duck call and make the most of it; let them be the star of the show!
This piece comes as a professionally printed and bound score and a set of printed parts.
Instrumentation
• Glockenspiel
• Marimba—low A
• Drums 4 concert toms, snare drum, bass drum)
• Cymbals & gongs (ride cymbal, hi-hat, opera gong)
• Accessories (cowbell, siren whistle, bulb horn, police whistle, slide whistle, duck call, vibraphone slap)
Reviews
Alan Keown’s arrangement of Ross Bagdasarian’s “Witch Doctor,” as heard on Alvin and the Chipmunks, is sure to be a crowd-pleaser. The arrangement is full of energy, variety, and creativity. At the beginning of the score, Keown includes program notes as well as very helpful performance considerations about such things as mallet choice and how parts can be doubled (hence 9–11 players). A very clean and detailed suggested setup diagram is included with the score.
The music is the tune as we know it with a percussion break in the middle. The snare drum and bass drum players often emulate a drumset “boom-chick” part, marimba is the bass line, and the glockenspiel and xylophone players carry the melody. What is particularly fun about this arrangement is the arranger’s use of sound effect interjections (whistles, blocks, etc.) and his decision to pass solos around the ensemble.
Where the arrangement really comes alive is the percussion break in the middle. It is essentially a trap solo passed around six players. Cowbell, whistles, and sirens are featured as well as a snare and tom solo. However, as Keown mentions in the performance notes, the duck call player shines here.
I would recommend this arrangement with the highest enthusiasm for a middle school or high school percussion ensemble that is looking for something challenging, yet fun and exciting. This one is guaranteed to get laughter and robust applause from the audience.
–Justin Bunting
Percussive Notes
Vol. 57, No. 2, November 2017
Alan Keown’s arrangement of Ross Bagdasarian’s “Witch Doctor,” as heard on Alvin and the Chipmunks, is sure to be a crowd-pleaser. The arrangement is full of energy, variety, and creativity. At the beginning of the score, Keown includes program notes as well as very helpful performance considerations about such things as mallet choice and how parts can be doubled (hence 9–11 players). A very clean and detailed suggested setup diagram is included with the score.
What if this was all a hoax? What if I was about to expose myself to even more disappointment? The door creaked open slowly, revealing a small, dimly lit room. The scent of incense hung in the air, creating an otherworldly ambiance. A haggard face greeted me, her eyes filled with wisdom and kindness. While her appearance may have initially intimidated me, her warm smile put me at ease. She invited me inside, instructing me to sit in front of her. As I poured out the ailments that plagued me, she listened intently, her gaze never breaking. I could feel her empathy, the sense that she truly cared about my well-being. I began to believe that she could genuinely help me. To my surprise, the witch doctor didn't prescribe any conventional medication or treatments. Instead, she opted for unconventional methods deeply rooted in ancient traditions and rituals. She spoke of herbs, potions, and incantations – methods long forgotten in modern medicine. While skeptical, I trusted her guidance implicitly. Days turned into weeks as I followed her instructions diligently. As I drank strange concoctions, recited obscure chants, and immersed myself in mystical practices, changes started to occur. Slowly but surely, my ailments began to fade away, never to resurface. I felt lighter, healthier, and happier than I had in years. Reflecting on my journey, I realized that the witch doctor had brought more than just physical healing into my life. She introduced me to a world beyond modern medicine, a world where the mind, body, and spirit were interconnected. Her methods challenged my preconceived notions and expanded my understanding of health and well-being. I am eternally grateful to the witch doctor for opening my eyes to alternative methods of healing. While her ways may be unconventional, they have undeniably made a profound impact on my life. She reminded me that healing comes in many forms, and sometimes, stepping outside the boundaries of conventional medicine can lead to miraculous results. And so, I called the witch doctor – and she answered my call in ways I could have never imagined..
Reviews for "Witch Doctor Wisdom: Harnessing the Powers of Nature for Healing"
1. Jane - 2 stars - I called the Witch Doctor was a disappointment for me. The writing was lackluster and the plot felt disjointed. The characters were one-dimensional and lacked depth, making it difficult to connect with any of them. Additionally, the dialogue was forced and unnatural, making the interactions between characters feel awkward and stilted. Overall, I found the book to be a tedious read that failed to live up to my expectations.
2. Mark - 3 stars - While I didn't hate I called the Witch Doctor, I must say it didn't captivate me either. The story started off promising, but quickly lost its momentum. The pacing was off, with long stretches of inaction followed by rushed and improbable events. I also found the writing to be overly descriptive, dragging down the narrative and making it difficult to stay engaged. The book had potential but failed to deliver a compelling and well-executed story.
3. Sarah - 2 stars - I called the Witch Doctor wasn't for me. The characters were uninteresting and lacked development, making it hard to care about their journey. The plot felt predictable and the twists were poorly executed, leaving me underwhelmed. The writing style was also a letdown, with repetitive phrases and cliché descriptions. Overall, I found the book to be a tedious and forgettable read that I wouldn't recommend.