Global music

1
Global music
WEEK EIGHT
2
FAR EAST

• JAPAN
• Traditional Japanese music is very heavily
  concentrated in theater called kabuki, noh, and
  bunraku.
• Instruments include Koto, a zither Shakuhachi,
  an end blown wooden flute Shamisen, three
  stringed lute
• CHINA
• Traditional Chinese opera is very colorful and
  musical. Voices are pitched very high
• Instruments include erhu, two-stringed bowed
  instrument pipa, four stringed lute dizi,
  bamboo flute
• INDIA
• Indian music is unique because of the way it is
  taught. Musicians study with gurus for many,
  many years before they are able to perform on
  their own.
• Musicians use a lot of improvisation and
  memorization of complex scale (raga) and rhythmic
  (tala) patterns.
• Instruments include sitar, large lute with many
  strings that are plucked and even more strings
  that are called sympathy strings. These types
  of strings are not touched by the musician, but
  they react to the vibrations of the strings that
  are plucked. This results in the extremely
  shimmery sound that you hear in the Listening
  example. Another instrument is a pair of drums
  called tabla.

3

• GAMELAN
• The islands of Bali and Java in Indonesia are
  known for their Gamelan ensembles.
• They use gongs, bell type instruments, and many
  other different sized metal instruments to create
  their ensemble.
• The music happens in cycles with each instrument
  having its own specific purpose. No one
  instrument is the soloist, all instruments work
  together to create the whole.
• The Kebyar example in the text is a rare form of
  secular gamelan. Traditionally Gamelan is very
  religious and almost meditative, not flashy.
  Performers are not allowed to wear shoes or step
  over any instruments out of respect. In the more
  religious form the cyclical nature of the music
  can be heard very clearly.

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NEAR EAST AND AFRICA

• ISLAM
• Religious call to worship is sung and called
  Adhan. Text and language are the same while the
  melody can vary.
• JEWISH KLEZMER
• Traditional folk music of the Jews.
• Uses Western instruments
• AFRICA
• Music is important in everyday life. Dancing is
  commonly associated with music and therefore,
  drums are a main instrument in Africa.
• Vocal call and response songs are common.

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Characteristics of non-western music

• Very concentrated on melody and rhythm rather
  than harmony.
• Improvisation is a large part of their music.
  Western cultures used it some in the Baroque
  period and in jazz, but not to the extent of the
  non-Western cultures.
• Musical knowledge is passed down person to person
  in what is called Oral Tradition.
• Music is a large part of the community and
  community celebrations often with the community
  interacting with the performers.

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Caribbean and latin america

• Cuba
• Cuba has great music that has been influenced by
  African and European musicians. There are also
  indigenous groups on the island that have
  contributed to the way the music sounds.
• Much of it is dance music that stemmed from early
  Spanish colonists.
• Instruments include many drums for dancing,
  claves, and familiar Western instruments.
• Brazil
• Combination of Portuguese, African, and native
  cultures. Samba and Basso nova are some of the
  traditional styles.
• Mexico
• Mariachi is popular music that still thrives
  today. It is a great part of their culture and
  is performed at many events including weddings
  and birthdays.