Social Characteristics of West African Music |
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a) African music is functional.
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b) Music is organized as part of all social events.
c) Dance and music are inseparable.
d) There are no spectators in West African society.
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Jazz
Funk
Rap
Rock
Latin Music
Brazilian Music
Raggae
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a) African music is not written but memorized and learned by rote.
b) Musicians play an important role in African society
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“Self-Pounding” African Instrument
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Rhythmic Idiophones
(What Kind of rattles do they have and what do they do?)
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Played by being shaken, or rattled.
Primary rattles: Held in the hand and played.
Secondary rattles: Worn on the body and activated by body movements.
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Cultural heritage brought from Africa by the slaves was freely maintained for a longer period of time on the Islands and
in South America. This was due to…
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a. Absentee landowning.
b. A lack of interest in leisure activities.
c. Frequent influxes of new arrivals from Africa.
d. High proportion of blacks to whites
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• Jamaican work song
• Steady rhythm after a slow intro.
• Song has a functional nature.
• Call and response form
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• Jamaican work song.
• Call and response form.
• Rhythm is syncopated.
• Strong accents.
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• In the 1600’s slavery was given legal sanction.
• The specific system of slavery varied from colony to colony.
• The lives of slaves were governed by these systems
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Northern Colonies Slavery |
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• Slavery was limited by legislation and existed on a very small scale.
• Slaves generally lived and worked alongside their masters
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Southern Colonies Slavery |
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• Slaves social environment was governed by farms and plantations.
• Slaves had limited contact with slave holders.2
• They were able to develop their own social structure within that environment.
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• Music was multi-functional.
• In the early days it was more African than American gradually transforming into African-American forms.
• No distinction between sacred and secular music.
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Characteristics of work songs |
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• Mainly rhythmic to accompany work.
• Short phrases.
• Solo and chorus follow each other instantly (call and response).
• African music.
• Words and music improvised.
• Work songs remained relatively untouched by European Influence
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• “Ain’t I Right”
• “Carrie Belle” (boatman’s song)
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• The earliest of African-American songs
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Characteristics of African-American Vocal aesthetics |
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• Use of falsetto.
• Use of Vibrato.
• Tone quality not “pure”.
• Use of slides and note-bending
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Examples of Field Hollers |
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• “Hallie, Come On!” (woman’s field holler)
• “Chickens Done Crowed” (sunrise holler)
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• Children’s lullaby.
• Notes are swung.
• Very strong rhythm adds to swing feel.
• Scoops and slides in the voice add another dynamic to the song
*Recreational Secular Song
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• Children’s pattin’ song.
• Hambone is the art of percussion you create by slapping your thighs and chest in rhythm.
• Call and response used
*Recreational Secular Song
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• Same vocal techniques used.
• Vocal range is expanded.
• Call and response between voice and guitar.
• Guitar uses the same techniques as the voice
*Blues
*Recreational Secular Song
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