Area of Study 3- Rhythms of the World: African Music Flashcards
What type of events was African Drumming typically used to help celebrate?
Birth, weddings and funerals
What purpose did the different drum patterns serve at these celebrations?
So they can tell what is going on by listening.
How is African music normally taught from musician to musician?
Aurally
What type of drum is played with the hand only?
Djembe
What are African Drums made of?
Hardwood
What purpose do the strings around the drum serve?
To keep the skin taught
Give the name of 3 different types of tall drums played with a pair of sticks.
Kayam, Kidi and Sogo
Give the general name for the drums played horizontally?
Dunduns
Give the names for the 3 different types of these horizontal drums.
Kenkeni (High), Sangban (Mid) and Dundunba (low)
Give the name for the African xylophone
Balafon
Give the name for the African Talking Drum
Donno
How does the drummer change the pitch of the Donno?
Squeezing the strings.
Why is the Donno know as the talking drum?
Because it can be used to send messages
What drums are played with 1 hand and 1 stick?
Sabor drums
What was the original purpose of these drums?
To communicate between villages
Name 3 ways of creating a sound on the djembe
Slap, Tone and Bass
What is damping?
Putting hands on the skin
What are the jobs of the master drummer?
Control’s dynamics and tempo, signals to show the structure, leads call and response
What is a polyrhythm?
Lots of rhythms played together
What is the English name for the kalimba?
Thumb piano
Give the name of the African Harp?
Kora
What does a capella mean
Without instruments
Name the most famous African choir
Ladysmith Black Mumbozo
What is mbube?
Singing loudly
What is isicathamiya?
Singing calmly and quietly.
