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Music
occupies an important social and cultural function in societies
around the world. Its use is often related to religion, magic or
the exercise of power. Music is also an indispensable accompaniment
to ceremonies and celebrations marking important passages in life.
Musical instruments
are a means of communication between members of a community. Because
musical instruments are present in all religious rituals, they can
serve as intermediaries between the human world and the spirit world.
In addition, they often play a symbolic role, representing the temporal
or spiritual power of a person or group.
No society on
Earth exists without music. In this module, we will help you discover
the diversity of sounds, forms, materials and uses of musical instruments
from several countries around the world.
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Côte
d'Ivoire
Music
of the bala (xylophone)
Cultural Group: Sénoufo
The Sénoufo people live on the savannah of northern Côte
d'Ivoire, to the southeast of Mali,
and southwest of Burkina
Faso. In addition to occasions of simple celebration, the traditional
music of the Sénoufo is performed according to a calendar of
agricultural rites,
as well as ceremonies marking stages of life, such as birth or death.
Funerary
ceremonies (rites) can be quite grand when they mark the death
of a dignitary. In these ceremonies, the goal is to commemorate the
spirit of the deceased, and to request purifying graces on his behalf.
On such occasions, orchestras composed of three or four bala come
together and play during the burial, as well as during the days which
follow. Other instruments may be added to the bala, including wooden
trumpets, drums and transverse flutes. The Sénoufo bala is
composed of a variable number of wooden blades which rest on a horizontal
frame, with calabashes
suspended underneath to serve as resonators. |
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Mali
Music
of the Griots and the Jeli-Koni
The word jeli-koni literally means "lute of the griot".
In numerous African societies, the population is largely composed
of agriculturalists, mixed with smaller groups of metalworkers,
woodworkers, shoemakers and musicians. Those who are members of
the musician caste
are known as "griots". These are artisans of the word
and guardians of tradition. Genealogy, fables, epics and chants
are all part of their repertoire.
To become a
griot,
one must know how to manipulate the spoken word. Mastery of language
and training of the memory are part of the disciplines which are
taught at special "word schools". In this way, griots
transmit their hereditary knowledge to members of their family or
caste.
In earlier times,
the lute was played in the royal court to entertain the king of
Ségou - the ancient capital of Mali.
The instrument also evoked his power, his victories and his warlike
qualities. Today, this four-stringed lute is played only on happy
occasions such as baptisms, weddings and circumsions. The tales
which accompany this instrument are centred around the lives of
heroes, and today constitute the heart of the griot repertoire.
Musicians often refine and re-tell these tales during evening gatherings.
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Niger
Music
at the Court of the Sultan of Damagaram
Cultural Group: Hausa
This official
musical ensemble is considered aristocratic. It constitutes the
ancient royal music of Hausa
countries, and its task is to perform the genealogical repertoire
which retraces the story of a chieftainship.
The horns, trumpets, oboes, drums and other instruments which are
played at the court are also an incarnation of power. As such, the
number of instruments is proportional to the importance of the chieftainship,
and there can be as many as one hundred instruments for important
occasions.
In Hausa countries,
the privilege of maintaining and performing this chiefly music belongs
to a special category of musicians. These are musicians from the
royal court, specialized in the dynastic music of the chieftainship.
These particular musicians sing and play only for the royal family,
or for those who hold traditional forms of authority such as the
sultan,
provincial chiefs, regional chiefs, village chiefs, tribal chiefs
and court dignitaries. Their music accompanies the sultan on his
travels, and raises his prestige in other villages and regions.
( Alghaïta
)
This double-reeded oboe is played in court music, and can form part
of a multi-instrument ensemble. It is played with a continuous breathing
technique: air is inhaled through the nose, filling the oral cavity,
and is exhaled through the instrument. The musician applies his lips
firmly around the mouthpiece, the reed entirely inside the mouth.
The compressed air between his cheeks thus escapes to produce the
high-pitched and somewhat squeaky sound which characterizes the instrument.
This playing technique is common throughout Islamic countries - from
the Mediterranean, to countries such as Chad, Niger and Madagascar,
to certain countries of East and Southeast Asia. |
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