Repetition, Improvisation, Polyphony, Cyclic structure, Call and Response
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What are the 3 strands of African music?
Drums , Choral song (tribal music), Instrumental music (played by melody instruments)
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How are the pieces of music taught and passed on?
By ear/ oral tradition
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What are the names of the drums used?
Djembe (goblet shaped, west-african), Dundun (double headed drum,played with sticks), Donno ('talking drum',hourglass shaped, played underarm with hand), Bara (small drum made of a gourd and stretched goats skin)
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What is the Balafon?
A pitched percussion instrument (like an African Xylophone) with gourds to amplify the sound it makes
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What other instruments are used?
Kora (african harp), Balafon (African xylophone with gourds to amplify sound), Vocals (a Soloist and Choir)
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What makes the song good for dancing?
Has a strong, regular pulse, sounds major/happy (as it uses a pentatonic scale)
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What is the tempo of the piece?
It stays the same throughout, 90-110 bpm
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How is the music moved onto the next section (as there is no exact structure)
The 'master drummer' uses eye contact to communicate when the other players should move onto he next section
Has a clear pulse, Drums play Ostinato, Choruses and Balafon solos alternate, in very middle there is a vocal solo with call-and-response between the soloist, and the balafon and chorus
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What happens in the Coda?
A short phrase is repeated 5 times (but varied each time) on the Balafon, The Drum Ostinato is interrupted by rests, a Bell is sounded to mark the end of the piece
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What key is Yiri in?
G♭ major (established by balafon)
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What is the texture?
Starts Monophonic (just Balafon), Then 2nd balafon plays mainly in Octaves with some different pitches making in Heterophonic
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How does the texture change?
Solo call and Choral responses in call and response, Texture developed in Chorus B1 where soloists and instruments have dialogue
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What is the harmony of the piece?
Stays close to G♭ major, using D♭ a lot (the dominant note), Chorus sing in Unison and use Pentatonic scale
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How are the Balafon and Choral parts similar during the Call and Response?
They play falling phrases, which emphasise the G♭ and D♭ notes.
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What are the dynamics?
there is very little variation. It starts soft, and increases as more instruments are added
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What are Cross Rhythms? (used throughout the whole piece)
Instruments play different, contrasting note durations (e.g 2/2 and 3/2 at the same time)
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How is the piece 'Polyrhythmic'?
The drum Ostinati are different and played at the same time, sometimes using Rhythmic fills, creating layers of different rhythms
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