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(Includes some about African music in general as well as African Savanna music.)
(Includes some about African music in general as well as African Savanna music.)
Background
Traditionally, there is an emphasis on singing in most sub-Saharan music. This is because song is an important communication, as well as most African languages being "tone languages". The scales of the songs usually have a range of four to seven tones. In groups, singers generally sing in unison or parallel octaves, and use call-and-response, sort of an echo.
Current
The traditions faded a little as time and new influences came, especially from the West. Yet new styles surfaced, fusing the African and Western ways. Western African highlife, Congolese popular music, saboasaba and kwella (sabasaba and krewella) are all included.
Traditionally, there is an emphasis on singing in most sub-Saharan music. This is because song is an important communication, as well as most African languages being "tone languages". The scales of the songs usually have a range of four to seven tones. In groups, singers generally sing in unison or parallel octaves, and use call-and-response, sort of an echo.
Current
The traditions faded a little as time and new influences came, especially from the West. Yet new styles surfaced, fusing the African and Western ways. Western African highlife, Congolese popular music, saboasaba and kwella (sabasaba and krewella) are all included.
Instruments
There is a wide variety of instruments used in Sub-Saharan music. Anything from the rattles to the mbira to trumpet can be involved. The drums can be goblet, kettle drums, barrel-shaped, and more. Flutes can be made of many materials, such as bamboo or animal horns. Body percussion is also used quite a lot, using the hands and body as an instrument. Most commonly by clapping their hands or stomping their feet. When instruments are being chosen, their effect and sound, capabilities, and symbolism.
Percussion: Drums are very popular but clap-sticks, bells, rattles, slit gongs, and clay pots are among the other percussion instruments used.
Stringed: lute, lyre, harp, and zither, among others.
Wind: flute, whistle, oboe, and trumpet are some.
There is a wide variety of instruments used in Sub-Saharan music. Anything from the rattles to the mbira to trumpet can be involved. The drums can be goblet, kettle drums, barrel-shaped, and more. Flutes can be made of many materials, such as bamboo or animal horns. Body percussion is also used quite a lot, using the hands and body as an instrument. Most commonly by clapping their hands or stomping their feet. When instruments are being chosen, their effect and sound, capabilities, and symbolism.
Percussion: Drums are very popular but clap-sticks, bells, rattles, slit gongs, and clay pots are among the other percussion instruments used.
Stringed: lute, lyre, harp, and zither, among others.
Wind: flute, whistle, oboe, and trumpet are some.
Citations:
africaguide.com. African People and Culture: Music, Musical Instruments, and Dance. The Africa Guide, 2014. Web. 30 March 2014.
<http://www.africaguide.com/culture/music.htm>
africaguide.com. African People and Culture: Music, Musical Instruments, and Dance. The Africa Guide, 2014. Web. 30 March 2014.
<http://www.africaguide.com/culture/music.htm>