Instruments/ensembles/types of instrument How are elements used? Balafon—similar to a xylophone (there are two—the There are three clear strands (groups) in the music: second is lower in pitch) 1. Balafon ostinati—at various pitches according to African Drums: the size of the instrument—in combination, these Djembe—played with the hands produce a complex polyphonic texture. The Donno—hour-glass shaped ‘talking drum’ Structure patterns are based on the key of Gb. The piece Dundun—double headed drum played with sticks Intro: starts with a solo balafon (monophonic texture) , Drumming Techniques: 1. Solo balafon with the 2nd balafon joining in after about 20 Playing with the hands on the skin (different sounds are 2. 2nd balafon joins in seconds. They also have short, improvised made if the fingers are open or closed) 3. Drums join in balafon breaks in between the sections that Damping the skin when playing Main Section: feature fast tremolos (rapid repetition of one Playing with hands on the wooden edge of the drum 1. Chorus 1—voices in unison note) etc. The balafon also joins in the ’response’ Using sticks 2. Short instrumental break with the singers in the call & response section. 3. Chorus 2 —voices in unison 2. Drum ostinato—between them, drums play a 4. Call and response vocal sections with instrumental relentless one-bar pattern based on the rhythm Common features of African Music: breaks/sections quaver—semiquaver—semiquaver but Repetition/Ostinato 5. Chorus again occasionally drop out of the texture to create Improvisation Coda/Outro variety. The drums are at different pitches and Cyclic Structures 1. Coda—5 repetitions of a riff with short, dramatic rests include djembe, talking drum and dundun Polyphonic Textures and then a final bell ‘ting’ 3. Vocal line—at first the singers are all unison but Melodic/Musical Devices: later sing in a call and response style. This Call & Response includes a solo ‘call’ (improvised) answered by a Ostinati (on balafon and drum) chorus (again in unison). The same music is used Rhythmic Devices: for each verse, with slight variation to fit the Polyrhythmic—many different rhythms occurring in different lyrics. The vocal melodies are based on different layers i.e. uses polyrhythms a pentatonic scale. Sometimes the chorus singers Cross-rhythms—rhythms that ‘cross’ the beat i.e. are very make vocal ‘interjections’ of the word Yiri syncopated/off-beat Three musical points about this song that I like/don’t like: The leader of the group signals the initial tempo and Justify your points and use musical vocabulary rhythm of the piece and then controls changes of dynamics and texture. Purpose and Musical Style What makes this music suitable for dancing/ Singing is a vital part of everyday life and is heard at celebration? religious ceremonies, rituals and celebrations—everyone Steady tempo takes part. Constant time signature Oral tradition—passed on by mouth/learning by ear and Strong and repetitive rhythms copying, it is never usually written down Call and response (everyone can join in) The group Koko are from Burkino Faso in West Africa—the leader sings and plays the balafon. African drums were used to send messages from one village to another before telephones! .