Creative Arts Grade 9

Term 2 Week 4

Music

Genres in Music ● Genres in Music refers to the different styles of music ● It allows us to classify different songs according to their properties

Reggae ● For many of us when we hear reggae music or hear about reggae, we immediately think Bob Marley,

Rastafarian and Weed – we only see one side of it ● When in actual fact there is so much more to reggae music ● Reggae music developed in the late 1960s in Jamaica, however is became clear that the genre was not

limited to Jamaica as the roots of this genre can be found in different music traditions such as: 1. West African Music 2. New Orleans Jazz (swinging, stomping, syncopated music that makes you want to dance!)3. Calypso (Afro Caribbean Music)4. Soul (music that combines elements of African-American gospel music, rhythm and blues and jazz)5. Ska (Jamaican dance music)● By the 1970s, Reggae became an internationally popular style and took on different shapes and sizes

based on where in the world it was played and performed ● However Roots Reggae was still considered the original form of Reggae music ● Artists such as Peter Tosh and Bob Marley made Roots Reggae famous and a household name. ● The lyrics used in Roots Reggae music were often about oppression and social injustice and expressed

the experiences of black people living in urban ghettos.● There were also times when the lyrics were about love and religion, specifically Rastafarian beliefs.● The Rastafarian belief is so much more than what many people assume ● The Rastafarian promotes equal rights and justice.● The use of marijuana is known for its use in rituals

Lets listen to what Reggae Music sounds like

Bob Marley

Peter Tosh

Reggae Instrumentation

● The instruments that form the foundation of a typical reggae song would be drums, electric bass, electric guitar, and keyboard. However, over the years, other instruments such as horns, brass, and afro-cuban percussion have been introduced to reggae to spice things up.

Style Characteristics ● Reggae music typically has a slow tempo● Tempo = speed ● Has a heavy 4 beat rhythm that is repeated throughout the piece ● The Reggae sound sometimes includes a “skengay“ – This is a distinctive

way of playing the guitar● “skeng“ means gun or ratchet knife, and the sound linked with gunshots

heard in the streets ● This is successfully achieved on electric instruments

Example of Political Reggae

● After witnessing police oppression in Jamaica, Bob Marley fantasized about the justifiable killing of a corrupt police officer in this song.

● People still identify with this song, especially in the context of the #BlackLivesMatter movement

Kwaito ● Kwaito is a popular style of music that developed in South Africa in the 1990s● The word Kwaito has two meanings 1. Kwaito comes from the name of a township gang, the Amakwaitos2. Kwaito is from Afrikaans slang, ‘kwaai’ which means great or excellent ● Much like Reggae Kwaito is influenced by other genres of music ● In this case it is hip hop and gangster rap ● Kwaito’s roots can be found in South African disco or bubblegum music (is pop music in a catchy and

upbeat style that is considered and marketed for children and adolescents)● In South Africa Bubblegum music was a form of pop music that was popular in South Africa in the

1980s. The sound was a distinctive mix of vocals, electronic keyboards and synthesizers.● The music sought to appeal to the younger generation of urbanised South Africans and featured

energetic beats that were easy to dance to. ● Bubblegum music borrowed from the marabi and kwela ● It was deepset in the townships ● Much like South African Bubblegum music the instruments used in kwaito music is electronic ● Kwaito musicians typically makes use of backing tapes when they perform live● Many kwaito music producers are club or radio DJs● The lyrics used are often local and only languages that are spoken in South Africa ● Kwaito music is typically sung by male singers and the females serve the purpose of being back up

dancers ● Two big names in Kwaito music is Mandoza and Zola

Lets listen to what Kwaito Music sounds like

Mandoza

Sound Characteristics ● Bares resemblance to house music but has a slower tempo than most

house songs ● Catchy repetitive melody ● Electronic instruments used exclusively

Similarities between Reggae and Kwaito

● Both genres are influenced by different music traditions ● Both genres make use of electronic instruments to achieve a desired sound ● Bothe genres often use their music to address issues of oppression and social

injustices

DRAMA

“A Piece of Earth“ Doughlas Livingstone

Possible Unfamiliar Terms

1. Duiker - a small African antelope that typically has a tuft of hair between the horns, found mainly in forests.

2. Epoch - a particular period of time in history or a person's life3. Snare - a trap for catching birds or mammals, typically one having a noose of wire or

cord4. Scorched - dried out by the heat of the sun.5. Congeals - become semi-solid, especially on cooling6. Aghast - filled with horror or shock7. Quivering - tremble or shake with a slight rapid motion8. Frenzied - wildly excited or uncontrolled.9. Wholly – entirely 10. Herbivorous – animals that feed on plants 11. Grit - courage and resolve; strength of character.12. Gnaw - bite at or nibble something persistently13. Terrain - a stretch of land

The Poet – Doughlas Livingstone ● He was born in Kuala Lumpur, but his family

moved to Natal after his father was taken prisoner during the Japanese invasion of Malaya.

● He attended Kearsney College and in 1964, he started work as a marine biologist in Durban.

● He gained two doctorates from the University of Natal; one for his scientific work and an honorary one for his poetry

● At some point in his life, he gave up the lab work in order to be out in nature and study the earth

● It was during this time that he became aware of the harsh realities occurring in South Africa, poaching being one of them

● This poem was written after Livingstone witnessed what was happening to South Africa’s wildlife

“A Piece of Earth“ Doughlas Livingstone - Questions

1. What is the poem about?2. What type of poem is ‘A Piece of Earth’ an example of?3. What is the tone of the poem? 4. Does the poem rhyme Is it a rhyming poem?5. Does the poem have enjambed lines?6. How can we add variation to the poem to make it more effective and

meaningful?

Different types of poems in drama

1. Narrative Poems – poems that tell a story 2. Praise Poems – traditional poems that praises a certain individual or group.

Typically an active poem that involves a great deal of movement and volume 3. Lyric Poems – descriptive poems that expresses a feeling 4. Sonnets – Poems written in a very formal structure

“A Piece of Earth“ Doughlas Livingstone - Answers

1. It is about the reality of poaching2. A Piece of Earth is an example of a Lyrical Poem, as the poet tells a

story in a very descriptive way 3. The tone of the poem is sad/sombre 4. No, the poem does not rhyme 5. Yes, the poem has enjambed lines that require the correct reading

treatment.

Achieving Variation ● In drama when presenting a poem it is your duty to bring the poem to life and keep your audience

intrigued ● You can achieve this by just using your voice ● Expressing a poem clearly will make the poem more interesting to listen to ● Variation is achieved in one of three ways namely:1. Pace (fast – slow)2. Pitch (high – low )3. Volume (loud – soft)

Pausing is a useful tool when reciting and performing a poem. Learning how to pause correctly has many advantages such as:Increasing dramatic tension in your performance Increasing clarity of meaning in your performanceAllowing the audience time to understand what you are saying Giving you a chance to breathe

There are many kinds of pauses in drama, however we will only be looking at five namely:Grammatical pause – indicated by punctuation marks such as a comma, full stop Emphatic pause – used before or after a word to emphasise an important word Emotional pause – used to highlight emotions, like anger or hurt Dramatic pause – used to give dramatic effect by pausing Caesura – used in the middle of a line of poetry to prevent a predictable delivery