Music, dance and story telling are among the forms of art that have been kept century after century in Africa. Everyday life activities in traditional Africa included music and many other cultural experiences. Music and dance were traditions that characterized an African musical expression and played an important role in the lives of the people.The traditional music of Africa possessed a distinguishing feature of rhythmic complexity like no other continent. Music was highly functional in ethnic life, accompanying birth, marriage, hunting and even political activities.Before the 20th century, music was very different when compared to the 21st century music. Special occasions owned a distinctive type of African music.
The art of drumming and dancing holds an extremely important role in the traditional cultures of Ghana, Africa. The fact that this music and dance is remembered and performed without ever being scribed holds testament to its important role in the Ghanaian culture. Even with the world molding into a place in which modern technology has reached almost everywhere, there are still people willing to appreciate and perform the traditions that have been passed down for many generations. Both drumming and dancing are combined and used for a very wide range of events. The content heavily relies on where in Ghana one is located.
A standard is a song that most musicians know the head and melody to. Jazz standards are numerous and most jazz musicians know a great many. These jazz standards are a solid structure for newly organized groups, or bands to play together, with little or no practice at all. A freedom in jazz music, is syncopation. Syncopation is the act of accenting before or after a beat, to alter the pattern of a previously steady rhythm.
Key features used in western African music - repetition: melodies and rhythms being played over and over again - improvisation: melodies and rhythms being made up as they go along - call and response: usually a solo performer signs something and a larger group then repeats what has just been sung Layered textures: music built up from independent lines that are designed to be heard together All these are used in Yiri, Yiri is performed by koko. Koko is a group of six professional musicians from the country Burkina Faso. Three different sections Introduction - balafon solo using tremolo Main section - drums play ostinato and there is a strong clear pulse, halfway through koko sings using call and response between soloist and choir Coda - a short phrase for balafon played five times each varied versions, the drums is interrupted rests and a bell is used to end. Yiri means wood because most of the instruments are made out of wood apart from the bell. They perform the music from memory then listen to the recordings and note the music down this is called transcription.
Son is the slowest of all the rhythms. Son is usually accordion driven and is often performed solo. It is also played to express sadness. The melody is carried by the singer and the accordion usually offers an extended bass passage played solely with the left hand. Many popular Vallenato songs were performed in this style before they were changed in Paseo.
This author from Howard University is the outstanding specialist in this field-particularly with respect to the social relationships. Marsh was not the first to compile spirituals (the Allen anthology of 1867 is included in Black Cultural Leaders in Music, cited below), nor was he the only one to deal with the Fisk University chorus. Other early examples of the music are in Barton, including jubilees (the post-slavery expressions of joy). Ballanta was a native of Sierra Leone ~vhocaptured versions of the songs tenaciously retained in this coastal area. After Fisk, the major site for continuing the tradition was Hampton, particularly under the guidance of Dett, and this anthology had already undergone editions in 1874 , 189 1, and 1909 before Dett's rvork.
Every culture uses music to express their beliefs or feelings. From the early days of slavery, to recent pop culture, hip hop, rock, jazz or techno, music has shaped Americans into what we are today. Music not only gives artists an avenue to express their beliefs, it also gives the listener the feeling that there are people in the world that has the same feelings that they have. Not all music has a meaning or a message. Some music is just that, music; beats of a drum, strums of a guitar, electronic collaborations to make a melody, with no real message.
Every group of Americans had its own distinctive musical traditions. Native American Music: Music played an extremely important role in Native American rituals and ceremonies. In contrast to African and European musical traditions, Native American music tended to use only a limited number of pitches and made little use of harmony.
So Black! Jazz is a melody that is notoriously impossible to define. Throughout history it has been attached to the African American people where it is widely accepted as the “pinnacle of African American music” and is known to have placed New Orleans on the musical map. It is very unique as it is “distinguished by the originality of its improvisation, the virtuosity and erudition of its performers and composers, and its professionalism and artistry” . It is a music that is not merely for listening, but a vital part of the experience is the swaying and the dancing that takes over one’s body.
Capoeira history is passed through word of mouth, folklore and most commonly through music. All have made similar claims that Capoeira developed in all three states around the same time. The argument of whether Capoeira is African or Brazilian, though it may be controversial, is just a simple as the statements above. The art of Capoeira was developed over a half of a millennium ago in colonial Brazil, making it Brazilian and not African. The lack of written documentation will always prohibit the one hundred percent sureness of Capoeira being Brazilian but understanding what is known and a little common sense can give one enough evidence to support that statement.