Africa by Toto

Question 1

What is the time signature?

Answer 1

2/2 (Cut common)

Question 2

What is the tempo?

Answer 2

Moderate (moderato) - we take the tempo from the minim beat

Question 3

What are dotted notes?

Answer 3

Where half of the original note value is added onto the note

Question 4

What are tied notes?

Answer 4

Where you add the note values together (hold the note)

Question 5

What is a backbeat?

Answer 5

Where the snare drum hits on beats 2 and 4

Question 6

What are some examples of syncopation in the piece?

Answer 6

• The synth in the intro (as well as the links and outro)
• The chorus phrasing in the vocal line

Question 7

What genre of music is it?

Answer 7

Soft rock

Question 8

When was it released?

Answer 8

1981

Question 9

Who wrote it?

Answer 9

David Paich and Jeff Porcaro

Question 10

What is an anacrusis?

Answer 10

Sometimes called an upbeat, the note or notes that precede(s) the first downbeat of a phrase

Question 11

What is a pentatonic scale?

Answer 11

A 5 note scale common in African music, consisting of degrees 1, 2, 3, 5, and 6 of the major scale

Question 12

What does syllabic mean?

Answer 12

1 note per syllable

Question 13

What does melisma mean?

Answer 13

Multiple notes per syllable

Question 14

What does chordal mean?

Answer 14

Describing a texture in which a melody line is accompanied by lines forming chords, often following the same rhythm