Take A Musical Take A Musical Safari To AfricaSafari To Africa

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6LWUAQsB4AY

Characteristics of AfricaCharacteristics of Africa 2nd largest continent with a population of

approximately 700 million people

Geography – deserts (Sahara), rain forest jungles, mountains, rivers & lakes, & the Great Rift Valley

Mostly tropical climate

Animals – elephants, gorillas, chimpanzees, monkeys, crocodiles, rhinoceroses, giraffes, and lions

Over 800 languages and cultures

African MusicAfrican Music

Call & Response

– generation to generation

Alternates between a soloist and a group

Call (leader) changes and the response (group) remains the same

Purpose of MusicPurpose of Music

Recreation

- singing, dancing, drumming, and concerts

Rituals & Ceremonies

– celebrating

Occupational

- work songs, preparing food

Social

- child care, story telling, social games, and parties

Language

- drumming and signaling are used to send messages

Gives birth to many forms of music Jazz & Rock

African Musical style and practiceTaught and learned orally

Sing & play together easily (teamwork)

- rhythmic singing & clapping children’s games

Most common form

- call & response

Texture is complementary

- many rhythms occurring at the same time

Syncopation – off-beat phrasing

Music is part of most activities

- music and movement are linked to each other

Buzzy tone quality

History of Slavery & History of Slavery & MusicMusic

African music existed in simple and complex forms thousands of years African music existed in simple and complex forms thousands of years before white settlers came to the country.before white settlers came to the country.

Each song had a purpose and was associated with tradition, events, etc.Each song had a purpose and was associated with tradition, events, etc. African musical beats and styles have vastly influenced music in the U.S.African musical beats and styles have vastly influenced music in the U.S. By 1620s, African people had been sold to white men in Jamestown.By 1620s, African people had been sold to white men in Jamestown. By 1980s, entire economy of what would become the United States By 1980s, entire economy of what would become the United States

depended entirely upon slave work. Over 600,000 of these people were depended entirely upon slave work. Over 600,000 of these people were native Africans who had arrived to the “New World” via ship.native Africans who had arrived to the “New World” via ship.

Slave music was outlawed after it was discovered that the slaves could Slave music was outlawed after it was discovered that the slaves could communicate through their music; fear of uprising.communicate through their music; fear of uprising.

English was later adapted to many of the slave songs, creating the English was later adapted to many of the slave songs, creating the foundation for what we call “spirituals,” which were mostly about foundation for what we call “spirituals,” which were mostly about freedom.freedom.

End of 1800s: work songs & spirituals begin to evolve into other forms of End of 1800s: work songs & spirituals begin to evolve into other forms of music, eventually resulting in ragtime, soul, rhythm & blues, rock and roll, music, eventually resulting in ragtime, soul, rhythm & blues, rock and roll, scat, jazz, reggae, and rap.scat, jazz, reggae, and rap.

New perspectives on tempo, syncopation, and improvisation = New perspectives on tempo, syncopation, and improvisation = characteristic “American music” sound known worldwide today.characteristic “American music” sound known worldwide today.       

History of SpiritualsHistory of Spirituals Spirituals & Work Songs: (a.k.a. “chain gang” songs) Expression Spirituals & Work Songs: (a.k.a. “chain gang” songs) Expression

and emotional support.and emotional support. The Underground Railroad: Helped slaves escape to “free” country; The Underground Railroad: Helped slaves escape to “free” country;

songs of this period include “Wade in the Water,” “Gospel Train,” songs of this period include “Wade in the Water,” “Gospel Train,” “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot.”“Swing Low, Sweet Chariot.”

Slavery was abolished in 1865; worship in churches with roots in Slavery was abolished in 1865; worship in churches with roots in African traditions.African traditions.

1925-1985: Spirituals considered traditional songs – performed at 1925-1985: Spirituals considered traditional songs – performed at church, on stage, movies, theater, etc. 1930s – nightclubs; 1950s-60s church, on stage, movies, theater, etc. 1930s – nightclubs; 1950s-60s – Civil Rights (“This Little Light of Mine”)– Civil Rights (“This Little Light of Mine”)

First Dr. Martin Luther King Day celebrated in 1985, became a First Dr. Martin Luther King Day celebrated in 1985, became a national holiday in 1992. Since first celebration of holiday, African national holiday in 1992. Since first celebration of holiday, African American spirituals have been considered pieces of American American spirituals have been considered pieces of American heritage.heritage.

African InstrumentsAfrican Instruments

Classified into these categories

- Idiophones (main parts vibrate)

- Membranophones (membrane vibrates)

- Chordophones (Strings vibrate)

- Aerophones (Blow into instrument)

AerophonesAerophones

Musical instruments which produce their sound by using air as the principal vibrating factor: air

may be unconfined by the instrument or enclosed within a tube

Flute, Horn Trumpet, Pan Pipes, Side Blow Horn, Whistles

IdiophonesIdiophones

Musical instruments which produce sound from their own substance: can be struck, plucked,

blown, or vibrated by friction

Rattles, Bells, Sistram, Thumb Piano, Xylophone

MembranophonesMembranophones

Musical instruments which produce sound from tightly stretched membranes, either

struck or 'singing'

Drums and Tamborine

ChordophonesChordophones

Musical instruments which produce sound by means of strings stretched from one point to

another

Berimbau, Harps, Lute, Lyre, Ramkie, Valiha

African DrumsAfrican Drums

Widely Used in African Music -Communication & Celebration

Language of the drum takes years of practice

Master Drummer holds the most honored position in African societies

Bata DrumBata Drum

Nigeria

Two headed drum played with both hands or struck with a flexible piece of leather

Part of the religious life of some of the Yoruba people

Characteristics

Syncopation

Type of rhythm in which stressed sounds occur between beats instead of on beats.

Example:

Messages in Sound

Master Drummer

- Children begin studying to become master drummers at a very early age. Has the highest position in African societies

African Proverb

- Wise sayings passed down from generation to generation. Important in many parts of Africa

Griot

- Talking regional newspaper. Wandering musician/storyteller responsible for passing along news about what has happened in the community.

Harmony

Two or more pitches sounding at the same time

African Art & CultureAfrican Art & Culture

Museum of African Art

Resourceshttp://echarry.web.wesleyan.edu/africother.html

http://www.canteach.ca/elementary/africasong.html

http://home.earthlink.net/~debrajet/list.html

http://polyglot.lss.wisc.edu/afrst/outreach/k-12.html

http://www.thepothole.com/soukous/

http://www.teachers.net/lessons/posts//509.html

http://wus.africaonline.com/AfricaOnline/music/

http://wus.africaonline.com/AfricaOnline/music/Safrica.html