Download World Musics Western Music is based on a tradition of written

World Musics
Western Music is based on a tradition of written notation
This includes European Traditions
In most non-western cultures, the music is transmitted orally
generation to generation
20th Century Influences
The invention of the audio recorder aided the spread of non-western
music
Into the 20th century, travel becomes affordable and safe - music begins
to be spread around the world
Musical Elements in Non-Western Musics
Pitch and Scale systems
Western Scales have twelve subdivisions (1/2 steps)
Non-western often have a greater or smaller number including smaller
intervals of a 1/4 tone (microtones)
Pentatonic scale - used in South America, India, Africa, and the Middle
East uses only five notes
Harmony
Western Music: Usually a combination of melody and harmony
World Musics use “heterophony”
heterophonic texture
more than one individual playing the melody - at the same time adding
their own personal ornamentation and interpretation
Rhythm
complex, irregular and free
“polyrhythms”
two or more contrasting and independent rhythms used at the same
time
Instruments
Ethnomusicologists - people who study world musics
classify the instruments used in non-western cultures
a huge variety of percussion instruments
sparse use of brass and wind instruments
Indonesia
Southeast Asia - North of Australia
“Gamelan” - term for the music ensemble
Wide use of metallic percussion instruments like the xylophone
Elements for listening:
Repeated rhythmic patterns
speeding up and slowing down of tempo
gradual slow down to the ending
Music from China
Conceived as a system that would reflect the order of the universe
The musician-philosopher
the foundation tone (huang chung)
social, cosmological, and mystical significance
From this tone, the Chine derived 12 further tones - comprable to the 12
months of the year
Result was a culture that strove to produce these tones to absolute
perfection (Confucius)
Ancient Chinese orchestras were huge - many containing 150 players
performing on a great variety of different instruments
The result was an incredibly dense texture
Typically pentatonic Music
YouTube listening Example
India
Divided between two different traditions:
Muslim of the North and Hindu of the South
Each system uses different instruments and different naming systems
Both have the same essential idea:
Music must reflect the inherent order and majesty of the universe
creates the melodic modes called “ragas”
Each Raga - limited to a specific time of day or night
A music teacher in India is considered not only a teacher of musical skill,
but also a spiritual guide for the student
Often a student will bind himself or herself to a gura for ten years or
more - learning the elements of music
YouTube Music example
Within You Without You
Africa
Music is part of the process of everyday living
Almost all communal activities are accompanied by singing, dancing,
and drumming
Interdependent activities
Most African music is made to be heard by the God
The sacred word is communicated through drumming and music to
humans
The naming of a baby, loss of a first tooth, and other incidents in life are
accompanied and communicated with music and drumming patterns
Ewe Drum Ensembles (Ghana)
Great influence on modern composers - specifically Steve Reich
Large ensembles for ceremonial occasions
Drum section led by a master drummer, percussion sections, singers,
dancers, and a master of ceremonies
YouTube Listening