[o] Other: Class Materials

Music 80E: History of "Jazz"
Dr. Karlton E. Hester, Fall Quarter 2002

Questions for Films on African Music
(Things to think about)

Produced in Ghana. No further information available on this videorecording.

1. What are some of the chief musical instruments used in Ghana?
2. What are the different types of drums (membranophones) and how are they constructed?
3. What is the relationship between language and drumming?
4. In what different ways are drums played and used to communicate.
5. How do the various instruments function in ensemble playing?
6. What do you think of the production elements of this video.
7. How do women participate in these performances? Why?
8. What Cultural Area does Ghana fall into? (Remember map of cultural areas.)
9. What is the social function of the music and dance? (Is the music for religious purposes, entertainment, etc.)

Film 2: Music and Dance of Africa Vol. 1 (Smithsonian/Folkways)

Title: The JVC Smithsonian Folkways Video Anthology of Music and Dance of Africa (Vol. 1) [videorecording] / a production of JVC.
Published: [S.l.] : Victor Company of Japan ; distributed by Multicultural Media, c1996
UCSC Library Call No.: VT4059 v.1

1. What are the chief instruments of each of these three regions?
2. Is the music polyphonic or polyrhythmic?
3. Is participation communal in each cultural area?
4. Do men and women participate equally in music making and dancing?
5. What happens at the beginning, middle and end of certain pieces?
6. Are there stylistic musical features that distinguish the music from each of these cultural regions from those in the music of Ghana?
7. How is music taught or passed on from one generation to another in certain areas? (Think about the music of Egypt, for example.)
8. Are there different sections of music features (elements that mark form) marked by particular dynamic, rhythmic, melodic or timber elements? (Absence of a clear sense of time, solo playing versus ensemble playing, singing versus instrumental interludes, etc.?)
9. What did you notice about the particular demographics in each musical setting? Are they restricted to certain sexes, age groups, etc.?