Music of Africa and the Middle East

A Cultural Legacy

Music in the Life of Sub-Saharan Africa

• It is an essential part of everyday life• Rhythm-based, even when played on melodic

instruments• Besides entertainment music plays a role in…– Religious rituals– Motivation for manual labor– Teaches children through fables– Empowers dance ceremonies– Recording historical events and geneology

Musical Complexity

• Extremely complex, whether in melody or rhythm– Not unusual for a musician to play as many as

three melodies on an instrument…and sing a fourth!

– Each player may play a different rhythm, with different accents• This is called polyrhythm

Dance

• Dance is a fundamental part of African society– Far more important than

in western society– May be used to show

grief at a funeral– Concert-goers may get

up on stage and dance to show appreciation

Uganda http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=icaalWWv7QY

“Akaliba Kange”– By James Makubuya

Ensemble

In this traditional song from Uganda, a brother warns his sisters to stop playing tricks on him by hiding his dancing clothes.

• Response:– How would you describe

the structure of this song? How do the different parts of the song interact?

Roles in musical ensembles

Men and boys• Drums and melodic

instruments

Women and girls• Percussion instruments like

rattles and scrapers• Often layer precise hand

clapping• Respected for singing

abilities– Women often perform at

festive and ceremonial events

Improvisation

• Performing without preparation– Both for percussion and

melodic instruments– Lead performer often

gives the signals– Often lyrics may be

improvised to make special note of people in the audience

Oral Tradition

• Musicians do not learn by reading written music nor practicing scales– Practice together in

family groups– Often born into “griot”

families• Originally, griots were

historians to kings in West African courts

Gambia http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=trdP_1lE-U0

“Improvisation”– By Yan Kuba Saho

This is a short excerpt of an improvised song played on the Kora, a 21 string harp from West Africa

• Response:– When we think of Africa

we, often call to mind drums and percussion, yet the instrument used to play this piece is a harp. How would you say the technique of playing this African Harp differs from the sound of a harp you would hear in a symphony orchestra

Drums

• Wide variety• Often use call-and-

response• Talking drum– Pressure on strings

causes tighter skins and higher pitches

– Combinations can be used to communicate

Ghana http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xcUUMyNjyxs

“ Osoleo”– By Obo Addy and

Kukruda

This melody has been adapted from a traditional Ghanaian children’s song. It combines African talking drums and vocals with a contemporary electric flavor

• Response:1. Why might the

beginning of this song sound familiar to you?

2. What characteristics point to the fact that this song is from another land, specifically Africa?

Other Instruments• Flutes, panpipes,

ocarinas, whistles, nose flutes

• Wind instruments in regions with Islamic traditions

• Trumpets and horns– Animal horn, wood, or

dried gourds• Wooden xylophone

– Balafon

• Stringed instruments– Lyres

• Early East African krars and ndongos are probably models for the American banjo

– Harps • Kora

• Mbira– thumb piano

Ethiopia http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rwalHEz4SqA

“Babure”– By Seleshe Damessae

This song blends a traditional krar (an ancient lyre from Ethiopia) with a modern feeling and singing style.

• Response: 1. Which parts of this

song are “catchy” and easy to remember?

2. Do you think the musician is strumming the strings with a piece of wood or with his fingers? Explain your answer.

African Music today

• Most Africans are familiar with American and European popular musicians

• Western instruments are common in African popular music– Though traditional

instrument s continue to be important

Artists today

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_kqCzF4GASo

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DNTQ16mJNLk&feature=topics

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AgYhTTZXP4g

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uiB6vT5HT3U

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iIyyPsqRweE

Nigeria http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PUrL3QYj68Y

“Omoge Super”– By I.K. Dairo and his Blue

SpotsThis is a song about a man

who wants to be married to his girlfriend. He is ready to pay a dowry for this beautiful woman.

• Response:1. One of the main

instruments in this song is the accordion. How do you think the accordion became popular in Nigeria?

2. Which European nation colonized Nigeria?

Music of North Africa and the Middle East

• Many ethnic, religious, and linguistic groups– Arabic, Persian and Turkish

predominate• Arabs (A.D. 750-1250) and

Turks (A.D. 1325-1918) have ruled large Empires in this region

• Islamic culture predominates

– Berbers, Kurds and others exist as minorities

• Outside influences– Central Asia, India and

Europe

Melody• Each melody is based on a melodic mode.– In Arab and Turkish tradition maqam (makam)– In Persian system dastgah– There are hundreds; a good musician is expected to

master at least 20.• Unlike our 12-note scale, the maqams have 17.– This gives notes between the white and black keys– These pitches are called semitones or microtones and

are a notable characteristic of the Region’s music.– Makes music seem more expressive

• No use of harmony

Turkey http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kIcuY41oTe0

“Kurdili Hicaskar Fasli”– By Necdet Yasar

EnsembleThis is a Turkish musical

form called fasil. The piece itself is more than 20 minutes long and features a singer and a full orchestra

• Response:1. As soon as the singer

begins, do the other instruments play different notes or the same notes as the singer?

2. Is there any harmony in this piece or do all instrument basically play the same melody in unison?

Rhythm

• A complex system of cycles incorporating combinations of strong and weak beats– In Western music, it is common to have the first

beat strong and the rest weak.– In Middle Eastern Music, you might group a eight

beat bar into 3+3+2, 4+4, or 2+4+2 pattern with the first beat of each group strong

– Uneven patterns lead to an exciting flavor and propels the music forward

Armeniahttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lo-_IaxLt98

“Tamzara”– By The Ara Topouzian

EnsembleThis song is a modern variation

of a traditional dance melody from Armenia.

• Response:1. A common rhythm in

Western music has eight beats. This song has a different number of beats, however. If you lightly tap the beat in steady intervals, occasionally one of your taps will “miss” the beat. How many beats do you think this song has?

2. At the end of the song, after all the instruments finish playing the song together, what does the lone clarinet do?

Instruments• Fretless stringed

instruments are common to produce the semitones– Oud (‘ud) has a pear-shaped

body with up to 10 strings• Angled neck• Played with a feather quill or

plectrum of bone, horn, or wood

– Sintir (gnibri) is descended from ancient Egypt.

– Lutes such as the saz from Turkey and the setar of Iran have long slender necks and produce a light buzzing sound

– A zither is a flat stringed instrument with as many as 30 strings

– Others-kanoon and santur• Drums

– Dumbek (tombak) metal or ceramic body for sharp sound

– Wide range of tambourine-like instruments and finger cymbals

• Nay-an end-blown flute with a very breathy tone

Morocco http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQfShODZnwQ&feature=related

“Wa yay yay Saadiya”– By Hassan HakmounThis is a traditional song

used in religious ceremonies. The main instrument is a sintir, a three-stringed, skin faced lute

• Response:– Listen to the entire song. The

bass-like instrument you hear is the sintir. What other sound can you identify, and what is producing them?

Instruments

Iranhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y5NVpYjl-Ls

“Neyriz”– By Jalal and Soheil

ZolfonunNeyriz is a traditional song

from Iran

• Response:1. How many instruments

do you hear playing?2. Notice that there are

short passages of silence in this piece. Describe in your own words, the effect this silence has on the listener and on the song.

Middle Eastern Music Today

• In the Arab world, large orchestras may combine traditional and Western classical instruments

• Western pop and rock have influenced younger generation to help bring about new fusions.– Rai- a popular contemporary form in North Africa

Israelhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ej1_hjyLkBc&feature=related

“Trance”– By Yair Dalal and the Al Ol

EnsembleThis is a mixture of Jewish

and Arabic music, based on a Turkish folk tune in which clarinet improvisation is dominant.

• Response:– We know that in music of

North Africa and the Middle East there are generally no chords. While the clarinet is playing his solo, all the other instruments are playing a drone of a single note. In your own words, what kind of effect dos this have on the music and the listener?