Koko: ‘Yiri’

1. Koko: ‘Yiri’

2. African music in society • Rich, colourful and diverse • Covers 50 different nations, each with their own musical traditions and language • Plays an important role, used to express emotions and feelings • Part of every social gathering i.e. celebrating the harvest, birthdays, weddings, funerals, imprtant meetings. • Often combined with speech, dance and vibrant costumes • Falls into 3 strands - Drumming, Choral music, instrumental music.

3. Common features of African music • Repetition: • Improvisation: • Polyphony: • Call and response:

4. African Drumming • Considered the most important instrument • A means of communication, with certain rhythmic patterns meaning different things .e. slow beat could signify a sad occasion such as a funeral. • Hundreds of drums and names vary between each region. • Most common is the Djembe – a single-headed drum, made in a range of sizes to produce different pitches • Frequently heard on their own but also in ensembles • Ensemble is made up of a master drummer playing a solo drum and a set of accompanying drums • Famous group = The Royal Burundi Drummers

5. Playing techniques • Hands on the skin – different sounds are made by opening/closing fingers, using different parts of the hand etc • Hands on the wooden edge of the drum • Using sticks to make short, staccato sounds • Stretching the drum membrane to produce a range of pitches

6. A typical performance • Master drummer in the centre of the ensemble, responsible for directing the performance and will be surrounded by other drummers and percussionists • The master drummer will signal to the performers when he is ready to start, often with a vocal cry followed by a rhythmic solo to set mood/tempo • Response is an exact copy or a different rhythm entirely by the other performers • Call and response = main feature of tribal music

7. A typical performance • Master drummer will signal to the other players to perform a solo. • This will be a variation or development of the original pattern • A steady, continuous beat is played by the master drummer, called the timeline. There may be percussion instruments playing as well. • The complex rhythms create polyrhythms, often with stresses that conflict with eachother, resulting in polyrhythmic texture.

8. A typical performance • Piece increases in tension as the piece progresses • Tempo and dynamics will vary from section to section to provide interest and variet. • Master drummer is responsible for controlling the changes and making sure that the music does not become too monotonous. • Some performances can take up to 5 hours or even longer! • As well as solo drumming to show off the soloists skills of improvisation, there is often movement and dance

9. African choral singing • Sub-saharan musical traditions are often centred around singing • Believed that it serves as a link to the spiritual world • Vital part of everyday life, like drumming • Unites communities, everyone is involved in singing regardless of ability