Professional Documents
Culture Documents
9
CHAPTER 2: Non-Western Music
AFRICAN MUSIC
Music—especially vocal music—is an integral part of daily life in the African
world. Practically any event of importance to an individual or to the culture as a
whole is celebrated with music. Many African languages are "tonal" (the meaning
of a word depends on the pitch-level at which it is spoken); thus, African melodies
usually follow the pitch contour of their texts. African melodies are based on
scales that are quite different from those found in the West.
A common feature of African vocal songs is "call and response," in which
the leader of the song will improvise a narrative "call" about a past or current event,
and then the group at-large will sing a repeated "response," that remains the same
throughout the song. Call and response technique eventually became an
important feature of Black-influenced popular music in the Western world.
Improvisation and intricate polyrhythms (the simultaneous combination of
two or more different rhythmic patterns) are richly abundant in African music, and
African musicians have developed these to a much higher level than usually
encountered in traditional Western musical styles.
EXAMPLE of AFRICAN "Call and Response"
Gangele Song (Song of Angola)
See MUSIC GUIDE 2 (page 14)
10
CHAPTER 2: Non-Western Music
Bonang Gender
Gongs
Gambung Saron
11
CHAPTER 2: Non-Western Music
sitar tabla
12
CHAPTER 2: Non-Western Music
Koto
Shakuhachi
Shamisen
'Ud Darabukkah
13
CHAPTER 2: Non-Western Music
2
Kamien 4-CD set
CD4/Tracks 58-59
Indonesia Kebjar Hudjan Mas—(art music from the INDONESIAN island of BALI)
This piece is played by a GAMELAN (an orchestra of Indonesian
percussion instruments). Complex POLYRHYTHMS, unusual tone
colors; rondo-like form alternates between a repetitive "circular"
melodic idea vs. slower sections with pauses. The final section of this
piece has an intensity reminiscent of modern rock music.
14