Africa Flashcards
Before the 1800s, what were the ud and the gunibiri
3 string lutes
added embellishment
Before the 1800s, the rebab was a what?
Type of lute
2 thick strings
Plays principle notes of melody
Before the 1800s, what was the tar
a small tambourine
Added in 1800s - kamanja
looks like violin or viola
played in lap
What instruments were added in the 1900s?
more uds cello nay violins and violas darbuka piano and sax
Who was Ziryab and what did he do?
Free slave who travelled from Iraq to Spain
proposed musical system based on 24 modes - one for each day
How did muslim get to Spain
Ziryab’s travel from Iraq to Spain
Prelude with improv (2)
Bughia or Mshelia
Overture played by ensemble - may include section called what?
Tushia - Taqsim
What does Gnawa mean?
brothehood
Gnawa is filled with music from where?
Ethiopia and Arabic
Percussion called…
qarqaba
3 string instrument that sounds like a bass
gumbri
drum hit with curved stick
tbel
Gnawa brotherhood uses what musical ideas? (2)
Ostinato and call-and-response
5 big concepts of Subsahara Africa
- Purpose of music is essential
- Percussion
- Rhythm
- Performers and audience are same
- Music notation
Purpose of music is essential, why?
most songs go along with some activity and are rarely sang out of context
Percussion is important, why?
almost more important than music
used to communicate stories and messages
Rhythm is important, why?
division of beat can be in two or three
Music notation is important, why?
music is not notated, learned by wrote
Is there a distinct meter in Ghanan music?
no
What are the strong and weak strokes called in Ashante Kete Drumming?
strong is “sang”, weak is “si”
Where do Ashante people live?
Southern Ghana
Do the Ashante people like the idea of someone being in charge?
yes
What does “kete” refer to?
royal music for the king
To whom do the instruments have associations with?
spirits and souls
Is the rattle usually played alone in Ghana music?
no
Difference between single and double bells
single bells are high or low in pitch, double bells have high and low sounds in the same instrument
Description of two different drums in Ghana
Drums from logs and drums made up with strips of wood held together by metal bands
Where do the Ewe people live?
coast of Togo
Is extended family important to Ewe people?
yes, every member has rights and obligations
position of authority held by senior member
What does “agbe” and “kor” mean?
life and clear
Double bell in Agbekor called what? What is its purpose in music?
gankogoi
it’s in command and everyone follows it
Where do the Mande people live?
Western Africa
What is a griot?
expert in speech, singing, story telling
Ngara
female singer
Konkon
knocking sound
kumbengo
ostinato
birimintingo played by who
elaborate passages played by kora
kora emphasizes what scale?
pentatonic
lessons on kora focus on what? (ostinato)
kumbengo
Nag biegu translated means what?
ferocious wild bull
Dagbamba
group of people
Lunsi
group of drummers
Lunga, made of what, shape
talking drum
cedar
hour glass
Gungon, shape, ends?
talking drum, cylindrical, snare on both sides
Praise song - purpose, who did our selection praise?
to celebrate someone, King Naa Andani II
Shona people speak what language
bamtu - spoken by 200 million people
Who took over Zimbabwe? When? What was created?
english in 1900, Rhodesia
1960 - what war took place? b/w who?
Liberation war b/w rhodesia and Ian Smith
Mbira - sometimes called what? makeup? which are we focusing on?
thumb piano, sound board and resonator, mbira dzaradzimu
What does Nhemamusasa translate to? Who is it played for?
cutting wood for fire, Chaminuka
Thomas Manfumo
pop music performer
Nyarai comes from what African country? What style of music is it?
Zimbabwe, chimirenga
Chimirenga
political word and style of music
Chimirenga means what in Bantu
liberation war
Language spoken in Zimbabwe
Bant
Important pop star in development of Chimirenga music
Thomas Mapfumo
Another popular pop start other than Thomas Mapfumo
Oliver Mtukdzi
BaAka people known as…
forest people, or Pygmies
Are baAka people literate?
live in a non-literate society
Mabo
music and dance event
People who live in Kenya
Masai
