Africa Unit Listening Journal

Please choose 3 songs or videos from the Africa Unit, and discuss both the musical and social aspects of these cultural gatherings or events. You can describe the basic elements of the music and dances, such as:

1. the use of instruments (in solo and ensemble settings);

2. plus their construction and type (wind, string and percussion);

3. rhythmic elements (beat cycles, timelines, facets) and characteristics (clapping, stomping, even or odd);

4. scales and melodic construction (number of notes, repetitive patterns, exact or non-exact call and response);

5. timbre preference (colorful or not, instruments of the same family or different families), and unique features to enhance the tonal quality of an instrument or ensemble.

And describe what is interesting/different about this music in your perception, or what makes this music meaningful to the local people. (10 points)

Here are the links of the videos to watch: ,