The Key Characteristics of West and Central African Music 3
SyncopationDeliberate upsetting of the meter or pulse of a composition by means of a temporary shifting of the accent to a weak beat or an off-beat. is an unexpected element that is added to the natural flow of time. Another example of syncopation is found in the earliest retention of the enslaved African: The "ring shout" rhythm, which will be thoroughly discussed in another lesson.
Ring Shout Pattern
However, for now, one element of syncopation is employed by elongation-which means increasing the duration of a particular note value-or diminution, which decreases its value. Although there are several other ways to syncopate a rhythm, African music is by far the richest and more complex to have explored these means of syncopation. There are no scores or European notation systems that can capture the complexity of this highly syncopated and improvised phenomenon.
ImprovisationThe innate ability to spontaneously create, interject, expound or interpret an idea or feeling, be it vocally, instrumentally and or body movement. simply means to make things up as you go. However, unlike its use in the European tradition, improvisation in African culture is the innate ability to spontaneously create, interject, expound, or interpret an idea or feeling, be it vocally, instrumentally, or through body movement.
It is of crucial importance to understand that African music and culture view rhythm as a timeline. A steady pulse established on the Mother Drum. The timeline is a steady pulse established by the mother drum. She is considered the leader of the group-the ambassador of culture.
The timeline is, therefore, the musical element upon which everything is built and sustained. Other rhythmic and melodic variants, vocal interjections, and interpretations, and expressions through body movement are free to contribute at will. Improvisation and syncopation are intricately related to rhythm, dance, and song in African and African American culture. One simply does not exist without the other.
Another highly complex form of syncopation is created by the use of various polyrhythm and cross-rhythmic configurations. PolyrhythmThe simultaneous use of two or more contrasting rhythms. is the simultaneous use of two or more contrasting rhythms within a composition. The following example features two independent meters-two against three-and is considered polyrhythmic.
Play "Do You Hear" to listen to the rhythm:
Do You Hear by Steven M Miller
Ayantoyese Onifade
A society without drum is engrossed in bitterness.
Amadou Hampaté Bâ
If you want to understand Africa, it is necessary to account for religion-I am not saying Islamic, Christian, or Jewish religion-I am saying religion that is faith.