World Music - African Drumming

Question 1

Name three traditional African instruments:

Answer 1

Djembe
Agogo
Dundun

Question 2

Describe the types of sounds made by a djembe and how they are made.

Answer 2

• Long, low pitched bass sound made by hitting the middle of the drum.
• A medium pitched noise created by striking the drum with hand halfway between the edge of the drum and the centre.
• A short, high pitched noise made by striking the edge of the drum.

Question 3

Many bells and rattles are used in traditional African drumming. Describe an agogo.

Answer 3

A popular use of bells in African drumming. It can create two different pitches when struck; high and low.

Question 4

Describe a DunDun

Answer 4

A DunDun is a larger, double headed drum that is played with sticks. It produces an open sound and a closed sound.

Question 5

Name two rhythmic devices in African drumming.

Answer 5

Polyrhythms

Cross rhythms

Question 6

Explain a polyrhythm.

Answer 6

A polyrhythm is where two or more rhythms are combined and played together. It makes the price sound complex.

Question 7

Explain a cross rhythm.

Answer 7

A cross rhythm is a complex type of polyrhythm which uses conflicting rhythms.

Question 8

How is melody used in traditional African drumming?

Answer 8

• Call and response with singing
• Majority of musicians play percussion
• Melodies are often short

Question 9

How is tonality used in traditional African drumming?

Answer 9

• The tonality is percussion based - there is little tonality and harmony.

Question 10

Describe the structure of African drumming.

Answer 10

• The master drummer controls the structure
• The instruments start and stop as instructed
• Short improvisations are developed around set patterns
• There may a central vocal melody that keeps returning

Question 11

What instruments are used?

Answer 11

Several different drums are used.
Several different sounds are produced on a single instrument.
Bells, rattles and shakers are used.

Question 12

Describe the texture of Traditional African drumming.

Answer 12

The music consists of several layers of drums and other percussion instruments.
Drums combine in complex layers - polyrhythms.

Question 13

What is the tempo and rhythm of traditional African drumming?

Answer 13

• A strong pulse, usually divided into groups of three or four.
• Rhythms are cyclic - short, repeated patterns.
• Polyrhythms
• Triplet rhythms
• Cross rhythms
• call and response/call and copy

Question 14

Sheet music is not used in traditional African drumming as the music is oral so it is learnt through listening, copying and repeating. The music (and dancing) is often performed at weddings, funerals and festivals etc.

Answer 14

African music is very sentimental

Question 15

How was traditional African music adapted?

Answer 15

When African slaves were shipped over to America they combined folk music with music of European settlers to produce new styles such as blues, gospel and jazz