Yiri By Koko

Sub-Saharan African Music

The Last Set Work!!

Wohoo!!

How big is Africa?

11, 679, 000 sq miles
If you combined the USA, China,
India, Europe and Japan - theywould
allfit into the continent of Africa?
The US can fit comfortably into Africa
no less than three times.
The UK can fit into Africa over 120
times.

Sub-Saharan Africa

Genres of African music

African Music falls into three main
genres:
Drumming
Choral Song (tribal singing)
Instrumental music

All feature in this set work.

Drumming
Drums play a big part in African culture.
Used as accompaniment to dancing,
singing and working.
Also used to draw people together for
community events
(weddingsetc).There are different
patterns for different occasions.
The music is passed on through ORAL
TRADITION.

Drums

Master Drummer
In most African ensembles there is a
master drummer.Hes accompanied by
any number of other drums and percussion.
A system of CALL AND RESPONSE is used
to structure the music.
The master drummer controls the build up
and release of tension.He also leads
changes in dynamics, tempo, pitch and
rhythm.

Rhythms
African Music is based on rhythms of varying
lengths.
Drummers accent particular beats in a
rhythmic cycle.
Different rhythms with different accents can
be played together called POLYRHYTHMS.
Sometimes youll hear two rhythms together
that dont quite fit called CROSS-RHYTHMS.
The rhythms use a lot of SYNCOPATION.
Individual players play their own minor
variations to the piece.

Drumming Example

Features of African Music

Repetition - the restatement of a section of
music, can be a few notes or a whole section.
Improvisation
Polyphony
Call and response - usually a solo followed by
a group answering phrase.
Oral tradition
Cross Rhythms
Tone languages Languages/Lyrics made up
of only a few pitches, called tone
languages.The pitch level determines the
meaning of the words.

Singing
Singing is an essential part of everyday
life in sub-Saharan Africa.Its sung by
ordinary people and plays an important
part in the community.
Singing is often heard at celebrations
and events e.g. weddings, funerals,
harvests and rituals.
The traditional songs are passed from
generation to generation.

Audience participation
Performances are long and involve
the audience/community.They will
shout, cheer and repeat a phrase
sung by one of the performers.
They may even be the response in
the call and response.

Singing Example

Singing Example

Features of African Songs

Call and response

Short melodies, often repeated.Ostinato.
Simple scales.Often only 4, 5, or 6 notes.
Rounds - voices enter at different points
in a continuous cycle.Creates an
overlapping and ever-changing musical
texture.
Harmony - varies between tribes.Can be
parallel (4ths, 5ths) or unison or octaves,
or even more complicated parts.

Instrumental Music

Features of African
Instrumental Music
Drums as in other types of African Music
Membranophones - posh name for
drums because they have a skin.
Balaphones - xylophone type
instruments.
Repetition (including OSTINATI)
Improvisation
Cyclic structures
Polyphonic textures
Intertwining melodies

Team challenge
Youre going to listen to Yiri by Koko
The team who can identify the most
instruments/features in the set work
wins a Team Champion Respect
Point each

Identify as many features as

you can

Answers
Nominate a team speaker
Taking it in turns, each speaker will
read out one feature from their list
Each correct and unique feature
earns a point for the team

Remember!!
You will have a MOCK EXAM (Section
A questions only) on Friday 10th May.
6 - 8 random set works covered (as
in the real exam)
I will use the results of these Mocks
to prepare revision sessions for you

Yiri By Koko
Sub-Saharan African Music

Remember!!
You will have a MOCK EXAM (Section
A questions only) on Friday 10th May.
6 - 8 random set works covered (as
in the real exam)
I will use the results of these Mocks
to prepare revision sessions for you

Session 2 Yiri by Koko

Catch-up Questions:
1.What are the three main genres of African
Music?
2.What are the names of the drums we looked
at, and how could you tell them apart?
3.What instrument(s) plays the tune in Yiri?
4.What features does African music share with
the other set works from this Area of Study
5.What is the role of a MASTER DRUMMER?
6.What is TONE LANGUAGE?

Catch-up Answers
What are the three main genres of
African Music?

African Music falls into three main

genres:
Drumming
Choral Song (tribal singing)
Instrumental music

All feature in this set work.

Catchup Answers
What are the names of the drums we looked
at, and how could you tell them apart?

Catchup Answers
What instrument(s) plays the tune in
Yiri?

Catchup Answers
What features does African music share with
the other set works from this Area of Study

Repetition / Rhythmic Cycles

Improvisation
Polyphony / Monophony /
Heterophony
Call and response
Oral tradition
Cross / Iso / Poly Rhythms
Vocables

Catchup Answers
What is the role of the MASTER
DRUMMER?
The master drummer controls the build up
and release of tension.He also leads changes
in dynamics, tempo, pitch and rhythm.
Similar to a conductor in Western Classical
music.

Catchup Answers
What is TONE LANGUAGE?
Tone language Language/Lyrics made
up of only a few pitches.The pitch
level can determines the meaning of
the words.
Similar to RECITATIVE in Western Music

Origin of Yiri
Burkina Faso Common themes for
music from this country include great
battles, the environment, creation,
celebrations and friendship

Yiri means
Wood Probably
a reference to
the wooden
instruments used

Set Work Summary

Complete Part 1 of Set work
Summary

Yiri By Koko
Has three clear strands:
1.The Balaphone Ostinati in
combination these produce complex
POLYPHONIC and HETEROPHONIC
textures.
2.The Drum Ostinati they play a
relentless one-bar pattern.
3.The Vocal line a simple HEXATONIC
line, with a call and response section.

Structure

INTRO Instrumental introduction

CHORUS A1 Choir sings together
BREAK Short Balaphone break
CHORUS A2 Choir sings together again
BREAK Short Balaphone break
CALL & RESPONSE Lead singer takes solo vocal
line, with ending of phrases being call and
response with choir
CHORUS B1 Modified Chorus but with all singers
CHORUS A3 Original material again
CODA Instrumental Outro

Set Work Summary

Complete Part 2 of Set work
Summary

Example Exam Questions

1. Describe the Tonality of Yiri.
2. What makes the music suitable for
dancing to?
3. How would this music have been learnt
by the performers?
4. What is a Membranophone?
5. What country does this music come
from?

Exam Style Questions

1. Describe the Tonality of Yiri. Major (Gb)
2. What makes the music suitable for
dancing to? Medium Tempo/Steady
Pulse throughout
3. How would this music have been learnt
by the performers? Oral Tradition
4. What is a Membranophone? A Drum
5. What country does this music come
from? Burkina Faso

Dojo Points for 100%

Remember!!
You have a MOCK EXAM (Section A
questions only) on Friday 10th May
(usual lesson slot)
6 - 8 random set works covered (as
in the real exam)
I will use the results of these Mocks
to prepare revision sessions for you

Intervals
Exam question:
The first four vocal phrases use three different pitches /
notes. The pitch of the first note is Gb. What are the pitches
of the other two notes?
These exercises plus lots of others available at
http://tinyurl.com/cbrf72l

Dojo Points
100% and So Close