‘ Yiri’ by Koko Sub-Saharan African Music Edexcel Music GCSE Area of Study 4

In the study of this set work you will learn about: The rich and diverse cultures of sub-Saharan Africa The social importance of African music How music is learnt and passed on through the oral tradition The key common techniques used in African music Rhythmic and melodic patterns and procedures in African drumming, balaphone music and choral singing How the set work ‘Yiri’ is constructed

Sub-Saharan African music = rich, diverse and colourful Covers a range of 50 different nations Each nation has its own musical traditions and languages Music plays an important role in African society Music used to communicate different feelings and emotions Music important in social gatherings: weddings, harvest, birthday, funeral.

Music combined with speech, dance and vibrant costumes = exciting and dramatic performances ‘Yiri’ = strong emphasis on dance Dancers = vivid costumes, body painting and elaborate masks Stories told through body actions and mime

3 main areas: Drumming Choral Song (tribal music) Instrumental music

Repetition : Repeating a section of music. Just a few notes or a whole section. Improvisation : Music is made up spontaneously (on-the-spot) without written notation. Polyphony: 2 or more independent parts playing different things at the same time. Multi-layered texture Call and Response: Solo (call) followed by a group answering (response) a phrase.

Drum considered to be most important of all instruments Drum = form of communication Different rhythms mean different things Hundreds of drums, different in every region

DJEMBE is the most common African drum (single-headed) Goblet shaped West Africa

Double Headed Drum Played using sticks

Known as the Talking Drum Held under the arm Played with the hand

Playing hands on skin of drum – different sounds when fingers open/closed Playing hands on wooden edge of drum Using sticks = sharp, staccato sound Stretching drum membrane to produce different pitches (mainly donno)

Oral tradition: no musical notation. Master drummer directs whole performance (signals to start often with a vocal cry) Performs a rhythmic solo to set mood and tempo – called a cue. Cueing happens throughout the performance – creates structure and contrasting sections

Players then come in together and play a response Response could be the same or different to the Master Drummer’s rhythm. Call and response = main feature of tribal music Other players perform solos when Master Drummer signals to them Solos = variations/development of original rhythmic pattern

Steady continuous beat performed by Master Drummer = ‘timeline’ Performance can also include percussion rattle or bells – most common are agogo bells.

Music increases in tension as the piece progresses Tempo and dynamics vary from section to section Master drummer controls change - music must not become monotonous Performances can take up to 5 hours

Complex rhythms played by drummers create polyrhtyhms Stresses conflict with each other and the ‘timeline’ creating cross-rhythms Polyrhthmic texture

IMPROVISATIONCALL & RESPONSECROSS-RHYTHMS POLYPHONIC OSTINATOORAL TRADITION

What is the master drummer responsible for in an African drumming performance? What is the most common African drum called? What is another name for the donno drum? What are the three main strands of African music? From which African nation does ‘Yiri’ originate from? What texture is associated with African drumming? When stresses conflict with each other and the steady constant beat, what type of rhythms are created? What 2 main elements vary from section to section in African drumming music?