Koko:Yiri Flashcards
Place
Burkina Faso
West Africa
Official language
French
Composer
Madou Koné
Group
Koko
Album
Balafon et tambours d’Afrique
Structure
Strophic or cyclic
Variations with ostinato tune, theme alternates with each variation
Variations presented by 1st balafon and a solo singer
Intro
Theme
Sung verses
Coda
Tonality
G flat major, approximate as instruments do not use Western tuning. Opening ostinato suggests G flat=tonic, although F is used in the solo introduction
G flat hexatonic
Instruments
Djembes and talking drum=ostinato
Balafons=1 plays main melodies during instrumentals, punctuates voices after each phrase of singing, 2 plays bass ostinato and occasional flourishes
Voices, male voices
Cowbell, mark end of piece
Djembes and talking drum Texture
Ostinato for majority of piece
Balafons Texture
Monophonic, solo balafon in the introduction that features a tremolo
Heterophonic, when both balafons play
Voices Texture
Male voices in unison
Solo sections with call and response
Overall texture
Polyphonic texture with layered parts
Moments of monophony and heterophonic between 2 balafons, solo, call and response
Dynamics
Expressive in introduction
Rest is mf
Natural phrasing leading to crescendos and diminuendos throughout
Tempo
Moderate
Free tempo in introduction
Melody
Balafon ostinato
Melody sung by group of singers in different choruses
Improv in balafon breaks and solo voice parts
