AFRICAN MUSIC

AFRICAN MUSIC

1. DRUMS

   • USES
     • MOST WIDELY PLAYED INSTRUMENT IN AFRICA
       • GETS A LOT OF RESPECT
         • "BEST INSTRUMENT"
     • ACCOMPANIMENT FOR
       • SINGING
       • DANCING
       • WORKING
     • TO CALL PEOPLE TOGETHER FOR COMMUNITY EVENTS
       • SUCH AS...
         • WEDDINGS
         • FUNERALS
         • LIKE CHURCH BELLS IN EUROPE
       • DIFFERENT DRUM BEATS FOR DIFFERENT EVENTS
   • PASSED ON THROUGH ORAL TRADITION
   • TYPES OF DRUM
     • DJEMBE
       • PLAYED WITH HANDS
         • PALM AND FINGERS
       • GOBLET SHAPED
     • DUNDUN
       • PLAYED WITH STICKS
       • DRUM SKIN AT EACH END SO PLAYED HORIZONTALLY
       • THREE TYPES
         • KENKENI
           • HIGH PITCHED
           • KEEPS PULSE GOING
         • SANGBAN
           • MID PITCHED
         • DOUNDOUN
           • LARGE
           • LOW PITCHED
     • TALKING DRUMS
       • PLAYER HOLDS UNDER ARM AND HIT WITH A BEATER
         • AN OPA
       • CAN CHANGE PITCH BY CHANGING TENSION ON THE STRINGS
       • DESIGNED TO MIMIC SPEECH

2. INSTRUMENTS

   • BALOPHON
     • WOODEN XYLOPHONE
     • PLAYED WITH BEATERS
     • DRIED GOURDS UNDERNEATH
       • GIVES WARM MELLOW SOUND
   • MBIRA/ UBO/ THUMB PIANO
     • PLAYED BY FLICKING META STICKS
     • TWANGY SOUND
   • KORA
     • 21 STRINGED
     • PLUCKED LIKE A HARP

3. RHYTHM

   • AFRICAN MUSIC BASED ON RHYTHMIC CYCLES OF DIFFERENT LENGTHS
   • DRUMMERS ACCENT PARTICULAR BEATS OF A RHYTHMIC CYCLE
   • SOMETIMES DIFFERENT RHYTHMIC CYCLES WITH ACCENTS IN DIFFERENT PLACES ARE PLAYED TOGETHER
     • POLYRHYTHMIC
   • SOMETIMES THERE ARE TWO OR MORE RHYTHMS THAT DON'T FIT EASILY TOGETHER
     • CROSS-RHYTHM
     • CREATES TENSION
   • NOTES THAT DON'T FALL ON A STRONG BEAT CAN BE EMPHASISED
     • SYNCOPATION
   • EVEN THOUGH MUSIC IS BASED ON REPEATED CYCLES
     • INDIVIDUAL PLAYERS INTRODUCE MINOR VARIATIONS
     • GRADUALLY DEVELOP THROUGHOUT THE PERFORMANCE

4. PERFORMANCE

   • CAN LAST SEVERAL HOURS
   • EACH DRUMMER WILL PERFORM SOLO AT ONE POINT
     • SOLO DRUMMER SINGS AND DANCES
   • SHOUTING AND CHEERING AND REPEATING PHRASE SUNG BY MAIN PERFORMERS IS AN INTEGRAL PART

5. KEY FEATURES

   • CALL AND RESPONSE
   • MASTER DRUMMER CONTROLS
     • PITCH
     • TEMPO
     • DYNAMICS
     • TEXTURE
   • CROSS AND POLY RHYTMS
   • ORAL TRADITION

6. VOCAL TECHNIQUES

   • IMPROVISED HARMONY
   • CALL AND RESPONSE
   • SLIDING/GLISSANDO
   • PITCH BENDING
   • ULULATING
     • ("HOWL OR WAIL AS AN EXPRESSION OF STRONG EMOTION, TYPICALLY GRIEF'')
   • CLAPPING/SHOUTING

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