By: Myron, Hansen

Africa Africa is the second largest continent in this

world. It is about 30.2 million km2

Population: 1,032,532,974.Their main language is is AfricanIt is considered the oldest continent with

civilization because of the fossils found.It is a tropical country with an average of93o F

IntroductionWorld music is a general category of music

composed all around the world. Each musical piece made in different

countries will have a certain beat or tone which is peculiar to today’s ears.

It integrates all the different music cultures in the world in one immense genre.

African MusicAfrican music is an example of world music.

It has a very distinctive sound that is unique. It has brought jazz, blues and the energy of

pop to the world by the slaves in America.Traditional African music is passed down

from generations orally.

African musicDespite their diversity, traditional African musical forms share

some common traits. The emphasis is placed more strongly on rhythms than on melody and harmony.

Repetition is use as an organizing principle on top of which improvisation is built.

African music is mostly performed by groups of musicians. The most frequently used form in African musical traditions

consists of the use of repeated short musical phrases with the accompaniment of melodic-rhythmic patterns.

African music is often used to transmit messages and ideas; and to record and recount historical events. Consequently, the meaning of the texts and their relation to the music is especially important.

How is African Songs used?African music is used for rituals. Since the

African culture includes a lot of magic and Gods, songs are used in traditional ceremonies to worship Gods. Ritual songs have an Islamic influence, therefore playing notable Islamic notes.

It is used on traditional festivals, celebrations and story telling.

Songs are used to tell stories to their younger generations. The younger generations will eventually learn the music.

African Music Instruments Traditional African music relies heavily on

the instruments used. Some instrument examples that are used in

their songs are xylophones, bongo and traditional “thumb piano”.

How They Learn African MusicAn African child experiences music as an

important part of life from the very moment of birth.

Since there is little distinction between art and life in Black African culture, children's play often consists of activities involving music such as taking an empty tin, an old window frame and a piece of animal hide and constructing a 'frame-drum' as a musical toy.

African Music ComponentsForm: Ostinato, repeated short musical phrases

with the accompaniment of melodic-rhythmic patterns. leader usually sings a phrase with a chorus singing back a response

Rhythmic Structure: there are four basic elements. They are an equal pulse base, a metric time arrangement, a specific organizing principle unifying a diversity of simultaneous rhythmic patterns together, and an exact starting point for rhythmic groupings.

Texture: The texture is marked by the simultaneous sounding of two or more pitches. There are many instrumental and metric combinations. Ornamental devices are used to create additional layers. There is also movements or body percussion, such as hand clapping, foot stamping, and dance.

Polyphony: African music is often used to transmit messages and ideas, and to record and recount historical events. The meaning of the texts and their relation to the music is especially important. In the The Zulu choral music of South Africa is an example of vocal polyphony. When this music is performed, individual voices will enter at different moments in a cyclic and continuous manner, giving rise to a complex and constantly shifting texture 

 

Repetition: Most African composition is based on the repetition of a musical unit. The units are structured with great freedom relative to the main units, producing their own rhythmic pattern that coincides only occasionally with the basic pulse. For example, in the mbira music of the Shona people of Zimbabwe, there is a repeated pattern of various parts, and the musician develops an improvisation out of this pattern.

Call and response: It is a form of music composition where the a vocalist or instrumentalist will sing or play a phrase and another vocalist or instrumentalist will answer with another phrase creating a lively exchange.

 

Hocketing: The sharing of rhythmic or melodic lines between two or more players, one part resting while the other part performs a note or notes. An essential element is integration, working together and interlocking of the parts. Short groups of notes between voices, instruments and timbres is a key element in the polyphonic and polyrhythmic structure that is distinctive to much of the music in sub-Saharan Africa.

Impact of African musicAfrica has influenced folk and contemporary

music in AmericaIn Latin America and Carribea, the rhythmic

quality of African music is prevalen, the samba, the salsa and the meringueia are some music that resembles Africa

ConclusionAfrican music is a beautiful music which

relies on percussion and mainly repetition. This music influences parts of music in America, trough the slavery, travelers, and others.

Bibliography http://www.colum.edu/CBMR/Resources/Definitio

ns_of_Styles_and_Genres/Traditional_and_Contemporary_African_Music.php

http://exploringafrica.matrix.msu.edu/teachers/curriculum/m13/notes.php

http://www-sul.stanford.edu/depts/ssrg/africa/music.html

http://africanmusic.org/http://www.newtimes.co.rw/news/index.php?

i=13626&a=8790http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/

Music_of_Africa#Rhythmic_Structure