music 🎙️

• Basic rhythms:

  • 4 beats = semibreve
  • 2 beats = minim
  • 1 beat = crotchet
  • 1/2 beat = quaver
  • 1/4 beat = semiquaver
• this is a semiquaver and it is 1/4 of a beat

  
• this is a quaver and it is 1/2 a beat

  
• this is a crotchet and it is 1 beat

  
• this is a minim and it is 2 beats

  
• this is a semibreve and it is 4 beats

  
• The sub Saharan techniques we have studied are originate from the countries located below the sahara desert
• Djembe:

  • rope-tuned skin-covered goblet drum played with bare hands
  • originally from west africa
  • it’s body is carved of hardwood and it has a drumhead made of skin
• Djembe drumming techiques

  slap = high

  tone = mid

  bass = low

  • bass is made from striking the drum in the middle
  • tone is made by striking the drum between the centre and the edge
  • slap is made by cupping your hands and striking the edge of the drum
• Call and response - question and answer phrases led by the master drummer
• Master drummer - lead drummer
• Repetition with variation - repeated rhythms with slight changes when repeated
• Cross rhythms - rhythms which go against each other
• Ostinato - repeated pattern
• Improvisation - making it up on the spot
• Polyrhythmic texture - Many different rhythms played together
• Accented rhythms - rhythms that are emphasised on certain beats
• Characteristics of African drumming music:

  • lead by master drummer
  • call and response
  • polyrhythmic textures
  • improvisation
  • syncopated rhythms
  • lively/fast tempo
  • repetition / ostinato
  • use of djembe
  • repetition with variation
  • normally 4 beats in a bar
• Salsa music!

  • developed in 1960s in new york
  • often associated with Cuban and puerto rican communities
  • a mix of many Latin American music and dance styles
  • one key artist is Willie colon but others are Joe arroyo, tito puente, hector lavoe and Celia cruz
  • it is normally played in the minor key
• instruments in salsa:

  (percussion then other)

  • bongos
  • campana
  • maracas
  • guiro
  • timbales
  • congas
  • claves
  • x
  • piano
  • trumpet
  • saxophone
• major and minor chords!

  • major are normally happy
  • minor are normally sad
  • major semitones are 4 & 3
  • minor semitones are 3 & 4
• characteristic of salsa music!

  • 3 - 2 clave rhythm
  • improvisation
  • cross rhythms
  • polyrhythms
  • fast tempo
  • syncopation
  • minor key
  • often a singer accompanied by band
• chords:

  • C = I
  • Dm = ii
  • Em = iii
  • F = IV
  • G = V
  • Am = vi
• The chords in our four chord sequence are C, G, A & F (in that order)
• root position C: CEG

  first inversion: EGC (move them all one to the left)

  second inversion: GCE (move them all one to right from root)
• How to make an effective chordal texture:

  • layer the music
  • vary the texture
  • change accompaniment every 4 bars
  • a mixture of both block chords and broken chords
  • use different instruments
• What makes a good melody in a pop song:

  verse:

  • normally lower in pitch than chorus
  • notes normally shorter than in chorus
  • often like a narrative
  • step wise movement between notes
• What makes a good melody in a pop song:

  chorus:

  • normally higher in pitch than verse
  • repetitive
  • more leaps than in verse
  • simpler melody and more catchy than verse
• bass clef notes are exactly the same as treble clef except when written they all move down two spaces (eg C moves into A spot)
• Theme and variation:

  • a simple type of composition which consists of a simple tune which is then altered in different ways
  • a composer known for doing this was Mozart (his variations of twinkle twinkle little star)
• How to develop a melody:

  • change the rhythm
  • add notes (decoration)
  • add in chords with the melody
  • put the melody in the left hand
  • alter the left hand
  • create imitations between parts
  • change the dynamics
  • change how a note is played (eg staccato and legato)
  • change the tempo
• syncopation = A rhythm which emphasises the weak or off beat