Module 9 Nonwestern Music

Module 9 Nonwestern Music Text Book: Part Seven, Chapter 1-3 Nonwestern Music • Extremely diverse and each culture has its own traditions – Linked to: religion Dance Drama Entertainment Every day activities Ceremonies Common Features Some features are common to most traditions. - Oral tradition – Many cultures do not have notation and music is learned through oral tradition passed down from teacher to student or parent to child. - Improvisation is an important component of music in many cultures. Many use traditional melodies or rhythmic phrases as a foundation for improvisation. - Voices - Singing is the most important means of making music in the majority of nonwestern cultures. Vocal techniques are diverse. Classifications of Instruments • membranophones – example - drums; sound generator is a stretched skin or other membrane • chordophones – example - harps; stretched string as the sound generator • aerophones – example - flutes, trumpets; air as the sound generator • idiophones – example - bells, gongs, rattles; sound generator is the object • Musical culture is an important factor for instrument choice. • Geography and available natural resources determine the types of instruments that can be made. • Religion also influences the kinds of instruments within a culture. General Musical Elements • Texture – differs depending on the country; Asian cultures emphasize melody and rhythm and are often monophonic. Music from India tends to be homophonic often accompanied by a drone or sustained note(s). Sub-Saharan African music is often polyphonic. • Rhythm – very complex; drummers often spend many years developing their skills • Scales – often use 5, 6, or 7 notes and different intervals than western cultures. Microtones – (intervals smaller than a half step in Western music) are found in the music of India. Cross-Cultural Influences • After 1900 - more impact by American and European music due to: – Urbanization – Technology – Radio and recordings – Western instruments • High life a popular music of west Africa, combines European instruments with characteristic African rhythms. Music in Sub-Saharan Africa - - learned through oral tradition rhythmically complex part of every aspect of every daily life closely associated with dancing Linked to language (Many languages are tone languages. The meanings of words are tied to the pitch with which they are spoken.) Tone languages can use instruments (such as talking drums) to convey messages by imitating the pitch fluctuations of speech. à Refer to Talking Drum in the M9 Web Links to watch a demonstration. African Music • Elements – Rhythm and percussion are emphasized because of the music s close ties with dancing. – In vocal music, singers use a wide variety of sounds such as whispers, hums, grunts, animal noises and yodeling. Call and response is a common feature. – Both homophonic and polyphonic textures are used. • African Instruments - Idiophones – indefinite pitch: bells, rattles; definite pitch: xylophone, mbira (thumb piano), slit drum Membranophones – come in many shapes: cones, cylinders, kettles, barrels, goblets and hour glasses Aerophones – flutes, whistles, horns, and trumpets; materials include – animal horns, elephant tusks, wood, bamboo and gourds Chordophones – musical bow – with a gourd resonator or the player s mouth Musical bow Listening Activity: Sub-Saharan African Music Ompeh (from Ghana)- date unknown Listening Outline: p. 429 - solo male voice with choral responses (call and response) - features many complex polyrhythms - percussion ensemble: bamboo slit drum, pan rattles, two-headed cylindrical drum (ogyambo), barrel-shaped hand drum (ompehkyen), metal bell (afirikyiwa) Classical Music of India • over 3000 years old • two distinct traditions: Karnatak music – south India Hindustani music – north India • Music is considered spiritual. • Taught by oral tradition from master to disciple • Improvisation is important and very highly developed and sophisticated. Before being allowed to improvise, young musicians but master basic rules and techniques. Elements of Indian Classical Music • Based on the pitch range of the human voice • Highly embellished melodies are a feature of Indian music. • Melodic structure: – Melodies are created within a pattern of notes called a raga. – Each raga is linked to a certain mood such as tranquility or love. • Rhythmic structure: – Organized into cycles called talas. A tala is a repeated series of beats. – The rhythmic structure of Indian music is extremely complex. • • • • • Instruments of India Sitar – most popular chordophone of north India Vina – oldest plucked string instrument of south India Sarod – plucked with an ivory plectrum; north Indian instrument Mridangam – popular drum from south India; one head is tuned to tonic and the other is used as a bass Tabla – pair of single headed drums; right hand plays tonic and left hand plays the bass. tabla sarod vina sitar Mridangam Listening Activity: Classical Music of India • Maru-Bihag – Performed by Ravi Shankar p. 432-433 in ebook – Features improvisation – Instruments- sitar and tambura à Refer to Ravi Shankar in the M9 Web Links to watch a performance of a different piece. Ravi Shankar - born in 1920 - had a greater influence on Western culture than any other performer of Asian music - dubbed by George Harrison as the godfather of world music End of Module 9! • Please check the task list and due dates to make sure that you have completed all of the items on time. • Module 10 contains all of the information for the final exams.