Sub Saharan music
One big part that I see in African music is the call and response. Ideally where someone calls a first line or something of that sort, then gets a response from the group of people. This is something I think is very popular in a lot of music with black roots inside of it,because it is something that gets the audience into the music
One next thing I noticed was how they love to have percussive instruments shown in their music. Such as drums and different kinds of shakers that they all loved to use to enhance their music. Although this next video is long. I think it does truly show how evident and important the use of a rhythmic instruments are in the culture and music of Africans. Especially in the music of Zulu that is shown below. In this you will notice a lot of natives wearing cultural clothing and also doing dances that go along with the music. Although it is only audio you hear how the drums are making a lot of melody along with shakers and bells in the back accompanying.
The point you made about call and response getting involved in the music is very true. i had never thought about it before but call and response music definitely makes me excited as an audience member. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to the Zulu drum music. It's interesting to hear all the different rhythmic ideas going on at the same time and see how all the individual pieces come together to make one unique musical soundscape. I also enjoyed listening to Yesu Wena because of it's gospel lyrics combined with the upbeat percussion and harmonies.
ReplyDeleteIt was really neat to see how the traditional African music blended with gospel music. A lot of gospel music also utilizes call and response; it makes sense that the two genres would mix well. Call and response is so good at getting a group to be responsive and enthusiastic and that's honestly ideal for religious music, don't you think?
ReplyDeleteJordan- It was nice to see you bring attention back to the call-and-response structure that exists in so many forms of African music. The video included was a perfect example of this structure and how the audience is just as important as the main 'vocals' and dancers. It was also interesting to hear African Gospel in that by using the same words in their native language and then adding their own style of harmony, percussive elements and that same call-and-response structure as seen in older styles of music.
ReplyDeleteI think call-and-response as a whole is an incredible form of music. I use a lot of those types of songs when teaching children, and I love doing it because I get to hear a sea of voices repeat after me. I also love percussion instruments. Listening to the different rhythms in each culture creates clear differences in their sound. It makes music sound unique. The Zulu song has that sound, being syncretic. And hey! The singers are 'responding' to the 'call' of the drums! How full circle! There are many layers to the sound and I love listening to it. Thank you for sharing this music.
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