Africa
Read West
Africa History Text for Thursday 1/28
Read "Instrument Types" for Tuesday 2/2
Read pages 1-39 in the Chernoff for Thursday 2/4
Interrogate the text!
Here are some possibilities: What does it mean to understand music? Does this
differ in different cultures? What is participant-observation? What drew Chernoff to the music? "Rhythm is the most perceptible
and the least material thing?" How important is participation? How
important is spontaneity? How is this reading changing or reinforcing your own
artistic beliefs?
Read pages 39-59 in the Chernoff for Tuesday 2/9
Interrogate the text!
Start identifying the big categories: ritual; participation; improvisation;
aesthetics; etc.
Read pages 59-88 in the Chernoff for Thursday 2/11
Interrogate the text!
Pay specific attention to the idea of improvisation. Is it free or are there
considerations? What of these "talking drums?" Does the tradition
change? (This is another variation on the question of a living tradition vs. a
fundamentalist approach to the text that we dealt with in class.) Pay special
attention to the section on Agbekor--we will listen
to this in class and it will probably appear in an exam ;
)
Read the first half of chapter 3 (91-120) in the Chernoff
for Tuesday 2/16
Interrogate the text!
Answer the questions above. & How are different
styles learned? What is the modern master drummer responsible for (in terms of
styles?) What is style?
ALSO: Listen to the
“African Listening” under “Learning Modules” on Angel
Identify the various
musical details discussed in class: instrumentation; form; pitch or rhythmic
structure; details specific to this composition or culture. Also, where is the music from? Why is it
performed? Who performs it? Is there any specific societal
importance?
Read the second half of chapter 3 in the Chernoff for 2/18 (SEE LISTENING AND PAPER REQUIREMENTS BELOW)
Interrogate the text!
Answer the questions above. & How are different
styles learned? What is the modern master drummer responsible for (in terms of
styles?) What is style?
ALSO - Listen to the music on Angel (marked African Listening under “Lessons”) for 2/18
Begin to memorize
facts in the listening
review sheet.
2/23 – NO CLASS L
Write a two page (typed) paper on Improvisation in African Music. Successful papers will use at least three quotes from the readings. (Due 2/23 – e-mail to me! Or leave in my box)
EXTRA CREDIT – Attend the OCC African Percussion Ensemble concert (2/26 at 11:15 in Storer Auditorium) and write a brief (one page typed) reaction paper.
Read Chapter 4! (3/2)
Interrogate the text!
Answer the questions above.
Write a two page (typed) paper on Participation in African Music. Successful papers will use at least three quotes from the readings. (Due 3/2)
ALSO: Bring a thesis
statement for your next paper. (Due 3/4)
3/9 – Practice Listening Exam
Paper #1: due Tuesday 3/9 - Write a three to five page (typed) paper on the African Musical Aesthetic. Please feel free to include portions of your papers on improvisation and participation. Successful papers will use quotes or paraphrases from both readings and a definition of aesthetics from both Chernoff and an outside source. Sample Grading Rubric
IN CLASS LISTENING
EXAM!! (3/11) Click Here for sample of a previous test.
Read Sublette’s Cuba and Its Music – Part 1 (pages 3-60) due 3/25
Annotate and highlight
historical information. Also highlight
links back to Africa and the aesthetics we have been tracing.
Read Sublette (61-112) due 3/30
Again, annotate and
highlight historical information. Also
highlight links back to Africa and the aesthetics we have been tracing.
Read Sublette (113-157) due 4/1
Again, annotate and
highlight historical information. Also
highlight links back to Africa and the aesthetics we have been tracing.
Listen to the “Cuban
Listening” under “Lessons” on Angel
Read Sublette (159-256) due 4/6
Highlight musical
detail. Skim Abakuá
and Santería chapters. Danzón info is very
important.
Read Sublette (257-282) due 4/8
Rumba! Columbia, Yambú, Guaguancó Tie these reading
back to the listening!
Read Sublette (Chapters 23 and 25) due 4/13
Paper #2: Write a three to five page (typed) paper on the African Musical Aesthetic as seen in the music of Cuba and, possibly, beyond. Successful papers will use quotes from the Sublette readings and, possibly, the Chernoff or an outside source. (Due 4/15) Sample Rubric
EXTRA CREDIT – Attend the OCC Percussion Ensemble concert (4/22 at 7:00 OR 4/23 at 11:15 in Storer Auditorium) and write a brief (one page typed) reaction paper.
Listen to tracks 1-11 on the CD and learn the following details: Title; artist; approximate recording year; form (12 bar-blues or 32 bar song form); location (time mark) of head and various solos (including the instrument); interesting musical and historical details (from the liner notes.) Due 4/29
Listen to tracks 12-20 on the CD and learn the following
details: Title; artist; approximate
recording year; form (12 bar-blues or 32 bar song form); location (time mark)
of head and various solos (including the instrument); interesting musical and
historical details (from the liner notes.)
Due 5/4
Jazz
Listening Exam – (5/11 @1:00 in G106)
you are responsible for the entire Burns CD.
The questions will be the same as the listening assignments: Title; artist; approximate recording year;
form (12 bar-blues or 32 bar song form); location (time mark) of head and
various solos (including the instrument); interesting musical and historical
details (from the Burns video and class lectures.)