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African Music Much African music is very traditional and has been handed down from father to son. At an African music concert the audience will join in by clapping, singing or playing an instrument, rather than just sitting and listening to the music quietly. African music sounds very different from European classical music. African drums are more complex than those found in Europe. Western music is usually played with the same rhythm throughout the piece. African music, however, is often played with a number of rhythms at the same time. This is known as a polyrhythmic style of music. At the heart of African singing is the “call and response” style. In this style a group of singers might sing a line which is repeated or answered by a soloist. African singers also like to put a lot of emotion into their performances as if they were acting a part. They like to shout words and male singers enjoy using their highest register known as falsetto. African instruments African instruments are often made from plants and animal products such as hide and bone. African musicians are very fond of percussion instruments and use a wide variety of drums, clappers, scrapers, gongs and xylophones. Perhaps the most famous African percussion instrument is the “talking drums” (picture on right). By loosening or tightening the cord around the body of these drums variations in pitch can be produced which are so subtle they sound like the human voice. Stringed instruments such as bows, lyres, lutes, zithers and harps are popular as well as wind instruments like whistles, reed pipes, trumpets and horns. Since the 1980’s there has been a growing interest in African music from amongst American and English record buyers. Musicians such as Youssou N’Dour from Senegal and Hugh Masekela now have an international reputation. Interest in African music received a considerable boost when Paul Simon worked with a number of African musicians on his 1987 ‘Graceland’ album. In 1994 Youssou N’Dour achieved a number 4 hit in the U.K. charts with “Seven Seconds”. Inevitably this was achieved by mixing African music with more westenised sounds. African instruments: traditional musical instruments native from africa. Lute: african guitar. Sanza: a small thumb piano in which lamellas are depressed and released to produce the sound. Balafon: xylophone with gourds as resonators. Ivory horn: wind instrument made of an elephant tusk and used for hunting. Armpit drum: drum made of wood and animal skin hold under the arm to play What am I describing? Male singers enjoy using their highest register falsetto drum made of wood and animal skin hold under the arm to play Armpit drum Collective name for drums, clappers, scrapers, gongs and xylophones. percussion instruments The most famous African percussion instrument talking drums a small thumb piano Sanza A group of singers might sing a line which is repeated or answered by a soloist call and response A number of rhythms at the same time polyrhythmic african guitar Lute xylophone with gourds as resonators Balafon wind instrument made of an elephant tusk and used for hunting ivory horn call and response Balafon talking drums Sanza percussion instruments Armpit drum ivory horn falsetto polyrhythmi c Lute Answers What am I describing? Male singers enjoy using their highest register falsetto drum made of wood and animal skin hold under the arm to play Armpit drum Collective name for drums, clappers, scrapers, gongs and xylophones. percussion instruments The most famous African percussion instrument talking drums a small thumb piano Sanza A group of singers might sing a line which is repeated or answered by a soloist call and response A number of rhythms at the same time polyrhythmic african guitar Lute xylophone with gourds as resonators Balafon wind instrument made of an elephant tusk and used for hunting ivory horn call and response Balafon talking drums Sanza percussion instruments Armpit drum ivory horn falsetto polyrhythmi c Lute In West African music all sorts of musical styles are popular. Most traditional music and instruments that are played in public, such as drums and xylophones, are played by MEN. There are folk stories to explain why this is so: they say that if a woman plays a certain instrument then she will be unable to have children. Women Two famous women who perform W. African music are Oumou Sangare Angelique Kidjo Oumou Sangare Her music is based on the traditional music of Wassopulou region, where she comes from. It is popular in the sense that many like it. The music contains the following instruments: electric and bass guitar, Kamalengoni (5 stringed youth harp), Karinyang (iron scaper), Calabash (rattle) and violin. Oumou talks about the way her songs relate to song and dance. Angelique Kidjo She was influenced by the traditional music of Benin. This consisted of long epic songs about African life, unaltered for generations. The other major influence was the new urban African music developing in the South of Africa. Baaba Maal A popular male musician. He has an ensemble which features acoustic guitar and concentrates on melody and he also works with an electric group Dande Lenol (The voice of the Race) but he has said: “even with our electronic work the influence is still African.” Family life Families provide a focus for many community activities and because of this traditional music, dancing and singing become an important part of family life. After people who live in rural communities have eaten, they may sit and talk, or sometimes they may play instruments and sing. Young children often copy music they have heard others play. Groups of very young drummers practise, on drums made out of old cans or something similar. It would be unusual to find someone who goes to a music teacher for regular lessons. Community Music On important occasions such as religious festivals, funerals or at harvest time there is always plenty of music and dancing which everyone joins in. Music provides a good way for the whole community to meet together to enjoy themselves, talk to friends and celebrate the occasion. People are proud that they have their own versions of a piece of music which is quite distinctive – they can be offended if you suggest it sounds similar to playing in the next village. Even when living in the cities, people from the same village will meet together to dance and sing. Their music becomes very important in reminding them of where they come from. TRUE or FALSE? All African music sounds similar to that which can be heard being played in the next village. FALSE. People are proud that they have their own versions of a piece of music which is quite distinctive - they can be offended if you suggest it sounds similar to playing in the next village. Young children often copy music they have heard others play. TRUE traditional music, dancing and singing become an important part of family life. TRUE Groups of very young drummers practise, on drums made out of old cans TRUE Young people go to a music teacher for regular lessons. FALSE. It would be unusual for people to go to a music teacher for regular lessons. Answers TRUE or FALSE? All African music sounds similar to that which can be heard being played in the next village. FALSE. People are proud that they have their own versions of a piece of music which is quite distinctive - they can be offended if you suggest it sounds similar to playing in the next village. Young children often copy music they have heard others play. TRUE traditional music, dancing and singing become an important part of family life. TRUE Groups of very young drummers practise, on drums made out of old cans TRUE Young people go to a music teacher for regular lessons. FALSE. It would be unusual for people to go to a music teacher for regular lessons. Rhythms If one of the main elements of western music is harmony – chords played by different instruments within the bass and melody lines – then a comparable element of West African music is rhythm. Many people think that traditional drumming in West Africa has no particular pitch. However they would be quite wrong in thinking this. Within the drum ensembles the instruments have to be tuned to quite accurate pitches in relation to each other. Most West African languages are tonal, so that by using a drum that can change pitch the drummer can imitate well known phrases that people might say. Since the sounds of the drums can carry a long way, drums are often used for ‘talking’ between people some distance apart. It is recorded that when Napoleon was defeated at the battle of Waterloo the native people in West Africa knew about it before their English or French governors because the news was drummed down the coast from North Africa. You can find the idea of pitch + rhythm = speech used in many practical and social ways. For example, because the sound of a whistle can be heard further away than shouting can, if people want to attract your attention they will whistle your name, imitating the pitch and rhythm of the words. The connection between words and music is also used to remember and describe patterns to be played on drums or other instruments. In many places there is a drum language which uses nonsense syllables which imitate the sound to be produced and tell you how to produce it. This can make it easier to remember complex rhythms. Another aspect of much West African music is that, although it has a string pulse, this may not be played as strongly as it would be in western music. Sometimes you will also find that there are several different parts playing at the same time with their own pulse. TRUE or FALSE? Drums are often used for ‘talking’ between people some distance apart. TRUE Traditional drumming in West Africa has no particular pitch FALSE. Within the drum ensembles the instruments have to be tuned to quite accurate pitches in relation to each other. One of the main elements of West African music is harmony FALSE. One of the main elements of western music is harmony By using a drum that can change pitch the drummer can imitate well known phrases that people might say. TRUE One of the main elements of western music is rhythm FALSE. One of the main elements of West African Music is rhythm Although African Music has a strong TRUE pulse, this may not be played as strongly as it would be in western music. Sometimes you will find that in African Music, there are several different parts playing at the same time with their own pulse. TRUE Answers TRUE or FALSE? Drums are often used for ‘talking’ between people some distance apart. TRUE Traditional drumming in West Africa has no particular pitch FALSE. Within the drum ensembles the instruments have to be tuned to quite accurate pitches in relation to each other. One of the main elements of West African music is harmony FALSE. One of the main elements of western music is harmony By using a drum that can change pitch the drummer can imitate well known phrases that people might say. TRUE One of the main elements of western music is rhythm FALSE. One of the main elements of West African Music is rhythm Although African Music has a strong TRUE pulse, this may not be played as strongly as it would be in western music. Sometimes you will find that in African Music, there are several different parts playing at the same time with their own pulse. TRUE Pitched Instruments of African Music Most instruments of African music have a definite pitch to the sound they produce. Instruments like bells and drums are usually carefully tuned so they can ‘talk’ to other instruments. Such instruments like the kora and xylophone can play more notes than others. The Kora ♦ Played by group of male musicians called jali of the Manding people. ♦ The kora is made for a gourd that is cut in half, with an animal skin stretched tightly across it. At the top of the gourd is a heavy stick. The strings are attached to the top and stretched down fitting into slots on either side of a bridge which is supported by the skin. ♦ The kora is used mainly to accompany praise songs, which are usually about great Manding heroes or kings. The Xylophone ♦ Also played by the Manding people, particularly in The Gambia. ♦ These xylophones are smaller and flatter than those used in Ghana and Burkina and usually have 19 bars. Both the Kora and the Xylophone have seven notes to the octave, but the tuning does not fit with the Western scale. There are different tunings, which are slightly different. The basic starting point for the kora and xylophone is the kumbengo. This is a basic pattern, which contains all the main ideas of the music, and it can be added to and varied according to the ability of the player. Small changes to the kumbengo are made to give the music interest, but more extensive ornamentation and improvisation is called birimintingo, and this usually happens when there is no vocal part. When playing a duet, usually one musician will play the birimintingo while the less experienced person keeps the kumbengo going. The kunbengo accompanies a style of singing called donkilo that means ‘call to dance’. The songs are usually quite short and often have two main phrases. Pitched Instruments of African Music Singing which the Kora accompanies, literally ‘call to dance’. Donkilo Extensive improvisation and ornamentation of instrumental music. Birimintingo Basic pattern which contains all the main themes of a piece of Kumbengo music. Medium to large vegetable like a pumpkin, which has been hollowed, out and dried and used as an amplifier. Gourd People who, today, live in Mali, Gunea, Gunea-Bissau, senegal, Gambia and north west Ivory Coast. Manding A word used outside Africa to describe families of hereditary musicians. Griot A stringed instrument made from a large gourd, with 21 strings. Jali Mandinka word for a griot. Kora Missing words Donkilo Griot Gourd Birimintingo Manding Kumbengo Kora Answers Pitched Instruments of African Music Singing which the Kora accompanies, literally ‘call to dance’. Donkilo Extensive improvisation and ornamentation of instrumental music. Birimintingo Basic pattern which contains all the main themes of a piece of Kumbengo music. Medium to large vegetable like a pumpkin, which has been hollowed, out and dried and used as an amplifier. Gourd People who, today, live in Mali, Gunea, Gunea-Bissau, senegal, Gambia and north west Ivory Coast. Manding A word used outside Africa to describe families of hereditary musicians. Griot A stringed instrument made from a large gourd, with 21 strings. Jali Mandinka word for a griot. Kora Missing words Donkilo Griot Gourd Birimintingo Manding Kumbengo Kora