AFRICA 👎👎 Flashcards
What key is Verse 1 in?
B major
What is the chord progression used after the introduction?
A A G#m C#m C#m
Describe the melody heard in the instrumental section
Based on Riff B
Descending
Use of B major pentatonic scale
Describe the vocal melody heard in the chorus
Syncopated rhythms
Syllabic
Melismatic
Only uses two notes
What is the verse chord progression?
B D#m G#m B/F# A/E E/F G#m A G C
Bach dies gorbachev backs friedrich and every English fellow gathers another grand composer
What is the key of Africa ?
Totally ambiguous A major
How many times is the chord progression heard in the introduction?
4
Identify four musical features of soft rock in Africa
Homophonic
Fast tempo
Predominantly uses major keys
Pentatonic scale
Melody generally simple
Use of riffs
Identify three ways that synthesisers are used in the introduction of Africa
Riff A
Riff B
Synthesised marimba
Comment on the vocals in chorus 1
Vocalisations are used by the harmony voice
The tessatura is a high pitch
What instrument is heard for the first time in section 1?
Recorder
Is the melody conjunction or disjunct?
Mainly conjunct
Who are the composers of Africa?
David Paich and Jeff Porcaro
What year was Africa Toto composed
1981
What year was Africa Toto released?
1982
What genre is Africa?
Soft Rock
What melodic device is used in the introduction ?
Riff
How many phrases are there in the verse and chorus?
4
Name the ornament used in Africa
Acciaccatura
What key is chorus 1 of Africa in ?
A major
Describe Riff B
uses an ostinato pattern
E major pentatonic scale
Over a sustained chord (C#m)
Describe Riff A
Syncopated rhythm
B major
Block synth chords
Which sections are riff A heard in?
Every section except for the chorus
African music influences in Africa
Syncopation
Pentatonic scale
Irregular obstinate groupings
Synths imitate a marimba
Verse 1 what’s happening
Key : B major
4 phrases each ending with Riff A
Melody : low pitch vocals and conjunction
Syncopated rhythm
“I hear the drums echoing tonight”
Melismatic “conversation”
What happens in chorus 1?
Key: A major
Melody uses two pitches
Syncopated rhythms,
Chord sequence is F#m D A E
Verse 2 what’s happening
Same music as verse 1 but shorter
Countermelody on a high pitched synth
“The wild dogs cry out in the night”
Chorus 2
Identical to chorus 1
Instrumental what’s happening
Vocal melody is replaced by the instrumental melody
B major pentatonic scale
Descending melody I’m groups of 3 notes
Ends with a triplet
Based of riff B
Second half uses E major pentatonic scale
Chorus three what’s happening
Repeats the music of chorus 1 with THREE changes
New electric guitar riff in the last bar of each phrase
Phrase 3 “I bless the rains down in Africa” is heard 5 times
Phrase 3 has three solo vocal improvisations
What happens in the outro
Repeat of the intro and link
Fades out
Bass guitar fills
Texture gradually reduces
At the end the music plays only the bass line of riff A and the melody of riff B
Who wrote Africa (they shouldn’t have)
David Paich and Jeff Porcaro
What year was it composed
1981
What year was it released
1982
What percussive instruments are used in Africa ?
bass, snare, hi-hat, congas, cowbell 🐄, shaker, and a makeshift walking stick with Pepsi bottlecaps attached
