AOS3: Traditional music

Question 1

1. Blues music (1920-1950): harmonic and melodic features

Answer 1

12 bar blues, blues scale, portamento and scat, improvisation, dominant chord

Question 2

1. Blues music (1920-1950): other features

Answer 2

Syncopation, AAB structure, dotted rhythm

Question 3

2. Fusion music (African): instrumentation and vocal features

Answer 3

A capella, drums (djembe), balafon and kora,

Question 4

2. Fusion music (African): other features

Answer 4

Homophony, antiphony, unison, polyrhythm, cross rhythm, syncopation, obstinate, triplets, call & response

Question 5

2. Fusion music (Caribbean): features

Answer 5

Extra percussion, ostinato, syncopation, cross rhythms, horn sections

Question 6

2. Fusion music (Caribbean): reggae

Answer 6

Beat 2 and 4 emphasised, played by guitar or hi-hat laid back tempo,

Question 7

2. Fusion music (Caribbean): calypso

Answer 7

Guitar plus singer, larger backing from brass and sax, often major, memorable tunes that tell a story

Question 8

2. Fusion music (Caribbean): steelbands

Answer 8

Tremolo (rolling with 2 beaters to make sound)

Question 9

3. Contemporary Latin music: features

Answer 9

Clave rhythm, Rhythms- ostinato, syncopation, cross rhythms, Extra percussion (clave, guiro, conga, bongo, cowbell, etc.), minor, Vocal harmony added, horn section

Question 10

3. Contemporary Latin music: Bossa Nova

Answer 10

Mostly played on the guitar accompanying vocals, Uses many ‘Jazz’ chords (dissonant), Use of cross rhythms, ostinato and syncopation, Derived from Samba

Question 11

3. Contemporary Latin music: Samba

Answer 11

Generally rhythmic (drums) yet can be transferred to any instrument, Variety of drums used (timbale, surdo, repenique etc), Call and Response

Question 12

3. Contemporary Latin music: Salsa

Answer 12

Use of clave rhythm, Extra percussion (Claves, Guiro, Bongos, Maracas), Syncopated rhythms and melodies, Emphasis on a syncopated, Bass Guitar line, Use of piano ostinato in octaves and quite chromatic, Call and Response in Vocal Line, Vocal harmony in 3rds, Front line instruments include Sax and Trumpet, Improvisation

Question 13

3. Contemporary Latin music: Tango

Answer 13

Use of syncoption, ostinato and riffs, Common instruments include the accordion and violin, Mostly in minor keys

Question 14

3. Contemporary Latin music: Habanera

Answer 14

Habanera rhythm used as an ostinato, Bass usually plays the degrees I, V, I1, V in this rhythm, Syncopated cross rhythms occur against this rhythm, Often in Minor keys

Question 15

3. Contemporary Latin music: Danzón

Answer 15

The timbales usually play the rhythm baqueteo, Guiro can also play this, Slow in tempo (evolved from the Habanera), Virtuoso instrumental passages

Question 16

3. Contemporary Latin music: Merengue

Answer 16

Fast tempo, Accordion, tambura (drum) and a maraca are common, Syncopated ostinato

Question 17

3. Contemporary Latin music: Cha-cha-cha

Answer 17

Onomatopoeic for the sound of the 3 quavers on beat 3, Rhythmic ostinato, Syncopation and cross rhythms

Question 18

3. Contemporary Latin music: Rumba

Answer 18

Combined Big Band music with Afro-Cuban rhythms, Syncopation, ostinato, cross rhythms