Monophonic
The texture at the start of Yiri – One single Balafon playing
Heterophonic
The texture in Yiri when the second balafon joins, playing a similar melody
Polyrhythmic
Many rhythms playing at once
Syncopation
Off beat rhythms
Cross Rhythms
Rhythms in different time signatures played at the same time
Ostinato
Repeating patterns, could be a rhythm or a melody
Pentatonic scale
A five notes scale – used by the vocals in Yiri
Hexatonic Scale
A six note scale used by the Balafons
Call and response
melodic device in which one instrument plays a melodic question, and another gives a melodic answer
Tremolo
Fast alternation between two notes. Seen on the Balafon
Improvisation
Making up music on the spot
Aural tradition
Learning music by ear, passed down between generations
Djembe
A common African drum
Talking Drum
An African drum which you squeeze to create different pitches