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African Music

The music from sub-Saharan Africa

Drums play a big part in African culture.

Used as accompaniment to dancing, singing and working.

Also used to call people together for community events (weddings etc). There are different beats for different occasions.

The music is passed on through ORAL TRADITION.

Drum playing techniques

1.You can play the drums with a STICK.

2.Or you can use your HANDS;

•slap – hit the edge of the drum with your fingers splayed open

•tone – hit the edge of the drum with the fingers held together

•bass – hit the centre of the main drum skin with a flat hand.

3.DAMPENING where you rest one hand on the drum while you play.

4.Some drums can CHANGE PITCH by tightening the skin.

5.Strike the WOOD instead of the skin.

The Master Drummer leads the group

In most African ensembles there is a master drummer. He’s accompanied by any number of other drums and percussion.

A system of CALL AND RESPONSE is used to structure the music.

The master drummer controls the build up and release of tension. He also leads changes in dynamics, tempo, pitch and rhythm.

Rhythms in African Music

•African Music is based on rhythms of varying lengths.

•Drummers accent particular beats in a rhythmic cycle.

•Different rhythms with different accents can be played together – called POLYRHYTHMS.

•Sometimes you’ll hear two rhythms together that don’t quite fit – called CROSS-RHYTHMS.

•The rhythms use a lot of SYNCOPATION.

•Individual players play their own minor variations to the piece.

Performances are long and involve the audience. They will shout, cheer and repeat a phrase sung by one of the performers.

They may even be the ‘response’ in the call and response.

Singing in African Music

Singing is an essential part of everyday life in sub-Saharan Africa. It’s sung by ordinary people and plays an important part in the community.

Singing is often heard at celebrations and events e.g. weddings, funerals, harvests and rituals.

The traditional songs are passed from generation to generation.

‘Yiri’ by Koko

African Music falls into three main areas:

· Drumming

· Choral Song (tribal singing)

· Instrumental music

All feature in this set work.

Common features of African Music

· Repetition = the restatement of a section of music, can be a few notes or a whole section.

· Improvisation = music is made up spontaneously.

· Polyphony = two or more independent parts that weave in and out of each other. A multi-layered texture.

· Call and response = usually a solo followed by a group answering phrase.

Oral tradition = music that is learned by listening and repeating, and passed on orally from generation to generation (not written down).

Cross-rhythms = rhythms that literally cross the pattern of accented and unaccented beats creating irregular accents and syncopated effects.

Tone languages = in African music, languages made up of only a few pitches, called tone languages. The pitch level determines the meaning of the words.

Common features of African songs:

· Call and response

· Short melodies, often repeated. Ostinato.

· Simple scales. Often only 4, 5, or 6 notes.

· Improvisation

· Rounds = voices enter at different points in a continuous cycle. Creates an overlapping and ever-changing musical texture.

· Harmony = varies between tribes. Can be parallel (4ths, 5ths) or unison or octaves, or even more complicated parts.

Common features of African instrumental music:

Membranophones = posh name for drums because they have a skin.

Balaphones = xylophone type instruments.

· Repetition (including ostinati)

· Improvisation

· Cyclic structures

· Polyphonic textures

· Intertwining melodies

Our set work!!!! Finally. . . . . . .

Has three clear strands:

1. The balaphone ostinati – in combination these produce a complex polyphonic texture.

2. The drum ostinati – they play a relentless one-bar pattern.

3. The vocal line – a simple pentatonic call and response structure.

There are some constant features of the music:

· The tempo doesn’t change

· The beat is regular and unvarying

· The drum ostinato persists throughout the music

· The pattern of voices followed by instrumental breaks

· The dynamics are largely constant.

Check out the BBC bitesize notes on this set work.