MAPEH Grade 10 MUSIC - Afro Latin American and Popular Music (2nd Quarter)

Introduction to African Music

Overview of the Lesson

• The lesson introduces the topic of Afro-Latin and popular music, focusing on African music in this part.

• It sets the stage for a future discussion on Latin American music.

Importance of Music in African Culture

• Music plays a vital role in various aspects of daily life for Africans, including work, religion, ceremonies, and communication.

• Activities such as singing, dancing, hand clapping, and drumming are integral to ceremonies related to birth, death, initiation, marriage, and funerals.

Characteristics of African Music

Cultural Influences

• African music has significantly influenced global genres like jazz and has garnered interest in its cultural heritage.

• The continent's musical diversity stems from over 50 countries with varied influences from language, environment, politics, immigration, and culture.

Functional Nature of Traditional Music

• Traditional African music is primarily functional; it serves ceremonial purposes such as worship and social gatherings.

• Many societies view their music as entertainment but recognize its complex interlocking structures characterized by rhythmic complexity.

Types of African Music Genres

Diverse Musical Styles

• Afrobeat: A fusion genre combining West African rhythms with Black American music.

• Apala: A Nigerian genre designed to energize worshippers after fasting during Ramadan using traditional percussion instruments.

Additional Genres

• Axe: Popular in Brazil; fuses Afro-Caribbean styles like reggae and calypso.

• Juju: A Nigerian style that incorporates Western instruments while maintaining traditional rhythms.

Latin American Influences from Africa

Key Latin American Genres

• Reggae: Jamaican sound heavily influenced by Mento and calypso along with jazz elements.

• Salsa: Dance music originating from Cuba that includes various genres like son montuno and mambo.

Other Notable Styles

• Zouk: Fast-paced Caribbean rhythmic music popularized in the 1980s known for its vibrant party atmosphere.

• Wai: Muslim music performed during Ramadan celebrations that blends African and European styles.

Vocal Forms in African Music

Maracatu Tradition

Understanding the Roots of Blues and Soul Music

The Instruments of Blues Music

• The kaisha deera is a warik snare that provides a changing sound, while the gongi is a metal cowbell.

• Shakers include the AG, a gourd shaker covered by beads, and the miniero oranza, a metal cylindrical shaker filled with small seeds.

Historical Context of Blues

• Blues originated in the late 19th century within African American communities in the Deep South, where slaves sang while working in fields.

• The music expresses emotions ranging from joy to deep sadness, effectively communicating feelings like misfortune and loneliness.

Notable Performers and Examples

• Key figures in rhythm and blues include Ray Charles, James Brown, Aretha Franklin, John Lee Hooker, BB King, and others.

• Examples of blues songs are "Early Morning," "A House Is Not a Home," showcasing its emotional depth.

Emergence of Soul Music

• Soul music emerged in the 1950s and 1960s as a blend of gospel music, rhythm and blues, and jazz.

• Innovators like Clyde McPhatter, Hank Ballard, Ray Charles, Little Richard contributed significantly to soul's development.

Characteristics of Spiritual Music

• Spiritual music refers to Negro spiritual songs created by enslaved Africans as an outlet for their emotions.

• These songs often have religious texts derived from biblical passages combined with dynamic vocal performances.

Call and Response Technique

• The call-and-response method involves two distinct musical phrases where one serves as commentary on the other.

• Examples include Muddy Waters' "Manish Boy" and Chuck Berry's "School Day."

Exploring African Musical Instruments

Idiophones: Percussion Instruments

• Balaphone is a West African silophone made from logs or bamboo; it has pitched bars similar to piano keys.

• Rattles can be made from various materials including seashells or animal parts; they produce sound through rattling objects inside.

Traditional Bells: Agogo

• The Agogo consists of single or multiple bells originating from traditional Yoruba music; it has high-pitched sounds used in samba ensembles.

Communication Through Sound: Slit Drums

• Tinting con are slit gongs carved from wood used for communication between villages over long distances.

Unique Drum Types: JBE Drums

Introduction to African Musical Instruments

Overview of Instrument Types

• Shaker: A gourd and shell megaphone from West Africa, featuring a dried gourd covered with beads woven into a net.

• Rasp: A hand percussion instrument that produces sound by scraping notches on wood, creating rattling effects.

Membranophones

• Definition: Instruments utilizing vibrating animal membranes, commonly found in drums. Their shapes vary (conical, cylindrical, etc.) and are played using sticks or hands.

• Body Percussion: Africans often use their bodies as instruments through clapping, slapping thighs, or shuffling feet to create rhythms that encourage movement.

• Talking Drum: Used for communication during significant events like births and deaths; it can convey messages to spirits but is challenging to learn.

Lamellophones

• Description: Popular African percussion instruments consisting of tongs or keys mounted on a soundboard. Known by various names across regions (e.g., mbira).

• Thumb Piano (Mbira): An African-origin instrument with staggered metal tines attached to a wooden board, producing soft sounds when plucked with thumbs.

Chordophones

• Copones: String instruments including bows and harps. The musical bow is the oldest string instrument in Africa, producing delicate sounds when plucked or struck.

• Earth Bow: A type of musical bow involving flexible wood and cord; it accompanies singing while being held under the knee for tension.

Lutes and Harps

• Lute: Originating from Arabic states, resembling modern guitars with resonating bodies and multiple strings; includes varieties like the konting.

• Chora: Africa's sophisticated harp made from gourd or calabash; features 21 strings providing over three octaves of range.

Fiddles and Aerophones

• Z (Fiddle): Played with a bow or fingers; typically has one or two steel strings. Known by different names across Sub-Saharan Africa.

• Aerophones Definition: Instruments producing sound via vibrating air columns include flutes, horns, pipes, and trumpets made from various materials like animal horns.

Flutes and Horn Instruments

• Flutes Variety: Commonly used throughout Africa; can be vertical or side-blown. Made from single tubes closed at one end for blowing like bottles.

Musical Traditions in Africa

Overview of African Musical Instruments

• The Kudo horn is commonly used in football matches, where fans blow it to cheer for their teams.

• Reed pipes, such as the raita or GA, are significant in traditional music ensembles from Morocco and were featured in "The Lord of the Rings" soundtrack.

• Whistles made from wood, clay, or other materials are prevalent across Africa; pottery whistles can be shaped like heads.

Types of Trumpets and Their Materials

• African trumpets are crafted from various materials including wood, metal, animal horns, and gourd; they serve mainly ceremonial purposes.

• Many instruments utilize natural elements like wood and animal skins; these materials contribute to the rhythmic sounds that define African music.

Instrument Construction Techniques

• Drums can be made from clay or metal; bamboo is often used for flutes and thumb pianos while animal hides provide drum membranes.

• Various natural items such as seeds, stones, shells, and palm leaves are transformed into rattles; ancient instruments even included human skulls.

Modern Innovations in Instrument Making

• Contemporary musicians use recycled materials like roofing metal and oil drums to create percussion instruments.