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Introduction
Introduction
Listen to traditional West African drumming music using Djembeloops.com.
Click 'Rhythms' to select popular pieces such as Djole (from Sierra Leone), Kuku (from Guinea/Cote d'Ivoire) and Sorsornet (from Guinea).
Click 'play' to listen, and the 'edit' tool (pencil symbol) to view the notation.
As the music plays, click each instrument to add/remove it from the mix. Click the 'echauffement' (ornament) tool (dial/clock symbol) to add and view djembe solos.
Click 'Rhythms' to filter by country and metre (time signature), including binary (simple) and ternary (compound) metres.
Then watch an interpretation of Kuku performed live by a drum ensemble and a traditional Mende song performed by solo voice and chorus.
Activity 1: Performing Traditional West African Vocal Music
Activity 1: Performing Traditional West African Vocal Music
Awenye Nakile Vocal Score.pdfAwenye Nakile Piano Score.pdfActivity 2: Performing Traditional West African Drumming Music
Activity 2: Performing Traditional West African Drumming Music
Listen to Djembeloops.com performing traditional West African drumming music: Djole, Kuku and Sorsornet, including djembe solos.
1Djole-Kuku-Sorsornet-Music for West African Drum Ensemble.pdfBefore playing the traditional West African drumming music 'Djole', 'Kuku' and 'Sorsornet', watch the demonstration and practise the three core djembe playing techniques:
Before playing the traditional West African drumming music 'Djole', 'Kuku' and 'Sorsornet', watch the demonstration and practise the three core djembe playing techniques:
- Bass (low pitch, notated with a low pitched notehead)
- Tone (mid pitch, notated with a higher pitched notehead)
- Slap (high pitch, notated with a cross)
In addition, dundun, sangban and kenkeni drum and bell players should practise the:
In addition, dundun, sangban and kenkeni drum and bell players should practise the:
- Open technique
(The drum head is struck with a stick and released as normal, allowing it to vibrate, notated with an 'o' symbol or none).
(The drum head is struck with a stick and released as normal, allowing it to vibrate, notated with an 'o' symbol or none).
- Mute technique
(Continue holding stick to skin after striking, muting the vibration, notated with a '+' symbol).
(Continue holding stick to skin after striking, muting the vibration, notated with a '+' symbol).
- The complementary bell rhythm
(Notated with cross-headed notes).
(Notated with cross-headed notes).
Activity 3: The West African Musical Tradition
Activity 3: The West African Musical Tradition
Where you see an asterisk *, one or more words are missing.
Using the word bank below, write the completed sentences in your exercise book / on paper.
West African traditional music originates from mainly * regions, south of the * desert, on the * coast of the African continent. The term most often describes the traditional music of countries such as *, *, *, *, *, and their neighbours. (It differs from the traditional music of * Africa, and countries with similar * and * cultural influences).
West African traditional music originates from mainly * regions, south of the * desert, on the * coast of the African continent. The term most often describes the traditional music of countries such as *, *, *, *, *, and their neighbours. (It differs from the traditional music of * Africa, and countries with similar * and * cultural influences).
Arabic equatorial Ghana Guinea Ivory Coast Islamic Mali North/East sahara Senegal west
Arabic equatorial Ghana Guinea Ivory Coast Islamic Mali North/East sahara Senegal west
Continue to the next paragraph
The West African musical tradition is an * tradition (passed on by voice/ear), characterised by *, *, and * ensembles, but also including music for * (wooden tuned percussion), * string instruments (similar to a harp) and flutes, often played by *: West African storyteller-musicians. Traditional West African ensemble music is closely linked to community * and *. Traditional events celebrating *, * trips, coming of *, bravery in *, arrival of *, good luck, and mask (religious) rituals are marked with specific pieces of music and dance.
The West African musical tradition is an * tradition (passed on by voice/ear), characterised by *, *, and * ensembles, but also including music for * (wooden tuned percussion), * string instruments (similar to a harp) and flutes, often played by *: West African storyteller-musicians. Traditional West African ensemble music is closely linked to community * and *. Traditional events celebrating *, * trips, coming of *, bravery in *, arrival of *, good luck, and mask (religious) rituals are marked with specific pieces of music and dance.
age balafons battle celebrations dancing drumming griots harvests hunting oral plucked rituals singing visitors
age balafons battle celebrations dancing drumming griots harvests hunting oral plucked rituals singing visitors
Continue to the next paragraph
Remarkably, all modern * music originates from traditional West African music. Through the cruel transatlantic * trade (1500s-1800s), African and European cultures mixed in the *, leading to the development of spirituals, jazz, blues, rock and roll, and modern pop music styles in turn. Defining features such as * (off beat) and cross-rhythms, * (five note) melodies, and structures using call and * all originate in West Africa.
Remarkably, all modern * music originates from traditional West African music. Through the cruel transatlantic * trade (1500s-1800s), African and European cultures mixed in the *, leading to the development of spirituals, jazz, blues, rock and roll, and modern pop music styles in turn. Defining features such as * (off beat) and cross-rhythms, * (five note) melodies, and structures using call and * all originate in West Africa.
Americas pentatonic pop response slave syncopated
Americas pentatonic pop response slave syncopated
Word bank
Word bank
age Americas Arabic balafons battle celebrations dancing drumming equatorial Ghana griots Guinea harvests hunting Islamic Ivory Coast Mali North/East oral pentatonic plucked pop response rituals Sahara Senegal singing slave syncopated west
age Americas Arabic balafons battle celebrations dancing drumming equatorial Ghana griots Guinea harvests hunting Islamic Ivory Coast Mali North/East oral pentatonic plucked pop response rituals Sahara Senegal singing slave syncopated west
Click below to watch and listen to musicians play instruments from the West African musical tradition. Then in your exercise book/on paper, using the annotated images to help you, complete a sentence describing each instrument (where you see an asterisk * the instrument's name has been omitted).
In your exercise book or on paper, using the annotated images below to help you, complete the following sentences describing each instrument (where you see an asterisk * the instrument's name has been omitted).
membranophones = drums
idiophones = tuned percussion/bells
chordophones = strings
aerophones = wind
electrophones = synthesisers
The * is a single-headed, goblet shaped drum played with the hands to produce 'bass' (low), 'tone' (mid) and 'slap' (high pitched) sounds. Drum ensembles are led by one or more of these, the lead played by the 'master drummer'.
The * is a single-headed, goblet shaped drum played with the hands to produce 'bass' (low), 'tone' (mid) and 'slap' (high pitched) sounds. Drum ensembles are led by one or more of these, the lead played by the 'master drummer'.
From largest to smallest, the *, * and * are double-headed, cylindrical drums, members of the dundun family, each played on its side with a straight stick. One of each size is used, with bell attached, to accompany drum ensembles.
From largest to smallest, the *, * and * are double-headed, cylindrical drums, members of the dundun family, each played on its side with a straight stick. One of each size is used, with bell attached, to accompany drum ensembles.
The *, sometimes called gankogui, may take various shapes, but is often a folded, rounded piece of metal, attached to the dundun family. The musician plays complementary rhythms on the drum and bell to accompany the ensemble.
The *, sometimes called gankogui, may take various shapes, but is often a folded, rounded piece of metal, attached to the dundun family. The musician plays complementary rhythms on the drum and bell to accompany the ensemble.
The * (larger) and * (smaller) are shakers made from dried hollow gourds (similar to a squash/pumpkin) each surrounded by a beaded net. They keep the pulse in drum ensembles.
The * (larger) and * (smaller) are shakers made from dried hollow gourds (similar to a squash/pumpkin) each surrounded by a beaded net. They keep the pulse in drum ensembles.
The * is an hour-glass shaped drum, played with a curved stick, with flexible tension chords held and squeezed/released under the arm to raise/lower the pitch, imitating African tonal (pitch-based) languages.
The * is an hour-glass shaped drum, played with a curved stick, with flexible tension chords held and squeezed/released under the arm to raise/lower the pitch, imitating African tonal (pitch-based) languages.
The * is a tuned percussion instrument made from wooden keys and gourd (pumpkin/squash) resonators, similar to a xylophone, tuned to tetratonic, pentatonic or heptatonic (4, 5 or 7 note) scales.
The * is a tuned percussion instrument made from wooden keys and gourd (pumpkin/squash) resonators, similar to a xylophone, tuned to tetratonic, pentatonic or heptatonic (4, 5 or 7 note) scales.
The * is a plucked string instrument (a type of harp) with 20-30 strings of varying lengths, strung from a wooden neck, across a half-gourd (pumpkin-like) resonator with animal skin cover. The musician faces the strings to play.
The * is a plucked string instrument (a type of harp) with 20-30 strings of varying lengths, strung from a wooden neck, across a half-gourd (pumpkin-like) resonator with animal skin cover. The musician faces the strings to play.
The * is a flute with 3 finger holes and rectangular embouchure (mouthpiece) made from vine and played diagonally. It is diatonic (plays notes within only one key/tonality).
The * is a flute with 3 finger holes and rectangular embouchure (mouthpiece) made from vine and played diagonally. It is diatonic (plays notes within only one key/tonality).
Word bank:
Word bank:
Axatse Balafon Bell (Cowbell) Djembe Dundun Kenkeni Kora Sangban Shekere Talking Drum Tambin
Axatse Balafon Bell (Cowbell) Djembe Dundun Kenkeni Kora Sangban Shekere Talking Drum Tambin
1West African Traditional Music Worksheet.pdf
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