AoS3 African Drumming Flashcards
African Drumming
Drumming can be traced back to the Mandinka (Maninke) people of western Africa around 1300 AD.
In daily life, various events are accompanied by unique songs and dances, usually accompanied by drummers, singers and dancers.
Improvisation
Music composed as it is performed - Making something up on the Spot!
Different Drum Tones
High/Open Tone - Sounds made on the edge of the drum head.
Low/bass tones - sounds played in the middle of the drum.
Djembe
Goblet shaped drum from West Africa. Djembe icome in different sizes and pitches.
In this Djembe solo, listen to how the pitch and tone produced changes when different parts of the drum are struck with different parts of the hand.
Talking Drum
Pitch can be altered by squeezing the tensioning strings, mimicking the voice. The talking drum is played with a stick.
Listen to how the pitch changes when the strings are ‘squeezed’ with the arm of the drummer.
Dun Dun
Large African drum that comes in different sizes and pitches. Played with a pair of sticks.
Oral Tradition
Passing information from generation to generation by speaking.
Drum Circle
The traditional shape drumming is performed in.
West Africa
Where African Drumming originated
Rhythmic Features
Polyrhythms - Lots of Rhythms played at the same time.
Cross Rhythms - Rhythms played at the same time with different beats that clash rhythmically.
Call and Response - one person/instrument plays/another responds.
1 / This musical extract is taken from a African Drumming Performance. From your knowledge of this style of music, identify five features which are typical of this style.
2/ Name three African drums that could be included in this performance?
1/ Typical features include:
i/ Fast tempo
ii/ Complex polyrhythms
iii/ Irregular meter - no obvious time signature.
iv/ Pauses and stops in the drumming.
v/ Repeated patterns.
2/ Djembe, Dundun, Donno drums, Talking drums.
