African Music

Question 1

Djembe

Answer 1

Single-headed drum. Capable of producing:

Gun, Dun (a long, low pitch bass sound, striking the middle of the drum)

Go, Do (a medium pitched tone, striking the drum halfway between the edge and the centre).

Pa, Ta (a short, low pitched slap made by striking the edge of the drum)

Question 2

Dundun (dunun)

Answer 2

A large, double headed drum played with a stick, worn on the shoulder. A bell-like instrument instrument is mounted on it. Capable of producing:

O, an open sound.
M, a muted sound with a hand muting the drum on the skin.
X, the bell on the dundun.

Question 3

Agogô (bell)

Answer 3

Has two different pitches when struck (low and high)

Question 4

Describe the rhythms in African music

Answer 4

Polyrhythmic, cross rhythms, triplets, cyclic, strong pulse.

Question 5

What’s significant about the master drummer in African music?

Answer 5

He acts as the caller for call and response, controlling the tempo of the piece, and he is a virtuosic musician.