- It was really interesting to hear the similarities among the various cultures. Many of the musicians used vocables or microtones in their singing, and many of the rhythmic accompaniments were very complex. One aspect of the music of the Middle Eastern Takhts that was unlike any other culture we learned about was that the songs they played had a similar structure to that of a jazz combo. These songs had a main tune followed by improvised solos that are accompanied by an ostinato grove. I was very surprised when we heard the recording of “Obsession” because there was applauds after improvised solos. I did not know that it was customary in any other genre of music besides jazz for the audience to be so involved in the music.
- Students have often been taught in middle school and high school history classes that the United States is a melting pot of many ethnicities. I used to believe that this made our country unique. I had a stereotypical image of people from various cultures that had been established through movies and television. I thought most people in South American countries had a tan complexion and black hair and most Australians were Caucasian and had an Australian accent. Now I realize that many countries have a mixture of cultural influences. South American countries, for example, have Native Americans, Caucasians from Spain and Portugal, and Africans. These influences are apparent in their music through the European harmonies, steady percussion from Native Americans, and syncopated rhythms from Africa. Many countries, like America, have undergone invasions, have had slavery, and have had immigrants. Now that I realize that America is not the only country that contains a vast amount of multiple ethnicities, I find that I enjoy trying to distinguish the characteristics borrowed from other cultures.
- Our class covered many cultures in a short amount of time, and I feel as though I have a strong foundation for the music from these places. The most inspirational aspect of this course was the music and family blog. I interviewed my dad and learned things about his past that I never knew. It amazed me that I could live with someone for my entire life, and yet not know very much about his past. I found that I really enjoyed interviewing my dad and summarizing it so that I could portray the essence of our conversation. I plan on continuing this process with my family and friends on various aspects of their lives, so that I can learn more about them and use their ideas to help shape my own. I also think it would be very special to have a recording of their voice for when I can no longer talk to them. I thoroughly enjoyed this assignment and suggest that it be continued next year.
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Final Blog
Friday, January 21, 2011
Cool Stuff- Middle East, India, and Indonesia
1. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/01/world/middleeast/01oud.html
This is the first recording of "Heart Full of Soul."
This is the recording with an actual sitar.
This is a link to a newspaper article that discusses how the Iraqi military has tried to abolish secular music from Iraq. One of the main approaches the military is using is forbidding the making, teaching, and playing of the oud. With the threat of getting their oud confiscated, some citizens are opting to make and play these instruments secretly or choosing to leave the country. This article also covers the struggles Rahim Alhaj has experienced with playing the oud in Iraq and surrounding countries. This is the most recent article I could find regarding Iraq and ouds, so I do not know if secular music is still forbidden in Iraq. I hope Alhaj’s efforts to continue the tradition of playing the oud will encourage musicians in Iraq to continue playing.
After hearing the examples of music that was influenced by India, I became curious what other music was inspired by this culture. The first rock band to incorporate the sound of a sitar is the Yardbirds with the song “Heart Full of Soul.” The first recording of this song was in 1965, but a guitar was used to simulate the sound of a sitar. Nineteen years later, the song was re-recorded using an authentic sitar. Sitars have also been used by various jazz artists and in classical music. This article provides many examples in which western music has been influenced by Indian music.
This is the first recording of "Heart Full of Soul."
This is the recording with an actual sitar.
Indonesian gamelans are traditionally highly revered and believed to have supernatural powers. Both musicians and non-musicians offer incense and flowers to the gamelan because it is believed that the spirits guide each instrument. Players must remove shoes when playing and refrain from stepping over the instruments so that the spirits will not be offended. I found it very interesting that the gamelan is believed to be something so much more than simply an ensemble of musical instruments. It is as if playing the gamelan is ceremonial.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Music and Family
If there was no music, [life] could be kind of boring.
When asked his favorite song as a child, my father became very hesitant as he pondered for his answer. I knew at this time that he was going to have a lot to tell about the music he used to enjoy. He began talking about the songs he liked during the 60’s. He was very young at this time and was only exposed to a few pop songs that came on AM radio. Some of these songs were “Sugar, Sugar” and “Higher and Higher.” He took a personal interest in pop music in forth grade by listening to music by bands such as Grass Roots and Bread. Middle school not only brought about physical changes, but also served as a transition into listening to music that is geared for an older crowd. This music could be found “all over the place,” but he was mostly exposed to this more mature music when he hung out with his older friends. My dad then began to tell a story about how he discovered his first favorite band. My grandfather was working at a restaurant at the time and knew that a cover band was going to be playing songs by The Allman Brothers. He knew that my dad liked music, so he brought a recording device to record the concert and then took it home. Little did he know, this recording initiated a large turning point for my dad’s taste in music. The music by the Allman Brothers, especially the song Black Hearted Woman, turned his attention to blues based music. His first record by the Allman Brothers was Fillmore East.
Music could be listened to on the radio, 45 records, LPs, 8 tracks, cassette tapes, and certain television programs during my father’s childhood. The beginning of the FM radio created an immense impact on how to listen to music, as these FM stations would play entire albums rather than only pop songs. My dad recalled when he often stayed up until ten and eleven o’clock at night to listen to the radio. Generally when songs were very popular, they were sold as albums in record stores. 45 records cost a little less than a dollar, and LPs cost five dollars. Some LP records were sold at a discounted price because they had been cleared out. These cut outs were easily distinguishable because the corner of the cardboard casing was clipped off or had a hole punched into it. My dad found a great hobby in sorting through cut outs while his mom was grocery shopping because “[he] had a chance of getting some pretty good stuff.” Cassette players began their popularity in the early 70’s. This device could record sounds and make music portable by transferring songs from a record to a cassette tape. Music could also be listened to on the “Midnight Special” that showed on television on Friday nights. No matter what technology my dad used to listen to music, “ever since [he] was a little kid, [he] has had contraptions that make the music sound better and better.”
My dad’s love for music influenced what his younger siblings listened to. They especially liked the pop records and Bubblegum Rock. He introduced them to a lot of music they may not have otherwise listened to or known about. My dad stressed his opinion on the difference between rock and pop music by stating, “once you started listening to rock music the other stuff didn’t seem as satisfying anymore.” This new genre of music was exciting and unique. Dad would seek out new music, bring it home to play it, and then his siblings would listen to it. Even when he moved out of the house, his brother and sister listened to his old records. It was hard to avoid listening to music because it was everywhere and was a popular thing to do. Music could be heard at dances, rock concerts, and the outside of nightclubs. A lot of rock concerts were held at the Gaillard Auditorium in Charleston. Very popular bands performed in Columbia; it was there that my dad saw Eric Clapton perform. The majority of the time, music was listened to at a house or in a car with only with a few friends. There was even a competition among the young drivers to see who's car stereo sounded the best.
Besides listening to music, my dad also began playing music as a child. In fifth grade, he was tested at school to determine if he had an aptitude for music. The judges stated that they never had a child score as well as he did. My dad was originally drawn to the French horn because he liked how it looked. His father, however, discouraged this choice by saying, “Aw Nick, the French horn is no good. You can’t be in a swinging band with a French horn. You have to play the trumpet.” My dad played the cornet in the concert and marching band until high school when he switched to tuba. When asked how he liked playing this instrument, he responded with the short and sweet answer, “I didn’t love it, but I liked it.” The trumpet required a lot of work and was very competitive. My dad also had a desire to play the guitar and harmonica. He bought a harmonica, but he was not able to play it. His true passion for playing an instrument began when he started playing the guitar around 1975. He liked playing the guitar more than the trumpet because it was closer to the music he really enjoyed and he played for his own personal satisfaction. His teacher, Mr. Johnson, helped him learn to play the blues.
My dad concluded the interview by saying that the music he listened to as he was growing up shaped his personality. The lyrics, rhythm, and his feelings about blues-rock really influenced him to think in a particular way than if he had listened to classical or country music. His taste in music continued to expand even more as he got older. He still listens to the music he enjoyed in the late 60’s and early 70’s to this day. Music has been a vital component throughout my dad’s life. He summarized his feelings about music by stating, “If there was no music, [life] could be kind of boring.”
Friday, January 14, 2011
Cool Stuff- Africa and Latin America
1. After hearing the disheartening funeral music for a child in Ecuador, I was curious to hear the traditional music that would be played in a Sub-Saharan funeral. The song “Senzeni Na?” is traditionally a folk song resisting the racial segregation in South Africa. It is often sung at funerals and churches. I chose this particular video to show the terrible acts that have been occurring in South Africa for many years. I did not know anything about the apartheid before finding this song. The melodies and lyrics are sometimes altered, but this is a basic English translation:
What have we done?
Our sin is that we are black?
Our sin is the truth
They are killing us
Let Africa return
This is a link to an article in the British Journal of Ethnomusicology that discusses the relationship between music and the lifestyle of the people living in the southern and central Andes. I was curious about the instruments or songs that were used throughout the different seasons of the year. It seems that the alternation of instruments correlates with the agricultural cycle. The year is divided into the wet season, beginning on All Saints day, and the dry season, beginning at Carnival (a week before Lent). The instruments that are played throughout the year have specific purposes. The pinkillu flutes and kitarra are played during the wet season because they bring the rain and clouds from the valley to help crops grow. Charangos, wauqu panpipes, and siku panpipes cause frost in the dry season. Because of this and other unique roles music has within everyday life, the Northern Potosi can be considered to have a “sound culture.”
3. This last video is much lighter than the previous one. The first thought that occurred to me after we learned about the panpipes was that there must be a video on youtube with someone beatboxing on this instrument. I had seen the beatboxing flute player, so I hoped someone had tried this. Sure enough, I found a video! I might attempt to do this if I am ever alone with a panpipe.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Gender and Music
In high school, I participated in two ensembles in which I was the only female. The first was a saxophone quartet. I absolutely loved this ensemble because our personalities and playing styles blended very well. We played a lot of difficult music, but it did not feel like work during rehearsals because the boys were so funny. One of them would do something ridiculous, and we would take about five minutes to regain our composure so that we could continue playing. The second ensemble I played in was at All-State Jazz. This was an interesting experience because the boys were all very talented, but they did not seem competitive of one another. They were respectful to each other and the clinician. The boys made breaks enjoyable by wearing their plungers on their heads and trying to screech the highest note they can possibly play on their instruments. Both these ensembles contained mostly males because males predominantly play the instruments in these settings. Even though I was the only girl in these groups, I did not feel discriminated against at all. My suggestions were appreciated, and I was even asked to present the plaque to the clinician.
Playing in various ensembles during high school has shown me that I am much more competitive with females than males. The girls in my band constantly complained that either one of the members in their section was playing the music incorrectly or that they wanted to beat their rival in the next chairs test. I never wanted to play in front of the girls in my band because I figured they would judge my playing ability. I enjoyed practicing with the boys because they were supportive and would challenge me.
Music is not as enjoyable in an all women setting as it was in a co-ed setting because there lacks a family connection. Rehearsals are efficient and run in a professional manner. This is how it should be, as this is a college not a high school band class. There are cliques of people, but there is not a sense of community. I do not enjoy playing next to only girls because I worry that I am being judged when I mess up. This self-consciousness especially pertains to seminar because I get offended when people make negative comments. I realize that they are only offering advice or observations, but I still get upset. I have a suggestion to help the Converse Wind Ensemble become closer. My high school band’s flute section was the only section that consisted of only females. One of the ways that the girls bonded outside of band class was an event called “Flute Day.” The flute players got together and painted T-shirts. It seemed like a great idea, and it really helped the girls get along better. Men help create a fun, less competitive environment in a music ensemble, but there are ways to help make a women’s ensemble just as enjoyable.
Friday, January 7, 2011
Cool Stuff- Native America and Africa
This website includes an article on the origin and purpose of the Woman’s Jingle Dress. I was curious if this costume had any other purpose besides making noise while the women danced. The jingles were originally made of lids from Copenhagen tobacco cans, but deer hooves and bird bones are sometimes used to make noise as well. I believe the jingles are simply used for making noise, but the Jingle Dress Dance is used for healing.
The aerial view of the campus shows that many of the buildings are traditionally circular shaped.
This is the course catalogue for Diné College for the 2010 and 2011 school year. We learned that the Navajo Nation passes down its culture’s beliefs and traditions to younger generations in order to try to keep it alive. I was curious to which classes a student would have to take at the community college founded by the Navajos. The college’s policies and student activities seem very similar to most colleges in the United States. The cornstalk philosophy is described in the beginning of the catalogue. It reiterates the cyclic ideas of the Navajo by stating, “When the kernel is planted it goes through a growth cycle in the same way humans go through their life cycle.” The college offers many common majors, and the general education requirements include classes in communications, humanities, mathematics, Navajo and Indian studies, physical education, and social and behavioral sciences.
3.
This is a video of a man named Toumani Diabate playing the kora. The symmetric orchestra is accompanying him. Not only is this ensemble inspiring and fascinating to watch, but also Toumani Diabate includes a brief lesson on how to play the kora. I thought that the name of the orchestra was interesting because it is most likely based off of the term, bilateral symmetry, we learned in class.
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Music and Religion
The music in a Catholic Mass serves as another means of prayer; it can be as simple as a priest chanting or as grand as a choir, organ, and string trio playing the “Hallelujah Chorus” on Christmas morning. It is an essential component to the course of the Mass because it provides the congregation with guidelines to its various sections. This service is universal, so most Catholics would be familiar with the Kyrie, Gloria, Sanctus, Benedictus, and Agnus Dei and could determine which part of the Mass is approaching based on the song. The music in a Mass can include congregational hymns, chants, and call-and-response songs between the cantor and parishioners. Small churches generally have a piano or organ; where as larger cathedrals may have an organ, strings and orchestral winds accompanying the choir. The songs used in a Mass must lack profanity and be approved by the Vatican. There are also strict rules as to what songs should be sung during certain parts of the year. In a practical sense, the music helps the congregation stay engaged and reiterates the teachings of the church through the text. The music also provides a sense of community, as all of the churchgoers are partaking in this alternative method of prayer together.
Catholicism teaches that its followers should pray in a group as well as independently. Given that there are multiple voices in a group setting, there is a mixture of timbres and an opportunity for harmonization. These elements can help create beauty in the music. The church’s teachings are based on love, forgiveness, and peace, and the hymns that are sung contain text from scripture. The music itself reflects these ideas by being consonant and simple. The church also highly respects the Eucharist and scripture. The congregation displays this by being reserved and contemplative throughout the Mass. The music reflects this way of thought through chanting. The more traditional churches, typically cathedrals, include much more chanting than smaller churches. The priest generally decides how much of this method of singing he would like to use. The majority of chanting occurs during one of the most important parts of the Mass, The Liturgy of the Eucharist. The only text that is required to be chanted is “Through him, with, him, in him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honor is yours almighty Father, forever and ever.” This is a doxology stating the greatness of Christ’s intercession to God. Given that the majority of chanting is used during one of the most important parts of the Mass, this singing style must be used to express the greatest aspects of the church in a reverent way. The Catholic faith uses many forms of music to pray to God, express religious beliefs in a community, and celebrate the Eucharist in a meditative manner.
Monday, January 3, 2011
My Music Autobiography
The majority of my experiences with non-Western Art music have occurred in my hometown, Hollywood, South Carolina. The earliest memory I have of non-Western Art music is of my mother singing to me in Spanish. My grandmother sang her these same songs when she was growing up in Panama. Some of the songs had very strange English translations. My mom further exposed my family to this music by singing “Happy Birthday” in English and Spanish until I was about six. I never thought that it was strange that my mother was singing in another language. I will possibly even teach my children how to sing “Happy Birthday” in Spanish.
The family that lives next door is from Mexico and enjoys having parties. These celebrations usually consist of blaring Mariachi music until very late at night. A lot of this music sounds very similar and has a steady bass that provides the pulse. I am indifferent to this style of non-Western Art music, but my dogs are not very fond of it.
A few Christmases ago, my dad’s friend asked my brothers and me to play a few songs for a party he was having. We ended up providing background music because the guests took more interest in their food than in what we were playing. A folk band played later that evening. I had never seen this style of music performed live. There was an assortment of instruments being played including guitars, washboards, and fiddles. Most of the guests were overjoyed to participate in this music. Many people began dancing, singing, and adding their own musical talent to the ensemble. It was fascinating to watch so many people enthusiastically take part in a style of music that I had never considered enjoyable to listen to.
My most recent experience with non-Western Art music was during this past Christmas vacation. I wanted to buy my dad a CD, but I was not sure what kind of music he enjoyed listening to the most, as he has an expansive taste in music. I noticed a CD in the world music section with a picture of a Buddhist monk on the front cover. My dad converted to Buddhism when I was little; the teachings my dad listened to helped make me accustomed to the sound of chanting. Out of curiosity, I took a look on the back cover and discovered that a man recorded the Tibetan monk chanting and added an accompaniment to it. I bought this CD for my dad, and both of us have really enjoyed listening to it because it is tranquil and seems full of emotion. I would really like to learn more about the significance of chanting other than for religious purposes.
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