Music Around the World

1. Music Around the World How do people use music to express ideas and share traditions across cultures?

2. World Music Vocabulary • Ostinato ~Rhythm or melody patterns that are repeated • Call and Response ~a style of singing or playing where one part “calls” and the other part answers or “responds” • Drone ~A continuous, unchanging musical sound that is used to accompany a melody • Scale ~A group of pitches arranged from lower to higher in a certain pattern (Ex: diatonic scale using Do, Re, Mi, Fa, Sol, La, Ti, Do or Pentatonic scales using only five pitches) • Cultural Purpose ~The purpose or reason for a musical performance, relating to it’s cultural background.

3. Instruments Around the World • Many instruments are made from natural resources. For example, the cultures in regions where bamboo grows typically have instruments made from bamboo. • Instruments can be pitched, like the xylophone, flute, or guitar, or they can be non-pitched, like drums or a tambourine. • Often, instruments are used in ceremonies, and decorated with tribal or cultural designs.

4. Udu drums from Africa These drums are made from a clay pot with openings to determine the sound.

5. Voices Around the World • Folk songs are popular in almost every country, and are passed from generation to generation. • Many singers alter their voices to create sound effects or tell stories with their songs. • Tibetan Throat Singers:

6. Cultural Purpose • Music is used in many cultures for ceremonies, rituals, celebrations, and religious events. • Many cultures preserve their history through songs. Folk songs tell the stories of a culture and preserve them for future generations. • Singing and playing instruments is often a communal activity. Unlike the United States, where we usually attend concerts as simply the audience, many countries involve everyone in making music, even without any formal training.