I have learned so much in the Music in Diverse Cultures class. If I had to choose one thing to share that I thought was intriguing, it would have to be the music in Mt. Cotacachi. I probably knew the least about that culture before the class started. It seems that their culture has the least connections with our society today. The music was very unique, especially the timbre and pitch of the female voice. It was also interesting how the golpeador hits the bass of the harp while the arpero plays. I really think that everything about this culture is unique and interesting.
While studying the many different cultures, I have realized that the music I listen to in my own culture is actually a syncretism of many different cultures. This makes sense, when we refer to America as being the melting pot.
This class has inspired me to learn more about a lot of things. I am interested in looking into more contemporary groups that play authentic instruments from their culture. I am also looking forward to learning more about individual instruments from different cultures, such as, the thumb piano, singing bowls, and gamelans. I also think that the Erhu is amazing, because the performers are able to get so many different pitches out of one string.
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Friday, January 21, 2011
Cool Stuff #1: Fri. Jan. 21
This is a really interesting video! The instrument being played is an ancient harp called a kugo. It originated in Mesopotamia and spread across Asia. Notice how it sits on her lap, unlike the harp we are use to seeing, which is much bigger than the person playing it.
Cool Stuff #2: Fri. Jan. 21
The following video is of a man playing Tibetan Singing Bowls and a gong. These come from Asia, and I, along with others, find the sound to be very relaxing. I hope you enjoy!
Cool Stuff #3: Fri. Jan. 21
The following video is a clip from one of George Harrison's lessons with Ravi Shankar. This is definitely relevant to class because it they are playing the sitar, and because it gives us an idea of how instruments are taught by being passed down instead of by instructions or music written on paper. It also shows that even George Harrison had to work at learning to play an instrument. We are not alone! :)
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Music and Family
I chose to interview both my Granny Gail and Papa Bennie, on my mom's side of the family. I interviewed my granny first, and my papa last. The interviews took place in separate rooms, so their answers were not skewed by one another.
When asked what kind of music she listened to growing up, my Granny Gail replied that she did not remember listening to a lot of music when she was a young child, but as a teenager she enjoyed listening to Big Band and the music of the 50's. She also said that she usually listened to music in the afternoons, during quiet time, using a record player. When it came to dancing, she said that they used to Shag. When I asked her what her parents and/or teachers thought about the music she listened to, she said, "I imagine they liked it. They never said anything different." She also said that she enjoyed singing in church and that the environment was worshipful. She answered that she simply liked the sound of the music and that she enjoyed it, when asked why she liked the music she did. She also said that she did not necessarily turn to a certain genre due to life experiences, and she was never exposed to music outside of her own culture.
My Papa Bennie said that he listened to gospel music as a child. After I pried a little bit more about the music he listened to, he said that he liked to listen to Country music as a teenager. The technology he used to listen to music was the radio. Papa said that he did not experience a lot of dancing until he got into college, where people would go to parties to go dancing. He experienced music at church and at home, and he sang in the Glee Club at school. His parents approved of the music that he listened to and sang. When I asked him about why he chose to listen to certain types of music, he explained that as he got older he still enjoys listening to Country music, but that he likes Gospel a bit more, and sometimes Classical music.
I think that both of my grandparents got strangely shy while I was interviewing them, especially my Papa Bennie. He did not tell me this in the actual interview, but he has shared with me before, that he once went to a Little Richard concert at Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium. The concert he attended took place during the time of segregation. He had to sit in the balcony, along with the other white people, while the black people were allowed to dance on the main floor. I wanted to share this information because I thought it was significantly different from what occurs at concerts today. I also realize that Little Richard is not a Gospel singer or a Country singer, so I am really not sure how valid this interview was.
When asked what kind of music she listened to growing up, my Granny Gail replied that she did not remember listening to a lot of music when she was a young child, but as a teenager she enjoyed listening to Big Band and the music of the 50's. She also said that she usually listened to music in the afternoons, during quiet time, using a record player. When it came to dancing, she said that they used to Shag. When I asked her what her parents and/or teachers thought about the music she listened to, she said, "I imagine they liked it. They never said anything different." She also said that she enjoyed singing in church and that the environment was worshipful. She answered that she simply liked the sound of the music and that she enjoyed it, when asked why she liked the music she did. She also said that she did not necessarily turn to a certain genre due to life experiences, and she was never exposed to music outside of her own culture.
My Papa Bennie said that he listened to gospel music as a child. After I pried a little bit more about the music he listened to, he said that he liked to listen to Country music as a teenager. The technology he used to listen to music was the radio. Papa said that he did not experience a lot of dancing until he got into college, where people would go to parties to go dancing. He experienced music at church and at home, and he sang in the Glee Club at school. His parents approved of the music that he listened to and sang. When I asked him about why he chose to listen to certain types of music, he explained that as he got older he still enjoys listening to Country music, but that he likes Gospel a bit more, and sometimes Classical music.
I think that both of my grandparents got strangely shy while I was interviewing them, especially my Papa Bennie. He did not tell me this in the actual interview, but he has shared with me before, that he once went to a Little Richard concert at Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium. The concert he attended took place during the time of segregation. He had to sit in the balcony, along with the other white people, while the black people were allowed to dance on the main floor. I wanted to share this information because I thought it was significantly different from what occurs at concerts today. I also realize that Little Richard is not a Gospel singer or a Country singer, so I am really not sure how valid this interview was.
Friday, January 14, 2011
Niños cantan en quechua - pampa de la quinua - Ayacucho
This young girl is from Ayacucho, which is in Peru. I thought this video was very interesting because we have not heard a lot of children singing in the examples used in the book. This young girl, along with the other young children, who I assume is her younger siblings, have probably heard this song many times growing up, or has been taught the song in some sort of class setting. The girl seems very excited to be singing the song in front of the camera. As she begins to sing she seems to concentrate more and more on what she is singing. When the two boys come on the scene, she sort of looks annoyed with them, but seems to already know that the show must go on.
Faccha Huayras-Inti Raymi (San Juanito)
I truly enjoyed watching this video. This is an authentic San Juanito. The people in this video are wearing authentic costumes. In the book, it discusses that the men and women wear blue and white. The men, wearing white pants and a blue poncho, and the women wearing a white blouse and a blue skirt. I began to giggle at the end of the video because the musicians began to carry on about the dancers. I thought the traditional dance was very nice. I only wish I knew exactly what it was about. I had trouble determining whether the dancer in head-to-toe costume of bright colors was good or bad. I think he was good. The website that is listed on the video at the beginning and the end is for a group that is going around the world recording authentic music of different cultures around the world.
LlaquiRuna MUSIC VIDEO
Llaqui Runa is an Inca group. In the video, there is someone playing the panpipes, someone playing the Charango, someone playing the guitar and someone playing percussion. There are many videos on YouTube of music by Llaqui Runa, but this was the best one I could find which showed them actually playing. This is a music video that they created in Hollywood, which I found to be very interesting. I wish that I understood what the lyrics meant, that way I could understand exactly what the point of the piece is.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Music and Gender
Through out grade school I noticed a difference in the music that girls like and the music that boys like. The first person that I heard talk about rap was a boy. The first person I heard talking about Brittney Spears was a girl.
In orchestra, most bass players were male. When I was in middle school and high school, I only saw two girls who played the bass, and they were not in my schools' orchestras. The first time I saw a female bass player I was in the Region I Orchestra. I found it fascinating that there were girls who actually played the bass, and wondered why I did not play the bass. The smaller the instrument, the more girls seemed to play them. A couple of girls played the cello, a couple played the viola, and of course the majority of the violin section were girls.
Although I have never been in band, I have spent plenty of time observing them at pep rallies, high school and college football games, and concerts. I noticed that the majority of the students playing percussion were male. In the band at my high school, the flute section was all girls.
I have even noticed some sort of gender segregation within my church choir! Of course there are no male sopranos. There are not any male altos either. The problem, or situation, is that there is a lady that has a very low voice. She could totally sing bass, not tenor, but bass. Instead, she has been placed in the alto section (I guess they were afraid of her standing out). In the alto section, she actually sings the melody, just very low.
Within my own family I have noticed certain differences between the genders when it comes to music. It could be simply because of their different interests, but my father's father has had more experience with music than my grandmother. He knows a decent amount of piano. This means that he knows how to peck out a tune. In fact, he was one of the first ones to teach me how to play a couple of little tunes on the piano. He is also much more willing to sing solos at church than my grandmother is. Both of my grandparents sing in the church choir, but my grandmother does not seem to know how to play the piano, and when it comes to singing solos, she does not. My mother's parents are a bit more balanced. Neither one of them sing in the church choir, but my grandmother did take voice lessons from the choir director. She also took piano lessons for a little while. My grandfather, on the other hand, does not play an instrument, but he does whistle a lot and randomly breaks out into song through out the day. His tunes usually come from hymns, but the words may or may not have anything to do with Baby Jesus.
In orchestra, most bass players were male. When I was in middle school and high school, I only saw two girls who played the bass, and they were not in my schools' orchestras. The first time I saw a female bass player I was in the Region I Orchestra. I found it fascinating that there were girls who actually played the bass, and wondered why I did not play the bass. The smaller the instrument, the more girls seemed to play them. A couple of girls played the cello, a couple played the viola, and of course the majority of the violin section were girls.
Although I have never been in band, I have spent plenty of time observing them at pep rallies, high school and college football games, and concerts. I noticed that the majority of the students playing percussion were male. In the band at my high school, the flute section was all girls.
I have even noticed some sort of gender segregation within my church choir! Of course there are no male sopranos. There are not any male altos either. The problem, or situation, is that there is a lady that has a very low voice. She could totally sing bass, not tenor, but bass. Instead, she has been placed in the alto section (I guess they were afraid of her standing out). In the alto section, she actually sings the melody, just very low.
Within my own family I have noticed certain differences between the genders when it comes to music. It could be simply because of their different interests, but my father's father has had more experience with music than my grandmother. He knows a decent amount of piano. This means that he knows how to peck out a tune. In fact, he was one of the first ones to teach me how to play a couple of little tunes on the piano. He is also much more willing to sing solos at church than my grandmother is. Both of my grandparents sing in the church choir, but my grandmother does not seem to know how to play the piano, and when it comes to singing solos, she does not. My mother's parents are a bit more balanced. Neither one of them sing in the church choir, but my grandmother did take voice lessons from the choir director. She also took piano lessons for a little while. My grandfather, on the other hand, does not play an instrument, but he does whistle a lot and randomly breaks out into song through out the day. His tunes usually come from hymns, but the words may or may not have anything to do with Baby Jesus.
Friday, January 7, 2011
African Griots Live
Below is a video of three griots playing and singing. Two of them are playing koras. I thought that it was interesting how the koras are being held like a guitar instead of sitting upright, like the ones viewed in class. I found it a bit amusing how one of the griots is wearing a cowboy hat. I do believe that this video demonstrates very well how the African people cherish their culture, but have progressed with time as well.
Hunters Mbira Crew 2
The video below is of two mbira players and a shaker. I found this video to be extremely awesome. This group could be rock stars! If they came over to America I would totally track them down and listen to their music. I think that it is amazing how they have taken instruments from their culture and made modern music. I also found it amusing how they communicate with each other every now and then, and how the shaker finally stopped shaking at the end, as if to say, "That's the end or my arms are going to fall off."
Hot ! Hoop Dance Native American Thanksgiving Flute & Dancer
The video below is a Native American hoop dance. The dancing with the hoops is very interesting. The dancer forms animals, flowers, the sun and moon through out the dance. The eagle is a main theme in hoop dancing. I found on another video information about the actual hoop dance. It was explained that the dancer enters through each hoop at least once, signifying birth into the world.
I do not think that the band is Native American, but I thought it was an interesting piece with Native American flare.
This applies to the class because it is Native American, obviously. The music, although not traditional Native American music, shows a way that the Native American culture has effected the western music of today. Also, since we viewed a lot of Pow-wows I wanted to add that they sometimes hold Hoop Dance Competitions.
I do not think that the band is Native American, but I thought it was an interesting piece with Native American flare.
This applies to the class because it is Native American, obviously. The music, although not traditional Native American music, shows a way that the Native American culture has effected the western music of today. Also, since we viewed a lot of Pow-wows I wanted to add that they sometimes hold Hoop Dance Competitions.
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Music and Religion
I attend a Pentecostal church. The music ranges from old hymns, middle to late 20th century choruses, and contemporary christian music.
I play the violin in a trio also consisting of a piano and keyboard. At the beginning of the service the congregation sings a chorus. The music acts as a call to worship. The trio plays while the congregation sings.
After the chorus is sung, the choir sings two songs. The two songs, chosen by the choir director, serve as praise and worship music. People praise God by singing along, and lifting their hands toward Heaven. The lifting of hands represent a sacrifice of praise unto the Lord. Sometimes the church has special services and the choir director takes the time to select songs that relate to the preacher's sermon.
The offering is taken up after the choir sings. At this time, the trio plays a chorus. The congregation is not expected to sing along, but they are often led by the preacher to do so. The purpose of the music is to provide a continual atmosphere of worship.
After offering, there are two people who each sing a song. They each choose which song they sing. Usually the genre of the songs is Contemporary Christian. Most of the instrumental music provided for the singers is by CD or piano. The purpose of individuals singing is that they are singing for the glory of God. When each song is finished, the congregation usually claps, but they are clapping to give God the glory, not the person who sang.
The trio plays a chorus once again during prayer. When the preacher finishes praying, the congregation sings the chorus.
The violinist and the keyboardist drop out after the congregation finishes singing and the pianist continues to play the chorus while the preacher reads the scripture for the sermon.
At the end of the sermon the pianist usually plays the keyboard during the benediction.
Music in my religion provides a way to show thankfulness to God and exalt His name.
I do believe that the religions in a certain area make a difference in what music the people find most enjoyable in that location.
I recently had a discussion with my uncle who lives in the state of Washington about the difference in the songs played on the local Christian radio stations there and the Christian radio stations in South Carolina. He said that the songs played are heavy metal Christian music instead of the light rock Christian music that is usually played in South Carolina. In South Carolina the majority of churches are Southern Baptist, whereas in Washington there are more Pentecostal and Non-denominational churches. The style of music found in all three of the churches are different, but based on the style of the services and what the two different populations are use to musically, the radio stations can conclude that the listeners will enjoy the two different styles of music.
I play the violin in a trio also consisting of a piano and keyboard. At the beginning of the service the congregation sings a chorus. The music acts as a call to worship. The trio plays while the congregation sings.
After the chorus is sung, the choir sings two songs. The two songs, chosen by the choir director, serve as praise and worship music. People praise God by singing along, and lifting their hands toward Heaven. The lifting of hands represent a sacrifice of praise unto the Lord. Sometimes the church has special services and the choir director takes the time to select songs that relate to the preacher's sermon.
The offering is taken up after the choir sings. At this time, the trio plays a chorus. The congregation is not expected to sing along, but they are often led by the preacher to do so. The purpose of the music is to provide a continual atmosphere of worship.
After offering, there are two people who each sing a song. They each choose which song they sing. Usually the genre of the songs is Contemporary Christian. Most of the instrumental music provided for the singers is by CD or piano. The purpose of individuals singing is that they are singing for the glory of God. When each song is finished, the congregation usually claps, but they are clapping to give God the glory, not the person who sang.
The trio plays a chorus once again during prayer. When the preacher finishes praying, the congregation sings the chorus.
The violinist and the keyboardist drop out after the congregation finishes singing and the pianist continues to play the chorus while the preacher reads the scripture for the sermon.
At the end of the sermon the pianist usually plays the keyboard during the benediction.
Music in my religion provides a way to show thankfulness to God and exalt His name.
I do believe that the religions in a certain area make a difference in what music the people find most enjoyable in that location.
I recently had a discussion with my uncle who lives in the state of Washington about the difference in the songs played on the local Christian radio stations there and the Christian radio stations in South Carolina. He said that the songs played are heavy metal Christian music instead of the light rock Christian music that is usually played in South Carolina. In South Carolina the majority of churches are Southern Baptist, whereas in Washington there are more Pentecostal and Non-denominational churches. The style of music found in all three of the churches are different, but based on the style of the services and what the two different populations are use to musically, the radio stations can conclude that the listeners will enjoy the two different styles of music.
Monday, January 3, 2011
Music Autobiography
In my lifetime I have heard music from different cultures other than my own.
When I was in the fourth grade I went on a field trip to a Cherokee reservation. I enjoyed listening to the traditional music and seeing the costumes that go along with it. The only instruments used were drums, but there was plenty of singing and chanting.
I have heard bagpipes being played before. It was not live, but from a recording of Scottish music. the specific piece I heard was performed in honor of fallen soldiers. There was singing as well as bagpipes.
I have heard plenty of mariachi music in Mexican restaurants, but only a couple actually had a live mariachi band. I lived in El Paso, Texas when I was two years old. I am told that my parents took me to the border of Mexico and ate at a restaurant called The Mission. At this restaurant there was a mariachi band. In high school I attended an assembly which included Mexican folk dancing and folk songs.
Ever since I was a little girl, my family has dined at Kanpai, a Japanese restaurant. The restaurant plays music from the Japanese culture. the Japanese music is not tonicized like Western music is.
I have also heard Italian music at Italian restaurants.
When I was in middle school I attended an assembly which included a group of girls Irish Dancing. Of course, the dance routine went along with Irish music. There was also a group of girls from Indian decent that did a bally routine.
When I was in the ninth grade I attended a bah mitzvah. I attended the service at the synagogue which included Jewish prayers and songs. At the reception there was plenty of traditional Jewish music.
I watched the opening of the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. The opening ceremony included traditional Chinese music, which also revealed some of the cultures and traditions of the Chinese people.
My mom and I went to Charleston, South Carolina and went to a plantation. During the tour we sat in on a segment about the culture of the Gullah people who were taken as slaves on the plantation. The lady who was conducting the segment sang Geechee music.
Currently, my mom and I live with my grandparents. My grandfather enjoys listening to bluegrass music, which I end up hearing.
I have not heard very much live music from different cultures, but I am sure that as I advance in my musical career I will have opportunities to experience music of diverse cultures.
When I was in the fourth grade I went on a field trip to a Cherokee reservation. I enjoyed listening to the traditional music and seeing the costumes that go along with it. The only instruments used were drums, but there was plenty of singing and chanting.
I have heard bagpipes being played before. It was not live, but from a recording of Scottish music. the specific piece I heard was performed in honor of fallen soldiers. There was singing as well as bagpipes.
I have heard plenty of mariachi music in Mexican restaurants, but only a couple actually had a live mariachi band. I lived in El Paso, Texas when I was two years old. I am told that my parents took me to the border of Mexico and ate at a restaurant called The Mission. At this restaurant there was a mariachi band. In high school I attended an assembly which included Mexican folk dancing and folk songs.
Ever since I was a little girl, my family has dined at Kanpai, a Japanese restaurant. The restaurant plays music from the Japanese culture. the Japanese music is not tonicized like Western music is.
I have also heard Italian music at Italian restaurants.
When I was in middle school I attended an assembly which included a group of girls Irish Dancing. Of course, the dance routine went along with Irish music. There was also a group of girls from Indian decent that did a bally routine.
When I was in the ninth grade I attended a bah mitzvah. I attended the service at the synagogue which included Jewish prayers and songs. At the reception there was plenty of traditional Jewish music.
I watched the opening of the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. The opening ceremony included traditional Chinese music, which also revealed some of the cultures and traditions of the Chinese people.
My mom and I went to Charleston, South Carolina and went to a plantation. During the tour we sat in on a segment about the culture of the Gullah people who were taken as slaves on the plantation. The lady who was conducting the segment sang Geechee music.
Currently, my mom and I live with my grandparents. My grandfather enjoys listening to bluegrass music, which I end up hearing.
I have not heard very much live music from different cultures, but I am sure that as I advance in my musical career I will have opportunities to experience music of diverse cultures.
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