African Folklore and Music Communities Reading Discussion

Question Description

First

In the reading “African Folklore and Music Communities” it starts off by the author Steve Savage talking about his time that he spent studying with the master drummer Kwaku Dadey from Ghana who lives in San Francisco CA. The main point of this type of drumming is explained by Savage when he says, “This music is part of the West African storytelling practice in which the drum pattern is linked to lyrics, in effect telling the story through the drumming” (Savage 129). This component of music is similar in many other religions, for example in Catholicism during mass the people and clergy sing songs about many parts of their religion. The piano is also a large part of the singing much like the drums in this west African religion. As the article goes on Savage talks about constructing a song in the traditional manor that Dadey taught him. With the construction of this new song, he wanted to tell the story of “Milee Yookoee” a west African folktale. He began explaining his process with, “The fundamental rhythmic underpinning involves the subdivision of a basic pulse by three imposed over a subdivision by two: this is technically called hemiola but generally referred to as “three against two” in musician’s vernacular” (Savage 130). After he created this rhythmic underpinning he added to it making sound more western and then moved on to the rhythm. For the rhythm he used a pattern that he had learned from Dadey, and with that he had all of the pieces to create his song. After he took samples from his own drum kit and mathematically placed the notes in their proper positions he had finished his contribution to the new song. The next piece of the puzzle was to find samples of accompanying rhythms and to create the percussion phrases. Savage found the accompanying rhythms on “websites that offer royalty-free samples” meaning there is no copy right on the samples. He then began to stretch and shrink different parts of the music to ensure that the pieces of music that he wanted to use would fit together perfectly in the traditional west African fashion. With that Savage was able to create his own telling of the traditional story “Milee Yookoee”.

Second

From the provided passage “Application Study: African Folklore and Music Communities”, the author Steve Savage discusses African music. He not only talks about African music in general but he goes into detail and specific examples that show his readers why and how they make music. The musical experience is related to culture and social lifestyles. African music is historically important to the culture nature of musical experience. Savage tells us that history is very important to making African music, as their music contains creativity and historical expressions. Savage points out “the relationship between art and technology is primarily a social process, a cultural dynamic”. The traditions of the African culture reflect on the rhythmic expression in their songs. The historic tradition of African music are important to making them, music is deeply carved in the structure and function of African folkloric culture. Musical activity intentions circle around the practicality of functions. Amiri Baraka describes these functions as “consisting of many of the most essential human activities, including courtship, labor, rites of passage, spiritual pursuits, battle, and so on”. When making African music, they are very expressive especially when it comes to audio. These expressive elements include cries, hollers, hums, moans, grunts, hand-clapping, foot-patting and more. The author, Steve Savage, did a study with a guy named Kwaku Dadey. He is from Ghana and is a master drummer. After his study, Savage wanted to make his own African music piece. He tells his readers that the biggest things about African music is the drum, the drum is everything, everything follows the drum. First he had to determine the fundamental rhythmic underpinning, Savage chose hemiola or “three against two”. Then he made an outlining. Third and one of the most important factors is choosing your storyline. From there on you twick the song as you would like. Savage made his tempo slower. As he walked his readers through the process, it makes them realize how much goes into a song. African music is filled with culture and tradition, that is what makes it their’s. African music has wisdom along with a social code and is one of the most community filled pieces in African history.

Third

In this passage, ” Application Study: African Folklore and music communities” By Steve Savage talks about African Music. In general, He discusses Africa music. What he also talks about is specific details and shows us as readers why African Music is important to learn and listen too. The author, Steve Savage, did a study on a guy named Kwaku Dadey, who is a master drummer from Ghana. He lives and teaches in the San Fransisco bay area. While studying different pieces, Steve became interested in transcribing them. Savage chose the ” three against two” which is also called hemiola. The most important factor is picking your storyline. As he is telling us how to make a song, I realized how much process goes into a song. What makes it theirs is culture and tradition. It is one of the most community filled pieces in African History. ” The essence of a musical experience is inevitably tied to social and cultural integration” (savage 132) Musical experience is historically important to the culture. History is very important to making African Music, their music brings out creative and historical expressions. The individual piece of music may be experienced differently by different people. ” the musician and the tools of creativity, where we find the intersection of the human and technical in that pursuit of creative expression; and the experience of music as taking an active role in the construction of society and culture. ” ( savage 132). The traditions of African Culture reflect on the rhythm expressions in their music, It is deeply important to them because the music involves African folklore culture or stories. As Christopher Smalls explains, ” African music is not set apart in any way from everyday life but is an integral and essential part of it, and plays an important role in all aspects of social interaction and individual self-realization.” ( savage 134). The intention of musical activity revolves around the practice of functions. These functions are consisting of essential human activities. This is an indication that music is very important to African Culture. It not only brings an individual joy but many others too.

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