Koko: Yiri

Question 1

Instrumentation

Answer 1

• The djembe drum shaped like as goblet played with the hands.
• The talking drum, a drum that is played with a hooked stick and can be used to imitate speech by creating different pitches and slides.
• A balafon, similar to xylophone, made of wooden bars which are tuned to different pitches and gourdes hang beneath the bars to make it sound more resonant.

Question 2

Structure

Answer 2

-Intro- Short intro is a balafon solo played using tremolo.
Main section- The drum plays an ostinato and there is a strong clear pulse. It alternates between balafon solos and choruses. There is a vocal solo in the middle of this section (call and response in used between soloist and choir).
Coda- Short phrase is played on the balafon 5 times in slightly varied versions. Drum ostinato is interrupted by rest and bell sounds end of piece.

Question 3

Rhythm, Metre and Tempo

Answer 3

• Main metre is 4/4, few bars are in other metres.
• The vocal soloist makes use of triplets.
• After the introduction in free tempo, rest of piece maintains steady pulse.

Question 4

Rhythm, Metre and Tempo 2

Answer 4

• Syncopation is frequently used, especially in the vocal and balafon parts.
• During one of the vocal solos, the balafon plays semi quavers in groups of three, creating cross rhythms.
• The drums play a rhythmic ostinato, lasting throughout the piece, consisting of a quavers and two semi quavers played over. Djembe plays occasional fills.

Question 5

Texture and Dynamics

Answer 5

• Most of Yiri has a layered texture but includes:
• A monophonic texture in the intro(Balafon solo)
• Occasional heterophonic textures when two balafons play different versions of the same tune at the same time.
• Little dynamic variation throughout the piece.

Question 6

Melody, Harmony and Tonality

Answer 6

• Is in the key of Gb major. Most of the music is hexatonic, based on a six note scale without the note F.
• The balafons play mostly short patterns, from high to low. They tend to emphasise the notes Gb and Db(Tonic and dominant in Gb major).
• During the choruses, the group sings in unison.
• Like the balafon the chorus has short, falling phrases that emphasise the notes Gb and Db.

Question 7

History

Answer 7

• The word Yiri means ‘wood’, refering to the fact that all the instruments are made of wood, apart from the bell.
• Musicians performed Yiri from memory and the score was made later by notating the music heard on the recording, this type of score is a transcription.